I love wheelguns, but for carry, the single stack service size auto has all the traits I keep coming back to. It's usually a 1911 variant, or my S&W 539.

These guns are super slim, full caliber, 9 rounds on tap and a quick reload. All double stack polymer, although they are thinner than they used to be, they aren't quite as flat as the 1911 or the S&W 2nd Gen. single stack 9.

For home defense, I'm grabbing a 4" .357 magnum loaded with the full power 125 gr. SJHP (Winchester) magnum.