[demonz]

What you want in a home defense firearm is:

--high incapacitation power (not to be confused with lethality)


--reliablity/dependability (jams, easy operation under stress)


--low outside penetration threat (is round going to hit Jimmy sleeping in next room?)


--easily handled under stress


Shotgun, it's a little indiscriminate. Unbeatable knockdown power.



Assault rifle, unwieldy in close quarters, over penetration, jams, overkill.



Semi-auto pistol any caliber any make has a possiblilty of a jam (try clearing a stove pipe under extreme stress). Statistically 1 in 1000 rounds will be a dud, then you have to cycle the round. Fumbling/forgetting safety under stress, unless you have a Sigsaur.


IMO clear winner is a revolver, .357 or .38 +P minimum with Glaser safety Slugs or Corbon. Utterly reliable. Dud? no problem pull the trigger again. Dependable, just pull trigger, no safety worries. With the safety slugs you get good stopping power without over penetration. Only downside I see is muzzle flash is more so with stubby and might be a bit slower for subsequent target aquisition after initial shot. If you need more than 6 shots, you didn't have much of a chance to begin with. Either you were highly outnumbered or your markmanship preparedness was bound to fail you.