Yes. There is a reason we use it in LE. Just don't use penetrator rounds. Use a good LE load.

 

I'm not sure I would use a LE load, they tend to be bonded and are made to be okay through multiple different things (glass, metal, wood, sheetrock) but not good at them. I would go with a good heavier soft point and I think it would work great as a self defense rifle. I can tell you they do work.

Corey

 

I trusted it in US Army for my life and the men and women who served with me .

 

It does its job well if you do yours. .223/5.56 bonded SPs like Gold Dots, Fusions, or TBBCs are very effective rounds.

 

 

It's a 1 shot man stopper. Proven.

 

The thing is, the bullet is just too small to have any penetrating momentum left in it after it strikes the slightest (even soft barrier like thick leather clothing) barrier and it loses velocity and energy real fast. Actually it's main wounding potential is through yaw, fragment or/and tumble. After watching hundreds of 223/5.56 ballistic calibrated gel videos, i am seeing the same old two scenarios all over again.

1. Either the bullet just passes thru (usually a 55gr fmj), leaves a pencil .22 entry&exit hole and does not do any serious damage

Or 2. In the case of "self defense" ammo (often just repackaged and renamed varmint ammo) like SP or HP,
It has a huge fragmentation with wide TSC, BUT too shallow penetration. Sometimes even as little as 6", but almost never above 14".

People in US worry way too much about overpenetration, but not enough about real problem- underpenetration. And the latter is a huge problem of 223/5.56 round.

 

Bonded LE loads such as the Gold Dot and Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw do not have the underpenetration issue you are concerned about, and are far more effective than any service pistol caliber.

 

7.62x39 > 5.56

 

The 5.56 is miles ahead of any commonly used defensive handgun round when it comes to defensive use against people. As has been said us a good bonded round, I.e. federal 62 grain bonded and it will do its job. Is it perfect? No. Other options could be argued but when combined with the AR package it is tough to beat for defensive use.

 

Shot a 185lb whitetail at 150yds last year and it was DRT. Who said it was not an effective deer cartridge? An idiot I suppose.

 

Seems to be a widely adopted round in conflicts around the world. Shot placement, accuracy and quick follow up shots with minimal recoil. I own my fair share and hope I never need to find out. I like my .308’s too but not necessarily light and maneuverable

 

The thing I learned in combat, is that there is no such thing as “stopping power”.

people’s ability to hang on and fight after being shot was a real wake up call.

Adapt your training accordingly, regardless what caliber you run

 

Have killed multiple whitetails and innumerable wild pigs with 5.56. Shot placement is critical, but in truth is critical regardless of caliber. For pigs and human varmints I load the Hornady TAP or Critical Duty.

 

With SD ammo the soft tissue damage is quite significant for the caliber I trust it without question. Plus the low recoil makes follow up shots supa fast.

 

Well....I imagine if you have to....and if you accidentally picked up your 308 instead of the 223....that you will not need to be concerned about your attacker suing you ?

 

TAP rounds
Urban if you have neighbors in close proximity or the barrier defeating if not.
Agreed with AF-dropped plenty of hogs including big Russians with T2’s. Shot placement.

Also to be fair hunting laws sometime have more to do with what if you miss than how effective it is. That’s why straight walled cartridges (bigger slower shorter range) are mandated in some areas and tapered are allowed in others.

 

is proven well enough to stop a man and send him to the next level more than once....

 

Despite rumors to the contrary, there are stupid questions.

 

yes i trust it

 

For most of my life I put off buying a 5.56 chambered MSR because I thought it was an underpowered plaything.

I bought one and discovered that it is an optimized carbine, very effective on deer with the appropriate bullet. 60 years of military and at least 30 years of LE use.

So now I think the 5.56 chambered MSR is the perfect personal defense carbine. I'm happy with plain old M193 from my 16" barrel. But I also load varmint 55gr sp and 77gr TMK for deer ammo as the mood strikes me. I love the flexibility.

I'm kind of old school - I'd much rather have a rifle if I had to get into a fight. The 5.56 chambered MSR is hard to beat, imo.
.

 

Just look at the results of the military use. The ones I've seen ,very few survived with a COM shot of any police/civilian shooting.

 

My “bedroom” AR is loaded with polymer tipped varmint rounds.
Massad Ayoob has stated plenty of cases where police have one shot stopped bad guys with ARs and varmint style pills.

 

My “bedroom” AR is loaded with polymer tipped varmint rounds.
Massad Ayoob has stated plenty of cases where police have one shot stopped bad guys with ARs and varmint style pills.

No doubt an explosive 40gr varmint superformance round from Hornady would do a severe damage to a person if it'd hit them directly and not at the angle through hands, shoulders or through very thick clothing.
But so many scenarios can play into, that's why FBI came up with 12" minimun penetration.
Personally i prefer rounds that have 14-16" pen, but everyone has different priorities.

 

I like Ayoob’s autopsy descriptions better than gel tests. Just saying.

 

I would suspect you’re reading the wrong “reports”. Number one I discount many military complaints because on percentage alone because those that wear linen on their heads and VN millions are pushing up daisy’s due to 5.56.
That said I ain’t shooting ball ammo in the house at bad guys. I’m running thin jacketed polymer tips. It gets in the torso it’s tearing things up.
And most that discount the .223 REM/5.56 have an ax to grind.
I trust the reports from the street not some rag writers jello tests. Jmho

 

55gr Hornady V-Max.