5.45 x 39 good for home defense?

[whataday]

Does anyone know if it will not overpenetrate?

[magnus392]

I would think any rifle cartridge would be really nasty about overpentetration in a house... Shotguns/pistols type rounds are less likely to be really bad about it.

[colonel sanders]

It will overpenetrate, using a shot gun with bird shot would be best

[whataday]

Isn't the bullet designed to yaw and tumble upon impact? Wouldn't that make it less likely to overpenetrate construction materials than, say, 9mm which is heavier?

[KernelKrink]

Some of the 5.45 bullets have an airspace in the tip, the core slams forward into it when the bullet hits something. This unbalances the bullet and it tumbles. This type of bullet would penetrate less than the other types. However, you have to also figure in velocity and energy, the 5.45X39 has more of both than the 9mm. OTOH, bullet penetration in building materials in the real world versus in theory can sometimes surprise you. IIRC, the FBI did a study on building materials and found .223 ball ammo from an M4 carbine penetrated LESS than 9mm ball from an MP5. This study involved actually firing rounds thrugh various materials, not just doing the math on paper.

A 12 guage shotgun is the best long gun for in-home defense. It is very powerful and the lighter buckshot and birdshot loads tend to get the job done while not overpentrating. It will still go through a wall or two but is not likely to go past 3. Handguns are more maneuverable inside a home but their power is substantially less and the ammo tends to penetrate further than shot. Glaser Safety Slugs and the like reduce this overpentration risk.

You also have to factor in your individual situation into the gun selection. Have a wife and 4 small children living in an apartment? Live alone on a rural road with the nearest neighbor 2 miles away? An AK in situation 2 would not be a bad choice, but a very poor one in #1.

A final consideration is the "reputation" of assault rifles in general and the AK in particular. Right or wrong, defending oneself with a more "politically correct" shotgun or handgun will probably result in better media coverage of the event, possibly even better treatment by the police and DA.

[The Grand Inquisitor]

As Krink hinted at, if you used you 5.45 rifle in a self-defense situation, you can be sure to get your ass bitten hard in court for over-using force against the criminal. Like it or not, the news reporter or lawyer will say, "Mr. So and So used his AK-47 (it's always an AK-47) Assualt Rifle to maul this man when he knew that a shotgun or pistol would be sufficiant to subdue him".

Unless you are planning on defending your house from 3 or more people, use a shotgun or pistol (most preferably a Steyr M9)...and if you do still need to defend against 3 or more.....move.

[16r40]

rifle round, going at 680 m/s.........ah yeah it will over penetrate

[Sarge]

How far out will they be when you start "Operation Home Defence"? 300 to 50 meters? Go for it! Inside the house I use a big piece of lead traveling at a relatively slow speed. Even better, someone makes a load that is designed NOT to penitrate past one sheet of drywall. Can't remember the name but if you call the local law enforcement station I would bet they would know. Or try some gun shops. Load some .38's well below subsonic and it wan't wake up the wife and kids. You'll have the mess cleaned up before it's time to drive them to school. Hua?
Respectfully,
Sarge

[colonel sanders]

Im saving up for a remington 870 now, buck shot for those outside, bird shot for those inside is how i plan on using it, outside 30-40 yards(will buck shot do lethal damage at that distance?
the one on the bottom is the one i want, MSRP-$345, and ill get a barrel that is longer and modified so i can shoot birds
http://www.remington.com/images/firearms/870expsyn18.JPG

[thekatar]

The 5.45x45mm bullet does not deform or fragment, generally. All rifle bullets "tumble" to place their center of mass in a forward position, and this makes them yaw through 90 degrees. The 5.45mm would be a poor choice for home defense.

A .45 acp or a .357 magnum hollow point would serve you well. Some people use Glasers if they are really concerned about overpenetration, but the effectiveness of Glasers is hotly debated.

You can load 2 Glasers then 3 Federal Hydrashok hollow points in a .357 magnum revolver and probably cover your bases very well.

Don't forget that pump 12 gauge shotgun. If overpenetration is a big concern, then I'd go with the game load (i.e. birdshot) but only in this case. Otherwise stick to 00 buckshot.

[colonel sanders]

I was going to use bird shot in the house, so it wont over penetrate the person, and buck shot for anybody outside, because my yard is prety big and i want it to reach them

[KernelKrink]

Unless you are dealing with a SHTF scenario and there are dozens of MAD MAX types attacking your domicile, why would you be shooting at something 40 yards away?

[colonel sanders]

One example, A stranger exits his car and heads towards you with a gun and you would rather shoot him from a distance rather than in your house or up close

[Sarge]

I would think that even having rock salt shot at you would send anyone running. I don't do PCP or Crack (Darn those govt Regs!!!) so I don't know how they might react to a loud blast directed at them. When in country my closest neighbor is about 3/4 mile away. The dogs are my early warning system. To be honest I rearly have a gun with in reach. In THIS country that is... I still feel very nervous at the mall/Walmart and going under overpasses. That's a whole different subject though...
Respectfully,
Sarge