x2 on not selling a 9mm short. With modern personal defense ammo, a 9mm is now considered on par with .40S&W law enforcement ammo. Our agency is transitioning from .40S&W back to 9mm for several reasons. For 1, the performance on target is roughly equal with modern ammo. Ammo is cheaper than .40 and easier to find (especially training ammo). Since 9mm is a NATO round it can be found in bulk for much less than .40 and .45acp. Recoil is less with a 9mm than a .40S&W and considerably less than the .45acp. We are swapping out the model 23 .40S&W for model 19 9mm later this year.
As to guns, there is nothing wrong with a Glock. I have 3 in .40S&W and 2 in 9mm. My current favorite is the 9mm model 43 (the super small single stack 9mm). It is my off duty concealed carry. With a Pearce +1 grip, you have 7 in the magazine and 1 in the pipe (same as the 1911). This thing is super small and light. Even if they took back my issued model 43, I would buy one that day. That's how much I like the model 43.
A Glock will go bang every time you pull the trigger, even if mistreated. As far as not having a safety, they do, it's just not an external switch like the 1911. The one caveat is a Glock should always be carried in a holster that covers the trigger area completely (as truly any handgun should). If a jacket toggle, keys or whatever do get on the trigger and pressure is applied, the Glock will do what is designed to when the trigger is pulled, go bang. But the trigger must be pulled to make that happen. A 1911 style gun would not as you have a thumb safety and a grip or "lemon squeezer" safety. But the 1911 style must be carried "cocked and locked" with an exposed hammer which can be prone to hanging on clothing during the draw in a stress situation. Not an issue with the Glock as the hammer is internal.
I also have a SIG 226 in 9mm. I love the SIG. It's from when the 226 first came out (mine is a Austrian model and is DA/SA not DAO like some of the new ones). My only gripe about the SIG is it's size. It's big and thick, but it is a fine shooting gun. The US Military wanted the SIG instead of the Beretta, but price was the issue so the went with the Beretta. Nothing SIG makes is inexpensive. I was looking at their 9mm SIG 938 "nightmare" model before the office bought me a Glock 43.
Since I'm pushing the 9mm, go with the 124grain Gold Dot +P ammo. If you go with a small "short barrel" 9mm like the Glock 43, they have a version of the Gold Dot +P "short barrel" ammo that gives the same performance as full sized in the "mouse guns". They use a faster burning powder and a softer lead to get the same velocity and expansion performance.
Now if you want the ULTIMATE in personal defense handguns, get a Taurus Judge or Governor and carry the Lehigh Defense Maximum Expansion Colt .45 ammo. If whatever you shoot with that, is still standing... RUN LIKE HELL. Watch this video and you will understand.
And Muebe is right about a 12 gauge with #4 shot being perfect for in home defense. A little hard to conceal carry though.
