I trust my training and my shot placement. 5.56 will get the job done if I do my part.
My goto bag has 5.56. Shot placement is the key. The foundation is training and practice. I also find Ammo choice important.
I trust 5.56. That being said, I also trust 00 buck. It’s a toss-up. Heck, pepper someone with .22LR at in-house distances and they’re not going to be in the mood to do you harm.
I trust 5.56…
That being said, I think the military should just switch to 10mm carbines, for cutting through enemy armoured vehicles, and as an all-purpose, anti-personnel round. With a 10mm carbine fielded, artillery would reach obsolescence overnight.
The problem is that the Hague Convention explicitly prohibits the use of 10mm; it’s simply too devastating.
As well, the FBI had to remove 10mm from service, as too many SAs were being thrown 20’ in the air from the massive, unbridled, recoil.
At any rate, yes, I trust 5.56.
I have seen 5.56 do amazing things. From 600meter kills, to ice pick thru a guy a 20. Yes, in works. Is there better, sure, but better at what for and what price.
All I want to know is who voted for the 911 “dial-a-prayer” option??
C4
If you’re using 62gr green tip, then sometimes the 5.56 works quite well, and sometimes it does not. Use something that yaws more quickly like most commercial OTM loads and it is quite effective. If you’re worried about car windshields, then the ideal load would be a bonded soft point like Federal Tactical Bonded. If I use good ammo, I have full confidence in the 5.56 even at longer ranges.
As DocGKR pointed out, there are ALWAYS better calibers than what you are presently using. The 6.8 SPC will do many things better than 5.56, and the 7.62 NATO will do many things better than 6.8 SPC. Given equal bullet technology, the larger caliber will always perform better against all things. However, I love how light 5.56 ammo is, how controllable it is, how cheap practice ammo is, and how widely available and supported 5.56 is.
If you’re concerned about some of the talk of replacing the 5.56, this talk has been going on since Vietnam. 6mm SAW ring a bell? Until the 5.56 is actually replaced by something else, I’d stick with 5.56. Given the widespread acceptance of the 5.56 by NATO and many other countries, I’m willing to bet it will be in service for many decades to come. Most likely the cartridge will be modernized with better bullet designs. Something like an OTM with a steel core perhaps?
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expand your collection to include rifles in 5.45x39 and 7.62x39 though 
I feel it is more than adequate for civilian defense coming out of my 16" barreled M4.
I would like my next rifle to be a 10.5" SBR and for that I will step up to 6.8 SPC though.
If someone can “walk through” a solid hit with 5.56, then the great thing about the typical 5.56 weapon platform is that you can deliver another closely spaced round until the threat can not simply “walk through” it.
theres a reason why russia and china copied our 5.56mm round (the 5.45mm and 5.8mm) and did not go with the 7.62x39 or similar round.
moral of the story: theres no magic bullet that can do everything good, despite the military trying to chase it at times.
I agree.
Yes! Speak up…and I hope you weren’t serious…
Yes, indeed. A defensive scenario with 5.56 would likely involve multiple shots.
This.
I do trust it, I run Hornady TAP 75 grain HP. I do prefer my 308 but 556 is more practical for everyday use.
This.
What exactly are you guys trying to put down, on your property, that 30rnds of 5.56 cant handle.
Down Here in the Swamps of South Louisiana, who knows??? Black bear, alligator, big ass Coy-Dogs…
For home defense, I trust it and it is more than adequate for close and intermediate range. I would lean towards using tactical loads instead of FMJ.
I absolutely trust 5.56 for my purposes. The 10 yds from the top of the stairs to the bottom is gonna be child’s play for 28 rds of 69gr matchkings. If 6.8 could even come close to matching the price and availability of 5.56 I would prefer it, but it doesn’t so I don’t.
haha I wasnt serious 