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Erno86 posted
I would be hesitant in using a 5.45X39 for home defense, for fear of having some errant bullet go thru drywall; or hitting my next door neighbor's house.
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A .223 V-Max ballistic-tipped hollow point round will have FAR better terminal ballistics on the human body than any .45 ACP round, and at the same time it will fragment and penetrate through walls less than almost any handgun round or even most self-defense shotgun loads. I would expect a 5.45 V-Max to have similar results.
Quote:
Gmony.308 posted
AK47's are great for urban warfare, but I'd go with a high capacity pump for home defense any day.
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A rifle like the AR-15 or AK-74 is is a superior home-defense weapon than a shotgun in my opinion. A shotgun's recoil can be difficult for some people, especially smaller, newer shooters, whereas an AR-15 or AK-74 has barely more recoil than a .22. Also, most semi-auto carbines are shorter than most shotguns and much easier to use one-handed. Pump shotguns can be cumbersome and require two hands, and semi-auto shotguns aren't usually as reliable as a good semi-auto rifle; and unless the shooter is extremely consistant, even a pump is less reliable than a rifle. And I can put 2 or 3 rounds center mass with a rifle as fast as I can hit just once with a shotgun, making the rifle more effective in the same amount of time. And contrary to popular belief, you do need to aim with a shotgun; at home defense ranges the blast is only going to spread a few inches. Also, a rifle is going to have a much higher magazine capacity and will be much faster to reload. In addition, the aforementioned V-Max rounds will punch through soft body armor but will penetrate less through walls than buckshot, meaning you're less likely to kill your neighbors or family members in another room.
If the sound of a pump shotgun is what you're looking for, the sound of a round being racked into the chamber of a rifle isn't exactly welcoming. But I don't like that tactic; it either means you didn't have a round chambered already or you're ejecting a round onto the ground. With a shotgun that's a good percentage of ammo lost. And don't forget that making that sound gives your position away.
There's nothing wrong with using a shotgun for home defense, but I think a semi-auto rifle in .223 or 5.45 is easier to use, more effective (especially against multiple attackers and people wearing body armor), and also safer for innocent bystanders because of less penetration through walls.