Shotguns are great self defense weapons either inside the home or out. Winchester has some new loads out for personal protection that seem to have the appearance of be kind to your neighbor. PDX1 is for handguns and I don't remember the shotgun load but it's there. I have kids I don't get the luxury of having a shotgun out and about for home protection, even though they know not to touch them we all know curiosity is the mother of all .........
I use my revolvers plus I know when I put one in his midsection he's down. And the fact is your close enough with a shotgun that the pattern at 10 or less has just as much chance of missing because it hasn't opened up all that much. Giving a chance I'd use the shotgun. Now someone messing around in the yard is screwed.