The AR-15 is arguably the most popular rifle in the US — and for good reason. It’s easy to shoot, easy to repair, and easy to customize for the end user’s purposes. It seems like every month there is a new producer of parts and accessories for the AR-15. By far, they’re the most popular rifle in training classes. As common as they are, everyone should have at least one AR-15!
Unfortunately, the AR-15 is not available to everyone in America. In some locales, they are severely restricted; if not banned outright. Meanwhile, in other areas, if someone were to use an AR-15 to defend themselves, the local prosecutor may actually go after them simply because of the defensive firearm’s appearance. In addition, there is the possibility some members of the household are just not comfortable having one in the home. So, what are the alternatives to an AR-15 if we can’t have one?
Pistol Caliber Carbines
Pistol caliber carbines, or PCCs, are nothing new. They’ve been around since the 1870s in lever action form and have had a resurgence of popularity in the form of guns like the Kel-Tec Sub-2000 and Ruger PC9. The advantage of these PCCs is they are chambered in 9mm and conveniently take the very common Glock 9mm magazines. With a pistol caliber cartridge, these rifles are exceptionally easy for just about anyone in the home to shoot and operate. I’ve had one in my home for a few years and used it with regularity around the farm.
Pistol caliber lever action rifles are still popular and used every weekend by cowboy action shooters. They’re available in almost every handgun caliber from .22LR to .45 Colt — even up to the mighty .500 Smith & Wesson. Arguably, the most popular calibers for our uses are the .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum. The ability to use .38 Special and .44 Special, respectively, allows recoil-sensitive shooters to learn how to adequately manipulate these rifles. Lever action rifles are also perceived by non-gun people as a lot less scary than some of the so-called “black guns”. If you get spotted carrying one out of your vehicle or putting it in the back seat of your truck, there’s less risk of the, “Oh my God, he’s got an assault rifle” and more likelihood of, “What’s that? Oh, it’s just a deer rifle.”
For those worried about capacity and rapid-fire capability, keep something in mind. The vast majority of self-defense incidents are resolved with what’s in the gun. For example, my Winchester Wrangler holds nine rounds of .44 Magnum or .44 Special. There aren’t many problems that can’t be solved with nine rounds of .44 caliber hollow points. Furthermore, most bad guys aren’t willing to wait around once the shooting starts. Interestingly, I’ve never heard anyone say the .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum are ineffective fight stoppers.
Bolt Action Rifles
While not the most optimal choice, the bolt action rifle is certainly capable of saving your life. Remember, rifles like the 1903 Springfield and 98 Mauser were in every major global conflict during the first half of the twentieth century. Common hunting rifles like the Winchester Model 70, Ruger M77, or Remington 700 chambered in popular calibers typically hold four to five rounds. These larger hunting cartridges are absolutely devastating on target.
Of course, there’s a price for that on-target power. It’s imperative you have an appropriate backstop that will contain those rounds if you miss the target. So, for those living in mobile home parks or apartments, these guns and calibers may not be for you.
There’s also the problem of size. Most hunting rifles are supplied with a barrel anywhere from 22 to 26 inches. That’s a lot of gun to be swinging around inside your home. Having it cut down or replaced like I did on my Remington 600 in .308 Winchester will make it a lot more maneuverable indoors.
Shotguns
Shotguns have been the traditional choice for home defense for a long time. Even some homes that aren’t the most friendly toward guns usually have a shotgun in a closet somewhere. Shotguns are perhaps the most common firearm in the US and around the world. They’re available everywhere and usually exempted from local gun restrictions. Even the most restrictive countries typically allow them. They’re offered in single barrel, double barrel, pump action, semi-automatic, and even lever action varieties.
There is a lot of myth and misinformation surrounding the shotgun (I’ll get into more detail about that in an upcoming article). Suffice to say, the shotgun is both a simple and complicated weapon to use. I consider the shotgun a niche weapon, but inside its niche, there is nothing better.
Now, do you need the latest hotness of the Beretta 1301 Tactical or a custom Wilson Combat Remington 870 Police? In all reality, while those are nice to have, you don’t need a thousand-dollar shotgun. You need to be able to run the one you have. It doesn’t matter if you have a single-barrel Harrington & Richardson shotgun or a full-length side-by-side shotgun like a Winchester Model 24 in 12 gauge. They may offer only one or two rounds, but that’s still nothing I want to stand in front of.
Training
Whatever you choose, you have to get out and train with it — especially with manually operated guns. You have to make the action of manipulating the bolt or lever an automatic response. The same goes for working the pump shotgun. Most people only use these types of guns in the hunting field or at the range. You’ll need to work the action on these guns more vigorously than you probably ever have.
Summary
While the latest and greatest AR-15 for the defense of hearth and home is great, don’t be discouraged if all you have is a double-barreled shotgun or lever action rifle. It’s still more than capable of saving the lives of you and your family — if you do the work. Get out and practice and train with what you have!
