i personaly have no clue about an actual home deffence sittuation so any imput would be great
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futureranger,
I'd humbly suggest that your very first task should be to get not just "a clue," but as complete an education about actual home defense situations as you can manage. That by its very nature includes a reasonably good understanding of your local laws and prosecutorial attitudes regarding home defense.
I'm one of those old pharts who thinks that software (your mental awareness, training, education, knowledge, skills and practiced abilities) are FAR more important than hardware (what load you choose, or for that matter even what firearm you choose for home defense). That said, let's explore how you can best go about learning some of the things you need to know.
I'm a big fan of live training at the hands of a good instructor, as I think that's the best way for a person to shorten their learning curve in absorbing a new set of skills without picking up some bad habits along the way. With that in mind I would suggest you try to locate an NRA certified instructor near you who's teaching classes in shotgun and PPITH (Personal Protection In The Home). Take a look at
http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/basictraining.asp and search there to see if there is an instructor near you.
Failing that, the NRA has released its PPITH course of instruction on DVD. You can order a copy from the Program Materials Center at
http://materials.nrahq.org/go/product.aspx?productid=ES 26840 . I don't think videos are a complete substitute for taking a class 'live,' but sometimes it might be the only option readily available.
I'd also suggest you consider watching Louis Awerbuck's videos
The Combat Shotgun and
Safe At Home as well. Links to those are included below:
http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=1367
http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=1500
If you do manage to get a live class, your instructor should inform you regarding local laws on self defense and the attitudes of your local law enforcement officers and the local District Attorney or prosecutor toward self defense by citizens. If you cannot get a class, you will need to educate yourself on those issues. You'll want to talk to your DA or a representative from that office, a practicing criminal defense attorney, and/or a local law enforcement officer or two. What you want to learn is "what the law says about home defense" in your locality- you don't want to pitch your questions as 'what can I get away with.' You may be talking with these same people in the aftermath of a defensive shooting, and you want to be remembered as 'a good guy' and not some sort of wannabe headhunter.
I sincerely hope you'll seek out some good solid face-to-face training, or failing that, some 'distance education' via video, before you ever have to confront any sort of defensive situation in your home. You need to have the confidence that knowing you're doing the right thing under trying circumstances gives you, in order to more easily face those circumstances- and the aftermath.
As to the question you actually asked, the answer in our house is "both." Shotguns are the go-to defensive firearms here. Magazines are loaded one round short with full power 00 buckshot, and Sidesaddles mounted on the gun are loaded with Brenneke KO slugs. That gives us the option of loading a slug first if necessary under the circumstances. Note that performing "select slug" drills under pressure requires training and practice.
Stay Safe,
lpl/nc
