I live in California and its a 10 round magazine restricted state and a magazine lock for all semi auto rifles.

Originally Posted By SpankMonkey:
Here's some advice! MOVE......

Glad no one was hurt.

Originally Posted By jedibluesaber:
Hello ar15.com

Thought I'd share this. 1st time anything like this has ever happened to me.

I got a ring alert on my phone and I saw 3 guys coming out of a car and jump my gate and enter my backyard, the 1st guy sees me around the corner opening my patio door with my ar15 and he takes off. The other 2 guys jump back over the gate and take off when they see his buddy running back towards them.

https://youtu.be/hvteX11jI4g
1st video
https://youtu.be/me80gKGK4Pw  
2nd video

When my ring went off, I had about 8 seconds to grab my ar15 and open the patio door. I didn't know I could move that fast.

I live in California and its a 10 round magazine restricted state and a magazine lock for all semi auto rifles. If the 3 burglars and the driver decided to enter my home with guns, would 10 rounds be enough to fight off the intruders? I'm beginning to think its not. The stress of having to open the lower receiver, drop the magazine, insert a magazine, close the lower receiver, make sure lower receiver is locked so the rifle fires, seems that it'll get me killed during reloading.  Should I switch to a handgun instead of using my rifle?

When the police arrived they informed me if I had shot them outside I would be facing murder charges and only if they were inside my house I could've legally defended myself. I told the deputy "Well shit, I got 3 guys with masks and hoodies on, wearing gloves, which is what murders and killers wear, and I have to wait until their inside to defend myself." The deputy replied that is the only way in California but also gave me an understanding nod.

From this incident I learned that in California its better to call the police 1st, stay inside and be ready for intruders to enter, and to have several handguns or rifles ready to switch off in case of multiple intruders since it'll be faster then trying to reload my ar15.

Any advice is appreciated.

Originally Posted By Johnnymenudo:  I am no expert, but it is always better to stay indoors behind locked doors and let them come to you, vs. you walking around outside trying to engage them. Not only from a legal standpoint, but also from a tactical standpoint.  My thinking has always been to find a safe place to retreat where you have a tactical advantage, call 911, and be recording and on the line giving a play by play to further support your claim of self-defense and being backed into a corner so to speak.  

The only reason I would venture forth is if I had children or family to get to and protect.

Originally Posted By FrankSymptoms:
Read "Principles of Self Defense" by Col. Jeff Cooper. Learn about "fatal funnel."
You may also think about arranging your furniture to slow access of bad guys to your house, IOW slow them down, giving you more time.
Then evaluate your home to estimate where a bullet will go if you or the BG misses. Is there a bedroom on the other side of that wall behind you?
But FIRST, go onto YouTube and search for "Why I never talk to the police." It's a 2 part video; watch them both. It's about what to say and what NOT to say. It's very easy to incriminate yourself in that situation.

THEN move!

Originally Posted By SteelonSteel:
NY Reload.

Originally Posted By Urimaginaryfrnd:
I think most pistols reload faster than a CA compliant AR15. The HK .45 runs 10 round mags.  In my experience bad guys fear a shotgun more than a rifle or pistol. Do stay inside out of sight. The exception is if they are obviously armed and coming toward you a reasonable person would believe their life is threatened even if they are in the yard.  Most burglars just want to steal your things but you don’t know that these are not cartel killers with the wrong address. Once three men have forcibly entered and you’re trapped a reasonable person would believe their life was threatened. Join USCCA and train. Keep in mind liberals see the AR15 in a negative light that does not extend to a lever action .44 mag Henry or a  10 round pistol or 12 ga riot gun. Even a bolt action that runs 10 round mags could load faster, Tikka tactical .308 w 10 round mags etc.

Originally Posted By Johnnymenudo:

I am no expert, but it is always better to stay indoors behind locked doors and let them come to you, vs. you walking around outside trying to engage them. Not only from a legal standpoint, but also from a tactical standpoint.  My thinking has always been to find a safe place to retreat where you have a tactical advantage, call 911, and be recording and on the line giving a play by play to further support your claim of self-defense and being backed into a corner so to speak.  

The only reason I would venture forth is if I had children or family to get to and protect.

Originally Posted By FrankSymptoms:
OP, generally we go through your report and dissect it for errors. We're not being mean. We are trying to help you and others from making the same mistake.
First, by going outside, you moved from a safe place to a dangerous one. YOU CANNOT CLAIM SELF DEFENSE if you do something that makes shooting the other guy necessary. That is why the cop said what he did. It doesn't seem fair, but it is what it is.