Your Opinion: Single or Double Action Pistoli for Home Defense?

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I am a rifle (Ruger 6.5×55 Swede match) and wheel gun (Ruger Blackhawk in 44 Special) handloader. The 44Sp. is my fun gun, and it only sees Keith-style lead 246 gr. bullets at about 950 fps. (As a sub-plot, have you heard about one of my heros, the best American lawman and long-range handgunner, Elmer Keith? He was an amazing shot.)

I want a pistol, a 22LR pistol to start, with a probable 9mm to follow and can go either single or double action. I just have very little experience in singles or double action pistols other than a nice 32cal PPK Walther from my youth. My dad was a revolver man (455 British-issue Webley with ivory handles) so that is little help here. I do have a fondness for the idea of a 1911 design, and any gun design surviving well over a 100 years is desirable, but practicality reigns.

My hands are smaller, and I have a finger missing on my left hand, third-finger gone, (left-handed and left-eye dominant) from woodworking five years ago. I could learn to shoot it right or left, I don’t really care, although my left is quicker at pointing. I am thinking of learning to shoot both left and right with this pistol. So maybe an ambidextrious safety, with a smaller capacity clip, maybe 6-10 would work fine for the smaller grip for smaller hands.

Edit: I forgot to mention it will not be used for CCW, so normal sized is good. I prefer a bit longer barrel when offered.

You have had years or more of experience with both or one or the other. I am going to do what you guys and gals suggest so what is your opinion- start with a single action or double action and why?

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