I'm new to huntingnet but not new to firearms. I must say that there is a lot of absolutly great advice in this thread. I would listen to every post and you will eventually make a well educated decision for your home defense ammo no matter what the caliber or guage you have to work with.

I have been learning more about hunting ammo lately but self defense ammo was about all I studied for several years. And I can tell that most everyone who has posted here has kept a good eye on this as well.

I would reinforce a few points:

Remember that YOU are responsible for EVERYTHING that your projectile does even if fired in self defense. Consider the surroundings outside of your walls. How close are neighbors etc. Larger projectiles travel further.

Practice!

Remember that if you have resorted to deadly force for defense, all other avenues of resolving the situation have either failed or were N/A at that moment.

Practice!

Don't threaten with an unloaded firearm and don't shoot to wound. Shoot center mass and shoot until the threat stops.

Practice!

If you are not prepared mentally to very possibly kill another human being, then a firearm is not the self defense tool you need. If they get it away from you....................

Practice!

I have tons more to say but it would become an article and several of these issues have been addressed already anyway

Blue