Call me lame but...

[TexasCajun]

Modifications: If you have the time & money to try out different things in order to shoot better, go for it. The interwebs are full of folks who swear that the DA, judge & jury will throw you under the jail for modifications if the gun is used defensively. Thankfully, in Texas our law enforcement focus on the why instead of on the what.

Ammo: The discussion here is exactly why the NRA amended their safety rules. Instead of store guns unloaded, they now say keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. When a gun is designated as your defensive weapon, then loaded and securely stored is acceptable for obvious reasons.