I agree with ExSoldier. Frankly, I find it ironic that the first and last sentences are in the same posting.
The standard Glock is about as simple a semi as one can get: insert mag, work slide, aim, pull trigger. Lack of a standard safety drills home that THE TRIGGER IS THE SAFETY, not some other mechanical doodad; there is no “off switch”. It also has higher capacity, lighter trigger pull, lower recoil, faster reloads and faster followup than a revolver. The only downside is the recoil spring is too strong for some people to easily work the slide. As most people won’t go much beyond whatever they start with, I’d rather start ‘em with something that they can use for life.
As for the “racking sound scares ‘em” comment: while perhaps true, use of the comment indicates lack of experience as the focus is on the sound and not the function. Someone having gone so far as to break into an occupied home will presumably be equipped (mentally & physically) to deal with a homeowner who is more focused on scaring than stopping an intruder.
"As for the “racking sound scares ‘em� comment: " WHY IS YOUR WEAPON UNLOADED WHEN FACED WITH MORTAL DANGER! there shouting off, seriously why would one go into a life or death situation with an unloaded gun? The idea to "scare" someone means you are not mentally capable of taking a life and as such should not be carrying a gun in that situation, it will only be taken from u as you hesitate to rack and "scare" the person. The only sound a perp would hear entering my house is Saint Peter asking him how he lived his life. his companion would hear a BOOM and the splatting sound of brains spraying the wall behind his now dead partner in crime. At inside the house distances my Glocks with Trijicons hit apple sized targets 19 for 19 times in the twilight. practice practice practice, shoot in low light situations from barricaded low ready because you fight like your train. shoot smaller targets than you need to hit in real life too so you have margin of error for that panic rush or if you have a doctor Friend have them get you some adrenal syringe's and shoot after a injection of adrenaline practice stress fire. When I was an MP we would use injected adrenaline to produce stress fire conditions after running for 500 meters to get to the firing line, it really is amazing how much stress fire will affect your aim so practice it.