Using the AK for HD? Maybe not a good idea.

[Ichiban]

(This is a repost - the original post seems to have gotten eaten by the server upgrade)

Especially if you live in an apartment.   DOH!

Colorado Springs police arrested a man Wednesday night after a shot from an AK-47 traveled through several walls at the Foothills Apartments and came to rest in a bathroom two apartments away.

According to a police report, Jason R. Moore allegedly fired off one shot accidentally while in apartment No. 15 of the western Colorado Springs complex. The bullet went through multiple walls in apartment No. 16 and into an occupied bathroom in No. 17.


http://www.gazette.com/articles/apartments-112642-police-through.html

[fightingquaker13]

I don't have a real problem with this. If you fire a bullet, you own it. Saying "oops" doesn't make a bystander any less dead from an ND (as seems the case here) or from a missed shot in an SD situation. I would think that in the latter case that lenciency should be shown if the first shot was justified, the same same way cops get off the hook. Stiill, the post brings up a very good point. Does using an AK, the very eviliest and nastiest of all the EBRs cause a problem? Are you more likely to be looking at jail if yuu use an AK rather than a .270?   
FQ13

[r_w]

Are you more likely to be looking at jail if yuu use an AK rather than a .270?   
FQ13

Yes.  Right or wrong, perception matters.


In this case, I am willing to bet it was the ammo more than the gun that caused it to go entirely through an apartment.  That or the crackerbox building.  Either one is a lesson.

[tombogan03884]

Yes.  Right or wrong, perception matters.


In this case, I am willing to bet it was the ammo more than the gun that caused it to go entirely through an apartment.  That or the crackerbox building.  Either one is a lesson.

Agreed entirely.
That's why my "House gun" is a 12 Ga loaded with #6 shot.  (first )

[MikeBjerum]

While I do not live in an apartment or even in town, the house gun is loaded with nine rounds of trap loads.  Carry gun is still handy, but the shotgun is primary.  Don't need to worry about family in the next room or any other surprises.

[Sponsor]

[WIshooter]

I'm going to side with the Kalashnikov, provided you live in the right circumstances.  I keep mine loaded as my primary HD long gun, and it travels with me often in the trunk of the car.  I like the simple manual of arms, and trust it to work when it's hot, frozen cold, filthy or mistreated. 
I have no neighbors and consider the extra punch a good thing.  I would not want to use it against a black bear, but it would do alot better than .223. 
I think for me it is a great Civilian Defence Rifle. Good balance of reliability, ease of use, power and shootability.

[WatchManUSA]

This video used to be located on this site but it has been moved to Outdoor Channel.

http://www.outdoorchannel.com/Shows/BestDefense/Videos.aspx?pid=ur_tGfbC0T9rNqX7BGsFSRbAcZjIb5Sx&tpid=1507124132

Your answer might be found in the video.

[RevLouM]

Frangible ball ammo, like DRT ammo, is also a good bet.

[Ichiban]

I have no neighbors and consider the extra punch a good thing.  I would not want to use it against a black bear, but it would do alot better than .223. 

You must live on the west side of town.   

A person returned home about 10:30 p.m. to find the bear in the kitchen of the house, which sits on the 40 block of Upland Road, according to Michael Seraphin, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/colorado-100340-house-bear.html

[BikerRN]

This is a multi-faceted issue and one where there may be many correct answers.

Drywall is not a human torso, so how far would the bullet travel if it has already gone through the body of an attacker? For me that is question number one. Question number two, and the more important question in my mind is, what is the local mood of the court related to personal firearms and "evil assault weapons"? We all know it's not an "assault weapon" but the 59 year old lady in the jury box doesn't.

This brings up another issue, for me at least. What is your backstop? While I admit to having a rifle as part of my home defense selection of tools, I also have dedicated firing lanes in my home that I have mapped out. I have locations in my home where I cannot fire, and I am aware of that beforehand.

As for the AK being a good idea for home defense, it depends.

Biker