#1 – 12- OR 20-GAUGE...Some folks are concerned about the recoil of a 12-gauge shotgun. Of course, especially with proper training, the average man or woman can learn to handle the 12 effectively. However, if the shooting members of the family include a small-statured person, the 20-gauge is a good choice. At the ranges that a shotgun is employed for home defense, a 20-gauge will work just fine and do it with less felt recoil.
#2 – GET A SLING...In a home-defense situation, a person may need to have both hands free for a number of reasons. At the same time, it is always critical to maintain control of the defensive firearm. A carrying sling allows the home defender to hang the gun on his/her shoulder should it become necessary to have the hands free. It doesn't have to be a fancy sling; a simple, nylon-web sling will work just fine.
#3 – AMMO CARRIER...Another important accessory for the defensive shotgun is a way to carry extra ammunition on the gun. Shotguns don't hold a lot of shells and extra ammunition might very well come in handy. My favorites are the type of carrier that fastens to the side of the shotgun's action or the kind that can be attached to the buttstock. There are also shotgun slings that have cartridge loops on the sling, but I find these to be the least handy. An ammo carrier also allows a person to carry birdshot, buckshot and slugs...and to switch between the three fairly easily.