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Im not an expert but 90 miles is a long shot with a handgun.
Whatever you get, also get a box of glaser safety rounds for it. These rounds may be expensive but will not exit the backside of a normal wall. In this way you won't kill a neighbor by accident if you happen to shoot at a burglar or other home invader.
Is this gun going to sit in a drawer for years at a time, until you absolutely, positively need it to work? Or is this gun going to be practiced with regularly and maintained periodically?
I just bought a new Kimber Ultra Carry II with night sights and laser grips. Haven't had a chance to actually shoot it yet but it's a nice looking gun. A bit pricey. If you're just looking for a home defense weapon and can only get one, I'd go with a 12 gauge pump like a Mossberg 500 instead of a handgun. If you're set on a hand gun I'd recommend a .357 revolver. Reliable with plenty of stopping power and you can shoot .38 Spl. for practice. You can get a decent one for around $300.
Get a HK USP.I can't think of a more reliable weapon.
Shotguns are good for room-to-room...
GLOCK 23. It can double as your concealed carry weapon since you live in a nice free state like Florida.
Find yourself a good used .357 revolver. Put the money you save over the semi-auto vundergun into ammo and range time.
Since you're in the sub-tropics, I'd recommend a stainless steel model. That doesn't mean it will never rust, just that it won't rust as badly as quickly as blued steel will.
Just my two cents. YMMV.
L
In the first floor wall safe we have a HK P2000SK and in the upstairs bedroom wall safe we have a Sig P239, both in .40S&W.
These are guns that I also use for concealed carry, plus my wife can handle either weapon with ease.
Keep both weapons clean and oiled in that climate. Use them as often as possible. Two reasons: first, you need the practice, second, a tool used is a better tool. Then clean and oil after use.
A Kimber 45 is a very nice gun.
I'd recommend you seek professional help in the form of a handgun training class before you buy anything. You'll be able to make a better informed decision and your instructor will probably be happy to help you decide what is best for your needs. Knowing you personally, his advice would be much more valuable than mine.
.357 taurus titanium revolver - simplicity of operation - one handed operation (try working the slide with one hand on a 1911 clone) - corrosion resistance (I assume you're 90 miles NORTH of Cuba)
Home defense? Shot occasionally?
Get a revolver! pretty much foolproof.
Semi Autos are ok if you practice enough have the controls become second nature.
In the heat of a possible break-in your having to think about what control to push, flip, whatever goes out the window.
4" .357 Smith or Ruger. Load with .38+P ammo. (.357 in a house will deafen you w/o ear protection)
I have a Kimber Warrior and it is the best pistol I have ever owned.
Aside from that, stainless is a plus.
Depending on what fits, for a revolver, the Ruger SP101 in .357 mag is good, and you can practice with .38 special, which the pistol will fire also.
In semiautomatics, get what fits your hand first, Sig, Glock, Ruger, Kimber, S&W, and others all make good, reliable firearms.
If you decide to go with a semiauto, learn to field strip it (not very hard, really) and keep it clean.
This significantly lessens chances of a malfunction.
Make sure you have quality factory magazines, also.
Believe it or not, most 'jams' I have seen were because the feed lips on the magazine were bent or improperly formed on an aftermarket magazine.
Whatever you decide to get, practice with it. Accuracy with a pistol is a perishable skill.