I'm not going to lie to you. I think an AR would make a very ideal home defense weapon but there are a few important reasons why I choose a 12ga instead. For one people do not choose a shotgun because of lack of penetrating ability..............they choose a shotgun because it works, period. It is simple, reliable and has an incredible amount of stopping power at close range. You also have to remember we live in a world that is very sympathetic to the criminal element for some sick reason. Showing a jury of people the weapon that was used to wound or kill an intruder can backfire on you big time. That's if it ever came to that, which it has before. To an ignorant person an AR15 looks evil and therefore it makes you look evil giving you less of a chance to have your name cleared. Also if you're going to buy a postban weapon you will not be able to use a flash suppressor and let me tell you the flash from a 16" barrel with hot M193 is something amazing (even in broad daylight). At night in a dark house it would definitely blind you. A shotgun still has a muzzle flash but from my experiments it is no where near as blinding as an AR15 with 16" or shorter barrel. The downsides to a shotgun are greater recoil, not as compact and less ammo capacity. The reasons to use one for defense though far outweigh the downsides IMHO. I'm not telling you to not buy an AR because it will be the finest and most addictive rifle you ever own but buy it for the fun of it instead or in the ultra rare occasion that society breaks down and you are forced to fight on the street it would be nice to have one. I know some of you guys on this board fantasize about this very senario (haha). Anyway, enough of my opinion. Good luck, have fun, and above all be safe.