This article is a guest post from Richard Douglas. Richard Douglas is a long-time shooter, outdoor enthusiast, and technologist. He is the founder and editor of Scopes Field, and a columnist at The National Interest, Cheaper Than Dirt, Daily Caller, and other publications. Enjoy!
The FBI conducts testing on every round on the civilian market to make sure that it’s applicable to home defense, so both bulk 223 ammo and 5.56 ammo have been found acceptable. However, the statistical results of one round stood out as better for a few reasons.
Why Would I Use a Rifle Over a Handgun?
A frequent point that gets brought up is the argument of a handgun for home defense since it’s more maneuverable. While this is true, a rifle has been found to be just as effective if not more so.
An AR-15, for example, is one of the most common civilian rifles on the market. When used properly, the longer barrel and design of the weapon itself can make it much more accurate than a handgun even in close quarters.
Rifles have also been proven to have the least penetration per round against shotguns and handguns, which will be covered in the next section as to why that’s a good thing. The short version is that, while it may not be as convenient in terms of size, a rifle in the right hands is a much more defensible weapon. The short version is that, while it may not be as convenient in terms of size, a rifle in the right hands is a much more defensible weapon.
Keep in mind, also, that a home-defense situation is high-stress and the feeling of a rifle can be more comforting for some. Just remember to lock up any additional weapons so that they can’t be used against you by the intruder.
Major Differences Between 5.56×45 and 223 Rem
The external design and firing mechanic of the 5.56 NATO and .223 bullet is hard to differentiate, but there are a few points that separate the two. These factors point to one being better for home defense without sacrificing stopping power.
The 5.56 NATO bullet fires with a higher velocity, but it’s due to an increase in the pressure it puts on the weapon. If your barrel doesn’t have a barrel that’s large enough or isn’t chambered to fire 5.56, this can be dangerous if you accidentally load with the wrong ammunition.
The same rule goes for .223, especially when considering the nuances of 5.56 vs .223, so always make sure to load your weapon with the rounds it’s chambered for. To not could over-pressurize the cartridge and do damage to your weapon or yourself.
On the other hand, the .223 uses less pressure (3,000 PSI to be exact) and therefore has less penetration. Why is that a good thing, you might wonder?
When it comes to home defense, your goal is to eliminate the threat but you don’t want to do too much damage to your home. A high-penetration round would wreak havoc on the walls, not to mention it could potentially wound or kill someone outside the home.
The other main difference is the length, with the 5.56 NATO being able to hold slightly more powder in the bullet. This is what gives it more velocity when firing and extra penetration.
Which Caliber is Right for You?
The 5.56 NATO round is similar to a .223 bullet in looks and size, but the differences in firing make one a clear victor for home defense. It all comes down to penetration and velocity, and those are two points that go in favor of the .223.
Either way, you’ll be able to hit what you aim at and both have the stopping power to incapacitate or kill, which is the goal in a defensive scenario. Both are loud and have the potential to scare off any other intruders in your home.
Being able to fire with the knowledge that the round will impact and mostly stop, though, is an extra thought that you don’t have to worry about in that situation. You don’t want to have to think if there’s a civilian walking outside your house at the moment that you take your shot.
On top of that, even if you accidentally load a .223 round in an AR-15 or similar weapon you probably won’t do too much damage to the weapon, if any. The same can’t be said for the 5.56 NATO, which is another big edge that the .223 has.
With that, choose a .223 round and a rifle chambered for that cartridge for your home defense needs.
