Another HD Pistol vs Rifle Thread (or Pistol vs Pistol)

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Lately I have been doing alot more shooting with my AR (both rilfe 16" and 10.5" pistol. Currently I have a HD setup of a S&W MP pistol by my bedside with a light secured. However after watching some newer videos, and doing more shooting with the AR I am rethinking if I want to switch to the 10.5 as my primary HD bedside. I only want one option so as to not have to make a decision in the moment, below are the pros and cons I can think of for each, what do you guys use and whats your thoughts?

AR -
Pros: More stopping power / lethality
More Ammunition without reload
Red dot fast sit acquisition

Cons:
Much more noise and muzzleblast
Harder to use a free hand for tasks

S&W handgun-
Pros:
Many more rounds sent downrange and comp's ran
More maneuverability and free hand to direct children/wife

Cons:
Less power
Less capacity
 
Lately I have been doing alot more shooting with my AR (both rilfe 16" and 10.5" pistol. Currently I have a HD setup of a S&W MP pistol by my bedside with a light secured. However after watching some newer videos, and doing more shooting with the AR I am rethinking if I want to switch to the 10.5 as my primary HD bedside. I only want one option so as to not have to make a decision in the moment, below are the pros and cons I can think of for each, what do you guys use and whats your thoughts?

AR -
Pros: More stopping power / lethality *** more overpenetration
More Ammunition without reload *** heavier
Red dot fast sit acquisition*** Red dot blinds you when there is no other light

Cons:
Much more noise and muzzleblast*** True
Harder to use a free hand for tasks*** No free hand available, try shooting it with one hand and see how that works

S&W handgun-
Pros:
Many more rounds sent downrange and comp's ran*** Nothing beats familarity
More maneuverability and free hand to direct children/wife***Practice with one hand to make it easier

Cons:
Less power*** True but see above
Less capacity*** Most fights are solved within 5 shots
 
Lately I have been doing alot more shooting with my AR (both rilfe 16" and 10.5" pistol. Currently I have a HD setup of a S&W MP pistol by my bedside with a light secured. However after watching some newer videos, and doing more shooting with the AR I am rethinking if I want to switch to the 10.5 as my primary HD bedside. I only want one option so as to not have to make a decision in the moment, below are the pros and cons I can think of for each, what do you guys use and whats your thoughts?

AR -
Pros: More stopping power / lethality
More Ammunition without reload
Red dot fast sit acquisition

Cons:
Much more noise and muzzleblast
Harder to use a free hand for tasks

S&W handgun-
Pros:
Many more rounds sent downrange and comp's ran
More maneuverability and free hand to direct children/wife

Cons:
Less power
Less capacity

To counter the "good points":

5.56 will over penetrate the target >maybe< but they have been shown less likely to penetrate multiple barriers so it is less likely to carry through multiple rooms and be a danger to others. The rounds disrupt and break apart quickly where slower pistol rounds can carry on through multiple barriers such as dry wall. At "house" distance the AR velocity is still usually above the 2,200 FPS threshold of tissue disruption, not just poking holes like a pistol does. So even with a pass through, you will get massive tissue damage which will drop bad guys faster.

Of course its heavier, its twice as many rounds, at least. When defending your family you will not say "gee, this gun sho is heavy". If anything, it turns into a heck of a club if the swinging commences. You are not marching for miles into combat where you have to carry it.

Red dots may blind you when there is no other light. But no one is going to be pulling the trigger in a zero light situation. You have to illuminate your target to know what you are shooting at. Unless someone is recommending just blasting away at movement or sound. That's not very responsible.

Noise and muzzle blast? 9mm has been rated at 160 decibles nad 5.56 is rated around 155. So sound wise, you will not know a difference. There may be more muzzle blast, but when you are shooting the bad guy, that is going to be the least of your concerns. Accuracy and follow up shots is what will matter.

Harder to use with one hand? This is slightly true, but an AR pistol can still be manipulated one handed, and even when pistol shooting, most of us train a two handed firing style in order to maximize control and follow up. You can still shoulder an AR pistol and manipulate things with the other hand.

Less power = Less power.
Less capacity = less capacity, it doesn't matter a lick what the "average confrontation" is. You are setting up to defend your family, we don't play to the lowest denominator.

There is a common saying that you use your pistol to fight your way to your rifle. There will be pro's and con's to every situation, and there is no perfect solution. But if I knew I was going into a fight for my family's life, I wouldn't settle on a pistol. I want to cheat, use an oppressive amount of firepower, and make the fight as unfair as possible.
 
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I like having a shoulder stock and an easily point and shoot targeting system esp when I may be awoken suddenly and my eyes are still half closed. Even the 7.5" AR pistols have more energy than any non-magnum pistol rounds, along with the 30+ rd capacity but the weight is a small concern for maybe smaller statured users (I think a fully loaded 5.56 AR mag weighs more than a loaded Glock 17) however swinging a ball bat at gun-weilding attackers isn't in my current wheelhouse.

Overpenetration isn't an issue with most of the expanding 5.56 HD rounds like Gold Dot and Nosler defense any more than a 9mm JHP would be. And 9mm FMJ penetrates sheetrock similar to 00 buck and other not-designed-for-defense rounds.
 
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All good points thank you.

I do a lot more shooting with an AR, and my shorty AR configured the way it is, even with a suppressor on the end, is extremely light weight. I can easily open doors with my support hand, dial 911, etc. You just have to balance it correctly

Most red dot sights have low light settings; you’re not using a daylight bright setting that’ll block the entire sight picture. I can take a picture of my Aimpoint on one of the lowest-yet still visible-settings if you want.

Research different 5.56 ammo types and see if over penetration is still a concern:
http://preparedgunowners.com/2016/0...for-home-defense-fbi-overpenetration-testing/
 
If I have a choice, I'll take the .556 over the 9 any day in a self defense situation. I don't care what that link says! The guys in the sandbox seem to prefer their rifles over their sidearms.
 
I would do this in two phases.

Phase 1
Security Plan
I would plan your defense in depth first in your home. I would design around the three defensive situations we all face. Based on the timelines you develop off the adversary actions you need to know when you began to interrupt the intrusion.

Example.

Home invasion
Detection: the front door is kicked in
Your location:
Defensive tools location:
Family typical location:

Based on these simple questions you can see how long it takes you to respond, that time is equal to the depth of intrusion. That depth changes +/- the quality of response.

Run this when you are awake, asleep, front door, back door. Once you figure out that one drill you can move on to the two other main situations.

Phase 2
Platform.

A rifle or braced pistol is faster in deployment and more accurate in every measured way over a handgun.

Handguns only advantage is concealable before use. IE storage locations, night stands and small safes, holstered on your body.

Both platforms can have the same advanced upgrades, rds, lights, lasers and higher cap then standard mags. IE G18 32rnd 9mm mags for a 9mm glock. A home defense pistol does not need to be the same set of requirements as a CCH pistol.

John
 
I came here to post 'people tend to overthink this' but then I read @JBoyette post and have to wonder if I've given it enough thought.
In any event if your weapon is ready, accessible, reliable, you are proficient with it, and you'll actually wake up when it's time, you'll have to try hard to convince me it matters what that weapon is.
 
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I came here to post 'people tend to overthink this' but then I read @JBoyette post and ave to wonder if I've given it enough thought.
In any event if your weapon is ready, accessible, reliable, you are proficient with it, and you'll actually wake up when it's time, you'll have to try hard to convince me it matters what that weapon is.

Underthinking and pure luck typically work for the ones who survive, but not so for the dead ones.

I say the best, quickest answer that covers 99% of all situations is to carry on your person when awake, even at home. This mitigates almost every option to gain access to a gun. In the meantime, while carrying, I would still develop a real security plan for ones home and understand the angles, shot distances in relation to timelines. Based on this data a person can then develop a training program to go do at the range that fits one real-world needs.

John
 
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I think an ar type rifle/pistol but something is better than nothing. I’d make sure to go over the plan with the wife so you’re on the same page though.
 
They’re actually mostly not good points and several of them are flat out wrong.....

So I guess he was responding to me then :) ..... Ok so maybe they arent ALL good points, but the only ones I personally dont line up on are the red dot blinding you ( I dont have enough experience in dark situations and red dots), and the over penetration (which my research tells me is actually less than 9mm). Other than that, I think the weight issue, the free hand issue, etc are valid good points. Would be interested in your thoughts on what else you have a different view on.
 
He was not responding to you John.

I got you, the point is being vague does not help the group. That's all.

So I guess he was responding to me then :) ..... Ok so maybe they arent ALL good points, but the only ones I personally dont line up on are the red dot blinding you ( I dont have enough experience in dark situations and red dots), and the over penetration (which my research tells me is actually less than 9mm). Other than that, I think the weight issue, the free hand issue, etc are valid good points. Would be interested in your thoughts on what else you have a different view on.

To your questions you are focusing on the concept you will be in a set defensive position, ready for action. To give directions to loved ones means you are barricaded covered down on the approach of the threat. This is a situation that has a huge leap in intel gathering of the perp. So in such a situation giving direction to loved ones is based on no planning, or communication prior to the invasion on the space.

The truth is, its better for you when barricaded to leave loved ones in place hunkered down and have them reinforce their situation and you move the BEST spot to defeat the adversary route. because you are an armed person.

But this still only covers one aspect, you have information that leads you to barricade BEFORE or AFTER the first contact.

We still have gaps in this conversation about an ambush/invasion of the space that is of no information until its sprong on your family.

John
 
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So I guess he was responding to me then :) ..... Ok so maybe they arent ALL good points, but the only ones I personally dont line up on are the red dot blinding you ( I dont have enough experience in dark situations and red dots), and the over penetration (which my research tells me is actually less than 9mm). Other than that, I think the weight issue, the free hand issue, etc are valid good points. Would be interested in your thoughts on what else you have a different view on.

Wrong again lol

He wasn’t responding to you or John.

With all due respect, Bailey’s answers were incorrect/outdated for the most part. I tried to address some of it in my reply but ARs aren’t all Pipboy wet dreams these days
 
Wrong again lol

He wasn’t responding to you or John.

With all due respect, Bailey’s answers were incorrect/outdated for the most part. I tried to address some of it in my reply but ARs aren’t all Pipboy wet dreams these days

LOL,

Bailey is on my ignored list. So,,,, yeah
 
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The good thing is my downstairs AC is broken so nobody wants to be down there for any length of time, so just overwatch the stairs and I'm good
 
If I have a choice, I'll take the .556 over the 9 any day in a self defense situation. I don't care what that link says! The guys in the sandbox seem to prefer their rifles over their sidearms.
Is that due to caliber or platform?

If you hypothetically flipped it...and had to choose between a handgun chambered in 5.56 or a rifle in 9, what are you choosing?
 
Is that due to caliber or platform?

If you hypothetically flipped it...and had to choose between a handgun chambered in 5.56 or a rifle in 9, what are you choosing?

I have a .556 pistol so I'll say that I would choose the .556. ;)
 
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