I use a 12 ga pump for in the house and an M1A carbine with a 30 round magazine for outside. I have a handgun in the bedroom for my wife to grab as she heads to the bathroom as a last ditch sanctuary since there is only one door in and it can be locked. She has been trained in the army and will dump a magazine through the door if someone tries to force their way in.

Very few people have the skills to effectively use a handgun in a high stress environment. Anyone that has been in combat will agree with that. If you are serious about protecting yourself and your loved ones, use something other than a handgun as the primary weapon.

Some good points but if you don't even have the time to rack it, you're already dead.

Glock 39

I agree with nomercy448,, racking a gun gives the intruder a heads up, and then he knows were your at..

Rem HD 870 pump, with XS night sights and a 350 lumen surefire light attached & loaded with 7 rounds of 3" 00 buck and 6 more in the side saddle.

Racking the shotgun ( my choice in firearm as well ) does give your location away maybe but it also does something else , Its telling the idiot that's entering your castle he's just made a fatal mistake and you are ready to level his ass , very very very few people come back from a point blank shotgun assault im a alternateing ssg \ slug \ssg load up man it absolutely ruins a guys day .lol
GE

A B&E intruder would be freaked out by the sound of shotgun pump or racking the slide of a pistol and realize he broke into the wrong house. An intruder who came to kill is entirely different, only stopping the intruder will defuse the situatation. My GP-100 is my first reachable firearm and a Mossberg 12 gauge is next on the menu. A DA revolver is ready to go without pumping , cocking, or sliding. Just point and shoot very simple. Ammo capacity in revolvers is low but if you have to reload you are in a firefight and the 12 gauge would be combat applicable.

I have seen what an AK-47 can do in a house. It can penetrate through multiple walls and out the exterior with ease. If multiple people live in your home please taken into consideration your home defense weapons.

I tend to agree as well, not only does it let the intruder know you're there, its also says to the jury you gave the idiot(s) a final chance to flee the house they broke into, and if they chose to remain in the house after that, then they had a death wish or death wish for you.