For several months I’d been toying around with different ideas for a new AR. Well right before Christmas a great deal on a NIB Colt AR15A4 fell in my lap and I pounced. I immediately installed a VLTOR A5 receiver extension and collapsible buttstock. I took it to the range today and it’s like night and day compared to every carbine I’ve shot. Recoil is almost non-existant, the sight radius makes hits effortless, and everything just felt right. I shot 500 rounds with no malfunctions.
I’m truly considering relegating it to home defense duty. With the stock collapsed, it’s really not much longer than a 16" AR and is almost exactly the same length as my Arsenal AK47 and M1 Carbine. Is an extra 4" of barrel enough to harm my chances of surviving/success in a home invasion scenario? Am I crazy? I like the idea of the enhanced reliability of the rifle-length gas system.
If you can do it, roll with it. I have a 13.7" suppressed gun as my go-to rifle and it is probably as long as a 20" and a lot heavier too.
Couple things.
- I think a 20” is getting pretty long for in a house unless you plan on hunkering down/staying put. Do a few dry runs and see how it goes.
- Recoil is due to being over gassed. What carbines(ar) have you shot?
- Muzzle jump has a lot to due with form.
- Based in #1 vs #2, assuming muzzle jump is not a variable(it is- see #3), is maneuverability worth trading off muzzle jump? Will a carbines recoil cause you to miss when a rifle would allow you to score hits?
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I tried it a couple of times, and it was no more difficult than with my Mossberg 590A1.
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Mostly Colt LE6920 who’s ejection seems consistent with receiving the proper amount of gas. Also a midlength BCM that felt about the same as the 6920. Once shot a KAC SR15 that felt about similar to the 20"
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I’ve got a lot of rounds through AR’s and am generally pretty good at keeping the muzzle on target. I don’t have any problems shooting the shorter guns, but there’s no doubt the 20" was significantly smoother (the only one that’s come close is the SR15, but I only fired a hundred or so rounds out of that).
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I guess that’s kind of the question. Would the maneuverability traded off by going to 20" negatively affect me in a home defense scenario enough to cause a bad outcome? Ranges are so close that I doubt I’d make a hit with the rifle that I wouldn’t make with the carbine, but shot placement with rapid firing might be better.
As the first reply said, the 20" is probably no longer than a shorter AR with a can, so if that’s considered a practical length for home defense, shouldn’t the 20" too? Not trying to receive a specific answer, just curious on everyone’s thoughts.
My thought is: you’re over-thinking it. I’m a little sad that you took the original buttstock off. I had to get in the safe and reassure my Colt AR15A4 that I would never put a collapsible butt stock on her.
Post a picture of your A4 with A5 stock! That’s how it should have been from the start.
How much does the AR15A4 weigh compared to the 6920s? Weight, especially in the barrel, has a definite affect on recoil and muzzle rise
I haven’t shot my build with a 20" A1 barrel and fixed Magpul MOE stock in a couple months…I need to rectify that.
If you’re not clearing rooms via narrow hallways, then a 20" is certainly usable in an HD role. I like shooting mine too much (with irons, or course) to restrict its use to home defense.
With A2 length butt it is effectively the same length as an 18.5" barreled Mossberg 500 or an inch longer than a Remington 870 which have been home defense staples for decades so not a huge issue on the length.
I think the 20" rifle shoots pretty soft myself. With an A5 on it, it’ll work just fine if it works to your satisfaction. About every third time I’m at the range I’m shooting an A4 upper for work purposes, even though I have a “high-speed” build or two. Maybe I just really like the A5/A4 upper combo…
Don’t worry man, many a house has been cleared with 20" M16A2s/4s just fine. If it works for YOU then roll with it!
I’ve done plenty of room clearing exercises with 20" rifles. It can be cumbersome at times, but can still be done. Remember practice makes perfect.
As most anybody that knows me will tell you - I’m kind of THE A4 nut/guru around here (I absolutely love A4s, no matter the weight or setup), and certainly (with regular training) the A4 is quite capable of being effectively used for home defense even in tight corners, however - that being said - Unless an A4 is your only weapon, there are actually better tools to use to defend the interior of your house/home. Namely - handguns, especially one which incorporates a visible light or laser, and chambered between 9mm to 45 auto. As the saying goes: “the right tool for the right job”, & handguns are usually the best tool for interior home defense.
I think where the A4 shines is more in exterior home &/or property defense (either shooting out of your home, from inside an exterior window, doorway, or even a rooftop, or for hog & predator patrol on farms - I used to keep mine in/on the back of the tractor when out in the corn, but now living in the city suburbs, my A4s are mostly relegated to the role of post-hurricane creature-defense & looter-watch), and while (thankfully) such uses are rarely needed, I really don’t pity the gator or grabber, that looks to meal or steal, from me or my neighbors.
Some of my A4 clones…
With A2 length butt it is effectively the same length as an 18.5" barreled Mossberg 500 or an inch longer than a Remington 870 which have been home defense staples for decades so not a huge issue on the length.
Very true. It’s also the same length or shorter with the stock collapsed as the M1 Carbine.
Think I’m gonna throw a red dot and sling on it and start keeping it as my HD gun. Wonder how it’d be in classes.
As most anybody that knows me will tell you - I’m kind of THE A4 nut/guru around here (I absolutely love A4s, no matter the weight or setup), and certainly (with regular training) the A4 is quite capable of being effectively used for home defense even in tight corners, however - that being said - Unless an A4 is your only weapon, there are actually better tools to use to defend the interior of your house/home. Namely - handguns, especially one which incorporates a visible light or laser, and chambered between 9mm to 45 auto. As the saying goes: “the right tool for the right job”, & handguns are usually the best tool for interior home defense.
I think where the A4 shines is more in exterior home &/or property defense (either shooting out of your home, from inside an exterior window, doorway, or even a rooftop, or for hog & predator patrol on farms - I used to keep mine in/on the back of the tractor when out in the corn, but now living in the city suburbs, my A4s are mostly relegated to the role of post-hurricane creature-defense & looter-watch), and while (thankfully) such uses are rarely needed, I really don’t pity the gator or grabber, that looks to meal or steal, from me or my neighbors.
Some of my A4 clones…
Damn those are some nice A4’s! I’ve definitely been bitten by the 20" bug. Not sure why they’re out of style these days. I like the added reliability compared to a carbine length (or even mid length) gas system, and shooting it is just buttery smooth.
Sorry to detract from the current converation, but I like your style. I’m kind of an A2 junkie myself, but I would to have an A4 in the not too distant future.
You just listed all the reasons why I believe everybody should keep at least one full sized AR in their collection. I will never get rid of my A2, I will gladly sell my carbines before that happens.
I just put this together a couple of months ago with the Colt 20" I recently stole.
It’s only 4 inches longer than a standard 16 inch carbine. Tactics, shot placement, and luck will matter far more than an extra 4 inches of barrel in a gunfight.
