Re: AR vs Shottie for Home Defense
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pdogsbeware</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Varmint rounds, the vmax and such, are great choices in the AR for the reasons of very very little, if any, overpenetration. A handgun round will penetrate WALLS better than SOME (read varmint) AR rounds. We're not talking FMJ's in ballistics gelatin.
At "house" distances, which should be bedroom distance (since why are you leaving your bedroom to confront someone? After all, they aren't a threat unless they are in the same room as you) a shotgun with any load/choke still makes one ragged hole. Try it at the range sometime. I hate it when people say "i use a shotgun cause of the spread it's easier to hit, I just point and shoot"
What I want you to think about though, is perception.<span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold"> I don't know what BC's laws about home defense are, and every state here varies in the leniency. But I would much rather be standing in front of a judge or jury with a plain jane shotgun than a tacticaled up </span>AR.</span> You don't know how any of them will view firearms, even for self defense purposes. It sounds silly but it's the reality when around non-gun people. AR's are "assault weapons" with a bad stigma about them, they are made for killing. Shotguns have the stigma of sporting and defense use. In the scrutiny from investigation into any self defense shooting I may or may not be involved in, I want any advantage to make it go smoother and easier for me. I would rather look like I was forced into defending myself, than "out for blood" when using an AR. </div></div>
That is definitely something to put thought into before you are in a situation where lethal force is required, can I defend my actions? Sometimes the perception of a random person on the street is more important than the truth not saying its right but it is what it is. In my concealed carry class the instructor who is a personal friend of mine made a few very good points.
1. You can not be wrong when you shoot somebody, but you also must defend yourself
2. You will get sued when you shoot somebody. (uncle bobby the rapist becomes uncle bobby the philanthropist (civil not criminal)
3. You are shooting to stop the attack.
Another thing he said that is a good idea when choosing defensive ammo is to find out what your local law enforcement uses. And keep in mind usually you have at least three local law enforcement agencies to choose from (City, State, and County.) This way when presented with the question in court, "Why where you using that particular man killing ammo"
You can say
"It is what local law enforcement uses and they are the 'good guys'"
