the good rifle for the home

[Swampman]

Townsend Whelen wrote once; "Only accurate rifles are interesting".

[Cabin4]

Townsend Whelen wrote once; "Only accurate rifles are interesting".

AK's are made to kill people during relatively close in combat conditions. Laying down fire reliably is priority one. Accuracy is of little value and a complete back seat issue.

[Swampman]

I just won't own a centerfire rifle that shoots over MOA.  It's my standard.  If I buy one and it won't shoot MOA or better it's gone at the next gun show.

[mcwoodduck]

Tools are tools and some are better for some jobs than others.
My AK while not the most accurate gun.  It will still hit a 20" steel gong 3/5 times @ 200 yards.
My fold under AK was lucky to shoot 3 / 5 at 100 but that had more to do with the folding stock than anything else.
Yes my AR will do it every time out to 200 with open sights.
But what are we talking aout as a home defense gun.  50 yards?  My AK, M1 Carbine, and shotguns will all do a 10" plate at 50 yards.
Heck even the POS (Product of ShanghI) fold under would do that at 50 yards.
And would pepper a B27 human sill at 25 yards.  Could I take the Hostage shot with them.... NO.  but would they spray a hallway with bad thngs to make the bad guys think twice about comming up the stairs / down the hall / or into the master bed room?
Yep. 
If they made that mistake and headed where I draw the line would they do what I need and stop them.
Yep!
And while not exactly accurate the SKS, AK, SMG, M1 carbine, or short shot gun are still interesting.

[Cabin4]

And while not exactly accurate the SKS, AK, SMG, M1 carbine, or short shot gun are still interesting.

They sure are. Well said.

[SHOOTALL]

Mcwooduck, The AK would be fine other than use of the round in a handgun which is what i was replying to .
In America today one could really get by with a good Bolt action in anything from 243 ( I know the 223 crowd is squeeling but in some states you can't deer hunt with less than a 243 ) to over 300 win mag. , A good shotgun equal to an 870 12 or 20 ga or better , and a good handgun 38 spl. or better .
Anything else is gravy not a bad thing really . If political climate changes then requirements will also .

[mcwoodduck]

Shootall,
I do not know how Jamal does it but he asks these generic questions where there is no right answer and hundreds of them.
As we did with the shotgun ammo question.  Depending on what you want; rifle and handgun to share ammo, high capacity, compact, ability to hunt with it, Target shoot, and a dozen other factors that I have not thought of.
any rifle would work.  A 10/22 with a 25 - 30 round mag would be a good house gun.  it is compact, high capacity, reliable with good ammo, able to hunt with and use for varmints like coyote that my come after pets, and can e used at the local club for a 22 shoot.  same goes for a 22/center fire lever gun that can be used in Coyboy action and share handgun ammo.  AR's, Ak, SKS, M1, M1A, Garand and others for three gun, or hi power shoots, bolt actions like a 98K, No 4 or other WWII bolt would be able to hunt, defend, target, and with the use of stripper clips gives you higher fire rates. If you want a new compact  turn bolt rifle the CZ 527 carbine in 223 or 7.62 would fit multiple roles.  The other factors you would want to ballance are range, penitration, and Over penitration.  Everyone answering this is thinking about their house and what would work best for them based on loacation, possible threats, and if other needs (ammo, capacity, hunting, target) are factors.  I think no matter what you pick as a defense home arm ( handgun, rifle, or shotgun) you need to dust it off on a regular basis and use it in a match/ shoot of some kind. 

[jamaldog87]

yeah, it did not think it out. I was going to ask which one is the best home gun but i was think which one would you think is the best alround gun(hunting , home gun, ect). Yeah a pump guns is good but you need 2 hands to use it  so if you were useing one to open a door you might have a hard to pumping it fast , also they kick very hard so i know i would not want to shoot it a lot.  I had a noble 12ga, not the best gun but killed everything i shoot with it(from rats to hogs at least) and never had any problems with buck shot. For a good home gun  a wheel gun is best(so i have heard). Oh one thing about frangible ammo, some works better then other. I used some in my 380 on coyotes and it work just like reg ammo. If it hit something very hard it frangible  but 2x4, cars doors, or coyotes it seem to work just like a JHP.  Now i know ExtremeShock ammo works just like it says cause i used it and it works VERY WELL!!

[slim rem 7]

 ok best home protection.. shotgun.. but an here i may get flamed but thats because they havnt seen what a velocitor will do to a brick..its also alright ...thats what the forums about ..different ideas.. so i won t debate it .. proofs in the pudding ..an i sure ain t gonna kill nobody,, to show them how it will getter done..
  the most bang for home protection for the dollar would be a good dependable marlin 60..[22lr - 15 nor 18 shot]
 the added dimension of the velocitor is not really necessary but makes a good thing better.
 im talking hollow points of course..ive never felt out gunned walkin around the house ,at night,, if this was what i picked up.. now id rather have the shotgun an 2b buck .. but theres pluses to the marlin 60 also..jmo slim
       ps no worry about dependability using cci ammo..also might look good if you found your self in court..
long as you didn t shootiem no more after he went dn..which is gonna take one or two solid hit to the vitals.. jmo
 if he s big an tough,,an only for the sake of quick death,,mabe more....quick stop is what you need for home protection..

[azmike]

Interesting thread.  Of the OP's options listed, I prefer the AR, but personally would choose a different rifle (I keep a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem, but I live in the timber), or the Browning BPS 12 gauge, which is a better quality shotgun than either the 870 or Mossberg, at a similar price point.  My opinion is based strictly on my experience with my own, issued, and borrowed weapons.   

In a carbine, I think the lever action 357 or better yet, a Beretta CX4 carbine, in 9mm, .40, or .45acp would be a better choice for suburban or urban home defense.  I really like the Beretta, especially in 9mm or 40, as reloads are fast, it is a very handy, light rifle, reasonably accurate for the purpose, reloads are FAST, and you can use the same mags and ammo for rifle and pistol, if you choose to also own a Beretta 92/96, or one of the Taurus clones. 

[azmike]

Townsend Whelen wrote once; "Only accurate rifles are interesting".

AK's are made to kill people during relatively close in combat conditions. Laying down fire reliably is priority one. Accuracy is of little value and a complete back seat issue.

A bold statement.  Perhaps it is true if qualified, in that different levels of accuracy are required for different applications. 

[Graybeard]

As to the recoil level of shotguns it varies. You can get them in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauges and .410 bore so can adjust the recoil level to whatever you can tolerate. Pumps are a bit difficult to operate one handed for more than one shot but a side by side or O/U shotgun can be one handed quite well for both shots then you need two again really for the reload. For home defense a shotgun is very versatile and powerful. For an apartment dweller which the OP claims to be it really is superior to most rifles due to the over penetration common to rifles other than the rimfires some have suggested.

There really is no right or wrong answer to what gun to use for home protection it really is a matter of what best fits YOU and YOUR SITUATION. We're not all the same nor are all our situations the same.

[jamaldog87]

your very right about that.

[scootrd]

so , If one decided a Mossberg 500 series for home defense it is , now comes the tough part .
Whats more important in close quarters like an apt. or Home , Overall length? Shot capacity? Weight?

The 500 has a number of models ranging from
6 shot 28 inch length 5 1/2 LBS ,
6 shot 33 1/2 inch 6 3/4 LBS (speedfeed)
8 shot 30 1/4 inch length 6 LBS,
9 shot 41 inch length 7 1/4 inch LBS

Also there is the decision of

Speedfeed models
Tactical stock model
Heat shield,
Pistol grip kit,  
Spreader choke,  


Decisions..... Decisions......
 

[jlchucker]

And while not exactly accurate the SKS, AK, SMG, M1 carbine, or short shot gun are still interesting.

They sure are. Well said.

I don't own any of the above, but it seems like every terrorist in the world likes SKS and AK weapons.  They must be pretty reliable for them, so probably pretty good for hosing down an intruder in your house at night at least.  I live in a country location, so the 12 ga pump and 30-30 carbine are what I have to cover just about any firearms need I have.  For intruder repelling purposes I figure that no. 4 high brass birdshot will do just fine in the dark.  More shot pellets than buckshot.

[SHOOTALL]

check out in the box on using bird shot