What is the best home defense weapon?

I recommend using a shotgun over any handgun or rifle. Why? Here's a few reasons.

- Stopping power. If you load your shotgun with buckshot (your choice of shot) you will have a better chance of stopping someone when you really need it. Buck shot will not over penetrate like most people think. Neither will 1 oz. Slugs. Bird shot is a terrible idea, especially if he or she is wearing heavy clothing. It simply doesn't have the "punch" that you need.

- Shooting a shotgun inside of a home will be a lot less defining than any hand gun or rife. Try going to a shooting range and shooting all 3 without ear pugs and you will see which can you shoot the most without going near def. You will find the shot gun has a softer concussion.

- A shotgun is way cheaper to practice with. If you cant practice with your firearm, it will be useless when the time comes to defend yourself and loved ones.

Now, if you want to have a pistol or rifle instead be my guest. I have both handgun and shotgun. You should always have a backup. But I will always go for my shotgun first.

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It depends on your situation, and you should factor in Murphy's law: whatever you decide, the chances of your needing either are small, but whichever you have should the situation arise, you'll probably wish you had the other.

I'd personally go with the shotgun and #4 buck. I'd also say the birdshot people aren't that far off. It might not work against somebody wearing very heavy clothing in the dead of winter, but on the other hand, at home defense ranges, you're likely to hit your target before the shot even gets out of the cup. Having treated my share of close-up birdshot injuries, I promise you it isn't pretty.

The Remington 870 or any pump action shotgun is a good home defense weapon over a pistol or rifle for several reasons.

First is the sound of you chambering a shell. It's basically the 'sh!t got real' button for everyone in the house. Everyone knows that sound and because of that most robbers will leave the house without you needing to fire a shot. Make sure to shout out 'I am now armed. You got one chance to surrender or leave. If I find you I will shoot!' To increase the psychological aspect of that pump, and cover yourself legally.

Second is birdshot. Lots of people think that buckshot is the way to go for home defense but in reality you don't want anything bigger than birdshot. It is a high stopping power low penetration round meaning the it still keeps most of the stopping power but you don't risk overpenetrating and hitting something expensive or worse still a loved one, a bystander outside or a neighbor. Rifle rounds and some high power pistol ammo will almost always overpenetrate once it passes through the bad guy. It also decreases the chances of killing people you shoot, which is a plus for home defense.

I use a German Shepherd, a Taurus PT140 .40, and a Remington 1911 .45. If you want a quality firearm and don't want to spend alot of money, I recommend Taurus. I have fired hundreds of rounds through mine and have had zero malfunctions. I can say the same for my Remington 1911.

I would recommend at lest a 40 cal or higher. You want to have stopping power. I always keep my .45 with two mags of hollow point loaded and ready to go.

The main thing is that you don't want the shot to go through the wall and kill your kid.

Don't listen to the guy youtube that says a shotgun is not the best, he is a idiot. He doesn't address shots going through the wall.

If you are not going to use a shotgun then use frangible ammunition.

With frangible ammunition (such as Hornady TAP) bullets begin to yaw, turn, and fragment upon impacting any medium other than air. This significantly reduces overpenetration, but is only valid for frangible ammo. Do not use standard full metal jacket (FMJ) or hollow point (HP) ammo for home defense

rural area, well, you don't need to worry about hitting your next door neighbors then! Depending on what you want, a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, a .223, 5.45 or 7.62x39 rifle, or a pistol carbine like the hi point 995. a shotgun is the most powerful at short range. the rifle does medium to long range well. unless you choose a short rifle or one with a folding stock, you'll have problems shooting indoors. the pistol carbine is like a pistol, but range of a rifle. at the same time begin cheap and small. good shotguns: mossberg 500/590, Remington 870 good rifles: m1 carbine, ar15, mini14, mini30, ak47, ak74, ak103, wasr series, sar series. pistol carbine examples: hi point 995 (9mm) ruger pc4 (.44 magnum) ruger pc9 (9mm)

Any shotgun, semi auto or pump action, loaded with target shells is probably the best at close range and for not penetrating thru walls so easily as a stray bullet.

Edit: Rogue is right, only in much more detail.

If you are using any pistol use HOLLOW POINTS. Hollow points offer great stopping power, and will not continue to penetrate through the target. It is very important not to use fmj or other ammunitions inside of a home. Otherwise, that bullet will keep on moving through walls, and people.

12 gauge Remington 870 loaded with 2.75" 00 buckshot should suffice.