[masraum]

-relatively inexpensive - revolver, plastic gun like a Glock, M&P or XD or any number of other similar guns, also, you can get reasonably priced 1911s.

-cost of ammo is reasonable - .38, 9mm or .45. Those are your best bets for cheap ammo. .22 is also cheap, but not really great for home defense. 357 sig or 40 sw aren't as reasonably priced as the other 3 that I mentioned. If you get something that's a 357 magnum, then you can practice with 38 and use 357 magnum for home pretection.

-easy to shoot (I have very little experience) - the stuff that I recommended in the relatively inexpensive qualify

-potential to use for home defense - SAA

-my wife will also want to be comfortable using it in an emergency situation - revolver is probably the easiest. Pull the trigger, that's it. a semi-auto is not really that much harder unless there is a malfunction.



See if you can find someone from PPOT in your area that has several guns that's willing to let you fire several at the range. Red was willing to help me out with that. I then met a popular CHL trainer from the area that was willing to do the same and go over a little safety with me although I think Red did a great job.