RE: What pistol for self defense?
I don't even worry about sights.
I've shot enough competition to learn that sights only slow you down- especially at close ranges. After shooting portons of IPSC matches, I don't even remember seing a sight picture- I'm not an exprt shot, but I'm very proficient. With a gun that fits you well and points well (I've found the way the 1911 fits my hand and points for me to be uncanny) you waste your time by aiming. With a good semi-auto- the bullets go where my thumbs point- pickup/draw handgun, point at target, squeeze trigger. Remember that if you use this gun for personal protection, especially in a house, the shots you could potentially take are going to be very close- probably 15 feet or less.