On and off i've been looking at a handgun for home protection (currently have a 20g shotgun).

I just have not had the $$ to go ahead and do it. Well, a buddy of mine is looking to get a 44 mag and wants to sell me his Ruger P97 45 ACP for $325. He bought it new about a year ago.

Any information you have about the P97 good or bad would be helpful in making a decision. I'm not so concerned as to if a 45ACP is good enough for home protection. I'm more concerned about the Ruger P97 as it relates to quality, reliability, etc.

I'm just not very familiar with too many hand guns. I've shot several different calibers 22lr, 38, 357mag, 40 S&W 45ACP 44 mag and 454 casull. I've not owned any handgun other than my S&W 22lr