Hey bro!

I guess this steps in that "which is the best home defense weapon?" which can never be answered. I have heard or read every argument for every caliber for every type of gun. Like most of my gear I prefer them to specialize for an intended purpose. The "one size fits no one" is true. That's why we dogs, rats, and hogs buy the best blades of every size for a particular job.
Dependability typically equates to less moving parts the better (Ishi is spot on with this). Most fire fights are a surprise, fast, close range, and chaotic. I've witnessed soldiers just qualifying panic and forget how to clear a jam. So for average folk I think screwing around with reloading, checking this and that, and making sure the right caliber is loaded for the right range should be eliminated as much as possible. Probably 99% of HD guns are never maintained or practiced with either.
Someone on another forum, who claimed to be a police officer said he keeps his HD shotgun loaded with 3 different loads (2 of ea) going from bird shot to slug just doesn't sit right with me. Opposite of this is my Army experience of having a basic M16 and forbidden to carry anything else.

Hart, One thought I have that makes sense to me (and maybe not to anyone else and that's OK) is birdshot for an in house shotty. Close range, birdshot is lethal. AND less chance of any over penetration that you MIGHT have with 00 or slugs. Just me and no evidence to back it up. I've only had smaller houses where the MAX range would be (inside the house) 10-15 yards TOPS! I just think I would personally prefer the birdshot. Now to me birdshot is about 7-7 1/2 shot)

SH
Bird shot has it's place, but not for a lethal human defense round.
Yes you don't have to worry about over penetration, but you do have to worry about under penetration. You want LETHAL force. I would never shoot at someone I didn't want to kill! You want devastating results IMO.
Please look into bird shot for home defense, I think you will be surprised how ineffective it is. Here is a start.

Fred

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot14_4.htm

Birdshot makes nasty shallow wounds at close ranges on animals, I can't see it stopping someone who was a mean and determined killer.

Really anything that will stop a human is going to whiz through most modern structures (ie not stone etc).

I had 2 of the Saiga 12's over the years. The ones I had were back when they were about 300 bucks. One would shoot well, and the other was a POS that would only work with heavy buck. Needless to say, I could never get used to the whole Saiga shotty deal and sold both--the one that would not work for me was sent to Tony Rumore and made into a fire breathing SBR that works just fine for its current owner.

BTW, #4 Buck is a good house load.

I guess I really started something here, when I said birdshot I was meaning NOTHING less than 7- 71/2 or LARGER but nothing larger than #1buckshot. The typical "Defense" load is 00 buck but I just prefer a few more pellets. And again at INSIDE THE HOUSE distances I think any of the loads I mentioned would spoil a crooks night.

I just want to make sure you understand I am ONLY talking about INSIDE The house.

I don't think anyone would argue that point Randy!

The thing I don't like about shotguns is the recoil. It's hard to get my 115 lb wife to train with it...let alone ME train with it. If I'm not shooting ducks or turkeys....I leave the shotgun alone.

I'll +1 on the Benelli...I don't have a semi, but I love my NOVA for the ducks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Something about semi shotguns that make me miss my follow-ups on ducks...i hate them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />