Thank you all for interesting comments. I have been dithering about this for the last few weeks, and now I have a lot of websites to check out and I think I will go to my local range as well. I went into Gander Mountain a few weeks ago but I wasn’t quite sure how to explain what I wanted without sounding like an idiot and I felt a little overwhelmed so I left without getting anything.
Please, please, please don’t worry about sounding like an idiot. I’d think most reputable gun dealers understand the importance of finding just the right gun for YOU and your needs.
I’ll admit I thought the same thing when I started looking. The local dealer was such a huge help and never made me feel stupid or intimidated at all. (And I’m the person that explains car noises like this: “It was sort of a weee-oooo-clank-thud kind of sound...”)
If they’re a successful dealer, I’d say you won’t have been the first person to walk in saying, “I don’t know what I want but this is what I need to be able to do.” And, the upside is you’re not the first customer they’ve ever had and this won’t be the first gun they’ve ever sold. The dealer I went to was also able to pass along feedback from other customers in addition to his own experiences yet I never felt pressured to go one way or the other. His help was invaluable!