I love my 357 magnum Marlins! That said I would pick a pump 12ga over it any day for self defense.
The 357 magnum from a rifle is not nearly as piercing as it is from a hand gun but it is still plenty loud. While a 12ga is probably just as loud as a 357 magnum rifle the sound is much lower and much less piercing.
a 357 magnum rifle can all so get some pretty good numbers for velocity I have chronographed round over 2000FPS. The 357 magnum gains much more power from a carbine than most other pistol calibers.... but I would still take the shot gun loaded with buck shot.
you are lucky to have the police so close. The only time I ever had to call the cops it took them about 40 min
to get to my house and that was for a home intruder (that turned out to be a Raccoon)
