Aside from the fancy looking brass, is it any different from their standard 55gr varmint load?

Would you choose this load for home defense from your AR?


Thanks.

The 75 gr version is an excellent personal defense load. The 55 gr is less ideal because it's designed as a varmint load. Varmint loads are designedto "explode" on impact. They work well on small, furry critters. But for humans, they offer inadequate penetration depth in some cases. The 75 gr also offers excellent fragmentation and wounding, but it penetrates a bit more.

If you want ammo to shoot at ground squirrels and wood chucks, get the 55 gr. If you want it to shoot at a 6'2" 220 lb man, then get the 75 gr.

Is it any good out of a short barrel AR?

75 works from 10.5 and 11.5 barrels out to 40-55 yards.  14.5" out to about 100 or so yards.