From: callison@essex.ecn.uoknor.edu (James P. Callison)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Rifle in Defense ( was Re: Why are there no reliable semi-auto shotguns? )
Date: 20 Nov 92 13:47:09 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

In article <13263@optilink.UUCP> cramer@optilink.com (Clayton Cramer) writes:
#
#In article <199211171713.AA28975@cherokee.advtech.uswest.com>, kdlin@advtech.uswest.com (David Lin) writes:
## When I took an AR15 shooting class from a cop, he told me the regular
## stuff: I wish you would never have to use it for self-defense purpose.....
## I'm wondering if you guys can give me a scenario in which I might want to
## use a rifle instead of other weapons. Thanks.
#
#1. You are being fired upon by a guy at a distance of more than about
#10 yards.  At this distance, either he has a long gun, and you will
#want more accuracy than a handgun can give you.  If he is firing at
#you from a distance of more than 50 yards, the rifle is more likely
#to reliably hit your attacker.  (Yes, I will admit that this is a
#very rare situation).

Lemme guess...you've never fired a pistol, right? Or a rifle at short
range...
A pistol at 10 yards will be every bit as accurate as a rifle, but
the difference is that the pistol is going to put the bullets where
you aim, while the rifle is going to put the bullets where they
would be at one tenth of the way to their target (i.e. they'll be
hitting high), because the rifle is sighted in for a much longer
distance. Besides, most combat autos will put the bullets in a
fist-sized target at 10 yards--is that accurate enough for you?
(SIG P226s are sighted in at the factory with groups of around 
one inch at 15m...)

At 50+ yards, you're right, the rifle's a better choice. But if
you're shooting at someone from 50+ yards and you're not a cop
or soldier, you'd better have a good lawyer, 'cause you're more
likely to hit an innocent bystander than your opponent at that
distance...

#2. You are dealing with a riotous mob, working its way down the
#street, burning out businesses or homes, and you lack a 40 round
#shotgun.  (This, unfortunately, is NOT a very rare situation 
#anymore).  The rifle also gives the opportunity to identify anyone
#that appears to be ringleader or instigator of the mob.  It 
#MAY, under some conditions, allow one to engage in more selective
#actions than a handgun or shotgun, with respect to the sort of
#wound inflicted.  With a handgun or shotgun, confronting such a
#mob, the odds are high that you will have no choice but to 
#risk giving a lethal injury.  With a rifle, you are still risking
#lethal injury to the rioters, but with some care, you may be able
#to inflict an injury on a limb.  This also has the potential to
#kill, and the potential to maim, but may be an effective way of
#discouraging the mob from continuing their actions at your home,
#while minimizing loss of life.

But a rifle bullet is _much_ more likely to overpenetrate, and,
due to its higher energy, still be dangerous coming out. Especially
if you're dumb enough to go for a limb in a riot scene. Perhaps
that balances out the higher capacity of hi-cap 9mm... :-) If you
can get three people with one .30-'06, and you have a 5-shot clip,
that oughtta equal your 15+1 SIG, right? :-)

And I fail to see how using a rifle makes the odds higher that
you will be able to inflict a non-fatal wound (which, of course,
is a Very Bad Idea (TM); you shoot to stop, not to wound, IMHO)
with a rifle. Rifles are designed explicitly for killing things,
and the rifle most people have are designed for killing things
much more sturdy than human beings. I personally think that the
rifle would increase the lethality, rather than reducing it.

Of course, the 30-round mags for an AR-15/AK/etc would be
a definite plus, and I'd certainly rather have a semi/full-auto
rifle to protect my home during a riot...

				James

James P. Callison       Microcomputer Coordinator        OU Law Library 
Callison@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu   /\    Callison@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu
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DISCLAIMER: I'm not an engineer, but I play one at work...
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