[Sir Gawain]

Just pick up your basic Mossberg for $200 and load birdshot if you're afraid kids might get hit by strays, or load buckshot if you don't care to blow holes through your walls.

[chadwimc]

A Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870 will do anything you ask of them. 12 gauge for common availability of ammo. You can get a bazillion add ons and doodads for each. Although the basic model will work 110% of the time.

[wingnutx]

Anything with an extended magazine and an 18" barrel.

I have a Winchester 1300 Defender, which is the only home defense model that I could find in 20-gauge.

Mossberg makes a nice defense model, but 12 -gauge only.

[RavenATB]

"Just pick up your basic Mossberg for $200 and load birdshot if you're afraid kids might get hit by strays, or load buckshot if you don't care to blow holes through your walls."

I agree, but get the short barrel (just over 18 inches) and the pistol grip. Also, I suggest a sling that can hold at least enough ammo to load your gun a second time.

[Lekker 1]

I second the motion. A Mossberg pump action 12 gage. You can get those magazine extenders too. For basic home defense, that'll do nicely. You might want a collapsible stock just to make it more maneuverable at close range.

[Tennessee_Bob]

...load buckshot if you don't care to blow holes through your walls.

I own a house that was built in World War II for the Manhattan Project here in Oak Ridge. It's cast concrete slabs and cinderblock. I'm more concerned about the shot splattering and ricocheting around the room than I am about putting holes in the walls.