Neither. 18-20" barreled 12-gauge pump with 2 3/4" low recoil 00 buckshot. OR, a Remington 870 express with 18" barrel in 20-gauge loaded up with #2 buckshot. Held one the other day and they're nice little pumps...20-gauge will pack a punch at 15 feet.

But if I had to pick, whichever you could mount a tac-lite on, and make into a dedicated night stand gun.

Either of those guns will work very well for home defense. The chances of getting 100% reliability right out of the box are higher with the M&P than the 1911.

If you only have one HD weapon, make it a pistol. Shotguns are good for static defense, but if you do have to move around (especially if untrained in weapon retention), a pistol is better. It's pretty tough to answer an unexpected knock at the door with a shotgun, at least not without giving someone a heart attack. But a pistol can tuck in the waistband or just behind the leg for excellent discretion.

The 1911 or M&P will do the job just fine. Use the one you shoot the most and are more comfortable shooting. Good luck.

Good to see you are thinking about home defense.

For the price of a 1911, I would get 2 guns.
I would get a
1.handgun (for if you have to go room to room or answer a door for some reason) get an uncomplicated (in a panic situation) revolver (might I recommend the Smith and Wesson Airweight) or Glock (might I recommend the 40cal 23)
2.shotgun (for if you know the intruder is in your house and you have gotten children and other adults to your defensive position and need to defend the room until the Calvary shows up)
These can be really cheap too:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/990307040...A_PUMP_12G.htm
or even:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/976983218...g_500A_12g.htm

Ha. I'm sorry everybody's trying to get you to buy a new gun. Your question was a choice between two existing guns. What I can add is this: I believe either gun would work as long as you have learned you can shoot them well and they are reliable. As far as safety, the most significant safety device I use is a good holster that covers the trigger. I tend to keep my handguns in condition one and use that holster as the safety.

For long guns which don't have passive firing pin safeties, I have to cycle them before they can fire.

The M&P ould be functionally more reliable out of the box than the 1911, but the 1911 offers marginally more safety due to the external safety you have to "wipe off". Now, the M&P would be MUCH easier in a panic situation to get a shot off. Nothing worse than thinking "oh shit why didn't the gun fire? did I turn off the safety?"

That being said, with proper practice of presentation technique and proper safety precautions and practice, either gun would function fine. The only caveat is that the 1911 may be finicky with certain brands of JHP ammo. If you were to load up a JHP round into an M&P more likely than not it would work. The 1911 on the other hand, may just jam up. As always, test a box through any defense gun with any ammo you are considering. Even better is to test a box of multiple brands. That way you can determine which is the most comfortable for you and which is the most accurate from your weapon(s).

Here ya go! If you already have the handguns mentioned, The M&P would be my choice. 1. The M&P has the safety trigger. KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT! 2. You don't have to wonder if it's cocked or if the safety is off. 3. The M&P already has an accessory rail for a light or laser. 4. .40S&W ammo is cheaper (slightly) to practice with.

BUT, if you are going to buy a firearm for home defense, you may want to consider a Taurus Judge. It's the best of both worlds. It's a revolver that will shoot both .45 Long Colt and 2 1/2" .410 shotgun shells. Recoil is manageable due to design and you have more ammo choices. A load of turkey shot will make a lasting impression on any intruder.

Just my 2 cents for what is worth.

I would go with the M&P simply because it costs half as much, and holds more ammo. THat money you didn't spend on the 1911 can go to extra mags, light, ammo/ practice time, etc.

i would say whatever feels best. make sure it has night sights and a rail for mounting a light. invest in a good weaponlight for it as well. surefire, streamlight, etc...looked into Heckler and Koch yet? You can typically find used ones for decent prices if you don't want to spring for a new one. They come in every size and flavor. HK45 is my recommendation

Use whatever you practice with, and have a learned drill for that you will do automatically in a crisis. I personally think that no pistol is better in combat than the 1911; if you have drilled with it enough. I like having that safety that I can leave on until or unless, I need to fire the pistol. The Operator has tritium night sites so I am pulled in that direction. It is a really nice looking pistol.

One possible advantage of the .45 could be less tendancy to over-penetrate walls in a home, as opposed to the speedier .40 cartridge.

Originally Posted by Teuthis

One possible advantage of the .45 could be less tendancy to over-penetrate walls in a home, as opposed to the speedier .40 cartridge.

Both rounds will sail through 3-4 interior walls in a typically-constructed American home, so I wouldn't make a decision based on that.

Springfield XD .45acp with thumb safety.

Go with whichever one you shoot better.
Take care

Get a 870 Riot model and load her up with 00 buck. At my house Momma gets the 9mm and I grap my 870. Inside the house the range is so short that the short barreled 12 guage with 00 buck will but the stop to bad guys with 1 shot.

Whatever I edc that day. Off the belt or out of the pocket onto the nightstand. Ammo from left pocket lays alongside with the Surefire. My current seasonal EDC is what I shoot on the range every two weeks so it is what I am currently most familiar with. Half awake in the middle of the night is not a good time to be relearning a weapon!