And before someone trots out that tried-and-true logical fallacy along the lines of "If birdshot's such a terrible idea, let me shoot YOU with it," please realize that I also don't want to get kicked in the nuts, but that doesn't make a steel-toed boot an effective home defense tool.
And It is pure fallacy!
My "felon"eous brother got shot with birdshot at close distance (20 feet max) while accosting a homeowner over his woman, years ago.
He got a knee full of bird shot. His knee looked like it was tenderized real good, but he had full function and is still picking pellets out of his skin to this day (30 some odd years later).