RE: homeprotection
This threadiswhy you should never ask about home defense on the internet.
Heavy turkey loads; slugs; "intimidation factors"; Shoot first ask questions later, If you need to shoot through a wall; mixed loads of ball, hollow point and CCI rat shot??????
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????????
Shotguns make excelent home protection weapons provided you use some common sense. A shotgun is not a "shoot in the general direction" firearm. At the distances you would be shooting inside your house it is like shooting any other firearm. You MUST aim a shotgun when you are in a home defensive situation.Hope for about a 4-6 inch "pattern at best. Even with an 18 inch barrel with a cylinder choke. You certanly don't want to use a turkey load. The recoil is far too excessive for you to get back on target quickly for a second shot if needed. You should be looking a light recoiling buck shot loads specifically designed for home defense.And by all means don't rely on the "sound" of the gun to scare the intruder. All that is going to do is alert him to your presense.
Your choice of hand gun should be one that any adult member or responsible minor can easily use with out needing to "remember" what to do while they are under stess and one that any responsible member of the family can fire multiple shots and remain in control of the firearm. Just because you can handle a full house 45acp doesn't mean that your wife can. If she can only handle the recoil of a 9mm then by all means a 9mm should be your home defense firearm.
As far as ammo goes there are multiple choices available that are specifically designed to fragment when the bullet strikes a wall or other hardobject yet still providemore than adequate penetration is soft human tissue.
And the number one thing is to have all responsible members of the familypractice with what ever firearm you choose until they are comfortable and familiar with the gun.