Best Home Defense Ammo

[J-gunner]

Is a shorter barrel 5.56 really going to make any difference at home defense distances?

Velocity drops pretty dramatically as barrel length shortens, as does the likelihood of bullet fragmentation, and bullet fragmentation is the name of the game. So yes, to me, barrel length makes a difference.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Velocity drops pretty dramatically as barrel length shortens, as does the likelihood of bullet fragmentation, and bullet fragmentation is the name of the game. So yes, to me, barrel length makes a difference.

So, shorter barrels aren't effective at 15-20 yards because the projectile won't fragment?

 

[studenygreg]

So, shorter barrels aren't effective at 15-20 yards because the projectile won't fragment?

Check out YouTube. There are several videos on sbr ballistics. Some ammo performs well even with a 7.5" barrel.

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[J-gunner]

So, shorter barrels aren't effective at 15-20 yards because the projectile won't fragment?

No, I don't think a shorter barrels are as effective.

 

[studenygreg]

No, I don't think a shorter barrels are as effective.

Arent effective and arent as effective are very different.

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[DyeF9]

I have no qualms with anything over 2400 fps. Depending on the ammo, even a 10.5" barrel would be fine. If it's suppressed it'll still keeping gaining velocity after it's out of the barrel. If it's a fragmenting round, it should say what velocities are required though

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[zackmars]

Is a shorter barrel 5.56 really going to make any difference at home defense distances?

No. It's not even going to make a difference at 100 yards or longer with proper ammo selection.

 

[J-gunner]

Arent effective and arent as effective are very different.

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They aren't not wholly different.

 

[HKaltwasser]

They do have sbr ammo for shorter barrels now.

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I heard, Walmart stopped selling SBR ammo.

 

[HKaltwasser]

Velocity drops pretty dramatically as barrel length shortens, as does the likelihood of bullet fragmentation, and bullet fragmentation is the name of the game. So yes, to me, barrel length makes a difference.

The only question now is: How big is your house?

 

[J-gunner]

The only question now is: How big is your house?

I live in an apartment, so not huge.

 

[HKaltwasser]

I live in an apartment, so not huge.

So ballistics are less of an issue, the actual load is the question. Fragmentation is determined by the load and target, not the barrel length in most cases.

 

[J-gunner]

So ballistics are less of an issue, the actual load is the question. Fragmentation is determined by the load and target, not the barrel length in most cases.

Both are factors in fragmentation, and both are factors I've previously mentioned.

 

[HKaltwasser]

Both are factors in fragmentation, and both are factors I've previously mentioned.

You'll see in this video that I posted earlier that the penetration is deeper in the 11.5" barrel but the expansion is slightly less. The differences are negligible at best from a soft point. If those differences mean that much then it may not be the best option.....know your background. In that case #8 birdshot may be the answer.

 

[gshayd]

It depends on the elbow room you have between houses and apartments. If a bullet penetrates your apartment wall and wounds or kills somebody you have some problems. Use what you want but be mindful of where your shots would possibly harm members of your family of the neighbors in an apartment building.