New to guns; have a budget, need advice for home defense.

By FAR the most important advice you are getting is to go first to a range and shoot some guns. There are (usually) gun shops that have a combo range and some of them will rent or loan you guns to shoot. And a lot of times folks at ranges (who are generally among the nicest ever) will let you shoot what they have, if you ask nicely. But for anyone who has never owned a pistol before, you absolutely have to shoot and hold as many as you can before you make a purchase.

Think of it as a car purchase -- you wouldn't buy your first car (or any car, for that matter) without a test drive. And you need to learn to drive before you would consider using a car. All that is doubly true for a weapon, particularly one that both you and your wife will be using to save your lives. During the time it is needed is NOT the time to find out you will drop it at the first firing.

If your wife has never fired anything, then I would by all means have her start with a .22 which has such minimum recoil (hint: none) that she could gain confidence before moving up in caliber. .380 would be next, but if she's comfortable enough with the concept you can skip to 9mm, which for a first-timer would be all that I would recommend.

And it's vitally important she (and you, for that matter) feel comfortable "working" the gun. Understanding the mechanics, etc. This is all something that can be learned in classes, and nearly any gunshop will either offer or know of them. NRA sponsored ones are particularly good.

After that you have SO many good choices you may get bewildered, but Sig makes the finest quality firearms in the world and anything from their line is worth considering. But, again, you need to walk before you can run, so take those baby steps and do it right and someday you'll be advising others of how to start.

I assume you are talking about a handgun? For home defense some might consider a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun which can certainly be had within your budget.

If you are talking about a handgun, your first decision needs to be revolver or pistol. Since you spoke of a second "clip" (magazine) it sounds like you are thinking pistol, but I would not totally discount the idea of a revolver, especially if both you and your wife are new to handguns.

If it is to be a pistol, you must next consider the trigger action and whether to have a safety, decocker, or both. Pistols come in a lot of different flavors. One distinction is striker-fired versus hammer fired. Striker-fired pistols like Glocks and the SIG P320 have no external hammer. Among hammer-fired pistols, there are basically three different trigger mechanisms: single action, double action only, and traditional double action i.e, double action/single action or DA/SA. Nearly all single action pistols come with an external safety. Double action only (DAO) pistols, like revolvers, usually have no external safety. Traditional double action pistols might have a safety, a decocker, or a safety/decocker.

Striker-fired pistols most often have no external safety although some do. Most all striker-fired pistols have one consistent trigger action, like a single action pistol does. Many striker-fired pistols call themselves DAO but their trigger pull is really not much like that of a double action only hammer-fired pistol or a double action revolver, it is much longer and typically lighter. There are rare striker-fired pistols with a DA/SA trigger action. An example is the Walther P99.

When it comes to revolver vs pistol, hammer-fired vs striker-fired, and DAO vs striker-action, vs single action, vs DA/SA there is no right answer. You will find very strong proponents of each, and each has its potential advantages and disadvantages. You will also find the no safety, vs safety, vs decocker issue warmly debated.

I realize that if you are new to handguns, a lot of these terms might make no sense. But you can learn quite a bit with a few internet searches. Just be aware that you will encounter strong opinions that a certain type of action is best and take those with a grain of salt, because you will find just as many opinions in the opposite direction. But you really can't base a decision based on internet research alone. You need to try to get some on-hands exposure to these different types and decide what suits you best.

It is really only after you make these fundamental decisions that recommendations for a specific gun will have any value to you.

Welcome and congrats! I would recommend attending a basic gun class before purchasing a gun. A lot of instructors have a number of guns available for students to access and fondle so that you can get a good idea of what you like, what fits you best. Today the striker fire is probably the best type gun for new shooters, IMO. They are easy to use and maintain, and there are a plethora available.

I recommend the Glock 19 Gen 4 for a first gun. It is the perfect size gun for a general purpose firearm, great for home defense and everyday carry. It comes in well under your budget, it is light, reliable, accurate and safe, and they are the most prevalent gun on the market which means there is outstanding support for the gun if/when something goes wrong. It is one of the most popular guns in the world for a reason.

If you're not going to carry a gun and train with the gun then I really would recommend a shotgun. A perfect platform for both men and women is the Remington 870 youth model 20 gauge. It has twice the power of a .44 magnum, and it is a compact gun that will be easy for the lady to manipulate.

Attending a basic gun course would be a great first step to helping you make a decision as to what type gun is best for you. Then, once you get past that and decide on a gun, you would do well to find and attend a basic home/personal defense course. Just exposes you to situations and scenarios most people never think about. I highly recommend that! Make a list of your questions so that you won't forget them when you get to class. Write them down and pay attention b/c some may be answered during the course of the class, and those that aren't you can ask.

Good luck!