I'm not speaking of firefight in SHTF situations, I'm speaking specifically of home defense. I'd break this down into two categories: home defense in a city, and in a rural area.
City, to my thinking, you're somewhat restricted. Most rifles you'd consider as fighting tools are too powerful; unless you use some type of frangible bullet that'll break up on hitting a target, overpenetration cannot be avoided. That leaves two categories: .22 or other rimfire rifles, or rifles chambered in pistol cartridges.
A .22 isn't much, but as it's been said "A .22 in your hands is worth a lot more than a .45 you don't have with you". Probably a semi-auto would be best, you could keep the magazine loaded/chamber empty until needed. And half-a-dozen 40-grain bullets in the boiler room is going to slow ANYBODY down unless you're dealing with a true nutcase or someone wigged out on drugs or something. In which case, you keep firing until the threat ends. With something like a Marlin or tube-mag you can have up to 15 rounds of .22lr; that's a lot of damage in waiting. And three advantages of a .22: first, you can get a good-quality rifle for less than $200 new; second, someone with recoil-management problems can handle a .22 with no difficulty; third, good ammo is cheap which means someone on a tight budget can afford to practice more. Big downside, not a lot of power there in each shot, which means practicing firing multiple shots into a vital point(see here for some good info on that).
Now, rifles(strictly speaking, carbines) in pistol cartridges. Now you're into a whole 'nother deal. You've got everything from .38 Special up to .44 Magnum available, in semi-autos like the Ruger and slide-actions like the Taurus and lever-actions from a bunch of people. A .357 Mag out of a handgun is hot; give that load a 16" rifle barrel to come out of and you've got a real boost in velocity & power(you might have to consider over-penetration with some of these loads; probably hollow-points, no soft-points I'd think). Like a .22, you can keep the magazine of any of these loaded & chamber empty, very fast to charge. It's easier for most people to learn to shoot a long gun accurately than a handgun; you've got really effective cartridges available; and in some cases, like a .357 chambered rifle, you can shoot .38 Special loads for most practice(lots less expensive).
Type of action depends on your preference. A semi-auto you don't have to worry about short-stroking a slide or lever in the heat of the moment; lever or slide you don't have to worry about getting picky about functioning if some ammo isn't quite up to par. Whichever you choose, practice. Make sure the ammo you choose functions smoothly, all the time. Turn the rifle sideways and upside-down and make sure it works that way; you might by lying in bed or leaning out around the dresser to shoot.
Rural area, all the above holds true except you have somewhat less to worry about with over-penetration; no house next door, though you still have to consider other rooms in your house, or the barn outside. All the arguments over 'the best self-defense rifle' have been fought over and over, and I am NOT getting into that. Be it said that if you have the light to aim by, you have very long reach if needed with a rifle, and can pick anything from the above noted choices to a varmint bolt-action to a battle rifle.
Just my thoughts on it.
Additional: few years back read a column by Jeff Cooper about a guy who came to one of his Gunsight classes from Chicago. He couldn't have a handgun, so he'd picked up a Winchester Model 94 'Trapper' version- 16" barrel & chambered for .45 Colt- and cut the stock down to make the thing minimum legal overall length to make it a little handier indoors. Cooper said he was somwhat surprised at how well it worked out.
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