Users can also easily mount attachments.
When choosing how to set up your AR, take into consideration your surroundings.
Check out thisarticle on rural self-defense rifles.
Illuminating your target with a light is a necessity unless you have night vision capabilities. Also, shining a white light on your target can give you a tactical advantage.
Regardless of the size of your property, having a max barrel length of 16 is a good idea.
(Want an even shorter gun for home defense that still has a 16 barrel?
Consider abullpup rifle for self-defense.)
The AR-15 is adjustable to all sizes of people with excellent stopping power and fewer overpenetration concerns when compared to many handgun and shotgun loads.
An AR of this size is still maneuverable indoors for going down tight hallways and corridors.
If you are dead set that iron sights are the way to go, then have at it.
But there are ways to have the best of both worlds.
Low power variable optics (LPVO’s) are great for carbines. They can also be great home defense optics, especially for those that have homes with acreage.
So, dont just cross off optics over the reliability of iron sights.
The third option we show is a compromise between the two.
It is a SAINT rifle with a Trijicon MRO red dot and a 3X flip-to-the-side magnifier.
One great option for a home defense optic is the red dot sight. This type of sight has unlimited eye relief that makes getting on target quickly very easy.
A red dot and magnifier combo is a compromise between both an LPVO and a red dot.
Without the magnifier, there is unlimited eye relief.
With the magnifier in place, you get 3X magnification.
For weapon-mounted lights, the author recommends using a tape switch that mounts flat to the rifle. Mounting the switch on the top rail allows for activation with either hand.
This is a great combination to make your rifle applicable at both near and far ranges.
Again, it all comes down to your surroundings and asking yourself what is my battleground?
Then, just outfit your rifle to match it.
Flashlights
For home defense, the next piece of gear every rifle should have is a flashlight.
If its dark out, a good quality, durable, bright flashlight is going to be needed.
There are options to spend very little and, of course, there are very expensive flashlights.
Here are a few things to consider.
Additionally, you want to get professional training inlow-light shooting tactics.
The last thing to consider is to not go throwing unnecessary weight on your home defense gun.
If you dont have night vision goggles, you dont need an IR laser.
Keep your rifle as light and agile as possible.
