AR15 vs. 12 gauge shotgun for home defense

[Alex45ACP]

I have a 12 gauge Mossberg 590A1 and an AR15 with 16" barrel. The only reason I have the shotgun is for home defense. Which is superior for home defense? If the AR can do the shotgun's job, I'll just sell it and use that money towards my next purchase - a Colt 1911

 

[RaetherEnt]

Just my opinion, however, for close quarters, in the dark, and with the pulse racing, I would much rather trust the ability of a shotgun to take down a BG before my AR.

 

[RNB65]

Nothing beats buckshot for home defense.

 

[the naked prophet]

I also believe a .223 will be much louder in the house than the shotgun will.

Keep them both loaded, but personally I'd go for the shotgun first.

 

[Karbon]

Nice, cheap, 870 12ga pump is my suggestion.

 

[Ironballs]

------------------------------------ AR15--------------- Shotgun
Capacity:--------------------------- +1 (30)------------- -1 (7)
Reliability----------------------------- -1 ------------ +1
1 shot kill.---------------------------- -1 ------------- +1
use under adversity (1/2 asleep)------- 0 -------------- +1

Total: -1 ---------------- +2



The other thing about racking the slide making bad folks run i rank as neutral, as sometimes silence is golden, and sometimes it will lead to flight...


Personally, AR in the Safe, 870 at arms length-

 

[JesseJames]

You could get a .50 caliber Beowolf upper for your AR and keep the 5.56mm upper in the closet.
Keep the shotgun as insurance and get the handgun for later.
That Beowolf is absolutely DEVASTATING at close range.

 

[backlash]

I've got both, I keep the shotty by the bed and the AR in the next room

The graph Ironballs put up, pretty much sums it up. Over penetration would not be as big of an issue with a shotgun as it would be with an AR either.

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm not sure I'd give "capacity" a -1 for 7 rounds of 9 pellets each, for home defense. It's also easy to top off a shotgun by shoving rounds in the magazine, but more than 7 rounds of buckshot is a military engagement, not home defense.

0 maybe, but not -1.

 

[Roadwild17]

Its dark and your heart is pounding, do you want to have to worry about "aiming" your ar, or just pointing your shotgun.

 

[JesseJames]

Get a SureFire flashlight on the end of that shotgun.

 

[SomeKid]

One thing not otherwise mentioned, is misses.

Do you live in an apartment, home in the suburbs, or rural? If either of the first two, I would choose a shotgun. If rural, give me an AR.

While keeping yourself alive is vital, you do not want to injure/kill an innocent neighbor by mistake.

 

[ArmedBear]

In all fairness, there are those who can point an AR as fast as a shotgun, and who would feel most comfortable with it. Generally, they're US Marines.

But shotguns are made to be pointed quickly. From old "coach guns" and fowling pieces to modern weapons, they've always been.

 

[Alex45ACP]

At indoor ranges does that actually make any difference?

 

[Alex45ACP]

One thing not otherwise mentioned, is misses.

Do you live in an apartment, home in the suburbs, or rural? If either of the first two, I would choose a shotgun. If rural, give me an AR.

While keeping yourself alive is vital, you do not want to injure/kill an innocent neighbor by mistake.

Large house (6 bedrooms) in urban/suburban area.

 

[Alex45ACP]

Get a SureFire flashlight on the end of that shotgun.

Yup, I plan to do that on either the AR or the shotgun.

 

[ArmedBear]

Try it, Alex.

Set up some targets. Watermelons are fun, if they're cheap. Set up a course with watermelons about 4 feet off the ground.

Don't keep the gun shouldered. For real fun, put it on the ground.

See how long it takes to pick up the gun and destroy the watermelon from 20 feet or so.

Then try jogging the course and see about hitting all of them. Make SURE no one is anywhere you could accidentally shoot, ricochet, etc.

Personally, I wouldn't want anything but a bead on the shotgun. I don't know how yours it set up.

(If you don't know how to point and shoot a shotgun correctly, it may offer no advantage. However, it's not hard to learn if someone shows you. Also, any gun has to fit you, rifle or shotgun.)

 

[MisterPX]

"Nothing beats buckshot for home defense."

Unless they've got armor. 5.56 is great for HD.

 

['Card]

If I was worried about a group of ninjas, the henchmen of some evil genius, or a horde of zombies, I'd probably go with the AR.

Since a realistic threat assesment points to solitary drug addicts, thieves, or rapists (in my part of the world anyway - ninjas and crime lords being rare in rural NC) I roll out with a shotgun for HD.

 

[SomeKid]

Alex, you are right there in that lovely grey area. That said, you sound rich. Adopt me, and pay for my Masters or Med School?

Joking aside, I would ask myself where I am likely to confront a BG. Would it be as they were rising the steps, around a corner, up close, or at a distance? Decide where you are likely to find yourself fighting, and that can determine your gun.

I did the same thing in my current residence, and because of the way things are, I think a shotgun would be better. (That said, I simply haven't gotten one yet, which is why an AR is my current go-to longarm.)

 

[Kestryll]

If you don't know how to point and shoot a shotgun correctly, it may offer no advantage. However, it's not hard to learn if someone shows you.

This is probably fodder for another post but...

I am intrigued by this statement. I have a fair understanding of shotguns based on dove and pheasent hunting but the 'defensive' end of it has all been personal interpretation.

What do you consider the correct method of pointing and shooting a shotgun and is it a defensive only concept or all around 'hunting/target/defense' method?

If it works and makes sense I'm always willing to add something new to the repertoire!

 

[ArmedBear]

Since a realistic threat assesment points to solitary drug addicts, thieves, or rapists

LOL

That reminds me of something else. If there are two home invaders (probably the other realistic threat), I'd rather have a shotgun, too.

If you have shotgun practice, it's relatively easy to acquire and hit two targets very quickly. And it's fun to practice. Fundamentally, you just have to learn to move your whole upper body rather than only the gun. With buckshot, you can hit one assailant and move on to the other one. A "doubletap" can easily mean both guys are down.

Now, using shotgun body-movement techniques, I've hit hand-thrown clays with a .223 carbine. But with a shotgun, I wouldn't even have to hesitate to see if I'd hit the first guy before I could move on to the next one.

If I'm dealing with two big, armed men who are trying to hurt/kill my family, I want them both down, fast, permanently. If I ever have to shoot, that will be the situation: an immediate, deadly threat.

 

[ArmedBear]

I am intrigued by this statement. I have a fair understanding of shotguns based on dove and pheasent hunting but the 'defensive' end of it has all been personal interpretation.

That's what I meant.

If you can shoulder, point and shoot a flushing pheasant, you can do the same to a rapist, unless you have some silly tactical-tommy shotgun that doesn't fit.

I understand that there is a lot of good stuff out there like training for defensive shooting, but in EVERY single news report I've ever read, say, in American Rifleman's Armed Citizen section, the shooter has not been some specops wannabe, it's just been a person who could acquire and hit a target before being killed. Sure, ninja training would have helped them, but it didn't seem to be a prerequisite.

I've also seen people who couldn't hit a thing with a shotgun; they'd need to learn before expecting to defend their homes.

 

[mljdeckard]

There are very few loads for the AR which aren't guaranteed to over-penetrate. In a situation where you would actually have to fire it in the house, you may not be able to make sure your backstop isn't your neighbor's house or your kid's bed. Bad times.

My primary is a remington pump, loaded with #4 buck. Devastating in close, but not as likely to rip through your whole house like 00.

The backup is my M-1 carbine, mostly for my wife. Smaller, not intimidating, and the round is really a pistol round. Assualt rifle rounds by definition will likely over-penetrate a human target.

 

[Alex45ACP]

Joking aside, I would ask myself where I am likely to confront a BG. Would it be as they were rising the steps, around a corner, up close, or at a distance? Decide where you are likely to find yourself fighting, and that can determine your gun.

Well I keep my long guns upstairs, but when I am around the house I usually keep either a BHP or a S&W 642 on my person. If someone breaks in while I'm sleeping at night I'm not going to run around the house looking for them, I plan to just stand at the top of the steps and shoot them if they try to come upstairs.