6 Home Defense Carbines, 5 are NOT AR’s

The Daily Caller ^ | March 15, 2012 | Michael Piccione

[2ndDivisionVet]

Let’s talk home defense.

First things first, shotguns are devastatingly powerful. Nothing can compare to the 12 gauge at close range. Even birdshot, which is still one mass of moving lead at close range, will tear a human to shreds. In my battery I have a Remington 870 and a bandoleer of slugs and buck ready to go for when the SHTF. You don’t lose much with a 20 gauge at close range either and you gain some agility with a smaller gun, and more family members are likely to respond better to the 20.

The second point I’d like to make is on handguns for home defense. Shoot the biggest cartridge you can handle.

--snip--

Hi-Point Carbine

This is the least expensive gun on the list with a suggested retail price of $285. You can get them in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. The added barrel length as a rule of thumb will add 300 feet per second making even a 9mm a good stopper and even better with +P loads. The specs on this gun make it a good home defense choice; 16.5” barrel, length 31” and it weighs 6.25 lbs. Now here is the rub, some folks flat out hate these guns. Others love them. I’m indifferent right now because I don’t have a lot of range time to make up my mind but that will change because my neighbor just got one...

[2ndDivisionVet]

.22 LR is the preferred round for assassins, spies, hitmen, etc.

[VRWCarea51]

Browning High Power with fail safes....backed up by a 16 gauge semi auto loaded with 00 Buckshot. Won’t be any repeat visitors!

Can always patch drywall. No so easy to plug 2dozen chest leakers. Although I hope I never have use em!

[hoosierham]

25 years ago when I patrolled,the .357 125 JHP was the Indiana State Police issue,but the revolvers were retired in favor of semi-autos in 9mm and then ,I think, switched to .40 sometime later.

.357 had the highest rating in terms of one-shot stops,

Politics won over ballistics in moving Americam miliatary and police from proven .45 and .357 to the European/NATO 9mm.

Copying Europe is not the best path for America;I thought THAT was decided in 1776 !

[scott7278]

I have a Hi-Pointe 9mm carbine w/ATI furniture that I like...but I would not run +P through it. It would actually be my #2 choice in a home invasion scenario, after a shotgun (shotgun for guarding, then carbine; pistol for investigation).

The Hi-Pointe 9mm would be one I wouldn’t mind losing to an investigation, unlike the others. The SHTF weapons are just that...I wouldn’t waste the ammo on just one or two thugs.

[driftdiver]

“AR - be sure to have something like Hornady TAP ammo or maybe some frangible ammo for inside the house.”

Even with ball ammo the AR round will fragment fairly quickly. There’s a video on youtube of a guy testing the different rounds. The AR round broke after the second wall and completely fragmented after the third failing to penetrate a fourth wall.

[RightFighter]

...or anyone who lives in a neighborhood with small homes close together.

[RightFighter]

A couple of Mondays ago, a nameless friend bought a Sig Sauer M400 model (OD green Magpul) for $999. The same model is selling on GunBroker for almost $3000 now. The new gun hasn’t been out to the range yet, simply because cheap ammo is just about non-existent right now.

[Big Mack]

I picked one up last year. I have a 9mm and love just shooting it, but I prefer the .45 for defense use. I have only shot it about 100 rounds. Not enough to break in the tube but at ranges to 50 yards the shots go right where I point. I would like to do some work on the trigger, but will have to wait till after some other projects.

I like shooting the carbines very much and have the .45 loaded and ready for home use.

[QualityMan]

yep.

A buddy has this same gun chambered in 9mm...smooth little gun, and a pleasure to shoot.

I have seen the .45 version on guns america, etc...if you can get one of these for less than 500 bucks, get it.

[ICCtheWay]

Exactly .22 LR long barrel pistols or rifles can be equipped w ith home made siliencers (PVC pipe and fittings) ...make next to now noise - fairly accurate at near to medium range...

But back to large caliber weapons... no doubt a big .45. 50 or .357 / .44 magnum will knock down a bad guy - and he will probably stay down. Experienced and trained and in shape shooters can hit what they aim at with these ‘Make my Day’ guns... But most people in home defense situations are not of this cut. For home defense for most women I recommend one of the .410 shotguns with a pistol grip and as short a barrel as the law allows. Or one of the revolvers that shoots the .410 round ... both using big shot - not necessarily buck shot and certainly not bird shot.

[JimRed]

the 5.56 in pistol configuration with two or three 30 round Pmags makes a nice surprise if a gaggle of feral ver4min show up at your home, uninvited.

First time through I misread that as "federal vermin". You might need Claymores in your bushes if that happens!

[SVTCobra03]

Does your .45 cal carbine feed hollow points without any problems?

[Biff55]

Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Antonelli (My Blue Heaven): “Richie loved to use 22s because the bullets are small and they don’t come out the other end like a 45. See, a 45 will blow a barn door out the back of your head and there’s a lot of dry cleaning involved, but a 22 will just rattle around like Pac-Man until you’re dead. “

[absolootezer0]

Most unabashed fans of bigger bore handguns have likely never shot at a target trying to avoid being hit. They also likely never have seen how hard it is to achieve solid hits in a two way shooting range.

I'm pretty sure if i can hit a whitetail on the run at 50+ yards, i can hit a human target at 7 or less.
that said, my carry guns are both .38super, and the handguns i may have scattered around the house are intended to defend myself while heading for a rifle or shotgun.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yeh when you rack that Mossberg the sound will give you a heart attack. LOL!!!

[Big Mack]

I ran a mag of hollow point without any problems feeding.