The Top 40

Best home defense value on the market. A dog is more versatile and multipurpose, but the shotty commands respect, is simple, reliable, and decisive. 20 gauges are probably perfect as recoil is less than 12 gauge and "bird" or "target" loads are just as effective as 00 buck at room-size distances but more "reasonable" to the judge/jury when the perp's family sues you for your social work.

You will be sued even if everything goes your way. Just don't fire more after the perp hits the ground. The first thing to say on 911 is "I think he/they're gonna kill me" and afterwards "I was in fear for my life and wanted to neutralize the threat." Meek and mild, not Rambo when talking to the authorities. If 911 is on the phone at the key moment, yell "stop I have a weapon just before you do the deed."

Hopefully your state has a Castle Doctrine and don't forget to tell 911 your description so the cops know what the good guy should look like.

And keep all that in mind while you are within an inch of your life, better you should remember to release the safety and aim.

Another nice thing about a shotgun is that the sound of a shell being racked into the chamber within hearing distance of the intruder is sometimes enough to send them packing without a shot fired.

You can buy bean-bag rounds. If you use one of those first, it looks better to the authorities if you need to escalate to the double-aught rounds.

I respectfully disagree, Butch. I suppose, though, it depends on your jurisdiction. Non-lethal is fine out on the street, e.g., stun guns or pepper-spray. (Personally, I wish brass knuckles were legal.) But in my house? I'm not wasting chamber space on beanbags or ammunition on warning shots. The thug's warning was that he entered my house uninvited.

No Fat Man, you think about what you should do before it happens and you practice it so it becomes second nature. You don't open the "how to drive" manual as you skid across the road.