Best Gun for Home Defense: Shotgun, AR-15, or Pistol?
For new shooters prioritizing home defense, the AR-15 emerges as the top choice, scoring 73% overall. It balances good accuracy ease, excellent recoil management, and high ammo capacity, while .223/5.56 rounds offer safer over-penetration characteristics. The shotgun excels in stopping power but is hampered by lower capacity and harder recoil management for novices. Pistols are the most maneuverable but rank lowest in accuracy ease, stopping power, and over-penetration safety.









