Another vote for a .38 revolver, but with a twist.
http://www.gunsinternational.com/S-W-MODEL-10-5-revolver-97-with-BOX.cfm?gun_id=100510674
This is a good example of what can be found on the used market if you look. A Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 from 1962 that clearly hasn’t had more than a box or two of ammo through it. It still has the original box, tools, and papers which means it was cared for. It will be considerably better made and smoother than anything “new” in it’s price range. I would not feed it a steady diet of +P ammo, but it will handle it.
1st handgun, start with a revolver.
Find a place like the one at the link in your area where you can handle various models.
http://www.atlantaintownpaper.com/2015/02/stoddards-opens-state-art-gun-range-west-midtown/
If you have more available to spend, the Hk P30 or P2000sk.
I admit right away I'm an Hk snob, and for good reason. Proud of it.
As a bit of a Ruger fan, I’d suggest you take a look at the LCR compact revolver in .38; it’s a very nice self-defense revolver, and is available at a good price.
If you really want a semi-auto, the Ruger LCP9s (striker fired) is also very, very nice.
Both are quite compact, reasonably priced, and enjoyable.
Good luck!
“I have never owned a handgun before and I will sign up for lessons once I purchase the weapon. “
Take lessons BEFORE buying a handgun. Tryout several.
If you are a Beginner then I would start out with a small frame .357 Magnum Revolver(you can shoot 38 Special out of them(Cheaper than .357)) Something like this:
http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101DE/models.html
That said... get what you like best - that's what you're most likely to go out and get some practice with.
Always do this: Always follow all the published safety rules all the time. If someone else is messing up at the range, call them on it and if they don't straighten up, leave. Find out who they are and report them to the range management on your way out. (I've done this more than once...) Never take a known jerk to the range with you... No admonition beforehand will do any good, it will only be taken as a dare. (I've made this mistake once, never mind who was the star of the show.) Use eye and ear protection, and wear a cap with a bill. DON'T NEVER EVER store a firearm in a case at home because the case will trap humidity next to the firearm and cause it to rust. (The case, gun rug, whatever, is used only to transport the firearm to the place where you're going to shoot.) Instead, clean your gun when you get home (*ahem* easier if it's a revolver) and store it in a secure place NOT in a case. Whether it's loaded or not is up to you...
When you go shooting, consider buying two boxes of practice ammo. Shoot one, stash one. Same for your real self-defense loads - consider buying two boxes if your budget allows, stash the second one, shoot... some, but not all, of the first one, and use the remainder of it for home/concealed carry loads, or just more stash. These days you can't have too much.
Especially in these times, revolver or semiauto, whatever caliber, retrieve your empties and save them in a dry, ventilated place at home. Someday, maybe sooner rather than later, you'll get into handloading or at least have someone reload your accumulated empties for you. (*ahem* .38 special ROCKS as an easily reloaded cartridge that can be reused several times with moderate loadings before the brass wears out and you have to throw it away.)
Once you've learned the ropes, introduce someone you trust to shooting and make it a fun, safe thing for them.
I am a novice too. I have just recently started shooting the S&W 9mm Shield. I like it.
I started with a Sig Sauer p226 but moved up to the 9mm.
When you're at the range, someone, probably someone near you, will say to you something like "dude, watch your muzzle..." that means that you, or maybe I, am the one who needs to watch their your muzzle, or whatever... yes that is the voice of experience...
Thank them for the help and then enjoy some more shooting.
My wife has a Glock 26 and completely loves it. It’s small, and uses a 10 round magazine, but, can use the 17 round magazine from my Glock 17. She also has a 30 round magazine that we both can use.
The 17 is more accurate and easier to use, but, the 26 is light and fits well in her smallish hands.
I am a pretty big guy and the 17 fits me just right.
I agree with the poster above. Go to a range and rent a few samples.
Also, speaking as a novice. I love my Glock and would totally recommend trying it.
A good .22LR (Smith and Wesson makes some real tack drivers) automatic has a lot of advantages going for it, especially if you are going to use the pistol for self/home defense.
It's cheap to shoot (if you can find anyone with the stuff in stock. On the plus side you can make friends with fellow shooter while you wait at the local store to see if any ammunition came in on delivery day). .45’s and .44 mags are great guns, but unless you are wealthy you may have difficulty affording to put a lot of rounds downrange.
Which brings to my next point: Recoil. The only sure cure for the dreaded ‘flinch’ is practice, practice, and more practice. Mrs. Cowboy,is an excellent shot with a rifle and shot gun (handles a 12ga like she was Annie Oakley), but even with something as tame as a 9mm handgun had a bad habit of dropping the first shot a good 7-8” due to the flinch from the anticipating the recoil. You can find plenty of videos of people doing dangerous/stupid things because they tried to shoot more gun than they could handle.
Even in the hands of a good shot, the more recoil a gun has the longer it takes to line up a second shot. I'm no expert, but I think in a self defense situation this an prove critical. A person armed with knife can cover a lot of distance in a hurry. You can try it step off what you think is a ‘safe’ distance and sprint that distance and time it with a stop watch. Putting a big hole in the air next to a bad guy isn't much help. If you can't hit em once with a .44 shoot ‘em twice with a .22.
A .22 gives you get a good high capacity magazine. Even with the wheel gun there isn't any of that ‘did I shoot 5 or 6’ stuff.
It's only a starting point, as pointed out by other wiser posters than myself, you will probably want more than 1 pistol. Every man needs plenty of good plausible reasons to explain to his wife why he needs more guns, after all.
Personally, I find the Browning Hi-Power to be an excellent weapon. It fits my hand well and is still quite easy to shoot. 9mm still caries a lot of the 'small caliber' advantages listed above. Do not mock the humble 9mm, I know an old timer that has dropped more than one deer with a 9mm.
It's all about what you are confident shooting, if you have the opportunity to try some different weapons first by all means do so.
You're getting a lot of really goofy advice in this thread and you should have known better starting a gun thread on Free Republic:
'Start with a .22 Match pistol and learn how to use it!' and 'What you need is a .357 Magnum revolver' and 'No, you need a .38 and THEN move up to a .357 when you finally become a burly he-man' and 'You need a .40 at least, because ain't no 9mm is any kinda man stopper and that's a fact' and 'You're just gonna accidentally shoot yourself with a Glock' and 'You oughtta get one of those giant cheapshit Brazilian-made pistols that shoot birdshot-filled .410 shotgun loads as well as .45 Colt, and then mix .410 and .45LC rounds in the cylinder for maximum effectiveness!' and 'I recommend this here pot metal Spanish made .380 that ain't been manufactured in 28 years...' and 'What you need is a SHOTGUN, son' and 'Have you considered a Micro UZI with an aftermarket 72 round drum made by Bulletcloud Enterprises?' and 'I love my Red Ryder® 200-shot carbine action air rifle with the compass in the stock that tells time' and 'Polymer guns ain't no good for pistol-whipping a perp breaking into your home', and so on.
Remarkably, the first pistol you mentioned yourself in your own opening post is the best advice you've gotten, and you gave it to yourself. The irony.
The new Hk VP9 is by far the finest price:performance handgun available on the market right now. It's practically the same size as the thoroughly carryable Glock 19TB and offers many improvements over that competing brand. Tests show it's a tack driver. Hk proves it's rugged. Order the 'Police' model with the three mags.
I've been everyday-carrying a classic Gen 2 Glock 19 for nine years and I'm sure that Hk VP9 is certainly one step above for the same price. It's absolutely amazing that Hk released a gun of the VP9's quality that didn't cost over $1000 and is also carryable. For 9mm defense ammo, choose the Federal HST in 147gr and nothing else.
You will likely acquire more firearms over time, but I really think you cannot initially go wrong with the first model you listed. You can collect counter-terrorist tactical shotguns and finely blued Colt Pythons later on.
Check the Sig Sauer P938 for a almost mini 1911, in 9MM. VERY concealable and gets great reviews. U know they are good; tough to find one [but they are out there]
Smith & Wesson model 66. Great looking — I mean like beautiful — .38 revolver. It’s the stainless version of the workhorse model 19 which was popular with police departments in the ‘70s and ‘80s before the change to automatics.