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Do you trust 223/5.56 as a self defense caliber?

2.8K views 38 replies 27 participants last post by  Jesuvuah  
#1 ·
I just bought an AR semi in 223. I was very reluctant to purchase a carbine in this caliber, especially since i already own an AR10 in 308 and a few 12G pumps, but i wanted something a bit stronger than a handgun but still less powerful than 308&12G so my wife could use it effectivelly for home defense if need be.

But the more i read about this caliber, more doubts i get. If it is too weak to be considered effective on a 120lbs deer sized game, how will it be effective on potentially a huge 300lbs human attacker?

Your thoughts on this?
 
#30 ·
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
 
#7 ·
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.
 
#22 · (Edited)
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.
 
#26 ·
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.
.
 
#29 ·
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.
 
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#37 ·
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.
 
#36 ·
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
 
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