...and the cowboys chime in with remarks about 12guage SxS coach guns.
Seriously, as much as I've liked 870's... Express or Wingmaster... and I've looked at the Mossberg 500 too... I'd just as soon have a 12guage 20" double-barrel with both chokes the same and loaded with 00buck. They're simple. Jam clearance??? What jam?
And if you must plug your critter, they'll be just as perforated as if you used the latest greatest most tacticool weapon in the store.
This discussion was about home/self defense, right?
There was mention of a semi-auto 12guage... they're not bad, but not something you want to deal with in the dark and under extreme stress. I tend to agree the pumps would be better in the defensive role, but they still offer you the opportunity to forget how they work. Either way, I'd be wanting a 20" barrel. I haven't wanted a weapon-mounted light, but if you have your hands full of that shotgun and no other light sources, you'll be wanting one. And don't forget the ghost ring sights... you do have to aim because contrary to popular notions, that shot collumn isn't going to spread out that much inside 10-15yds so also contrary to those notions, you're not going to point the weapon in the door and take out the whole room.
Now, this talk about "what if your wife/gf/whoever..."... okay, this assumes the wife doesn't know how to shoot or can't handle 12guage recoil. We don't know everybody's significant others on here, so we can't assume anything. She might find a .22LR painful or she might like a 4bore. Women can be hard to figure either way, but if a lady's of a mind to, she can shoot anything us guys can. And us guys aren't all recoil junkies either. I'm a guy and I've been known to shoot 12guage, 20, and 16 at different times and liked or hated the 20 depending on what gun it was. My sister's been known to shoot a 20guage 870 with 3" magnum #6 loads. I know a petite lady at the gun shop who shoots a lightweight deer rifle and also turkey hunts. A girl I know... met her because of barrel racing... shot trap for four years in high school. I ought to ask her for some insight on her preferences and get back to ya'll with some more perspective.
I'm sure I'll think of more later.