Here are some of mine.
SIG 228 9mm, 226 .40, Colt XSE .45 (POS - got rid of it), SIG 220 .45 and SIG 220 Carry .45.





The 228 and 220 Carry are EDC and also used for home defense. The rest are used at the range.

My rule in my home, my daughter's, sister's, niece's and anyone else who has sought my advice when living independently and HAVE to feel safe/be able to protect themselves: if you cannot, in the dark,reach your weapon with good small, intense light wherever you are in your home exactly when you need it , it will do you no good. There are shotguns mounted solidly over the useful side of doors, small, familiar handguns in wall mount Grandpa clocks and yes, Ruger SS, SP101 in several bathrooms; and several others. Too many? Paranoid? Not if you were glad later, EVEN ONCE, it was there. Thankfully, I have an 86 year old mom, 62 year old sister and female friend of 45 years who would all testify to it.

I agree Duke. Is one Randall enough? Get the picture....

Pap

David, what was wrong with the Colt??

I bought the Colt new at a gun show in February 2011. It was back at Colt twice for repairs in the first 90 days, before the gun made it through the first 400 rounds. It never made it through a single magazine without stove-piping and then the plunger tube came unstaked. It seemed to run alright after the second trip to Colt CS and an angry letter, but I didn't trust it. The next time it had a feeding issue, I sold it. This was my first Colt and I was extremely disappointed. I replaced it with a SIG 1911 Fastback, which has never had an issue.

Here is a current picture of part of the home defense setup. I have two SIGs that I carry regularly, a P228 9mm and a P220 Carry .45 ACP. Both are set up with Crimson Trace laser grips. These are kept readily accessible at night for home defense.

The SIG 556 is also set up for the range and home defense with the laser/light fore grip. However, the 556 normally stays in the safe. It came out when we lost power for several days after a hurricane.



I have had three burglaries and one attempted burglary in various homes over the past 20 years. Three of four were at night. I was home three times and a family member was home the last time (in Sept. 2012). They happen quickly and when you are off-guard. I believe a laser grip is essential for a defensive handgun, even more so than a light (which is also important). I may put a laser grip on the P226 in this photo.

One other thing. Whatever handgun you choose should be in a caliber that you and everyone in your home shoots comfortably. In my home, that is 9mm, although everyone can also handle .45.

Thank you everyone for the great post. I agree, the cal. that is agreeable to the user is a big factor. If you cannot properly handle the weapon, you shouldn't have it.

As others have said, it's got to have a light. Got to see it to shoot it at night. Get something with a rail. If glock floats your boat go for it. S&W M&P is a great gun. Or you can go to the dark side and get a railed 1911. I've heard that some of the plastic guns run funky when you put a light on them, try it before you trust your life on it.

I agree, the light should be on there. Most of the problems with weapon mounted lights on plastic framed guns are in .40 caliber.

Here's my CCW, range, and housegun:

Bob, what model Surefire is that? I have a 19 with a rail and that looks like a good setup.