[billyboy]

If you are mainly interested in protecting your family in a house, a 12 gauge with a powerful flashlight mounted on it and loaded with birdshot is good. With this, there is not much chance of a bullet going through the drywall and killing an innocent bysleeper. Also, unless you are one who wakes up real quick with his full faculties including great night vision, the flashlight and the spread of the birdshot makes it hard to miss. Also, the light will help eliminate accidental shootings of your kid whojust got up to get some water.There are legal shotguns with short barrels just for this purpose.You relly need to understand the legal ramifications also. No shooting in the back as the bad guy is running away etc. Generally he must present a viable threat. It is good practice to a least give them a momentary chance to surrender although this is rarely possible in a home invasion.Somebody who is willing to enter an occupied house is generally desperate and stupid anyway. It would be much safer for the crook in England where the citizens can't have guns.