The decision to purchase a gun for home defense isn’t always an easy one. In many cases it’s triggered by a need to feel safe after an incident has already occurred.
But it isn’t a decision you have to face alone. Current statistics suggest that 42% of US households own at least one gun.
The Type Of Gun
The exact type you get will depend upon your preference and the rules in your state. Obviously the handgun is an exceptionally popular choice. But, there are many homes which also have a carbine. This is a light semi-automatic rifle often simply referred to as an AR.
At first this might seem like a drastic choice. After all they appear to be far more powerful than your traditional hand gun. In fact there are approximately 5 million US citizens with an AR-15 rifle.
You will also need to read more about the accessories that go with an AR.
Why Use A Carbine
There are several good reasons why a carbine might be the solution you need for home defense:
- Stopping Power
Even if you’re an experienced shooter, you’re likely to feel extremely stressed when faced with a life-and-death situation.
An AR will give you the ability to respond with superior stopping power and capacity. AR’s have sufficient power to stop any person and most animals you’re likely to run across in North America. The AR’s capacity let you fire until the threat is stopped.
- Ease Of Use
An AR is relatively light, well-balanced and the controls are intuitively in the right places. That means that just about any member of your family should be able to use it if they have to.
And given the dynamics of the .223 or 5.56 most AR’s fire, recoil will be generally light and manageable.
And with their ergonomics, AR’s are easy to use for both right-and left handed shooters.
- Compact
While an AR is certainly more of a challenge to maneuver than a handgun, a carbine’s 16-inch barrel makes them relatively easy to handle in the confines of most homes.
If you hold a carbine against your shoulder in the firing position and then hold a handgun in front of you, you’ll find there is very little difference in effective length.
- Sight Options
Your chosen red dot sight system will allow you to quickly get on target, rapidly increasing the chance that you’ll be able to engage the threat quickly and accurately.
This makes the AR a highly effective weapon for home defense. Looks aren’t important, The carbine’s ability to do the job and to do it well are what counts. The carbine does this exceptionally well, even with minimal training.
It’s worth noting that having a carbine at home will make you feel much safer than just a handgun. But, as with all weapons, they can be dangerous in the wrong hands. As with all your firearms, be sure to story your carbine and ammunition safely.