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From: wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: re: home defense
Message-ID: <11191@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 31-May-85 16:07:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.11191
Posted: Fri May 31 16:07:06 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Jun-85 13:48:44 EDT
References: <1178@hound.UUCP> <27200001@gypsy.UUCP>
Reply-To: wmartin@brl-bmd.UUCP
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Organization: USAMC ALMSA
Lines: 34

Re using an AR-15 or M1 Carbine for in-house defense: the main problem
with either of these is that, for ultimate reliability, you want
military-type full-metal-jacket bullets in the cartridges you use.
Yet those are also highly penetrating, and can zing right through
most modern (= shoddy) construction, through your house walls into
your neighbors' houses, through several rooms within your house, etc.

Now, if you live in a good solid old house, and/or you live out in
open country, this might make no difference, and those would be good 
choices for the other reasons mentioned (plus being longer-ranged for
outdoor use, like eliminating a biker band or whatever). However, if
you live in a suburban tract house or urban townhouse or a condo, this
can be bad news.

In that latter case, look into a *20-gauge* shotgun, which reduces
the problems you cited with a 12-gauge shotgun, yet has just about
all the advantages. You can get nice pump 20-gauges for $130 or so
on sale at K-Mart or the like, or fancier ones for ~$220 (like a
Remington 870), or a semiauto Remington 1100 for ~$250 (even less
recoil with that, though you trade off a modicum of reliability).

At home-defense ranges, a 20-gauge is just as lethal as a 12-gauge.
Use #6 shot for minimizing wall penetration; it is just as deadly at
close range as buckshot or slugs -- 1 1/4 oz. of lead (or thereabouts)
has a similar effect no matter how it is divided up, when it is travelling
in a compact bundle (which is what you have at close range).

Plus you can easily practice at skeet & trap ranges, easier to find
than rifle ranges these days.

Regards,
Will Martin

USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin     or   ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA