I'd like to know your basis of fact that somehow 'a shotgun' is inferior to 'a handgun' somehow for home defence.
Well, true, I do not know the ballistics as it pertains to borderline impractical lengthened shotguns... though I did not suggest I knew the answer, either...
If I were in the outdoors, absolutely, I'd rather have a .45-70 gun as opposed to a shotgun, any day. The average person, with a shotgun, would shoot a charging bear beyond the killzone. So the .45-70 errs on the size of caution, prividing stopping power at longer range.
Regarding a shotgun vs. handgun for home defense... or lol, let us not bring out the far left in Canada... which like all their big gov't arguments, tells us to call 911 only...
And let's leave any threat matrix aside... that is the legal mumbo jumbo taught to Brinks & the police regarding use of lethal force, and even drawing of a weapon.
Such a home defense argument is truly situational...
Scenario 1: Home invasion / break in / you wake up / no family members hostage... My response would be a shotgun. Why? Accuracy not necessary, & 8 shot loads will make a heck of a bloody mess, but not go beyond the home.
Scenario 2: Family member at risk / engaged within the home. Those choice for defense would be a handgun.... precision would be required.
Honestly... Unless you are looking for trouble in the daytime with a flashlight in Canada... ANY home defense scenario is so absolutely remote... Nothing much more than a locked door makes any sense.
PS True, nobody in Canada has ever served time for defending their home with a firearm... by the letter of the law... home defense with a firearm has all but been outlawed in Canada, given gun store and ammo storage laws.