How You Can Set Up an AR-15 for Your Personal and Home Defense?

  • News from our partners

A lot of people decide to defend their homes with AR-15s. Its chambering is adequate without being prone to over-penetration problems; also, it is lightweight and has little recoil, making it an excellent choice for novice shooters. Attachments are very simple for users to mount. As the AR is a fantastic rifle for hunting, self-defense, and range practice, it's understandable why it's at the top of the list of weapons you should have for home protection.

Environment

When creating an AR, there are a few things to take into account if you decide to use it for home defense, like we do. Think about your environment while deciding how to configure your augmented reality.

Your gear may need to be different from everyone else's if you live in a rural region with an acre or two of land and maybe a barn. If that's the kind of terrain you have, you may want to equip your pistol with a magnified lens so you can see any dangers up close. View this article on firearms for self-defense in rural areas.

You might want a different setup, however, if you live in a community with nearby homes or perhaps an apartment complex. No matter how big your land is, it's a good idea to have a maximum barrel length of 16". (Do you want a home defense rifle with a 16" barrel that is even shorter? A bullpup gun could be useful for self-defense.)

Even at this size, an AR can still be maneuvered through narrow halls and corridors inside. You might also go for a short-barreled rifle or an AR pistol with a barrel shorter than 16". Just be aware that there are additional procedures involved in obtaining a short-barreled rifle (SBR) due to their protection under the National Firearms Act.

Optical

Making your selection of the necessary optics comes after taking notice of your surrounds. Have at it if you are certain that iron sights are the best option. However, it is possible to have the best of both worlds. Therefore, don't disregard optics in favor of iron sights' dependability.

A low power variable optic (LPVO) scope would be pointless for those of us who live in tiny areas, but it would be useful if you have a bigger property. If you reside in a rural area, having the ability to zoom in to see your surroundings would be really valuable. Along with that, it is also mandatory to focus on AR15 upper when selecting your complete kit.

We who live in apartment buildings or tiny communities might be better served by a red dot. Red dot sights are quick for close-quarters fighting since they have infinite eye relief and a small magnification. A SAINT Victor with a Trijicon LPVO that would be ideal for small-scale agricultural home defense is shown in the video up top. We also demonstrate a SAINT Edge with a Holosun red dot sight, which would be ideal for home defense in a smaller home area.

We provide a third alternative that is a middle ground between the two. It's a SAINT rifle fitted with a 3X flip-to-the-side magnification with a Trijicon MRO red dot. An LPVO and a red dot are both compromised by a red dot and magnifier combination. There's no limit to eye relief when the magnifier is removed. You can magnify three times while the magnifier is in position. This is an excellent combo to enable you to use your rifle at close range as well as long range. Once again, it all boils down to your environment and the question you ask yourself, "What is my battleground?" Then just gear your firearm appropriately.

Flashlights

The next item of equipment that every rifle should have is a flashlight for home defense. It's always unpredictable whether you'll need to protect your house during the day or at night. It will be necessary to have a strong, long-lasting, and powerful flashlight if it is dark outside.

Of course, there are highly costly flashlights, but there are other possibilities for very little money. Here are some points to think about. Purchase one with a pressure switch that can be used to turn the light on or off and, ideally, that also has a momentary push feature.

To be able to operate the lift with either our left or right hand in case we need to switch the shoulder from which we are firing, we choose to put it on the top rail of the handguard. A switch positioned on the side could probably be made to function, but putting the switch on top makes it much easier to use with one hand.

Making sure your flashlight's tailcap, which is where the pressure switch is attached, threads into the light's body is another important concern. To ensure that it doesn't unintentionally fall off, it's a wonderful idea to have a threaded tailcap rather of a magnetic one.

Of course, when you start discussing mounting choices, lumens, and candelas, flashlight specs become much more detailed. On spec sheets, light brightness might be somewhat distorted, therefore it's a good idea to attempt to find out more about certain models. You should also get expert instruction in low-light shooting techniques.

Last Remarks

Your setup for home defense will be ideal if your AR has a pressure switch light, bright illumination, and excellent optics. The last thing to keep in mind is to avoid adding more weight to your home defense weapon.

Don't attach bipods, infrared lasers, or anything else on it if you're using it for home defense. An infrared laser is not necessary if you do not have night vision goggles. You also probably don't need a bipod if you aren't planning to snipe your attacker at 500 yards.

Try to maintain your gun as light as nimble as you can. If you decide to spend the money on a high-quality rifle, high-quality optics, and high-quality lighting, you will be well-prepared to protect your house.