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NWPilgrim · October 18, 2009, 06:30 PM

Your AR15 is fine as a defensive weapon as is, even with iron sights. The jams can be resolved. Keep it clean as already mentioned.

You don't need a variety of ammo. Pick one that serves most of your purposes and get familiar with it. 55 gr is cheap to shoot and is generally effective for defense (excluding barriers) to 200 yds, especially with 20" barrels that give greater velocity. 62 gr FMJ is supposed to be the least effective due to the reduced velocity. 64 gr soft points could be a good all around defensive round. The 70 gr - 75 gr HP are supposed to be pretty good all around rounds, against barriers and effective at reduced velocities in short barrels.

ETA: If you like the AR platform then getting a second one in 6.8 or the other cartridges mentioned is a good idea. It would give you redundancy in lowers and commonality in handling and accessories. On the other hand the M1A is a fine rifle and as you said you don't have to be too picky about bullet weight to be effective.

Personally I would lean toward getting the M1A just because I like that platform and size cartridge so much, but also spend some time working out the kinks in your AR shooting (cleaning, settling on a single ammo type). The RRA is a quality rifle and should be able to run reliably.

October 18, 2009, 06:30 PM	#10
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,357	Your AR15 is fine as a defensive weapon as is, even with iron sights. The jams can be resolved. Keep it clean as already mentioned. You don't need a variety of ammo. Pick one that serves most of your purposes and get familiar with it. 55 gr is cheap to shoot and is generally effective for defense (excluding barriers) to 200 yds, especially with 20" barrels that give greater velocity. 62 gr FMJ is supposed to be the least effective due to the reduced velocity. 64 gr soft points could be a good all around defensive round. The 70 gr - 75 gr HP are supposed to be pretty good all around rounds, against barriers and effective at reduced velocities in short barrels. ETA: If you like the AR platform then getting a second one in 6.8 or the other cartridges mentioned is a good idea. It would give you redundancy in lowers and commonality in handling and accessories. On the other hand the M1A is a fine rifle and as you said you don't have to be too picky about bullet weight to be effective. Personally I would lean toward getting the M1A just because I like that platform and size cartridge so much, but also spend some time working out the kinks in your AR shooting (cleaning, settling on a single ammo type). The RRA is a quality rifle and should be able to run reliably. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison Last edited by NWPilgrim; October 18, 2009 at 06:50 PM.