Home Defense Guide Ranks the AR-15 Ahead of Shotguns and Handguns

A home defense buyer's guide from RECOIL weighs the AR-15, pistol caliber carbines, shotguns and handguns, and concludes that the AR-15 suits most households best.

Key points

• Top pick: The author calls the AR-15 his "hands-down" recommendation, citing its low cost, 30-round magazines, easy accessory mounting, and 5.56 NATO passing through fewer drywall layers than most common rounds.
• Carbines: Nine-millimeter carbines are suggested for smaller shooters or people with arthritis, since they usually take less strength to run. The guide names the CZ Scorpion EVO as a middle choice and the SIG Sauer MPX for bigger budgets.
• Shotguns: RECOIL says a shotgun still has to be aimed, that #4 buck penetrates walls less than 00 buck, and points to the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical and the 9-shot Mossberg 590A1 Magpul.
• Handguns: Rated hardest to master, though a Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS is offered for anyone wanting one gun for carry and home use.
• Training first: The writer argues a $200 Maverick 88 plus a class and 1,000 practice shells beats a $1,200 Beretta 1301 with no class and two boxes of ammo.

Quick take

RECOIL stresses that the right choice depends on budget, local laws, home layout and physical ability, and that defensive ammunition, a weapon-mounted light and steady practice matter as much as the gun. The author keeps an AR-15 by his bed but urges readers to try options at a range before buying.

Read the full story at RECOIL.