My Colt AR-15

Marines shooting an M4 (foreground) and M16s (background)

Originally posted February 19, 2015.

Your ability to defend your turf is an ongoing endeavor.

Yesterday, for example, I was reading about the military’s ongoing controversy between the M4 and the M16. For you and me, it comes down to what you’re comfortable handling.

I want you to consider adding an AR-15, to your self-defense arsenal. Think of your self-defense strategy in terms of many different scenarios.

If there’s a bang in the night and I need to move through the house quickly then I’ll go to my 9mm Sig Sauer 226 which is the standard issue Navy SEAL sidearm. And if time and space aren’t an issue, I’ll opt for my Mossberg 590A shotgun.

But I’d also consider my Colt AR-15, especially if I need to defend a position without firing a shot, which I’ll explain in a minute.

The nice thing about my carbine is that it’s light, allowing me to move around with speed. It also has a magazine that holds 30 rounds. And the recoil is nothing.

If you’ve ever shot rounds from a shotgun for five hours straight like I have at Sig Sauer Academy, you know the recoil is painful. I experienced the flinch in anticipation of the next shot—to save my arm/shoulder—wreaking havoc on my accuracy. And reloading with one tired, beaten up arm takes strength and dexterity similar to playing Mozart with one hand while holding the piano up with the other.

My wife Becky can handle the carbine with ease. No flinching. No arm aches. And accurate at close range and at several yards away.

If you ever have to defend your position without firing a shot I’ll put the carbine right up there with the shotgun. Both are intimidating.

We’ve all walked by a police officer with holstered pistol and know that intimidating feeling. But the intimidation of an officer with a carbine slung over his shoulder is much higher. Use that to your advantage.

The psychological game is over before it starts with the carbine.

The M4 and the M16 controversy will continue but don’t let it hinder your ability to defend your turf.

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

Preparing your investments and family for when disaster strikes.

E.J. Smith is the Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH, where he completed course-work in Practical and Defensive Handgun, Conceal Carry Pistol, Shotguns, Precision Scope Rifle and Kidnapping Prevention. E.J. plays a Yamaha Recording Custom drum set with Zilldjian cymbals. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com. Sign up here to receive all the best content from Richardcyoung.com each week.