i think you should choice the type of gun withs is most suited for your home. if you life in a small apartment a pistol would be a beter choice because its short. a shotgun would be to long in narow apartments, but if you life in a BIG house/villa with lots of big rooms and wide hallways a shotgun would be beter choice because it's more effective both psychological ( for both you and the intruder ) and pysical ( stoping power )and you got enough space to move around with a shotgun.<br>but still prevention is the best choice ! because blowing somebody's brains out, doesnt do any good for you either !