RELH raises a great point with experience as it relates to shooting an auto loader. Another great point was given in reference to a wheel gun. Frankly, a wheel gun is not a bad option to go with and will fit many bills. The only down side to a wheel gun is round capacity and from what I've seen over the years "high cap" mags typically lead to one thing, a spray and pray mentality. In terms of self defense, unless you think you can articulate your need for suppression fire in an urban enviornement, I'd stick to basics.
My concern would be that one should not be lulled into the idea that any auto loader is inherently more or less dangerous in relation to a 1911. I say this based on the phrase "cocked and locked" that refers to a 1911 carried loaded with the hammer back. Some tend to think that it represents a dangerous situation, perhaps more so than another auto loader. The converse of this is that many have the notion some guns are perhaps safer than they are.
Let me give you a comparison. If you are going to carry a 1911 cocked and locked, there are a sequence of events that must happen prior to a round being discharged. First, the manual saftey must be taken off. Second, the grip saftey must be depressed before the hammer sear can be engaged by the trigger movement. Third, the trigger must be squeezed and/or the hammer must be freed from the sear which could potentially happen should the pistol expierence a large shock...ie being dropped on the ground (unlikely but possible IF THE MANUAL SAFTEY AND GRIP SAFTEY WERE OVERRIDDEN)(This would also not be possible in some circumstances depending on whether or not the 1911 was equipped with a firing pin block).
Now lets look at a very popular gun chosen by many as a "safer" alternative. Take a Glock, any particular model. Now suppose you are going to carry this gun with a live round in the chamber. Here is what must happen in order for that round to dischage. In most cases, 5 pounds of trigger pull and the gun goes boom. Oh wait, there is a safety feature, it will only be bypassed when the trigger is pulled. So in short, the trigger is pulled the gun goes boom.
Now I don't say this to pick on Gocks or anything else, I mention this that you should not get the false sensation that somehow any one pistol is going to be the fail safe carry gun with a live round in the chamber. If you are going to carry a gun, and you are going to have it loaded, you darn well better be an expert with it to some level or you are going to get hurt period. Anyone with little shooting experience intent on carry with a loaded gun is doing themself a serious disservice in doing so.
In short, have your grandmother knit you a doily to put over the cocked and locked hammer should you choose to get one and you'll be ok. And in all seriousness, you've been given good advise by all who have posted.
.45 acp is very easy to manage in standard loads. Plus p's are a little more brutal but not much. Fits the hand good, accurate, easy to shoot, and not much more $$ than your average pistol. Resale value is easy to maintain if you care for it properly and best of all a 1911 is like a short block v-8, the options and aftermarkets for it are endless. As far as plinking or target shooting goes a good 1911 is a pleasure to shoot. You can get into a decent gun at much less than most think. Look at a Kimber, probably the best bang for the buck and they make a good product. Colts are the best and you can get into some other off shoots that are either garbage ie. Taurus or customs that cost as much as a used truck like a Wilson Combat or Les Bauer.
