I get wanting one gun that does both, but if one truly thinks he made need a firearm to defend his life or others', I'd want the best tool for the job, which is a long gun, ie. AR-15. A shotgun is a distant 2nd.
...if one truly thinks he made need a firearm to defend his life or others', I'd want the best tool for the job, which is a long gun, ie. AR-15. A shotgun is a distant 2nd.
Invariably, special ops forces around the world choose a variant of the M4 carbine as their primary weapon... Not handguns (those are "secondary," ie. backup weapons).
Just a few things to keep in mind when selecting a defensive firearm. A handgun may be your best choice.
Keeping one hand free
-To keep pressure on a wound (yours or someone else's)
-To open or close a door or window (house or automobile)
-To hold onto the steering wheel
-To shoot with your non-wounded hand
-To hold a flashlight
-To operate a mobile phone, camera, or radio
-To work house or car keys (the incident may start when you're returning in your car with your loved ones still inside the house)
-To activate a car remote starter. (You may have to bug out while under attack)
-To open more boxes of ammunition
Readiness
-You may need to position the firearm where it's readily available. John Correia from Active Self Protection shows plenty of videos where the individual would have been best served wearing their firearm on their person. Could you wear your long arm around your house?
-Shooting from bed is much easier with a handgun. Paul Harrell's 'Shooting from Bed' video is a must-see, between the comedy and the practicality.
Weapon Size
How wide are your doors, stairwells, and hallways? A long arm may be sub-optimal in your residence.
Nosy Neighbors
One advantage a handgun has with nosy neighbors is that you can take it back and forth to the range (or anywhere) without them knowing.
-The person you need to defend against may already live in your building or across the street. Do you want to let them know there's a long arm in your house when you're not home?
As for Special Ops, they're going into situations with teammates and against known bad guys. Your best play may be to slip away while concealing your firearm. It's hard to blend in and slip through a crowd of rioters while carrying a long arm.