(Via Timebomb 2000)
After all, no one uses them for self defense.
There is an old saying to the effect of “You use a pistol to fight your way back to the long gun you shouldn’t have left behind in the first place.” There’s a lot of truth to that. Even the biggest, meanest pistol calibers don’t compare to the .223/5.56 round in terms of damage inflicted on an attacker.
Don’t believe me? Understanding that ballistic gel is an imperfect test medium, look at these:
If you were in a fight for you life and you had the choice, which gun would you pick up? Leaving out the .50 BMG, I’d go for the 5.56. I think it’s a safe assumption that it would be an AR-pattern rifle with a 20 or 30 round magazine, as that is the most popular thing out there in that caliber. At this point, close to 3 generations have been exposed to this weapon via military service, so the manual of arms is fairly well known to many. They used to be available at a reasonable price (I know of several places where I could get a decent one for $600 before the gun banners opened their mouths), so most folks could afford one. And if the ballistic gel is to be believed, they pack a heck of a punch at inside-the-house self-defense ranges.
Get out there and fight for you rights if you want to be able to buy them at a reasonable price ever again.