AR for HD?

[bohunr]

I don't have children or a house full of people so I'm not really worried about overpenetration. Right now for HD I grab two weapons. A XDm 9mm loaded with 147gr Federal HST's and 147gr Winchester Ranger XT's and a 12ga (HD model) loaded with 00 buck. I feel very confident that I could handle 99.9% of "home invasions", however.... as I stated, things are getting worse by the day around here. I just want something that I am confident with those 00.01% that may include 3-4 crack heads kicking in my door because that kind of thing is happening more often these days. I also live 15 COUNTRY minutes from the nearest police station and my nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away.

I know that a pig isn't a human, but I've shot enough pigs in my time that I don't really see me trying 55gr vmax's for any kind of personal protection. I've just seen way too many pigs keep going like a bee stung them. I don't have to worry about that nearly as much whenever I use a good solid bullet like a 75gr GoldDot or 62gr Federal Fusion.

that 55 grain v-max was blowing up on that hogs shield, thats a lot denser than a human

 

[Plant.One]

I was disappointed in the terminal performance of the 55gr TAP in my shooting. At about 50 yards, I hit the guy just above his nipple and the second round went downward into his body cavity after entering the clavicle area (he was bent over slightly from the impact of the first round). His lungs were quite shredded.

He died for sure and there was no amount of aid that would have saved him, but he regained consciousness before expiring... he could have resisted temporarily if given the opportunity. I highly recommended we increase the weight of our duty round but that never happened.

Personally, I love the AR platform and use it for hunting, recreation, and HD... but I'd like a heavier round in the 65-77 grain weight range for HD. The 55gr TAP will kill... but for immediate incapacitation, you will need a CNS hit to compensate for the small dia. and light weight. Multiple hits are a must if using the .223 and light weight projectiles.

im glad you brought that specific point to the front.. i absolutely agree... keep squeezin til they quit wiggling... i wouldnt expect a guaranteed one shot stopper either unless it was in the beaner or you got a CNS. but that would also go for even a 77gr OTM. you're not gonna get a guaranteed one shot stopper out of a 5.56 unless its cns.

more importantly though - its not gonna over penetrate. which i think is as much of a critical decision making choice in selecting Home defense ammo. especially if you dont live where the neighbor's dont care if you're peeing off your front porch while having a morning cup of coffee because they cant see you LOL

The .300 BO with something like a 125gr Ballistic Tip or 125gr SST at super-sonic speeds would be pretty darn effective I would think. I bet the 190gr Sub-X at sub speeds would be quite nasty. The Barned 110gr Tac-TX would be an excellent choice as well.

having put the 125 sst thru a raccoon at about 35 feet... it was super effective... could have dropped a quarter in without hitting the sides... but... it kept going. the scuff in the dirt behind him where it hit was pretty substantial. i heard it ricochet off at least a one tree in the background.

the 125 nosbt... its too tough for reliable expansion at 300bo speeds... its engineered for 308 performance. so its right on the ragged edge of min expansion velocity and is almost certinatly gonna just pierce and keep going unless you hit something substantial. i neck punched a buck with one at about 65 yds... 2250 fps MV out of my 16" carbine. slapped him to the ground, and he hopped right back up and took off. he bled ok for... 150-160 yds, but he hopped the back fence and then a few down trees right after... and sealed up like someone stuffed a cork in him. like nothing happened. nary a drop from there. i was tracking on 2" of virgin snow that had fallen overnight. we followed his tracks until he wandered into a stand of oaks where a whole group had been scavenging acorns that morning and lost his trail there. only deer i've ever lost on a neck shot. neighbor's never found him on their 80 he crossed onto so he managed at least a half mile before he finally bled out (internally)

the 110 tactx same issue - altho i've not put one into meat - they retain weight and will keep going. they;'re known to be barrier blind. they'll punch a car door and keep going. the base of that bullet does NOT expand at all once the petals fold/shed. great hunting bullet because they come out the back side, but yea... probably a poor home defense choice if you've gotta worry about people in the next room, or have close neighbors.

i cant criticize the performance of them for getting the job done... its just what happens after that concerns me more .

 

[Plant.One]

that 55 grain v-max was blowing up on that hogs shield, thats a lot denser than a human

amen to that! peoples are a lot squishier than hogs are... even with some denim or a winter coat in the way, a vmax isnt gonna splash like it would on a hog. it'll get in a couple inches and then come apart - even if you happen to catch a rib or the sternum. and if it does catch one of those its gonna take a lot of extra shrapnel in with it.