I have a cheap little 380 (Lorcinco I think) I keep around the house and for CC it's very capable. Momma also likes it because it's softer to shoot than my 40. For the 5 yd and under range it does fine.

Just my opinion, but for carry you might check out a Glock 19 or one of Glock's compact models.

Never on the cheap side but always reliable and very easy to carry w/15 rounds or more.

Like everyone you'll most likely try a few different guns before finding one made just for you. Good luck.

I'm partial to Winchester 1300's for riot guns.YMMV

It looks like you have a lot of solid advise on the pistol. As far as the shotgun, it
demends what you have to spend. If it's a lot, I like the Benelli M4. You can buy a lot of extras for it as well.
http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/benelli_m4.php

They don't give those away though, so if you want to keep the price down, you may want to consider a Remington 870 with the 20 inch barrel and the extended tube. You can also buy a lot a extras for that as well.

That is a solid gun as well.

As far as the pistol. I would at least step up to a 9mm. I pack a glock 20, 10mm, with 15 round clips, with lots of extras, and some hard hitting ammo. It can be a pain to conceal at times though, because of the size.

Bigoldchieffan turned me onto Doubletap ammo, http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php which I bought for the back country, in the event I encounter a dust up with a grizzly. (BOCF knows his stuff) They also make very some hard hitting "human rounds" as does Dakota ammo with their Corbon rounds. http://www.dakotaammo.net/

Both make very high dollar ammo, so you won't be taking it "plinking," but they are great to have in the gun, in the event poo hits the fan.

for CC i would go with .40 or bigger.

but, if you want 9mm, I would look at a compact Springfield XD-9. I have the full size model, and it's a great pistol; and quite a bit cheaper than Glock.

I think a 9mm would be fine with the right ammo, and proficient shot.

my brother in law carries this as his back up/secondary gun. sweet gun.

this is the sub-compact - which is smaller than the compact. I think my full-size barrel is 4"?...not sure what the compact is. but this woudl give you an idea on size. The compact would be slightly larger than this.
I also like my XD-9 because of the safety features. Trigger safety, grip safety; cocking pin indicator on the back of the slide, and loaded chamber indicator on top of the slide. My wife can look at the gun, and determine it's 'hot'. (although she always considers it hot, until she drops the magazine and locks the slide open).

http://www.gunslot.com/files/gunslot...mages/7667.jpg

Mu father in law used to carry some hard hitting, people killers. He repos houses and never knows what or who is going to be in the house when he goes in. He switched over to just plain old fmj's. He said if he shoots someone, because of the laws now and such, he is afraid to rip them in half and such. Make some sense I guess.

Out of curiosity....

Hunting aside, Policeman/Soldiers/Bodyguards aside...

How many of you average joe citizens have had the need to shoot someone before? Or even wave it around at a would be perp for intimidation/protection purposes?

Just wondering whether the desire to have guns fits the need to have them. Im not a hippy or anything, I guess I don't understand the need for a suped up auto-shotty? Are you expecting some army to target you and, if need be, you can go all Chuck Norris/Steven Segal/Tim Tebow on their asses?

I have been in the situation where I discharged a firearm at someone. I am not in the same situation now, but I have been. That being said, I don't hunt. My firearms are for 2 things, target shooting and killing people (in self-defense of course). Hopefully the latter will never have to happen

Was that in self defense or were you just getting gangsta at a house party? Or were you in Dodge City at a Saloon when Ol' Curly cheated at poker and you made him "dance?"

Please say the latter.....

I'm suprised Bwana, Radar Chief, RedNeckRaider, and a few others haven't hosted a "Big Gun Party", or somesuch.

Self defense. Worked in a family liquor store.

... in Dodge City.... selling sasparilla and whiskey?

Fortunately I haven't had the need to use any of my weapons for protection purposes. Although, it is all about the odds as there have been numerous home invasions with in a square mile of me. I would rather be prepared than not.