Reply #28: May I suggest a .45 revolver?

[TheWraith]

Obviously, the exact model is going to vary depending on what's comfortable to you. But the larger the caliber, the more stopping power you're going to have. You don't need a "magnum" loading like some revolvers have, not at the short distances you'd be dealing with in home defense. So the recoil would be more managable. A revolver is simpler than a semi-auto and slightly safer to keep loaded. They usually don't have safeties, so you just pick it up and fire.