Anyone thinking that a pistol gripped 12 or even 20 gauge shotty is the thing for HD, better take it to a range, preferably an outdoor one, and shoot a few rounds. You may find yourself putting an ace bandage on your wrist afterward. Personally, the best HD firearm for HD is probably a handgun, with a caliber starting with a 4, but the license application takes time and in some cases, moolah. Not easy for a perp to grab the barrel of your handgun. As for spray and pray with a shotgun, at hallway to kitchen distances, you still have to aim, as even with an improved cylinder choke the spread will not be much wider than a bathroom wastebasket opening unless you use bird shot. Bird shot might only make a perp mad if you hit him in the chest while he's wearing a leather jacket, but the aforementioned buck shot will go through two sheets of sheetrock like they weren't there. And finally, my advice to any first time shooter is, for the defense of family, one must not hesitate but shoot to kill and do so forthwith. If you do not believe that you or a family member can do this, get a big dog.
One final note: the sound of racking a round for your shotgun or a semi auto pistol can alert an intruder who also might be armed. Revolvers have no safeties so there is no wondering if its ready to go. Except when I am deer hunting, I do not use a safety at all, especially not on my 9mm or 1911. My safety is in using my brain and keeping that little finger out of the trigger guard.
