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In my opinion best home defense weapon is a shotgun.

Agree - it's almost impossible to miss and the shot doesn't kill a sleeping child three rooms down. Shoot a pistol and the shot goes right through layers of drywall - not so with a shotgun. Also, the intimidation factor - anyone looking down the barrel knows you're not going to miss...

anyone looking down the barrel knows you're not going to miss...

Looking down the barrel? Hell, most burglars will be gone about 2 seconds after they hear the round jacked into the chamber. That's one of those sounds you definitely never want to hear behind you.

I think you're right. #4 shot probably won't go through the two layers of sheetrock necessary to penetrate the next room unless you're very close to the wall and firing directly at it. If it does penetrate, it won't have much energy left and the pellets should be pretty well flattened out - not too dangerous. As for stopping power though, with a good auto-loader or pump action you can empty all 6 in short order - I'd keep firing until the perp was flat on his back. If you're firing center-mass that shouldn't be more than 3 to 4...

I've been looking at a Mossberg 500 "Tactical Cruiser" 6 shot 12 ga, 18 1/2" barrel, pistol grip. Big punch in a relatively small package and lots of intimidation factor - it just looks mean. http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/NEW/54125.jpg

Of course, the standard Glock G17 (9mm) gives you a lot of rounds in the mag... If the original poster can afford it, he should get both a pistol and a shotgun, for increased tactical options. A knife makes a good weapon of last resort too. Not that I'm paranoid - I just like to be prepared... I'd rather give an after-action report than an excuse.