Frankentrike;
Not enough info to help you make a wise and informed decision, IMHO.
But what Gunny and JLA have said bears re-reading and study again IMHO.
What is your home situation, HOUSE, YARD, condo, apartment, wife, kids, dogs,(early warning device) what have you done first and foremost to " harden your perimeter?
In other words what have you done to make your home look formidable or to make your neighbors look like the easier target? Security signs in your yard, vicious dog signs in the yard, (even if you have neither), a sign in your yard pointing to your neighbor saying "he is anti gun, unarmed and he has gold coins" great big chew bones I mean the size of the front axle on your truck and all beat up with your chain saw to look like an alligator has been at it.
Obviously you have not made or thought about a PLAN should your home be attacked and "walking around in your hallways (fatal funnels) calling names and looking for the BG" are not conducive to your good health or possible survival.
All of these things should be addressed before you try to decide which is the best gun for defense and a handgun is usually not the answer for any number of reasons.
Gunny said it best, you will be addled to say the least if and or when an actual break in occurs. The first thing that will happen regardless of time of night is both cheeks of your a$$ will fall off. Then your brain begins to shunt blood to the largest organs etc to help with the "flight or fight" extremes. This means that your fine motor skills are kaput immediately or within the first two seconds. This causes dexterity problems instantly which will have drastic effects on small gun handling abilities. Just some food for thought and for future study.
Home defense is usually best accomplished with a good shotgun and no it does NOT have to be a 12 ga. A good 20 with #4 buck or even 4 shot is a great equalizer and under duress a much more accurate defender. Semi auto more than a pump for ease of continued operation for you and possibly for the little lady.
Remember what JLA and Gunny said about the little woman and if you have one she should be included in every phase of your defense plan including the shooting. So in deciding and including her, remember she will need to practice as much as you do to become and remain competent with whatever you choose.
If it is too powerful or too noisy, she may not want to participate in spite of your wishes. Is she as dedicated to defense as you and if not, only half of your fighting force is available, YOU and there may or could be any number of reasons at the outset of the fight that take YOU out of it. Perhaps you are physically involved with the perp so she or one of the kids must know how and when to get the tool(s) to end the fight and save your keister in the process.
So before making a choice, or asking for professional help arm yourself and us with some more info.
Another item, do not be bashful about asking for help. EVERYONE here started from scratch at some point. Go to a range as suggested and ask for one of their professional instructors. Tell him or her your story with some of the info above and ask for their professional advice. They have no ax to grind in selling you something only in helping provide a background of possible equipment and it's uses.
There is no such thing as a "popgun". There are more people and game killed with 22LR every year than any four other calibers combined. Not trying to sell you anything but again as mentioned by JLA and Gunny, a 22 with Velocitor or stinger HPs and a well placed shot can really ruin a person's day. It is not yet the caliber as much as it is what where and how you PLAN to defend.
Hope this helps as it will help us to help you.
Yes I too have been a dealer and instructor for both LEO and civilian throughout 13 states since 1978. I have helped answer questions just like yours for 30 plus years. As with the others here, it is a pleasure to help new and old gun handlers with questions.
But we simply need more info to be of the greatest help to you.
Happy New Year.
UF