Originally Posted by Dostoevsky

Do yourself a favor and get that Remington 870, you will never regret that decision. The .357 you mentioned would be a great pistol to have, but for a home defense, you have to have the shotgun. Also, if you are considering buying a pistol for carry, I advise you go with a much shorter barrel. I have a titanium .357 taurus with a 2 inch barrel. It is a very small, light revolver that holds 7 shots and fits in my pocket without too much bulge. I bought the taurus because it was about $200 cheaper than a similar Smith model, if money is no issue for you, get a Smith if you like. Either way, get a shorter barrel if you plan on carrying.