Well,



It's tough to go wrong with a shotgun as a home defense and just general "fun" weapon. They're cheap to shoot, easy to buy accessories for, and just generally user-friendly to work on.



Here's the link to the Mossberg 590 I mentioned.



http://www.mossberg.com/pcatalog/Specpurp.htm



#50668 590� 12 gauge Pump Action w/ Speed-Feed� synthetic stock, Ghost Ring Sights, 9-shot capacity, 20" cylinder bore barrel, parkerized finish. MSRP $586



Also available:

#50663 same as #50668 except field synthetic stock. MSRP $543



If you want to put a pistol grip/folding stock on it, may as well go with the 50663 model. You can save a little by going blued instead of parkerized too.



With a barrel shroud and all the fixin's it's a nice setup, and I just personally like ghost ring sights, and if you want to hunt with it, nothing quite says "HOWDY!" like a good 3" slug.



http://www.mossberg.com/pcatalog/featurespurpose.htm

I've shot alot of rifles, and probably just as many pistol types.

If you really want to become proficient as a pistol shooter, then a 22rf is the gun to start with. There is no gun that is less expensive to shoot, and there is no way to become a good pistol shot without shooting alot. Even better is an air pistol, as you can shoot it places you can't shoot a firearm, and will hence shoot it more.

More powerful guns will simply create a flinch, and then it will be 10 times harder to become a very good pistol shot. I know as I developed a flinch with a 44 mag, and have been fighting it for years. The one way to cure a flinch is to have a gun that doesn't kick, and you can shoot alot, and that is a 22rf. The unfortunate thing is there aren't any quality reasonably priced 22 rf revolvers out there, ie $200-300. If you want a semi, the Ruger 22/45 is a good gun, but I'd opt for the MK II, as the metal frame will last longer then the polymer frame.

Guns should not be as a "look what I have object" I think being able to shoot soda cans off hand at 50 yds with an iron sighted pistol is much more impressive then a semi with a big mag. You'll be able to do that with a good 22 pistol, and lots of practice. It'll take an over $1000 match grade 1911 or similar to do that if you look at full power autos. A good 357 mag revolver will do it as well.