First a few questions for discussion:
1: Will this be your first high capacity mag feed semi auto rifle?
2: Do you have another center fire rifle (i.e. a bolt action 243, 308 etc.)
3: Do you have a repeating shotgun for use at home?
4: Do you have a handgun for use at home of "reasonable" caliber.
5: Do you tend to trade guns often or keep for many years?
6: Have you fired an AR15 and AK47 (semi) before and if so to any extent?
7: How often due to tend to go shooting and at what range?
8: Do you enjoy shooting paper, plinking tin cans or blasting dirt?
9: If you are shooting on paper what is a "marginal" group?
10: Do you shoot 3 gun matches or intend to start?
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A few random notes on buying a semi auto mag fed rifle. Since you lead with home defense as the reason for the rifle, then shooting and end up with several shall we say "worst case" or at least "not a good day" reasons, figured would address the lead two items first. For home defense in many locations in Indiana (i.e. with neighbors ;-) a lot can be said for a good pump shotgun for use at home (I tend to lean towards the Rem 870 myself after shooting them for nearly 40 years, however, have also played with the Mossberg 590A1 and a few semi's) backed up with a good handgun in a reasonable caliber (i.e. 38 special to something less than full loaded 44 Mag). Once you have the shotgun and handgun for home defense then one could consider a semi auto mag fed rifle for a little additional depth or if the neighbor / lot size (i.e. many acres) indicate then the rifle makes a good "farm" rifle. Reason for going into the home defense discussion is that this effects the choice greatly as one needs to keep the rifle size and weight down to allow easy handling. Thus if "inside" home defense is the primary reason, would go with either an AR15 16" carbine or myself like my semi AK47 as being a little faster handling (myself tend to not keep a round in the chamber on the long guns as they are backup and the AK47 is faster for me to charge). Bottom line is shoot what ever you are interested in first and see how you like it. Should be someone here that would like to go shooting if you show up with a couple hundred rounds of good factory ammo (i.e. one round for the owner and one round for you always works ;-).
For shooting a lot depends on what you wish to shoot and what other rifles you have. In the long run for an AR15 would recommend having two uppers (or two guns), one a 16" carbine of fairly light weight with iron sights and maybe a red dot upper (in your price ran start with a quality iron sighed AR15, maybe with a flat top) and a moderate weight flattop AR15 rifle with a scope. If you are going to be shooting past 200 yards then go with the rifle, if you can address you home defense needs. However, a nice bolt 308 gun with a scope works better ;-).
If you plan on shooting 3 gun matches, then let that drive you choice ... maybe at a higher price ;-).
For most of the "really bad days" any military mag fed semi auto rifle with a dozen loaded mags should work well enough for a single armed person (lots of tactical issues with being one lone shooter). Note there are many "bad days" where someone will not allow you to carry a long gun in the open (check Katrina stories) so make sure you also have a good quality mag fed hand gun (it hides easier ;-)
More later
1: Will this be your first high capacity mag feed semi auto rifle?
2: Do you have another center fire rifle (i.e. a bolt action 243, 308 etc.)
3: Do you have a repeating shotgun for use at home?
4: Do you have a handgun for use at home of "reasonable" caliber.
5: Do you tend to trade guns often or keep for many years?
6: Have you fired an AR15 and AK47 (semi) before and if so to any extent?
7: How often due to tend to go shooting and at what range?
8: Do you enjoy shooting paper, plinking tin cans or blasting dirt?
9: If you are shooting on paper what is a "marginal" group?
10: Do you shoot 3 gun matches or intend to start?
--------------------------------------------------
A few random notes on buying a semi auto mag fed rifle. Since you lead with home defense as the reason for the rifle, then shooting and end up with several shall we say "worst case" or at least "not a good day" reasons, figured would address the lead two items first. For home defense in many locations in Indiana (i.e. with neighbors ;-) a lot can be said for a good pump shotgun for use at home (I tend to lean towards the Rem 870 myself after shooting them for nearly 40 years, however, have also played with the Mossberg 590A1 and a few semi's) backed up with a good handgun in a reasonable caliber (i.e. 38 special to something less than full loaded 44 Mag). Once you have the shotgun and handgun for home defense then one could consider a semi auto mag fed rifle for a little additional depth or if the neighbor / lot size (i.e. many acres) indicate then the rifle makes a good "farm" rifle. Reason for going into the home defense discussion is that this effects the choice greatly as one needs to keep the rifle size and weight down to allow easy handling. Thus if "inside" home defense is the primary reason, would go with either an AR15 16" carbine or myself like my semi AK47 as being a little faster handling (myself tend to not keep a round in the chamber on the long guns as they are backup and the AK47 is faster for me to charge). Bottom line is shoot what ever you are interested in first and see how you like it. Should be someone here that would like to go shooting if you show up with a couple hundred rounds of good factory ammo (i.e. one round for the owner and one round for you always works ;-).
For shooting a lot depends on what you wish to shoot and what other rifles you have. In the long run for an AR15 would recommend having two uppers (or two guns), one a 16" carbine of fairly light weight with iron sights and maybe a red dot upper (in your price ran start with a quality iron sighed AR15, maybe with a flat top) and a moderate weight flattop AR15 rifle with a scope. If you are going to be shooting past 200 yards then go with the rifle, if you can address you home defense needs. However, a nice bolt 308 gun with a scope works better ;-).
If you plan on shooting 3 gun matches, then let that drive you choice ... maybe at a higher price ;-).
For most of the "really bad days" any military mag fed semi auto rifle with a dozen loaded mags should work well enough for a single armed person (lots of tactical issues with being one lone shooter). Note there are many "bad days" where someone will not allow you to carry a long gun in the open (check Katrina stories) so make sure you also have a good quality mag fed hand gun (it hides easier ;-)
More later
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. Not mine but I know how to use em.
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