A bit off the original question...
Something else to keep in mind on this, to some degree, the larger size a weapon is (length of a rifle vs. length of a handgun), the easier it is for an attacker to grab it and unarm the defender, if at close quarters. Myself, I prefer a handgun for in the house, for ease of maneuverability, close range, control, etc...main thing, practice with whatever you have. Also, in general, society says if the attacker is not an immediate threat, that is, inside the house coming at you, you may be subject to arrest if you defend yourself...your laws may vary; therefore, a handgun would have plenty of range for defensive purposes. In general, unfortunately, society says its NOT OK to pick off a known bad guy at 300 meters BEFORE he causes harm...
...Random thoughts, just throwing them out there...