M1 or AR 15

[tenOC]

He made his money off of defending sewer rats, and lawyers are almost always hard left. So I don't care about that couple nor the troubles they're going to encounter in the future due to this episode.

I have always had a Glock around for that bump in the night, always thought it would be more then enough protection, but when I saw that film clip on the news of that couple in St. Louis with there home being surrounded by that bunch of rabid sewer rats and "no police" in sight, it got me to thinking, I'll bet that couple never thought it would happen to there home, just glad the both of them thought that far ahead. wonder what would have happened if they did not have there guns ? I think I know.
Bad things can happen over night, we've all seen it on the news every night, I hope this Country will soon get back to law and order, untill then I will start thinking about better ways to protect my family and home, I'm not sure a Glock is enough any more.
Thank's for all the great advice, I'm sticking with my M1's.

[lemaymiami]

Normally I'd just recommend that any one considering home defense go with what they're most familiar with - and in my case that means a basic riot gun in 12ga (equipped with a sling and something to carry a few extra shells -an elastic butt cuff with five extra rounds was always my preference on the street... ).

But... since this is a site all about military surplus and most have quite an attachment to anything in their collection... You might want to think twice about using that fine old carbine unless it's absolutely necessary because if you ever do end up using it - it's gone the moment the authorities come out to investigate your self defense incident... Just ask those folks in Missouri that were in the news recently ( and neither one fired a single shot ....). Even if no action results from a shooting you can bet it will be a long time (if ever) before you can get that collectible back... If you do prevail you can bet it's very likely you'll need a court order to force your local sheriff to return your property - and, of course, that means you're going to need an attorney with all the additional expense that entails...

These aren't "normal times" by any stretch - a basic riot gun new is still a bit less than a basic AR in ordinary times - either one will certainly do for home defense - that collectible carbine or other surplus battle tested item might be twice as valuable... so take your choice. I have read more than one account that currently defensive items are much more expensive - and in the case of a riot gun simply not in stock anywhere - but once things settle down (hopefully after November...) it's something to consider...

Here's hoping no one that reads this really needs something to defend their home or family. No good outcomes in that situation...

[old tanker]

With only the choice of those two, there'll be plenty of AR ammo and parts, mags available for a long time. Carbines? Not so much.

There is a considerable logistical advantage in using the same ammunition as the government issues its minions.

[lboos]

He made his money off of defending sewer rats, and lawyers are almost always hard left. So I don't care about that couple nor the troubles they're going to encounter in the future due to this episode.

And what would you say if it had been your home and family ten ?
Sounds like you know a lot about this family, could you let us know where you get your info.
And by the way it was: "rabid sewer rats"

[us019255]

One other advantage of the M1 carbine is the reduced need for cleaning. One normally does not have to clean the gas system between barrel changes. I remember the debacle of the M16 in 'Nam before more cleaning kits and proper training. also remember a recruiting poster my older son had on his bedroom wall when he was in high school.* It featured Army soldiers jumping out of a Huey into a hot LZ. Where one can see that the last one is carrying a M1 or M2 carbine not an M16. 'Nuff said.

*He did join the army, spent a year in Panama tossing Noriega out, and another in Germany when the wall came down. After two tours he quit because as an MP garrison duty sucked.

[tenOC]

And what would you say if it had been your home and family ten ?
Sounds like you know a lot about this family, could you let us know where you get your info.
And by the way it was: "rabid sewer rats"

That poor little baby evidently in his past has feuded with his neighbor, trespassed on his neighbor's property and even destroyed his neighbor's property.

I know what you were trying to present as an example, but he is not a good example. I'll double down; that guy plays with snakes and his life style/standing got him bit. He's an elitist jerk hypocrite. If you weren't informed about this particular person, why try to pretend someone else isn't? I didn't even try and learned where he got his money by him virtue signaling on TV about how he made millions by defending minorities who can't afford to defend themselves.

[davidwrankin]

But... since this is a site all about military surplus and most have quite an attachment to anything in their collection... You might want to think twice about using that fine old carbine unless it's absolutely necessary because if you ever do end up using it - it's gone the moment the authorities come out to investigate your self defense incident... Just ask those folks in Missouri that were in the news recently ( and neither one fired a single shot ....). Even if no action results from a shooting you can bet it will be a long time (if ever) before you can get that collectible back...

As some other posters mentioned, we can dislike the people and still use their example. That couple will probably never get their guns back, and if they do, they won’t be in usable condition and they’ll spend more on legal fees to get them back than they’re worth.

If you use a gun in a self-defense shooting, that gun is going to be held as evidence. For a while, it will sit in a climate-controlled office. They may clean it once to re-shoot it for ballistics, but it’s certainly going back into the box dirty eventually. Once the case gets old enough, it will go to a regular warehouse, where it will get cold, possibly wet, and certainly less safe than before. If you don’t go to trial, they will fight for years to keep the gun as “evidence in an ongoing investigation”. You will have to pay a lawyer thousands of dollars to sue for the gun, but the state has their lawyers on salary, so they can stall and run the clock against you. If you get it back at all, it could be a molded rustcicle. And let’s not even talk about the rate of theft out of evidence stores....

My father-in-law had a really nice shooting M1 Carbine that disappeared into my brother-in-law’s collection. I’ve started looking for another, but I can’t afford these retail prices right now. For self-defense, I’d suggest the same gun I’m “consoling” myself with right now: an AR-15 in .300 Blackout. A 16” rifle with lightweight kit is going to be about the same weight and feel very similar to the M1 Carbine. I am a fan of the AR pistol (or SBR rifle) with a 10” barrel for personal defense. If the M1 Carbine invented the Personal Defense Weapon category, the 300 Blackout AR-15 in 8” to 10” barrel configurations are the best current version of the PDW in the civilian world.

More importantly, they’re cranking out more AR-15s by the day. All kinds of kits available at PSA, etc. in the $500 to $800 range, even with the shortages. A local store wants $1600 - $2400 for a non-Universal M1 Carbine, and no one’s making any more of them.

OTOH, no one’s making any more of you either, and the gun is just a gun. If the best way to defend you is an M1 Carbine, go for it.

[lemaymiami]

Here's what I didn't say in my previous post... I did a 22 year career in police work down here in south Florida, retiring out in 1995. Did quite a few different jobs in those years before getting lucky enough to retire early. One of them was running the Property Room for my hundred man department for several years after getting promoted to sergeant with everything that entailed (we had it all soup to nuts from money to drugs, to every different kind of weapon..).

A police outfit has no incentive with property of any kind other than to keep it safe and properly accounted for... until it's needed for court or laboratory, etc. - and then to return it to its rightful owner if and when the court finally returns it (if that can be determined and the owner located..). Unfortunately that never includes any kind of cleaning or rust prevention - or anything else... You can bet that if the courts or prosecutors decline to release a firearm being held - you're going to need a court order to recover it - after all the back and forth that some politically charged incident is subject to... That's why I pointed out that using a valuable piece from your collection to defend yourself might not be your best choice...

Of course, if the wolf is at your door you'll grab whatever you need to take care of business... Glad I'm long out of that world. The moment I retired out I went back to school, got my captain's license and have spent the last 25 years on the water as much as possible - usually somewhere far from the big cities... I much prefer the anglers that are my customers to that other world, period...

[tenOC]

One is none, and two is one. All Carbines are expensive now compared to some other platforms, not even considering the historical aspect. But as someone posted the platform is more likely to survive the first next rounds of gun control.

davidwrankin, you're correct about how arms are typically treated while in custody and I agree with the frequency of them being stolen while in police custody. Individual police dept personnel steal guns quite frequently.

But in this case they'll be getting their guns back pretty quickly when the charges are dropped, which will probably be very soon.

[us019255]

One often hears horror stories of how a firearm involved in a defensive incident is not returned to the owner later. My take on that is that if I were to use a firearm in an incident, my life and/or the life of a loved one was on the line. My life, and the life of my loved ones is worth more than all the firearms I own.