Your personal defense weapon should be as large and as powerful as you can shoot accurately and carry with a reasonable degree of comfort and concealment.
Your personal defense weapon should fit your hand perfectly.
You should be able to manipulate the controls of your weapon with either hand alone.
Your personal defense weapon should be of sturdy construction and be able to withstand heavy use and rough handling.
Your personal defense weapon should be accurate enough to consistently hit a target the size of a saucer at 10 yards quickly.
Select the largest caliber you can shoot well, and a caliber for which ammunition is readily available.
A good quality holster must be available for the model of pistol you intend to carry.
Excerpt from here,http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/ccw/selection.htm
Sorry if i am preaching to the choir, just trying to help
Your personal defense weapon should fit your hand perfectly.
You should be able to manipulate the controls of your weapon with either hand alone.
Your personal defense weapon should be of sturdy construction and be able to withstand heavy use and rough handling.
Your personal defense weapon should be accurate enough to consistently hit a target the size of a saucer at 10 yards quickly.
Select the largest caliber you can shoot well, and a caliber for which ammunition is readily available.
A good quality holster must be available for the model of pistol you intend to carry.
Excerpt from here,http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/ccw/selection.htm
Sorry if i am preaching to the choir, just trying to help