For Carry Ive used a 9mm, a Ruger 45LC and most recently a S&W Airweight .38 sp

For the 9mm it was brass 124 gr +P HP's, the 45LC had 300gr Bear Loads, and the .38 has +P HP's as well.

Now for HOME protection, nothing beats a Kalishnikov AK-47 with Radium nightsights, which when cocked makes and even louder ratchet than my Remington 870 Express Magnum. But if I'm feeling old-fashioned, there's always my Bayoneted 6.5mm Husqvarna Mauser, which, weighing it at about 15 lbs, makes a good hand-to-hand melee weapon as well as being a flat shooter.

I wouldn't even bother with the crappy little .22 plinkers.