Best for home defense?
Thank you for your time.
Either 12 or 20 is fine, as long as the firearm is sized for you. Buckshot is more effective at stopping a threat, but, depending on the threat, birdshot can get the job done. That said, I’ll take 12 gauge, 00 buck.
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Bigger is always better? Really those are two different questions.
20ga guns tend to be lighter, and smaller, as they are geared towards women and youth (general statement).
20ga shells will have less pellets than 12ga shells.
20ga shells, in those light shotguns, can kick as much or more than a heavier 12ga.
20ga shells can be harder to find, and you have far less selection in ammunition. Better than 16ga though 
Get the gun that fits you, or can be made to fit you (that includes weight).
Choose buckshot over birdshot unless you just cannot find buckshot at all. I would select a slug in that case. BTW, some 20ga slugs are dang brutal to shoot.
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I have to ask for more information. If, you live in an apartment I would recommend 20 gauge #1 buckshot. If you in your own house and it is close to your neighbors house again 20 gauge #1 buck shot. If your home is spaced out from your neighbors I would go 12 gauge #0 buckshot and also if you live out in the country I would suggest the 12 gauge with #000 buckshot. If you decide to go 12 gauge, you can go with #0 buckshot.
I know I seem confusing so, let me give more detail. #1 buckshot is ,30 inch diameter. #0 buckshot is .32 inch diameter, and #00 buckshot is .33 inch diameter and 000 buckshot is .36 inch diameter. To also help you understand the differences; an one in a half ounce load the #1 buckshot will have 15 pellets. #000 buckshot will have 9 pellets. The optimum distance these rounds are good for is 30 yards. They can be shot further but not as affectively. That is all for the 12 gauge. I hope this helps a little and does not make it confusing.
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I always keep 3” number 4 in my 12 ga mossberg… aim for the throat!
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Use buckshot and aim center mass. Good luck aiming for the throat if you choose that route.
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BUCKETS of info from these guys. Great site.
P.S. #1 buckshot if you can find it.
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Good luck with a shotgun? If you aim at the throat you’re hitting center mass and face as well… buckshot center mass and the criminal is wearing armor and you don’t have time to determine?
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My wife can’t handle a 12-gauge. She can handle a 20. I got her #1 buck for home defense and she uses it for snakes effectively. I am certain that it will be effective for any encounter within the fences yard. Of course, she also has other guns in case she need to drive off those who aren’t close enough for the shotgun.
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Instead of a new thread 
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Depends on the construction of the home, the ability of the shooter, the fit of the shotgun and the contents of the shells.
Cases in point----
Take ANY shotgun out on a low overcast day and launch a round.
Noisy, huh? It’ll be worse inside a building.
Take ANY unloaded handgun with an extra long barrel and try to maneuver around your home in the dark. Clumsy ,huh? It’ll be worse with a shotgun, even a short barrel riot shotgun will be much longer than Buntline hog leg.
Take a 12 gauge semi-auto loaded with 1 0z trap shells to the range. The recoil will be very tolerable for most.
Take a 20 gauge single shot loaded with 3" Magnum slugs. Ouch!
Not to say that a shotgun is a poor choice----I’d prefer a shotgun to a rifle for most situations (as heretical as that may sound) but to become really dialed in to a shotgun of any gauge is going to take some experimenting and work.
Or do as the PD in my town do and get a 12 gauge Mossy 500 and Federal Flite control 00 Buck and learn to love it.
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My brother wanted a 12 guage. I let him fire mine. He got a 20 guage.
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I’ve shot a shotgun in a house, in a 10’x10’ room:grimacing:
I’ve only owned twelve gauges… but I hunt with mine.
Matter of fact I have a new one I ain’t shot yet 
Me, too. Deer. Slugs in brush. fairly close.
I just picked up a 12 gauge in order to get into sporting clays. Light target loads are pleasant to shoot. 3” Turkey loads and buckshot not so much.
I agree with @Enzo_T Think a semi auto .223 with a standard capacity magazine full of quality expanding SD ammo has a lot of advantages over a shotgun. But a handgun is my first choice inside the home since it leaves a hand free to gather my family and get them to a safe place and is easier to maneuver with in tight spaces.
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Agree that a rifle or shotgun is easier to shoot for most. But it would be harder for me to grab my son and maneuver in tight hallways with him and a rifle or shotgun.
I also use the majority of my limited training time to practice with a handgun since that is what I usually have with me. So I am more confident with my pistol and my abilities in the tight quarters of my home than I would be with a rifle. My pistol is loaded with an extended mag so the capacity is similar to a rifle.
If I needed to shoot at targets outside my home I would reach for the rifle. I would likely stage a rifle in my families safe spot if I didn’t live in such a low crime area and felt I couldn’t cover it effectively with my pistol. Happy to continue this conversation elsewhere.
Horses for courses.
For defending a position, a rifle is golden.
For holding off a mob, a shotgun will launch more lead projectiles into the atmosphere more quickly.
For repelling an attack up close and personal, a handgun is the stuff of legend.
However whatever you have at hand is going to be more useful than a threatening letter from your attorney (and at hand does give a tip of the hat to a hand gun)
So long as you do your part.
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Agree that it matters more that you be well trained and practiced with whatever flavor you choose. But in the incredibly unlikely event that a mob comes marching down my street I personally would feel much better defended reaching for my rifle and a pouch full of 30 round magazines than for my shotgun that I can ghost load up to 7 rounds max.
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I love turkey loads in my twelve gauge, the last gobbler I got left a bruise on my shoulder that reminded me for a few days that I got that sob😁
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