Jp: Psst. Buy the 12ga. Trust me, and I have some experience here, there is nothing better close in than a 12ga.
If you want to zink the guy 40+ yards out, then that 5.56mm will do just fine. Also, if you’re firing buck shot, that 12ga will throw a nice dinner plate-sized spread of .25cal pellets, whereas if you’re shooting 5.56mm, you’d better put those rounds right on target. Try doing that in low light or darkness, with your hands shaking, heart beating a million times per second and against a moving target. With a 12ga, you just need to be shooting in the same general area code.
Two to three good blasts with a 12ga and you’ll knock serious bark off your target and really diminish any aggressive instincts he might have.
