Best Home Defense Rifle?

[Soundguy]

You guys crack me up. The OP didn't ask "Should I get a rifle? or Can I get a rifle? or what is best for home defense?" I think it was "If I were to get a rifle......." First a rifle and a shotgun are not the same, plus he allready has a shotgun. Second he is not asking permission, this is America, he has the right. I have a AK47 and when I'm asked why I have one I say that I have heard what they sound like from the wrong end and wanted to see what the proper end was like, also I own one because I can. For all you Annie Oakley types, when I was in the Marines we were taught that he who gets the most lead in the air the quickest usually won. I shot expert on the range with what I consider an excellent gun the M14, but we had a full week of snap-in and plenty of time to place our shots. In combat it dosn't work that way. If your in a life defence situation your nerves are going to be such that you will be lucky to point and shoot.

Bake

I don't see how any of that is pertinant to the comments made here. He asked.. we answered what we though. If he didn't want opinions.. he shouldn't have asked.. he did ask.. thus implying that he -DID- want opinions.. which he got.

I don't think anyone here thinks he was asking permission... except maybee you?

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Also, SKS's are FUN to shoot, and would be very effective for the resistance of organized thuggery, if one knew how to use them. Mini-14's give you the same effect, but at a significantly higher price for consumables.

I think the significantly more expensive guns(AR-15s, AK's, etc), don't provide enough incremental benefits to outweigh their costs and complexity.

SKS's can also be used for hunting mid-sized game(I think, though I have never done so), where the 223 rifles cannot.

Chris

I still wouldn't want a rifle as my choice of a self defense gun.. at least if it was an SKS.. I'd have a bayonet with which to defendmysel without worrying about overpenetration..

soundguy

 

[CurlyDave]

You guys crack me up. The OP didn't ask "Should I get a rifle?"...

He asked about a home defense rifle. He got answers about home defense weapons.

Sort of like if I asked how I could drive a nail with my FEL, I would expect to get some answers which described how to do that, and a few answers which might point out that a hammer is far better suited to that task.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Well isn't the whole internet like that? Answers you get are like shots at turkey shoot. They cover the target and if you are lucky, one hits the center. It is always interesting to hear what people have to say about the topic - but the decision is only yours to make on the end.

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

Why mess around with a puny rifle?
If you really are preparing for aramgeddon why not get surplus land mines and plant them around the perimeter of your property and get an old sherman tank to park in your driveway?

 

[Egon]

Oh come on fellows; we all know that the "best Rifle" would be the one you have in your hand at the time it is needed!

 

[Sigarms]

Why mess around with a puny rifle?
If you really are preparing for aramgeddon why not get surplus land mines and plant them around the perimeter of your property and get an old sherman tank to park in your driveway?

Although states may have some sort of a castle doctrine law (allowing you to use deadly force if someone is in your house), I'm still pretty sure that booby trapping your property or home is illegal no matter what state you live in

Honestly, and seriously thinking about it, a good aluminum bat may not be a bad idea (I know, don't bring an aluminum bat to a gun fight).

By the way Mike, is that a Union or Confederate soldier in your avatar?

 

[DennisArrow]

The question that I asked is still being answered. Each person that has contributed a comment adds to the overall I feel. Want to thank YOU for that. I like the organized thuggery comment and so many others to describe what my fears are.

As an aside about the land mines. Once, for a few years, I took a break from teaching Industrial Arts and switched over to Psycho Ed. This was taking truly crazy kids that had been abused typically in one way or another and taught them practical skills to include half a day each day working on habitat houses. Turns out one of the guys, a ring leader, lived right up the road. He made MANY comments about knowing what was going on inside my house at all hours of the night.........
Turns out yes, he was sneaking around the house...............Seldom, did I ever in our "group therapy" sessions discuss Viet Nam adventures. Perhaps too violent. I pointedly brought up the use of claymores, foo gas, and drums of napalm with a charge at the bottom that were all attached to trip wires. Looking him in the eye I advised the group that the construction of these had begun around my place......Rigged one of those little ballpoint flares on a trip wire on a path around the house............It went off one night just after dark........

NEVER heard a peep about my house again...........The legend had begun.......Went back into the regular ed Ind Arts/construction/Metals/etc classroom.....From time to time would get asked if I really had a "minefield"?........Would elaborate a bit..........I had kids that wouldn't even come out for a class picnic for fear of my road and let alone wandering around in the woods...............RUMOR WORKS...........

Anyway, thanks for all of your comments.............Your replies have me discussing the "what to dos" with my wife, going to the range with my 38 and 12 ga, and looking at the SKS, Garand, and various hunting rifles.................The search continues for a reasonable price...........

Yes, God..........YOU are still blessing OUR country......Thank YOU........Amen........Dennis

 

[Tororider]

Dennis if you are wanting to add to the rumors don't go to the range. Practice right in your backyard. Pile up some dirt and shoot down into it. When word that large caliber gunfire is coming from your house, your work will be done, hehe.

 

[DennisArrow]

Toro.......As it happens, the gvmnt, forestry, has a range maybe a half mile up the road. Often on Sat mornings this time of year it sounds like a war zone up there..........If I point my finger from about 230 degrees and swing to 360 there isn't a house within MANY miles.........Maybe Chicago?...........But who is to say who is wandering around up on the ridge half a mile away in the National Forest.......I do need to be careful down range even out here........Many times we target shoot or sight in a weapon against a berm and think nothing of it...........

Actually, many is the time, this time of year the tree rats are migrating getting the acorns and perhaps 2 or 3 times a day I will be out pluggin away with the 22 getting fresh meat for the guard dogs.........Or, neighbors (can a neighbor be a mile away?) will frequently step out their back door and pop some fresh venison for the table..........Yes, it makes one be alert but very seldom continues for longer than a round or two............Have several convicted felons living around.......when I hear a round go off over that way(s) it never amazes me when the sheriff pulls up a little bit later.............

Anyway, as I originally posted, a Keep out/no trespassing sign is down at the bottom of my road and greeting folks when they just happen to come on up anyway and turn around when they get to the 4 wheel section with a weapon in my hand has served it's purpose for the rumor mill quite well for diminishing traffic on my road..........And NO, there have never been any pointing of weapons at folks, only once the 12 ga in the air when the guy took off at 11PM like a scalded rabbit upon seeing me and not stopping to talk a bit about his behaviors, and yes, my wife, at night is over behind a tree with the million watt light in their cab as I try to explain that they are tresspassing and have no business up here............
Gotta keep those "Rural Legends" alive............God Bless.........Dennis