If you get anything less than a bazooka... you are a wuss!
Ha... no seriously though, I have both a Sig 245 (sub-compact .45 - law enforcement model in some states in the late 90's) and a Mossberg 500 12 gague for home protection. Both are great options for different reasons. For one, if you rack a round through a shotgun in a quiet house... anyone... ANYONE knows that is the international signal for "time to exit this house quickly". I don't care if you are a bandit, intruder, crackhead or just a lost neighboor in the wrong house, that sound... that unmistakeable sound of a shotgun being racked... that will get you up and out in a hurry. From there, I'll either pursue anyone stupid enough to stay inside with the shotgun itself (bird loads are recommended as a slug will probably kill your assailant, the neighboors, their kids, their dog, and put holes through the car parked outside, the car next to that, and the one next to that, and pretty much anything else in a straight line in front of the barrel. If not the shotgun, then I would probably prefer the .45 as it wont go through most walls with hollow points. Remember... a .45 was not invented for piercing power but instead for punch. If you want something that will go through anything, get a .357 sig, or a .357 magnum... if you want to sit 'em down with a shot, get a .45. Because of the weight and velocity of the ammo, it packs more punch when it hits its target. So thats my recommendation for home defense.
For target practice, consider this. The Sig 239 (I think thats right) is available in .357 sig, .38 and .40 calibers. I believe the .357 and .38 use the same clip, and the same gun can fire all three calibers just by changing out the barrel (and/or the clip if shooting .40 cal). I guess I just like the idea of using .38 ammo at the range and then swapping the barrell out for the .357 for home defense (although again, if worried about it going through walls, the .357 is NOT what you want... I have concrete firewalls in my home).
Its like cars too as far as Glock, Berretta, Sig, Colt, etc... Some people like Chevy, some people like Ford, some people like Ferrari. My local range allows you to rent and try just about every make/model imaginable. I recommend you do the same to find out what you really enjoy shooting. I've shot them all, and I still always come back to a Sig Sauer product. Its just what I personally like to shoot.
Oh, and as for the shells to the face... my Sig ejects almost straight up and the shells are known to hit me dead center in the top of my head pretty often. Not hot enough to burn, but will still make you jump if you are not used to it.
Good luck, happy shooting!
J
