Arguments about using a carbine for home defense are anything but new. My introduction to them came in the mid-1990s during a Thunder Ranch Urban Rifle class at my home range. Clint Smith was at the forefront of the entire “rifle at pistol distances” movement and made an incredibly compelling argument.

Using a Carbine for Home Defense: Is It Right for You?

Detractors at the time all screamed “over penetration”, but several tests debunked that at the time. Various experts (including the FBI) conducted tests on all kinds of materials. They found that 55-grain FMJ out of a typical 16-inch carbine was less “over-penetrative” than both pistol and shotgun rounds.

This idea (and the 1997 North Hollywood shootout) drove many agencies (mine included) to transition to rifles. Training, once all but non-existent, popped up everywhere. With changes in ammunition and the initial use of “braces” for pistol-length barrels, the use of a carbine for home defense exploded and continued until their “ban” in 2023.

Well, that was overturned by the US Supreme Court. So, braces are back, and so are AR pistols. As a result, what are essentially carbines with short barrels are back on the list for home defense.

Whether they can be used, and/or are effective, has been asked, answered, asked again, and answered a billion times. So, rather than rehash them all, I pose the question, “Are they right for you”?

Facts and Fantasy: The Carbine

Many throw out the “overpenetration” card when it comes to rifle calibers for home defense. The simple answer: not unless you miss. What a bullet will do when striking walls, car doors, or other media is only relevant if you miss. So, don’t!

The most relevant question is not penetration when you miss, but lethality after the bullet “passes through” what you hit. Heavier caliber bullets that pass through are seldom lethal. This is especially true given the huge selection of ammunition and calibers designed specifically for these encounters.

Honestly, the issue is more about penetrating enough with shorter barrels. So, focus more on using the correct ammunition and hitting what you are aiming at, and you will be fine.

Rifles are Loud!

Yes, they are, and the shorter the barrel, the louder they can seem. Various muzzle devices mitigate that, and maybe the best solution is a suppressor. My last Form 4, a couple of weeks ago, took all of 4 days to be approved. So, the days of year-long waits are over.

They are less expensive, better built, work better, and are quieter than ever before, making them an excellent choice. That said, guns are loud, and while not as noticeable, your pistol, or pistol caliber carbine, will be loud also. If it’s a life-threatening tradeoff, your hearing will come back. It’s better to be alive with some ringing in your ears than dead.

Calibers like 300 Blackout loaded with subsonic ammunition are no different than a pistol, maybe quieter. Add a suppressor, and they are downright quiet. So, make it as quiet as you can.

Are Carbines “Harder to Use”?

“They are harder to use” is often stated, but not by anyone who teaches firearms for a living. There simply is zero comparison. Rifles like the AR are vastly easier for people to learn to be accurate with. Likewise, the skills are far less perishable than with a pistol.

After years of teaching officers, they seldom missed with their rifles, having left them untouched for months. If only that were true with a pistol.

A good friend of mine had his elementary school children running a 300 BLK carbine like pros in no time. Another colleague’s teenage daughters are knocking down steel at 500 meters with authority and can clear the house with the same rifles.

Having seen “experienced” pistol shooters take a couple of hours to “get back on track” with a pistol, there is simply no comparison. The carbine is by far the easiest to shoot with accuracy in most any condition. It stays that way with only moderate training.

So who needs one?

I recommend them to anyone with teenagers in the home who may need to defend themselves. Ideally, everyone in the family who is capable should be able to use your home defense weapon, and carbines are perfectly suited.

This is also true for those who cannot shoot or are unwilling to use a pistol. Accuracy is key here—period. It is much easier to be accurate with a rifle. If you can, suppress it. It’s the civilized thing to do, and it will make it much more fun to use and practice with.

Recoil is minimal on most 5.56mm or 300 BLK rifles. It’s the blast and noise that turn people away. If you can’t suppress it, use a flash hider, not a brake. Short barrels are nice, but are not necessary.

Keep it gadget-free. You just need an RDS, BUIS (backup irons), weapon-mounted light, and maybe a sling, depending on how you use it. Try to keep it light, especially for younger shooters. Only add what you need for protection, not the next Armageddon driven tactical operation.

AR pistols with a brace are great. Just ensure they work with your ammo, and use something that sends the blast forward if you cannot suppress it.

Use the best self-defense ammunition you can get and make sure you get some practice with the EXACT setup that will be used. Try your best to get everyone involved, even if they think they will not use it.

Surprisingly, many people who don’t like guns will use them to protect themselves or loved ones when it becomes real. They should know how to. Ignorance is not bliss. Teach everyone at least basic handling and use skills. If possible, get them involved with something that is fun as well. It all translates.

Practice with Your Carbine

Lastly, have a plan and teach everyone what that is. If there is only one rifle, make sure everyone who can use it has safe and secure access. Know where to go in your house to be safe or barricade. Have practice runs, use code words, and a plan to escape.

If at all possible, fight your way out and let the cops do the hard work. However, if you can’t, have a way to know exactly where loved ones are. Find a way to practice with a replica in your home. Keep it safe, but the more practice you get, the less hesitation occurs.

There are more than a few instances these days where teenagers have protected themselves against home invasions or Robbery. All of them knew what to do before it happened, and many of them were competitors.

Bottom Line

Carbines are certainly not the end-all/be-all for home defense. However, they are, in my experience, one of the best options. Once you get past all the propaganda and misinformation, they are a great tool.

Handguns and Shotguns can be just fine. But not everyone wants anything to do with them, and the best tool in the world is useless if unused. If set up and trained properly, very few people dislike shooting a rifle. In fact, they can be fun and can easily transfer over to a hunting or competition tool.

Above all, they can be incredibly effective while minimizing risk. If your life depends on something, that is about as good as it gets.