You might want to rethink using the AR as primary home defense. I did and now use a 12ga pump with an 18" straight cylinder bore. A mag extension to hold 8 rds and a barrel heat shroud. #4 to #6 1oz shot load is more than enough. Nobody will argue with a 12ga and you don't need to be spot on target to make a hit. Stay away from 3inch mag for home defense---it kicks too hard for fast follow up shots.

 

I would never use an AR 15 for home defense. Too much gun, if it is dark, you shoot in the dark. I have a 12 gauge Ithaca pump in the bedroom. My premise that the bad guys have an instinct to get the crap out fast when they hear a shell racked in. I use a #6 shot. At 30 feet I bet it will be just fine.

 

I don't use any of my AR's for home defense but if I did it would be loaded with the safety on. I can not see the advantage of locking the bolt open over ready to go by flicking off the safety.

 

Mine is stored with a full mag and one of these...

Hornady Safe Cycle AR-15 Empty Chamber Indicator (223)

The Hornady Safe Cycle AR-15 Empty Chamber Indicator (223) or Rapid Rack is used to indicate when the chamber is empty. Buy the Hornady Rapid Rack here!

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

 

This is a fantastic answer for this situation. I will be getting a few of these.

You've had some great suggestions from other members. As far as storing your AR, I would never store a semi-auto firearm with the bolt/slide/action locked in the open/rear position. If that recoil spring weakens from being compressed (slim chance?), your firearm may not cycle properly and becomes a club.

One of the best drills we did in the infantry was practice reacting to a malfunction with the rifle. It's the "immediate action drill" otherwise known as "SPORTS" (see below). This can be practiced using a dummy cartridge. I highly encourage everyone to practice an immediate action drill with their chosen home defense firearm. For those of us in the infantry, it became muscle memory. I can't speak for the other military branches or MOS's, but it's taught in basic training as a skill that every soldier is expected to know.

1. Slap upward on the magazine to make sure it is properly seated.

2. Pull the charging handle completely to the rear and hold.

3. Observe for ejection of case or cartridge, and ensure the cartridge or case is ejected and the chamber is clear. (I over-stress this part because if the chamber isn't clear, and you release the charging handle, now you have a double feed, and now you have to drop the magazine to clear the rifle)

4. Release the charging handle to feed a new round.

5. Tap the forward assist to ensure the bolt is closed.

6. Squeeze the trigger; the weapon should fire.

I use a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 9mm carbine for home defense. It's set up with an extra mag holder, a tactical light and a red dot sight.

My brother ran a self-defense school in San Antonio and Phoenix. They taught armed and unarmed defense. Like others have said, and my advice is, use what you're comfortable with and trained on. All firearm types have advantages and disadvantages.

I agree with not storing with the bolt locked back. I would store with the safety off, empty chamber with a magazine that is securely seated.

All my magazines are a round or two short of full. It ensures better feeding. A trick I learned from my nephew, a former Navy seal. A full mag has more upward pressure and can sometimes hang up the bolt.

With pistol shooters it was "Tap, Rack, Bang". However, Immediate action drills are no longer taught with last "S" or "Bang" because they kill people you may not want to kill. If your muscle memory is good and it is to squeeze the trigger, you will.

A Kel-Tec sub 2000 is an excellent choice for this situation. A bad choice is pistol grip only long guns. They are good for drive-bys and concealed carry (if you really need a shotgun for concealed carry). They require two hands to hold on target, cycle the action and fire. With a full butt stock you can hold a long gun on target against your shoulder, finger at the ready and use your other hand for important things like reloading, opening doors and using a phone to call 911.

Remove all slings. There are just something to get tangled in an already stressful situation.

I have a smoothbore pump shotgun loaded with 2 3/4" #4 Buck, a Camp9 and a few double action pistols scattered about. None of the long guns have a loaded chamber. The pistols all have full mags, loaded chambers, safeties off with the hammer down.

Before allowing any children in the house, we clear the guns and then lecture the parents, if their children were better behaved and disciplined they wouldn't be putting our lives in danger.

 

Generally speaking, if you are serious about having a weapon for home defense, it should be loaded and ready to go. Full magazine, round chambered… safety on or off is up to you but I never use safeties.

 

I sleep with my AR under my pillow. My wife thought is was very strange at first, but she got used to sleeping on the couch.

We can argue about having a round chambered and safeties on and off and the answer to that is whatever you are comfortable with. The one thing that can't be argued is having a full magazine already inserted and ready to go.

 

Libs’ heads are exploding after reading this

 

A lot has to do with how a familiar a person is with the gun. A well trained person, like an infantry soldier, can pick up an AR at any state of: loading/safety condition/ Mag in or out and get shooting fast, being under great stress or not.. A very well trained individual can use muscle memory to get the AR shooting, their actions being automatic due to intensive training. For these type of people any condition can work.

For folks of lessor training, the more actions it takes to get the gun shooting in panicked conditions, the more failure is likely. Loaded safety on is probably the best bet.

The other big consideration, relevant to training, is how stressed is the user (panic, fright, surprised) due to the home invasion. A person should train thru mock invasions, to get to where the gun is. You don't want to stay surprised, panicked and frozen in the recliner, when you should automatically be up and headed to where the the gun is. Personally keep a 38 on the end table next to the recliner.

Personally I use a 12 gauge pump, action closed on an empty chamber, trigger pulled, safety off, magazine full...so all I have to do is work the pump to get it going. I hunt or shot clays at least 60 days a year, so my muscle memory on a pump action is good.

Carried an M16 or M16A2 for about seven years in the infantry, and still fire an AR a lot. I would go bolt closed on an empty chamber, safety off, trigger pulled, magazine loaded. In this condition, pulling the charging handle gets the gun running, I want this second to make sure things are as they appear.

 

12 gauge cylinder bore does NOT spread much at room distance. That is a misconception. People have seen too many movies. You CAN miss with a shotgun. The average shootings that take place within a house are less than 15 feet unless you live in a large mansion which then you could afford private security.

 

A shotgun pattern from cylinder bore will spread about 1" per yard from the muzzle. How big are your rooms? I wouldn't expect more than a 4" pattern across a good sized room. And I agree that bird shot loads are plenty at that range. More than sufficient.

For the AR.. I don't like the idea of making noise closing the bolt. It will draw attention to you and let the intruder know you are up and about. I also think that it will over-penetrate and be a danger both to your family inside the house and neighboring houses.

Get training. Both in how to approach a bad guy and how to use a flashlight. You will also get a good idea of what weapon will work best for you in your situation.

You must also provide for the safety of children, grandchildren, and visitors. Don't expect them to have any common sense. They only have curiosity.

 

I never understood why people think they have to be ready shoot in a split second. Unless you're living in a tent in a bad neighborhood, you should have some layers of security before you would need to shoot. Outside motion detectors that trigger lights and or cameras, alarm system, dog, deadbolt locks. You need a few moments to gather your wits, especially if you're awakened in the middle of the night. The last thing you want is to shoot the neighbor who comes home drunk and goes to the wrong house or one of your kids coming home from college or military service thinking they are going to surprise you. Round in the chamber with safety off might not be a good idea for most situations.

 

I have an AR-15 that I built in 9mm Parabellum for my wife for personal defense when I'm not at home. I keep in chamber empty, hammer down, with a 32 round stick magazine locked in the mag well with 115 grain JHPs...

I don't like leaving guns out of my control with a round in the chamber. If I'm concealed carrying, then the weapon has a round in the chamber. If it's something that I'm going to leave in a closet, or lock box... I keep a loaded mag in it, but nothing in the chamber. It just makes me feel a bit safer in the event that someone in my household has a moment of cranial rectal inversion.

 

I have an AR-15 that I built in 9mm Parabellum for my wife for personal defense when I'm not at home. I keep in chamber empty, hammer down, with a 32 round stick magazine locked in the mag well with 115 grain JHPs...

Good choice. If it were mine I would stagger ball (FMJ) and SP's (That feed well of course, so RN ideally). Maybe in twos.

 

Well it depends on several things.
For me because I keep a 1911 loaded, cocked & locked ( shot IPSC for several years) I would want my AR set up the same if I was going to use it for HD. Do you have a light on your AR? If not you should put one on or consider something else.
If I was going to use my Rem 870 I would go with advice from both graymustang and Cowboy23. Empty chamber with extended tube. I'm also a fan of 2 3/4 shells so I get an extra round.

 

I would go with advice from both graymustang and Cowboy23. Empty chamber with extended tube.

In pump shotguns, full mag tube, one on the elevator, and a reversed fat zip tie through the action to prevent accidental chambering. This way I get my +1, and can quietly and easily make ready. It's a good visual safety like a chamber flag.

 

I keep a 12 gauge loaded with 00 buck (low recoil) in condition cruiser ready. I wouldn’t use small pellets for home defense, as many years ago I had a #6 pellet ricochet back from a tree about 10-15 feet away and hit me in the forehead. I was fortunate I didn’t lose an eye. When something like that happens, you never forget it. I just wouldn’t use small pellets shooting in such close quarters.

 

I wouldn’t use a long 2 handed rifle for home defense except for a 20 ga pump with my family barricaded in the safe room. A 20 gauge to make it more wife friendly. The gun that I would carry as i looked to see what the noise was would be a 2-4 inch DA .38 revolver with a seperate tactical light. Revolver in my rt hand held tight to my body, light in the left. I can safely identify friendly from foe, use the light to defend or strike, not have a long bbl showing my position, not endangering neighbors with a rifle round, etc.

 

I agree with a 12b being a better choice than an AR, however, the circumstances can change with location, ranges and degree of threat.

If keeping an AR for self defence, I would go for full mag in place with action forward on an empty chamber and safety applied. With some practice, standard training in many parts, a round can be chambered and safety tripped very quickly indeed. The beauty of the set up is safety, if a BG gets hold of the gun it will take vital seconds for him to figure out how to get it into action. Seconds that coud save your life.

 

The beauty of the set up is safety, if a BG gets hold of the gun it will take vital seconds for him to figure out how to get it into action. Seconds that coud save your life.

That's very true...and a good point! The flip side though is YOU have to take the added time to bring it into battery...plus the click-clack of chambering a round gives away your position.

P.S. If it is in a dark, quiet house and you do rack the action, if the BG is armed he might just swing around and fire shots in the general direction of the sound. That wouldn't be good either (though it would be great in court if you killed the intruder since he fired first)!

 

Have any of you played with wax slugs ?? I have with 20ga and it will open your eyes.

How to Make Wax Slugs in Minutes

Shotguns are exceptional for shooting targets at close range. However, their effectiveness significantly diminishes with distance as pellets cover a broader area with less force upon impact.…

www.survivalkit.com

 

My ARs are kept bolt forward on an empty chamber, hammer down, safety off, magazine inserted and locked in the safe. 870 is there too similar condition. EDC is always on me or next to me. I've got extensive CQB training and will reach for the AR if time/situation allows.

CD

 

an AR in .223 wouldn't be my first choice, like others, I have to say a pistol or shotgun is my Go-To if that event ever happens. a 1911 lives between the mattresses and a pistol grip mossberg right under the bed. both loaded, one in the chamber, safety on. short weapons are so much better in close quarters. long rifles not so much.
AR's also pose other challenges, if you haven't shot a .223 in a closed room without hearing protection. I can say it is NOT FUN. and i will never make that mistake again. and short barrel AR's in .223 are worse. all that rifle powder burn out of a short barrel and the concussion is awefull inside a structure.

That being said. I do have a 45 acp AR pistol with a 5" barrel by the nightstand with a full mag.
a suppressor is on the Christmas list for that one to quiet it down even farther for potential indoor use.
I like that option because the ammo is already subsonic and no sound barrier pop. heavy, hard hitters at close range and minimizing chances of over penetration thru the walls.

I only have to worry about the wife messing with the guns, and she has her own she prefers to use on her side of the bed.... so we're covered.

 

You've had some great suggestions from other members. As far as storing your AR, I would never store a semi-auto firearm with the bolt/slide/action locked in the open/rear position. If that recoil spring weakens from being compressed (slim chance?), your firearm may not cycle properly and becomes a club.

One of the best drills we did in the infantry was practice reacting to a malfunction with the rifle. It's the "immediate action drill" otherwise known as "SPORTS" (see below). This can be practiced using a dummy cartridge. I highly encourage everyone to practice an immediate action drill with their chosen home defense firearm. For those of us in the infantry, it became muscle memory. I can't speak for the other military branches or MOS's, but it's taught in basic training as a skill that every soldier is expected to know.

1. Slap upward on the magazine to make sure it is properly seated.

2. Pull the charging handle completely to the rear and hold.

3. Observe for ejection of case or cartridge, and ensure the cartridge or case is ejected and the chamber is clear. (I over-stress this part because if the chamber isn't clear, and you release the charging handle, now you have a double feed, and now you have to drop the magazine to clear the rifle)

4. Release the charging handle to feed a new round.

5. Tap the forward assist to ensure the bolt is closed.

6. Squeeze the trigger; the weapon should fire.

I use a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 9mm carbine for home defense. It's set up with an extra mag holder, a tactical light and a red dot sight.

 

Seems to me that making noise by racking or cycling an mty firearm to load it would not be a good idea if you thought there was an intruder in your home. Snicking off a safety or not even having to do anything except picking the firearm up would be quieter.

 

And that's plus one in favor of revolvers as bedside weapons. They can be stored loaded...without compressed spring worries...and a DA action wheelgun you simply pick it up, aim and squeeze the trigger...and deliberately so because of the long, heavy trigger pull and travel.

 

I guess I wanted the advantages of all three and keep an AR, an pump 12 gauge and an Sig 320 in the bedroom. Gives the offending intruder an ala-carte choice of how to depart this mortal coil.

 

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was the only one.

All kept ready to roll except the AR which is empty chamber, full mag and a stack of mags nearby. My thinking is the AR is more for the slim possibility of many BGs and possibly outside. More like a riot situation. Again, highly unlikely in my neighborhood but when they're done fighting over the last can of peaches at walmart, the neighborhood is next.

As for the 12G, it's #4's with 00 in the side saddle. And there will be no racking in my house.

 

ARs are great for home defense. When thinking Home defense, consider you are in close quarters and with practice can get the rifle up and get a round in them very quickly. I keep an AR pistol chambered in 458 for the bedroom, and an AR carbine in the main part of the house. My only recommendation is to know your avenues of approach, and where the rooms are with people in them.

 

My house gun.
Beat to hell S&W 916 12 ga., 18 1/2" barrel, vent rib. Only paid $100 for it.
Why a beater? If you have to use it, you will most certainly lose it to evidence and you probably won't get it back.
Loaded with high brass 2 1/2" # 4, one in the chamber,safety on.

 

Have a plan, include all family members. Physically rehearse (training) the plan.

In my case fortunately, the floor plan allows immediate consolidation of loved ones to a relatively small controllable area with solid cover for me. A physical line is drawn. The plan is not complicated, so few variables for mistakes .........I hope.

Also, and I say this as I'm an old, retired now, pro at it, going to bed hammered makes you absolutely useless to the family in such a scenario, or any other that may require you to act quickly, decisively. .........actually, you could end up being the cause of a tragedy.

 

Hm, just hope it never happens. And if it does, hope you dont take out a loved one or other innocent passer by. Bullets flying around the home in the dark is slightly different to the well lit range you practice on.

 

Thankfully here in America we still have a few freedoms left, there are many ranges and schools that offer courses on exactly this situation. I have taken one, two and four day courses not just because of the education, but simply because they are fun.

They teach how to deal with weapons malfunctions, room clearing and hostage situations in poor and no lighting. No Hollywood BS and give up your gun when a bad guy has a loved one hostage. Simply pop the perp between the eyes with a pistol, rifle or even shotgun from across the room.

 

Guys thanks for all the input!!! I forgot to mention and I realized this after all the comments... my AR is hanging in my bedroom closet on one of the mag well wall mounts... so a full inserted mag is impossible.... the wall mount has a mag holder built in so there is a 30 round mag right there next to gun...