Seeing the Light on Defensive Rifles - Page 2

JT · December 21st, 2006, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackeagle

That said, it's probably not going to be this rifle. First off, while I was at the range I had a slamfire. It only happened once, no idea why it happened. It was while I was chambering a single round from a magazine, so I don't know if it would have gone full auto. I stripped it right afterwords and there didn't seem to be anything wrong (the firing pin wasn't stuck forward, and when I pushed it forward with my finger it sprung right back). I fired another 30 rounds after the slamfire, and there were no repeat incidents, but it still makes me leery. Having a slamfire in a defensive rifle would be really bad. Letting one off when chambering a round would be bad, but even worse would be going full auto after firing a shot in self defense (in any situation, emptying a 40 round mag would be a bit exciting).

What type of ammo were you using? Your Norinco has a free-floating firing pin, designed to be used with military ammo that has hard primers. If you were using standard commercial .223 like Winchester white box, the softer primer could have been the reason for the slam fire.

raevan · December 21st, 2006, 01:15 AM

I just purchased a 1894 marlin in 44MAG for my farm and house rifle so I can peserve my Winchesters. My outside walls are made of stone so unless the bullet pases through a window it willnot escape the house.

When I was growing up we always had a gunrack in the living room with at least 2 rifles on it and an individual rack over the back door with guns loaded and ammo on a shelf nearby.

So I figured my carbin should be near at hand at alltimes. I rigged one of my lightstands with one of my wood clamps and I lean the rifle against it. I have been moving it around the house everywhere I go to keep it close at hand. When not at home I lock it up.

I figure the point of having a home rifle for defence it must be available at all times. This may seem a little extreme, but I always wear my pistol so why not my rifle?

Blackeagle · December 21st, 2006, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

What type of ammo were you using? Your Norinco has a free-floating firing pin, designed to be used with military ammo that has hard primers. If you were using standard commercial .223 like Winchester white box, the softer primer could have been the reason for the slam fire.

I was shooting Wolf ammo (yes it's steel cased crap, but I figure the AK is designed to shoot steel cased crap).

JT · December 21st, 2006, 10:18 AM

Wolf has hard primers, so it's not that. And yes, AKs are definitely designed for that ammo.

I'm surprised you had that problem with an AK, especially a Norinco.

Rob72 · December 21st, 2006, 11:12 AM

Anytime you get a slamfire or burst: check/replace your disconnector spring. It would not hurt to take your bolt out, strip it, and thoruoghly clean it, especially the pin channel. Norinco is good, but a metal shaving can change a free-float FP to a fixed quite easily.

Kayaker- it depends on your mindset. If you see a need for only the most basic self-defense tool, and assess your risk level as "low", a handgun is appropriate. However, given that we live in an uncertain world, and that there might be a time when I need to "put one of multiple hostiles down with alacrity" in my yard vs my living room, I have a defensive carbine and shotgun, as well.

My personal risk assessment (PRA) is fairly low, so I'm not gauging fields of fire in my yard yet (tho' I did when I lived in Houston!)

, but recognizing that I live in a city with much the same demographics and emotions present in other places where Big Bad Things have happened, I recognize the value of a bit more "oomph!", and having something I shoot DRT, rather than running off into the neighborhood. From experience with gangs- nothing is more demoralizing to the group than having a cohort made DRT with aimed fire and selective targeting- a challenge with handguns.

Rob99VMI04 · December 21st, 2006, 04:21 PM

Well I look at this way. I'm pretty good with a pistol but for My better half EHHHHHHH. I showed her 4 things.

1.) Where the charging handle is.
2.) how to put a 30 round mag in a AR
3.) how to smack the side of the gun to make the bolt go foward.
4.) How read the switch that says Safe and change it to fire.

She has a CTC laser grips on the gun that comes on when she squeezes the grip. She also has 30 chances to pull the trigger, and the gun dosn't recoil as much as a pistol.
Plus for me I try not and bring a handgun to gun fight. Overpower, Control, Dominate the situation, and continue to take in Oxygen for the following day is what I have to have happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_kayaker

I'm sorry, but I don't see the benefit of a rifle for home defense.

I own a SKS that I have done quite a bit of custom work to. I love to own and shoot it, but I would never think of using it for home defense. As a matter of fact I am going for my shotgun first and the .45 is the backup.

My main concern in using a rifle like the SKS for defense is the fact that the rounds just don't stop when they hit walls. It is very plausible to think that you could fire in the home and have the round travel through the walls and into another home. This is the reason why I laugh when I see the guy in the movies jump behind the car door or 55 gallon drum when he is taking fire from an AK47 or the like. You know what I mean.

If I have a small army attacking my home then I could see the AK47 be a valid choice, but not for the midnight intruder.

Please help me see the light here. What am I missing?

December 21st, 2006, 10:18 AM	#14
JT Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,099	Wolf has hard primers, so it's not that. And yes, AKs are definitely designed for that ammo. I'm surprised you had that problem with an AK, especially a Norinco. __________________ Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1 Si vis pacem, para bellum

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December 21st, 2006, 01:15 AM	#12
raevan VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: washington Posts: 4,093	I just purchased a 1894 marlin in 44MAG for my farm and house rifle so I can peserve my Winchesters. My outside walls are made of stone so unless the bullet pases through a window it willnot escape the house. When I was growing up we always had a gunrack in the living room with at least 2 rifles on it and an individual rack over the back door with guns loaded and ammo on a shelf nearby. So I figured my carbin should be near at hand at alltimes. I rigged one of my lightstands with one of my wood clamps and I lean the rifle against it. I have been moving it around the house everywhere I go to keep it close at hand. When not at home I lock it up. I figure the point of having a home rifle for defence it must be available at all times. This may seem a little extreme, but I always wear my pistol so why not my rifle?

December 21st, 2006, 11:12 AM	#15
Rob72 VIP Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,047	Anytime you get a slamfire or burst: check/replace your disconnector spring. It would not hurt to take your bolt out, strip it, and thoruoghly clean it, especially the pin channel. Norinco is good, but a metal shaving can change a free-float FP to a fixed quite easily. Kayaker- it depends on your mindset. If you see a need for only the most basic self-defense tool, and assess your risk level as "low", a handgun is appropriate. However, given that we live in an uncertain world, and that there might be a time when I need to "put one of multiple hostiles down with alacrity" in my yard vs my living room, I have a defensive carbine and shotgun, as well. My personal risk assessment (PRA) is fairly low, so I'm not gauging fields of fire in my yard yet (tho' I did when I lived in Houston!) , but recognizing that I live in a city with much the same demographics and emotions present in other places where Big Bad Things have happened, I recognize the value of a bit more "oomph!", and having something I shoot DRT, rather than running off into the neighborhood. From experience with gangs- nothing is more demoralizing to the group than having a cohort made DRT with aimed fire and selective targeting- a challenge with handguns.