If you're not going to carry your gun, but plan to keep it in your home, you don't want a handgun. If you're absolutely certain you'll never use it off your own property, buy a shotgun instead. The Shotgun's Advantages Shotguns have many virtues as defensive weapons, not the least of which is that when you're scared witless and trying to shoot in dim light, they are much, much easier to score a hit with than is a pistol.
Shotguns are also much more powerful and far deadlier than even the biggest and baddest handgun.
A shotgun charge in the torso at close range is almost always lethal. Your chances of merely wounding an attacker, leaving him still able to hurt you, are much lower with a shotgun than with a handgun. The psychological aspects of a confrontation are also an important consideration. But if you'll never use your shotgun outside the home, the shorter-barreled versions are very fine choices. For a defensive gun, any gauge will do, but I'd avoid the 10-gauge, which is really almost too large.