Some things to consider
Long guns (rifles, shotguns) are great firepower but can be awkward in confined spaces such as halls and doorways. Also long guns are fairly easy for an intruder to grab at close range, and the long barrel gives a bad guy plenty of leverage to take the gun away and use against you.
Handguns are handy indoors and can be easily concealed almost anywhere in the house. It is the easiest of all guns to retain in a hand to hand struggle and can be fired from either hand if necessary.
Semi auto pistols can jam. Jams can be hard to clear in a panic situation. Also semi auto pistols use spring fed magazines. Loaded magazines with compressed springs sitting for long periods of time can lose some of their tension and then lack the pressure to reliably feed cartridges causing a jam.
Double action revolvers are very reliable, simple to operate and easy to shoot. They work every time the trigger is pulled, period. They don’t jam. If you come to a bad round simply pull the trigger again and you’re going again. And they are easy to reload.
But whatever you choose become familiar with it and be safe.
"Long guns (rifles, shotguns) are great firepower but can be awkward in confined spaces such as halls and doorways."
That's why the 18" models are preferable!
"Also long guns are fairly easy for an intruder to grab at close range, and the long barrel gives a bad guy plenty of leverage to take the gun away and use against you."
That's exactly why the 18" models are preferable for home defense!:biggrin And you should have already "reached out and touched" the perp with 00 buck before he ever got close enough to play Hulk Hogan. Besides, would YOU wanna charge someone who's pointing the 'bidness' end of a scatter gun atcha?
I use to think exactly the same way you do re: revolvers. 'Carried a 5 shot S/W stub nose .38 for years for JUST the reasons you stated.
Then one day (with some arm twisting from a 'Forum member who's name shall never cross my lips...uh, keyboard :biggrin :lol) I got to thinking... hmmmmmmmm...5 shots and I MAY hafta reload...how long - even with a speed loader - will THAT take? And what's likely to happen during the time I'm fumbling around DOING that? WHEREAS a semi-auto holds over DOUBLE the rounds (in a side-by-side mag) in the 1st place AND is a SNAP to reload with another mag if needed. There just 'ain't' any "fumbling around" involved. In addition, the semi-autos will spit out rounds FASTER than a revolver. And the modern day semi-autos just don't jam like the older units did on occasion either - when one USES GOOD AMMO and keeps 'em clean, etc. And I found out the springs used in modern mags DO keep their tension (that was a concern of mine as well). Plus the new trigger and "grip" safeties make a semi-auto "idiot" proof to carry - even with "one in the pipe" - and if there's one thing Pockets needs it's "idiot proof"!!!. (I also like the "hammerless" feature on the particular .45 I carry. It uses a "striker". So one can practice the draw, aim, and "dry fire" drill countless times w/o damaging the firing mechanism.)
So anyway, I "converted". And I've noticed I actually do feel more comfortable about carrying the .45 that I ever did packing a revolver. 'Never thought that would EVER be the case!
'Sorry for rambling. I'll shuddup now... :willy