for home defence in my opinion and everybody has a different opinion but the best gun for home defence is a 12 gauge pump shotgun. as for swinging around a long gun shotgun. barrels vary in length from 18"to well over 30".the 18" barrel ones are great to have around the house not too long. load it with 4 00 buckshot then slug then 4 00 buckshot then slug.the 4 00 buckshot has 24 pellets if memory is correct if you have to shoot somone in the middle of the nite you more likely to hit them with one of those pellet rather than one bullet at a time from handgun.