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:
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.
Thriving in Bad Places
link jameslafond.blogspot.com
An individual that breaks into my home, especially while armed and with malicious intent, sacrifices any consideration for their life that I might have had under other circumstances.