Not Your Daddy's M-16

[Halo]

After extensive deliberation for ultimate home/farm gun for defense and plinking, a friend bought a Rock River Arms AR-15 in .223 cal (5.56 mm).  He teamed it up with a Springfield XD .45 ACP (13-round magazine instead of usual 6) for 21st century firepower.

I gotta admire his choices.  They're not for me, since I'm a traditionalist still content with an Auto-Ordnance replica M-1 .30 cal Carbine and a Ruger Security-Six .357.  

But they're awfully potent selections, in my opinion.  I fired a rental RRA AR-15 tonight at the indoor range.  It was the Entry with a Panorama sight that had choice of four reticles (dot, dot in circle, plus, plus in circle).  

The LAR-15 felt very comfortable and intuitive.  The adjustable stock is a nice touch for custom length of pull.  I can see why the military chose that type weapon.

I hadn't fired such a weapon since an early M-16 in the Air Force.  I didn't like that one.  Sight seemed two stories high, stock was way too short, each shot brought a twanging sound in the stock like a Marx metal toy gun.

But the RRA LAR-15 feels like a nice piece of machinery.  However, the .223 bullet looks too tiny until you consider the huge amount of powder in the shell.  

The M-16 and derivatives vs. AK-47 and derivatives debate seems destined to go on forever.  I would think a .308 would be a better round military and civilian than the .223, and that debate also goes on forever.  

Range didn't have a Springfield XD .45 ACP, so I tried a 9mm.  I respect the design but it didn't feel as good as a 1911 to me.  

So here are two long gun / handgun duos:

Rock River Arms LAR-15 .223 and Springfield XD .45 ACP
Auto-Ordnance M-1 .30 cal Carbine and Ruger Security-Six .357

Realizing that "a handgun is what you use to fight your way to your rifle," what different duos most ring your chimes?

[Chairboy]

I have a marine friend who swears by his MP-5/Beretta M9 combo.  

There's gotta be something said for interchangeable ammo, I'd think.

[Halo]

Yeah, using same ammo appeals to me too.  Thought about a .357 carbine to go along with my .357 revolver or the Ruger .44 Magnum carbine and any of several Ruger .44 Magnum revolvers.  

However some people think should have an optimum rifle cartridge and an optimum handgun cartridge instead of making one cartridge try to do both, which usually means having a rifle cartridge too powerful for a handgun.

[Maverick]

If you are going to have a rifle then get a rifle in a rifle caliber. There isn't that much benefit in putting a pistol cartridge in a rifle IMO.

My preference is my Remington 600 in .308, a nice handy short action carbine style rifle and my Glock or my S&W 66.