[Blue Jays]

Opting for a quality 12-gauge shotgun is indeed a truly excellent home defense choice for most.
There are lots of choices, yet for a couple hundred dollars, one can have a formidable tool that will last for decades.

[Doctor Freeze]

Good idea. Got mine. Mossberg 12-gauge. You can call it a supplemental home insurance policy.

[dangerdoc]

Other than break open shotguns, there is definitely a learning curve. Not sure a newby who picks up a pump shotgun will be very successful without a little training and some practice for muscle memory.

[Pollster1]

Opting for a quality 12-gauge shotgun is indeed a truly excellent home defense choice for most. There are lots of choices, yet for a couple hundred dollars, one can have a formidable tool that will last for decades.

Details on your recommendations for home defense? What ammo? Pump or semi-auto? Sling or not? Barrel length, magazine capacity? Manufacturer? Optics if any? Biometric safe, keypad safe, or a nice rack/corner in the bedroom?

Note: I have a Remington 870 with a comparatively cheap red dot sight that marks the center of impact at 10 yards, no sling, six 2 3/4" reduced recoil 00 buckshot, with the last round a magnum to make sure I notice it's my last, stored in a quick-open keypad safe that I practice opening in the dark, with 10 extra (magnum) rounds strapped to the stock.