lagniappe
I grew up in Pineville, went to shcool in Baton Rouge and then worked in both New Orleans and Mandeville before moving up here to NW Arkansas. I sure miss the La cooking and seafood.......but not the skeeters and humidity!!!!!
Have you considered a shotgun for your home defense needs? Then you could focus on a dedicated hunting rifle.
In a "home" defense situation, a high powered rifle of any caliber will be shooting through multiple walls and possibly endangering those you are trying to protect. In close quarter situations like that, I don't see how you could do much better than a short barreled 12 guage pumpshotgun like one of the police type models that hold a bunch of rounds. The Remington 870 with extended magazine holds up to 8 rounds!!

In my opinion, in close quarters, nothing demands respector delivers results likemultiple loads of 12 guage 00 buckshot!!!
I've got an old JC Higgins 12 Guage pump that holds five rounds and if you hold the trigger down it will just keep on firing when you pump a new round in.
firstshot
----------------------------
Make your first shot count!