For home defense and defending the ranch, I prefer a lever action M92 Winchester with a big lever loop, the Rossi version is fine:

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In 44 Mag or .357 Mag, it is a fine gun for most rural self-defense situations.

But, so too, is the beautiful AR 15, in jurisdictions which allow them. For proof of this:

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A Glock 17, or a 12 gauge shotgun would also have handled the home invaders with ease.

The problem is that the attackers only had brass knuckles and a knife. There is an issue of whether the use of the AR 15 was proportionate, and that this was a case of self-defense rather than a triple homicide. In my opinion, as much as I am a gunman, in fact sleeping with a .45 Glock under my pillow, it would have been better to confront the invaders with a short sharp sword. If one knows how to use it, attackers may be disabled, but not killed.

Still, better to be judged by 12 than carried by six.