FWIW, I'd definately have to agree with what a couple of others have said - when it comes to purchasing a tool you plan to defend yourself with, it doesn't make sense to cut corners or "give the job to the lowest bidder"
However, everyone has a different budget to work with so with that in mind, I'd say your best option would be a used duty gun. A few years ago I had a ex-police Sig in .40 S&W (I think it was a model 229?? - can't remember) It was an *EXCELLENT* gun and I picked it up from a reputable dealer for about $250 less than what they were going for new.
If the pricetag of a used duty gun is still not workable, there are some less expensive import options that have pretty good reputations. The options are unbelieveably numerous. Plenty of ex-military comunist-bloc pistols floating around, but you do want to do your homwork and research those options as many of them have very marginal quality. My father-in-law has a Norinco "Tokarev" pistol in 9x19 (standard 9mm). Norinco is a pretty large weqapons manufacturer and importer. I have not shot my father-in-law's Tokarav, but I've examined it and was surprised by the fit and finish *considering what he paid for it*. I believe he picked it up new for about $150 a few years ago. The Tokarev is *very* similar in design to a 1911 but the parts are no where close to interchangeable, just similar in design.
Having said all that, I would actually recommend a good, quality used revolver (Colt, Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Taurus) . Revolvers are usually less expensive than an equal quality auto and some people still swear revolvers are more safe and reliable. One down-side to keeping an auto around for home defense, the magazine springs will eventually get week if you keep them loaded all the time and a week magazine spring will inevitably cause a mis-feed. And a less expensive auto might be more prone to having weak magazine springs. You can keep the magazines only partially loaded to reduce the compression on the magazine spring, but if you're going to reduce the number of rounds in the gun, you might as well have a 6-shot revolver. JMO.
