To AR or not AR...

[TNPhil]

Honestly, this has taken most of my research time in looking for affordable options for a hunting AND home defense rifle setup. With current politics, budget, primary use, available ammo, and ease of use for a possible old first-time user such as myself, I keep looking at the AR-15, but still not 100% on pulling the trigger, so to speak. Any thoughts on how I should look at it to have better peace of mind than worrying about alphabet agencies showing up at my door?  Just being honest since I am too old to pull punches in what I write. 

[RED333]

My first question for you is, what do you use now for home defense?

Second question is, what do you use to hunt with?

[leroy]

If I wuz gonna split between hunting home defense, I would recommend a Palmetto State Arms 300 BO carbine.  They are cheap.  They work well, and they are a man stopper n light game getter.   

The price would be low, and ya could save some dollars n buy a good trigger to drop into it ( or any other AR ) and maybe it a bunch more usable for both jobs.

The ammo is about as reasonable as 556 if ya shop around.  Also, there are states where ya can't hunt large game with a 22 caliber.

leroy.

 

[Garufa]

I personally don’t think too much of AR’s for hunting or home defense if we’re talking .223/5.56mm, but I don’t hunt and in my abode a rifle is inappropriate.  

If it’s reached obsession point, Just go to Palmetto State Armory’s website and order the cheapest one they have and get it out of your system for $500-$600, maybe less.  They make very serviceable, quality, and accurate weapons.

Don’t fret about politics, society, or alphabets…that’s all overrated.

[Alleycat72]

Ar15s are fantastic.  My HDG is an 11.5" suppressed 5.56 with an Aimpoint. 77gr razor core. I've killed a few deer with this gun.

I would hesitate to grab my 16" or 18" with 62gr tsx for any deer. I've killed a bunch of hogs with the 18". Really all about the ammo. 

Ar15s are really easy for teaching kids how to shoot. The gun can be fitted to their size and grow with them.

I do keep a 14" 870 with 8 pellet Federal flight control around also. 

[monkeylizard]

Situations may vary, but most of the time a rifle is not the best home-defense choice. Over penetration is a real concern with the bullet very capable of passing through multiple walls inside the house and exiting the house. Either can strike an unintended target you couldn't see but are still responsible for. It's also harder to move through a confined space with a rifle. The AR platform makes that somewhat easier with collapsible stocks and usually a significantly shorter overall length compared to a traditional hunting rifle. Home layout, construction, and location are variables unique to each person, so YMMV.

But an AR-15 is a very good rifle for lots of different things and can be kitted out to your personal tastes pretty easily. +1 to Palmetto State.

As for the alphabet folks, there are north of 20 million AR-15s in the USA. They simply can't knock on that many doors. If there ever is a gun grab, it won't come in the form of random door knockers. But if you really don't want a paper trail, buy private sale in Tennessee. A great way to do that is to become a member here on TGO and post a WANT TO BUY ad in the TGO Trading Post describing what you want and your budget.

[deerslayer]

If I wanted an AR to do double duty as a general defense rifle and hunting rifle up to deer, I would look at a 16” gun in 6.5 Grendel.  Ammo isn’t widespread but is available and is in line with the cost of many other AR calibers.  It could be handy enough for defensive work but you could stretch it to 300 yards for hunting.  
 

I’m not sure why alphabet agencies would show up at your door.  

Edited 15 hours ago by deerslayer

[Grayfox54]

I don't think there is a good combination home defense and hunting rifle. Generally a rifle suited for home defense is too light in caliber for reliable hunting of deer sized game. While a suitable hunting rifle is way too overpowered for urban defense.  ARs suited for deer sized game will be chambered in other calibers that are both harder to find and more expensive. One of the strongest arguments in favor of the 5.56 is its readily available and reasonably priced ammo.  

Many years ago in the Army the M-16A1 was a POS. I didn't like it and I didn't trust it. I felt that way for about another 50 years. But around 2018 I finally figured that I should get an AR-15 simply because so many people didn't want me to have it and wanted to outlaw them. So I bought a S&W M&P-15 because it was cheap and reliable. 

About a year later, I stumbled into a deal on a Colt A2 model that was just too good to pass up. So, yeah, I have two AR style rifles. But the truth is that I don't shoot them much. If the S ever did HTF, my choice of rifle would not be an AR.  It would be my M1A. 

But yeah, I do recommend the every serious gun owner has at least one AR-15 type rifle. If for no other reason than just to piss off the antis. 

 

[DL126]

I have AR's in 22LR, 6 ARC, 6.5 Grendel, .223, and 7.62x39.

In order of usage time for me (including time spent training) ...

1. 22LR
2. 7.62x39
3. .223
4. 6.5 Grendel
5. 6 ARC

I was shocked at what a 154 gr, soft nose x39 will do to a deer at 100 and under. 

Edited 9 hours ago by DL126