Best Weapons for Home Defense: Selecting the Right One for Your Needs

Posted by Frankie Chan on 6th May 2025

House with garage at sunset

Selecting a weapon for home defense is a very personal and nuanced choice. Everything from availability to local laws to public perception has to be considered in order to get the optimal choice for your specific situation.

Today, we’re going to go over some of the best weapons for home defense and why you should consider using them in your home defense plan. 

Best Home Defense Firearms

Having to defend your home can be one of the scariest, high-stress situations the average person can experience. Using the right tools to mitigate the situation is only one part of your overall plan. It can also be one of the most important.

In order to make an informed decision, we are going to make some general assumptions. Those are that all legal considerations are being followed, that most engagements will be at a minimum distance of a room’s length for your home, and that the maximum distance you will encounter will be the longest sight line in your home.

With these in mind, let’s get into the best weapons for home defense.

AR-15s/Modern Sporting Rifles

AR-15 on case with accessories

The AR-15 is the overall best option for home defense firearms. This is because it is a low-recoiling firearm that is comfortable to shoot for a wide variety of body types and is easy to become proficient with.

Combined with the right ammunition, the AR-15 is a very effective home defense tool that does not have as high of a risk of over-penetration. This means that if a shot fails to connect, there is a lower probability that a 5.56 defensive loading will go through multiple interior walls.

Additionally, AR-15 parts are widely available, allowing you to maintain and upgrade your rifle as you see fit. This helps ensure reliability and performance with spare parts and improved parts.

Pros Ergonomic.
Easy to use.
Lower risk of “shoot throughs”.
Large aftermarket support.
Cons Public stigma.
Not 50-state legal.

Semi-Automatic/Pump-Action Shotguns

Benelli M4 on porch with sling and ammo

While AR-15s are the most popular option, they are only one of the best weapons for home defense. The next option is the shotgun. Now, there are two major options when choosing a shotgun, and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.

These options are semi-automatics and pump-action shotguns.

Semi-Automatic Shotguns

Semi-automatic shotguns are a good option for those who can have semi-auto firearms but can’t or won’t get an AR-15. These types of shotguns are much more consistent in their fire rates than pump-actions because the ammunition powers the cycling of the gun.

This removes the risk of short-stroking the firearm but adds an additional issue of ammo sensitivity. Since the ammunition powers the gun, it has to have enough pressure to cycle the bolt. This makes some of the lighter target loads not run correctly in semi-auto shotguns. 

The heavier loadings can be harder for some individuals to control, making this a less universal option when it comes to home defense. However, those who can run these types of shotguns have a very effective tool with widely available ammunition options.

Pros No risk of short stroking.
Extremely effective.
Cons Restricted in some states.
Ammunition sensitive.

Pump-Action Shotguns

The pump-action shotgun is one of the best weapons for home defense, especially if you live in a state that restricts semi-automatic or magazine capacities. Since you are the one powering the action, there is no ammo sensitivity. There is a risk of not fully cycling the action if you short-stroke the gun, but this can be mitigated through practice.

Pump-actions are often viewed as hunting weapons, which makes them viewed more favorably than firearms like the AR-15. Combined with the effectiveness of most defensive shotgun loads, a pump-action shotgun brings less bias in lethal force scenarios since it is considered to be a “more appropriate” response than an AR-15. This is an unfortunate aspect of home defense considerations, but it is a reality.

The pump-action shotgun does require more practice to bring it to the same level as the AR-15, but it is a great option if you need a well-rounded gun that is used for more than just home defense.

Pros Can use almost any ammunition as long as it chambers.
Extremely reliable.
50-state legal.
No negative stigma.
Cons Can be short stroked.
Requires more practice to use.
Harder to fit to the end user.

Semi-Auto Handguns

1911 on black jeans with bullets around it

Semi-automatic handguns are one of the more niche options when it comes to the best weapons for home defense. This is because they are a balance of compromises. These types of handguns are good for concealed carry and, if you are on a budget, can be put into the home defense role as well.

They are easier to secure, store, and get aftermarket parts for, depending on the handgun model. Glock parts are some of the most commonly available options, and the many models Glock offers are good dual-purpose options.

The major drawback to handguns is that they require much more practice to use effectively, and they are not as ballistically effective as rifle and shotgun loads. However, if you are on a budget, getting a handgun for both self-defense and home defense will be the better option than trying to get multiple firearms for home defense.

Pros Multi-purpose.
Convenient storage.
Better affordability.
Cons Less effective than rifles or shotguns.
Require more practice for proficiency.

Revolvers

Revolver on black jeans with bullets around it

Revolvers are another niche option for home defense. For home defense, revolvers are one of the best weapons for new gun owners. This is because the revolver is easy to understand. Whether it is clearing the weapon, checking to see if it is loaded, or simply firing the gun, revolvers make every part of the process visible to the untrained eye. With the use of snap caps or dummy rounds, revolvers are also great training tools for dry fire compared to semi-automatics.

While revolvers do need more cleaning at lower round counts than semi-automatics, they do have the advantage when it comes to “just sitting around.” If you want a gun for home defense but don’t regularly carry outside the home or already have a dedicated concealed-carry weapon, a revolver can sit in a drawer or a safe for years and still work in an emergency. 

Pros Great for newer gun owners.
Better tolerance to neglect.
Cons Requires more frequent cleaning when used.
Ammunition needs to be tailored to barrel length.

Lever Action Rifles

Lever action rifle leaned against a tree

Lever-action rifles are definitely not the first option that comes to mind for home defense. But the best weapons are often the ones available to you when you need them. Lever actions, especially .357 Magnum models, have a lot of versatility when it comes to home defense firearms.

Lever actions, like pump shotguns, have almost no negative opinions associated with them, comply with almost every jurisdiction, and are still very effective. You can generally find ammunition for the rifle, especially for .38/.357 and .44 Special/.44 Magnum, and there are a number of defensive and hunting loads available.

The drawback is that lever actions cannot be run like semi-automatics. They require more cleaning, more specialized repair, and most do not easily accept tactical gun accessories. But just like revolvers, they can fill a very specific role if they are properly employed.

Pros 50 state legal.
General acceptance.
Immune to most magazine bans.
Cons Less available upgrades.
More specialized maintenance.
Some ammunition limitations.

Final Thoughts

Whichever gun you choose should fit your lifestyle and living situation. Not everyone can have the top-of-the-line option. But the best weapons for home defense are those you can legally have that are still effective.

Once you’ve made that decision, everything else will fall into place. If you still have questions, you can reach out and talk to an expert at Wing Tactical.