I read that 223 vs 556 thread... I had dropped out of it weeks ago.
It made my head hurt.
Just so full of "wanna hate"...
The 5.56 rounds used by the military, even the top tier guys who could source some slightly better stuff, are not using the best ammo for the job.
Even the top tier guys had rules, regulations and requirements to meet. The 77gr OTM is a match bullet, not a bullet designed for lethality.
LE and SWAT definitely use their ammo and rifles enough to be statistically relevant.
The larger statistical data load from the military comes primary from standard troops using standard issue ammo, not top tier guys using slightly better ammo...
Military ammo is designed to deal with a wide variety of situations and therefore compromises in all of them... Hard barrier penetration, armor, gear like magazines... And the hamstringing of various international rules...
In the civilian world, there are less considerations, or it's less complicated on the whole... So ammo available to us is much better for close range work against typical criminal types.
I think someone mentioned using birdshot in a shotgun in that thread... EW...
So back to the topic at hand...
The first reply nailed most of it right off the bat.
I can get better lethality, and less wall penetration from a miss with properly selected 223 ammo.
Those are my primary concerns... Stopping the bad guy, and limiting lethality due to misses penetrating into multiple rooms.
For that I use 60gr vmax 223 ammo. It has good lethality, and breaks up into fragments quickly when it hits typical wallboard. (55gr vmax or the Hornady TAP that uses vmax bullets, breaks up even more in walls, but looses some lethality)
I could gain in lethality at the expense of increased wall penetration, by using something like 62-69gr expanding bullets, and it is a good choice for those not worried about the bullet leaving the house.
I would never select any other rifle caliber for the role though. While something like 308 and 7.62x39 are very effective, they lose some or most all of the limited wall penetration of lightweight 223.
Typically a rifle is easier to use and aim than a handgun under stress.
Shotguns are effective, but the larger recoil, lower capacity, increased wall penetration, and user reliant reliability factor make me leave it as a secondary choice.
Currently my HD rifle is a 16in AR.
I will be moving to a pistol soon though... A 10.5in AR pistol. A fully collapsed arm brace and 6in less barrel willake for a handier package in the house.
My ammo choice will not suffer much from the velocity loss. Though I would not suggest going shorter in my opinion.
There are definitely drawbacks of a rifle over a pistol.
The blast is louder from a rifle... Though if a silencer is an option for you, it does help a lot, even with supersonic ammo. It will at least be quieter than typical handgun ammo.
It is harder to use a free hand with a rifle. Not impossible, if you have enough strength to support a a rifle with one hand as you manipulate doors and other things. Still a pistol is easier.
A rifle does require more skill and practice to move effectily through a building. Though usually best practice is to grab your defensive firearm and stay put, not go looking for the threat... Unless mitigating circumstances dictate that you would need to.
Shotguns have all the same disadvantage as a rifle when it comes to the size factor, but without many benefits. Ammo versatility means nothing on a HD shotgun. You pick a load and have it ready. I'm not fiddling with choosing what ammo is best after the front door is kicked in.
A shotgun may have more lethality, but so what.
"My shotgun has enough lethality to kill a man twice over"
Well my AR has enough lethality to kill him once... And that's all I need.
And killing isn't my concern anyway, my concern is stopping a threat. I'm content with the bad guy rolling around on the floor crying for his mommy, so long as he isn't trying to cause more harm to me and mine.
