Check Out This Home Defense Setup

[BluntForceTrauma]

Could this be the ultimate home defense weapon: An AR15 in 6.5 Grendel?

• Effective multi-role cartridge

• Red dot sight

• Short-barrel

• Magazine with 25-round capacity

• Weapon-mounted flashlight

• Effective flash hider

Next, let's go review the components of this build in more detail. Many of you old salts already know this — and probably have opinions of your own. This discussion gives those who are new to the AR15 and the 6.5 Grendel a starting point.

[BluntForceTrauma]

First, a weapon with a barrel under 16" must either be registered as a short-barreled rifle or be classified as a pistol — but ony if it uses a non-rifle buttstock, what is called a pistol stabilizing brace. This one is a KAK Shockwave Blade brace.

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Second, a red dot sight makes aiming fast under stressful conditions. Mounting it closer to the user makes the housing seem more blurred and less distracting while leaving the red dot reticle in sharp focus. This is a SIG Romeo 5XDR — which features instant on when moved and automatic shut-off when unmoved for 90 seconds.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Third, a 12" barrel allows the cartridge to generate plenty velocity while allowing for ease of handling in tight quarters. MONSTER brand barrels are available online at SixFiveArms.com. Handguard is the rock-solid Aero Precision ATLAS S-One with M-Lok attachment slots.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Fourth, a magazine that normally holds 30 rounds of 5.56 caliber ammunition holds 25 rounds of 6.5 Grendel ammunition — still plenty given the multi-role genius of the 6.5 Grendel cartridge. Trigger is the excellent LaRue MBT-2S, pistol grip is LaRue's perfectly ergonomic A-PEG.

[BluntForceTrauma]

6.5 Grendel ammunition is offered by major manufacturers such as Hornady, Federal, Wolf, Prvi Partizan and its originator Alexander Arms. Options available for varmint and deer hunting, target shooting, and cheap Wolf steel-case practice rounds at a very affordable 26 cents each.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Ammunition for home defense, specifically, are rounds that limit penetration through building structures, to keep safe family members in the midst of a chaotic home invasion scenario. Here, easily fragmenting, low penetration rounds are mixed with Wolf green-lacquered steelcase.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Fifth, when something goes bump in the night and one decides to deploy a weapon, a weapon-mounted light is valuable. Shown is the Olight Valkyrie PL-Pro, which has momentary on/off, click on/off, and strobe. When mounted on top of a handguard, it is best positioned for ease of use.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Sixth, and finally, a flash suppressor installed on the muzzle prevents the "ball of fire" from a weapon discharge at night from momentarily dazzling the defender's eyes. Studies show open-prong designs work best, with longer tines having an advantage. This is Mid-America Armament's Void three-prong flash hider.

Taken together, these elements should enable the homeowner to deal effectively with a home invasion scenario.

[A5BLASTER]

I like it. Well done sir.

[LR1955]

BFT:

The dot sight is the most innovative design I have seen since the 'occluded eye system' sights of the 70's. The biggest issue with the dot sights is turning them on -- unless they are perpetual designs. Having it turn on when moved is a fantastic feature.

I don't think the barrel length matters as much as the stock length when maneuvering it around. Also, once you have put on a really long flash suppressor to deal with the greater flash out of a short barrel rifle, the length would be real close if not the same as a 16 inch barrel with a standard flash suppressor. I am sure you are cutting it down by an inch or two but probably not much more. Have you shot it at night to see what sort of flash you are getting? If not see if you can give it a try. Short barreled rifles do tend to give a lot of flash and commercial powders don't have the flash suppressants of US military powders. I bet that the flash will differ significantly between brands of commercial powders too.

Probably the most effective feature aside from that neat dot sight is a strobe. As long as it is directional and doesn't nail you as much as the intended target, a strobe will do more to screw up someone at night than most anything else aside from shooting him. Those things can almost incapacitate someone at night. Good thinking having that feature.

You got a cool carbine there. Send it to me so I can give it a thorough evaluation, please.

LR55

[BluntForceTrauma]

Recently got the 3-prong flash suppressor, but haven't shot it at night. Eager to test it, and I'm gonna take video.

[A5BLASTER]

Recently got the 3-prong flash suppressor, but haven't shot it at night. Eager to test it, and I'm gonna take video.

I like the looks of the flash hider. Once you do the vid on it, if it works good I will probably get 2 of them. One for my 16 inch and one for my 12.5 pistol/sbr.

[stanc]

Could this be the ultimate home defense weapon: An AR15 in 6.5 Grendel?

It could be. For home defense, the weapon certainly has some very nice features, like the red-dot sight that automatically turns on when the gun is picked up, and the strobe/light.

I do have a question about your choice of ammo, though.

Ammunition for home defense, specifically, are rounds that limit penetration through building structures, to keep safe family members in the midst of a chaotic home invasion scenario. Here, easily fragmenting, low penetration rounds are mixed with Wolf green-lacquered steelcase.

How sure are you that those JHP rounds won't exhibit dangerously high penetration of interior walls?

A search of YouTube didn't turn up any drywall penetration tests of 6.5 Grendel JHP ammo, but .223 Rem 45gr JHP easily punched through several layers. https://youtu.be/b6pHNKMZqck?t=382

FWIW - Some thoughts on how to keep family members safe from your fire, in the midst of a chaotic home invasion scenario: https://youtu.be/yav5axMUThU?t=208

[Lemonaid]

Thanks stanc for the link, good info.
I like the often quoted "Every round that leaves your barrel has a lawyer attached to it." Good way to get rid of lawyers!