i was in the same situation as you a few months ago. i went with the glock 19.

in a home defense gun you want durability and reliability, well really in any gun you want that. glock has a proven track record is used by more law enforcement agencies in america than any other guns, and they are just overall great. i couldnt be happier with mine. the 19 is a 9mm, but glock makes all four calibers in 3 sizes, full, compact, and subcompact. also, you're prob gonna want to get your concealed carry permit soon as well, just like i did, and there is a nearly unlimited amt of aftermarket accessories for glocks. whethers its holsters, tactical lights, lasers, magazines, etc.

if i could do it again, i would have got the glock 23. its the exact same size as my 19 but its the .40 cal version. you can even buy aftermarket 9 mm barrel to put in it, get a couple 9mm glock mags and shot 9mm with it. of course that woudl just be for going to the range with, when it was at home you would obviously keep thefactory gear in it for the most reliabilty.

just my take but ive had a glock for 3 months and i am hooked, and almost everyone else who gets one gets hooked and gets the glock fever and ends up with more than one.

the best bet is to go to a few stores, hold them all. try to find a gun shop that has a range and shoot a few to see which one you like. theres really no way to know what you want without shooting it.

E2A: Also, another thing about customizing... if you ever do have to use your gun for defense.. its likely that a lawyer will try to use any customization against you. and try to convince a jury who prob isnt very educated on handguns that these customizations lead to a faulty or unstable gun. just a thought

EDIT AGAIN: yea kilgore, im already itching for a 26 lol

 

Yes, you always have to hold a handgun before you buy it. (even better if you can shoot it first)
It doesn't mean you can't (or shouldn't) ask for advice before going out, though.
For example, if a hi-point feels good in your hand, you still shouldn't buy it. lol.
And yeah yeah, I know they CAN be reliable.. but I certainly wouldn't trust one (especially after owning and looking inside one) and they're ugly as sin.
That's why I recommended the M&P. The different size backstraps are sweet and it has a great record.

LOL... Why?? Unless you're hunting deer, I can't see any logical explanation for carrying a gun that big.

And for me, the intimidation factor doesn't mean anything (unless you wanna scare a would-be boyfriend away from your little girl... )
If someone is breaking into your house without a gun, he's not gonna look at yours and say "Hey, is that a 9mm glock? Well, chit!! That's not impressive enough for me to leave."
And if he's breaking into your house with a gun, it isn't gonna make a dam bit of difference, either. I don't intend on trying to impress him into leaving with my desert eagle. They're for showing off at the range, that's it. Or hunting in the case of 8" revolvers.

Get a quality firearm that feels right, that you can conceal well (if you go that route) and that you can shoot well and trust. That's more important than anything else. Sometimes it takes a few tries, but you can always sell.

This is a good point, they generally are heavy. However, the single stack helps thin it out at least. Thing is, though, I wouldn't really recommend any full size for CC. It's a pain. Compacts are really the way to go, which is why they were invented, I suppose. lol..
I've been drooling over that Springer EMP for a while now. Oh yes, it will be mine.....

Great guns. Do you need any ammo? Hollow points, perhaps?

edit: I was typing while you were, G3NESYS, but right on..... I drink that kool-aid like it's going out of style.
(I love my glocks)

 

I love my sig p226 9mm....but then again I live in Canada so its not for self defense its "for the range". 9mm is at least reasonable enough in price to still shoot alot and have a good time. Plus I like the feel of the 9mm snap.

 

S&W 500 . Designed to drop a bear in a shot

 

From my personal experience, for the price and the quality, get a Springfield XDM. They make them in 9mm .40 and I think .45 (don't quote me on the .45) I have the .40 and I LOVE IT. I've never been a glock fan... ever... and when both the XD and XDM came out I was very skeptical because they were very similar in looks to a glock. Well after shooting many XD's I decided to try an XDM. After shooting a couple different caliber XDM's I decided to go ahead and purchase the .40. I couldn't be happier. Carry it everywhere I go. That would be my recommendation

 

Why not? in a shoulder holster my colt is easier to hide and more comfortable than my others, i'm 6'5" 250 i can hide a gun that big without much issue.

And the intimidation factor does play a part, ask any defense expert, if you get a guy that breaks in high as a kite in the dark, you think he's gonna notice a small 380 in your hand when he's charging at you, hell the racking of a shotgun will put chills down anyones back in the middle of the night, its a tried and true oh crap i'm in trouble sound. If i have a dude crazy enough to come at me in my house i want the biggest baddest in my hand, its not to impress anyone. "
Very few respect the badge, but everyone respects the gun"

As for the customizing i keep the handguns stock, factory ammo etc, remember the first fight is the gun fight the second is the court drama that follows, my AR15 would be the last gun i went to in a home defense situation, because in court its "overkill" The ar is for fun and incase everything goes belly up and we are all fighting for ourselves.

 

I like "the judge" by Tarus, don't have one but if I were to get a home protection device this would be it!

 

Get a PP7 very accurate on James Bond 007 the video game. Ak47 wasn't as accurate but my opponents always ran away.

 

Anything that kills what you point it at will do fine.