Are you going to keep it loaded? Chambered? Cocked?
Do you want a pump shotgun for deterrent effect racking a round into the chamber, or the fast shooting of a semi-auto?
Your choices are roughly pump, semi-auto, and double-barrel breech...in long barrel or short barrel form (deadlier at close range, and likely to pepper someone at medium/long range).
You have to decide what suits your style, likely tactic (e.g. stay hidden or go charging), and physical geography/topography of the home area you are defending. Lots of open spaces or tightly cluttered?
What you should have in addition to whatever firearm you select are:
#1: a good dog
#2: any bulletproof vest (often $100 on ebay/craigslist and under $400 on bulletproofme.com), but level 3a if you can afford it
#3: caltrops. If you are staying in place...such as defending one room and not intending to go “sweep” your house room to room, then you toss the caltrops outside your room-door to prevent an intruder from rushing you no matter your weapon situation (re-loading, jammed, out of ammo, etc.)
#4: bear spray or tear gas grenade (if your locality lets you own any form of pepper spray then you can use this to fog your house to give you a way to clear your residence without sweeping room to room)...in close quarters pepper spray is a good emergency backup plan should your weapon jam or run out of ammo. Of COURSE, on the internet everyone has multiple firearm backups. rolls eyes.
Or, alternatively, toy soldiers or Leggos(tm).
/johnny
You are the best. Thank-you for your knowledge about home protection. I will use it.
Got a 180 pound Old English mastiff snoring beside me every night. Want a pump action, short barrel, chambered. I want to grab and GO FIND. Open space but still a house. No vests, I’m thinking jammies and what was that noise...Suggestions?