In regards to Mr Delgatos comments on home defense and that you should buy a shotgun, I couldn't agree more. For the past two decades or longer. When asked what should I get for home defense I have always recommended a shotgun. Specially, a 20 guage and a youth model for the following reasons: a pistol takes alot of practice to use effectively, especially when something goes crash at 3 am, criminals don't tend to attack at noon. Second a 20 guage can be handled not only by you but also by your wife and kids if necessary, you may not be home when trouble comes calling. A youth model has a 20 inch barrel which is short enough to handle well in a home environment. Buy a pump not a semiautomatic, I would get either a Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870, both have a solid track record. I would load it with #7 bird shot, this will minimize the chance of over penetration, means your shot doesn't go through the wall and hit a innocent. You still have to aim the shotgun, at ranges in a home, odds are the shot will not open up or open very much, into a pattern spread. So what you are doing is shooting a bunch of small pellets in a very small group, which in effect is one big mass of lead. That is what I have recommended for years. No I am not military or law enforcement, just been shooting for 60 years or better and have listened to people who have encountered things I haven't, thank God. Ask any cop or military person what the worse weapon is and most likely they will tell you a shotgun.
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While I applaud you for wanting to be proactive by being armed, I must point out that there is no single firearm or any single device that is perfect one for self defense.
A shotgun is a great choice but not always the best choice. Do not put all your eggs in one basket.
Example 1 - Someone invades your home at nigt and you are awakened by two or three figures making their way through your bedroom door that shotsun is not goimng to help you because you do not have enough time to get it rack it and fire.
On the other hand if you are awake and you have it in your hand you hae a fighting chance.
Example 2 - I would rethink the birdshot, and a 20 guage is a great shotgun to have, so it a 410 for that matter, but most will opt for a 12 guage with slugs, or 00 Buckshot.
Birdshot is fine for ducks, geese, quail.
However if the intruder has a vest and you unload birdshot all you are going to do is insure your own demise if he has a firearm. Today you should always assume the intruder is armed and dangerous.
In your defensive plan it is a great way to go if you plan on letting the intruder come to you, however if you have loved ones in the house what are you going to do? You are going to protect them.
It is hard to manuver a long barrel (rifle/shotgun) In the home going from room to room a firearm I would use is a handgun. Most shooting situations in a home invasion is going to happen 3-6 feet away. You need to be able to point and fire in seconds.
No matter what the firearm, take the time to learn the proper way to use it, and be safe with it.
The left loves to badmouth the NRA, but they do offer firearm safety training. Learn to shoot, and learn to be safe, and practice . Life depends on it.