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9mm or 5.56×45 For Home Defense?
Two of the most popular calibers for defensive purposes are 9mm and 5.56×45. Our military and law enforcement personnel rely on these rounds daily to get the job done, but which is better for home defense?
It can be challenging to decide between 5.56 and 9mm for home defense. Source: silencercentral
We will compare the two rounds and evaluate their pros and cons to help you decide which is better for home defense. It may seem like a no-brainer, but some considerations here might surprise you.
Let’s dive right in.
9mm For Home Defense
Why 9mm Is Popular
Many choose 9mm for self-defense because of its light recoil, often higher magazine capacities, and potential for delivery in a very compact package.
I own both a Sig Sauer P320 M18 and a Glock 19x for home defense.
The M18 features a 21+1 capacity, while the 19x has a 19+1 capacity, both with the factory extended magazines. With a bunch of training in the military and civilian world, it’s safe to say I can dispatch one or two intruders.
My girlfriend, who is 5’0 and 115 pounds, can also use either pistol effectively to do the same thing. And that is one of the appeals of 9mm; it comes in a small enough package that anyone can use. Even with minimal training, pistols are an easy platform to figure out.
How 9mm JHPs spread upon impact. Source: luckygunner
Muzzle Velocity and Penetration
Muzzle velocity and penetration can vary depending on the bullet’s weight and how long the barrel is that you’re shooting it from.
Let’s say you’re shooting 124-grain Speer Gold Dot (which I highly recommend); you’re getting 1,150 FPS out of a four-inch barrel. And since it’s a hollow point, the expansion gives more stopping power through larger wound channels.
Penetration with the 124-g Speer Gold Dot is about 16 inches consistently but will be shorter depending on what the intruder is wearing. Still, it’s far more than enough to put them down.
Many law enforcement personnel use Speer Gold Dot, which shows it undergoes extensive testing before it can be used in the field.
Pros and Cons of Using 9mm For Home Defense
Pros
- Minimal recoil
- Firearms chambered in 9mm are typically lightweight
- Offers a higher magazine capacity than larger calibers
- Target ammo is cheap
- 9mm can be found almost anywhere
Cons
- There is not as much stopping power as other calibers
- Defensive rounds can be more than a dollar per round
5.56×45 For Home Defense
Why 5.56×45 Is Popular
5.56×45 has been around since the 1950s and has been used in every major war since. It’s lightweight, fast, and accurate, with little to no recoil. This has made it popular among the military, law enforcement, sports shooters, and home defenders.
There are many different grain weights and bullet types, from 55-grain ball practice ammo to match-grade 80-grain rounds, which are, of course, more expensive.
There are also self-defense loads with hollow points, which help mitigate liabilities associated with overpenetration.
Black Hills TSX Gel Test reveals what would be a devastating wound. Source: blackhills
Another essential reason 5.56×45 is favored for home defense is the amount of ammo in one magazine. Capacity ranges from 10 to 100 rounds, but most go with a 30-round magazine. This is more than enough to dispatch multiple attackers.
It, too, is readily available and relatively cheap compared to other rifle cartridges. Because it is not a full-powered rifle cartridge like the .308 Winchester, it makes it an ideal candidate for one of the best defensive rounds of all time.
Muzzle Velocity and Penetration
The muzzle velocity in 5.56×45 is significantly higher than that of the 9mm. For example, we’ll use my favorite round, Black Hills 62-grain Dual Performance. It comes screaming out the business end of the barrel at 3,000 FPS and has a muzzle energy of 1,239 ft-pounds.
Best of all, this ammo works well out of shorter-barreled rifles.
Penetration on this round isn’t as high as 9mm since 5.56×45 is much lighter. Four sheets of sheetrock are the dead stop, or one piece of sheetrock and eight inches of gelatin on the other side.
In a world where penetration can get you jammed up with the law, this is a breath of fresh air.
Pros and Cons of Using 5.56×45 for Home Defense
Pros
- Offers optimal penetration without overpenetration
- Minimal recoil
- High magazine capacity
- AR-15s can also be compact and lightweight
Cons
- Extremely loud indoors
- Barrel lengths can be too long and may give your position away
- It may be too heavy for some shooters
Which Is Better For Home Defense?
Picking either for home defense depends on personal preference and needs. For example, my girlfriend has a tough time holding up my AR-15 when we go shooting but is an excellent shot with my Glock and has no issues maneuvering with it.
It’s all up to you and what you can handle. Source: bushnell
So keep weight in mind. If you have trouble holding a long gun, using one for home defense doesn’t make sense. I have an AR-15 for home defense. But I keep a 9mm on my nightstand to get me to the AR-15 since it’s in a safe.
The trusty 9mm is an effective home defense round, but I’d rather have an intermediate rifle cartridge over a pistol-caliber one. Plus, the extra rounds can make a massive difference if dealing with multiple attackers.
Conclusion
To sum up, 5.56×45 is my suggested go-to for home defense, and for good reason. Not only does it typically offer higher magazine capacities than 9mm, but it also packs more of a punch with its self-defense rounds.
If you’re in the market for a home defense gun, I’d recommend one chambered in 5.56×45. However, having either will be better than neither!
Be good and take care.
