There are up and down sides to everything. Long guns and long barrel pistols are more easily wrestled away from a homeowner by a clever intruder but the bigger the gun the easier to shoot with the more effective loads. I have a short SXS 12 ga near my bed It has 19"bbls and sort of a short stock.I load it with 00 buck. It is very easy to clear rooms as it is not much longer than an MP-5. I also have a full size 1911. When I carry a gun it is either lightweight commander or a H$K P-2000. Upon retirement I will no longer carry the P-2000.