rmorse;2494495; said:I will absolutely practice, other wise I would be a danger to myself and everyone around me. My reasoning behind getting a shotgun to "balance the fact that I am a lousy shot" is that I have never been faced in a life or death situation, facing down a man who is aiming to take me out. I do not know how well I will be able to aim when I am scared. Also, I do not know if there will be a struggle, and I break my hand, or if I get shot first, or w/e. That is one of the biggest appeals behind a shotgun....
Shotgun is great for home defence, but doesn't leave you better prepared for a life and death situation. In most home defence confrontations, you will be within a few yards of your oppostition, the shot will not have real opportunity to spread. If you are more comfortable with a shotgun, then thats the way to go, don't want to be caught with something you don't feel right using. I do think that handguns are more useful cause they can always double as a carry weapon. Another thing to think about is if you have a wife or plan on having one. A twelve is tough for most of the fairer sex to properly handle.
If you'd go with a shotty, I'd get a Maverick 800. It is cheap, less then 200. Decently made, it is made by Mossberg. Use the difference in price to purchase ammo and range time.