[Taz's Master]

Here is my advice. It is worth exactly what you've paid for it, so take it for what it's worth.

You should buy two handguns. One for home defense one for cheap practice. 9mm and .357 are great semi/revolver choices which I endorse.

But in learning to shoot, I shot thousands of rounds over a few months, learning to shoot and shrinking my groups. Now mind you this was a couple of years ago when you could stop at Wal Mart and pick up a 550 round box of Federal .22 whenever you ran low, but still. A difference of 7 cents per round adds up fast. That's $70 dollars per 1000 rounds. Decent used Ruger MK II (semi) and Single Six (revolver) handguns can be had for less than $300. 2,000 rounds each to learn and practice pays for the extra gun. Which, if bought used will retain its value.

I'm just saying that it took me LOTS of practice to go from embarrassingly large unacceptable groups to acceptable groups with a handgun. A .22 is cheap and not punishing to shoot, it is, in my opinion the best way to learn to focus on the front sight and to keep from anticipating recoil or avoid developing a flinch. Your wife won't believe you, but buying two handguns is really, in my opinion, the most financially prudent approach. Plus you might get a better deal if you walk into the gunshop and say: "What will you take for that 586 and Single Six? Can I get a brick of .22 with them at that price?".