[dbbeebs]

Home protection = shotgun...I am a terrible shot!

FWIW, something I learned in a shotgun course: It's not a magic
death ray, the shot spreads only a few inches at 10 yards.

[LibTeeth]

Shotguns fired from the hip usually go high without practice and the narrow spread you mentioned doesn't compensate much. Shotguns are also hard to operate with one hand. Mas Ayoob recommends them as a good safe room gun, but if you have to move and be armed, the handgun has advantages. Of course, a tac-sling on any long arm is essential. But one of its main uses is to be able to drop and retain the long arm while transitioning to the sidearm. One good thing about the shotgun is that it is lower pressure and less destructive to hearing when fired inside.