What to use for home defense?
Howdy!
There's absolutely no chance of consensus on this subject because we are all different, and every "situation" will be different also.
However, since I have an opinion, I guess I've gotta get my feet wet; It's hard to beat a shotgun because of the fear factor projected when a bad guy just HEARS the sound of a pump being jacked, an auto action being closed or a double slamming shut. Additionally, a variety of projectile types can be loaded into the gun, simultaneously, to quickly cover different situations. Even with a double, you have the option of different loads.
A similar deterrent can be obtained, from the sound of a lever actioned carbine(16" to 20" bbl), being operated.
If I were to buy one for hd purposes, it would be a 357 mag or 44 mag, but, since I'm cheap and tend to use what I have, I'll just stick with my old (1897 built), Marlin model 1894, in 44-40 caliber. These rifles are light, short. have ample stopping power and relatively low recoil.
Any of the above would getrdone, in most situations.
Thanks for your time.