First Handgun Advice

[runawaygun762]

Definitely go 9mm. You say it's primarily a range practice gun, and more quality practice is better than less quality practice, so the cost of 9mm vs .40 will help greatly with that. 9mm, .40, .45 will all fail to gain physical incapacitation if you don't hit vitals and will all gain physical incapacitation if you do hit vitals. The heart and brain don't know the difference between the three when they get hit.

I normally disagree with suggesting something outside the parameters of the original question, but in this case with your admitted inexperience, you are much better going with the suggestions provided by folks here. This ain't no normal online forum with keyboard commandos. There's a shitload of experience in both competition and real-world use represented in this forum.

 

[KellyB]

Try several before you buy one. Test out the recoil, solid grip, maneuver the safety easily, the feel, etc. Rent or if you see someone's you want to try, just ask. Most will let you & tell you all about it. What is good for one may not be good for another & it's an investment in your safety, you want it to be a good one. You might stick with something mainstream/common so if it does something weird or take apart for cleaning, it will be easy to compare to another's or get help with.

The 9 vs 40/45 discussion was put to rest for me by the FBI study that convinced them to change. The 9 is what they are fielding now. Better to have more ammo & be accurate than a bigger bullet.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-moves-back-to-the-9mm-round-which-it-once-shunned-as-ineffective/2015/10/31/d7d0b994-7e80-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html

😎Good luck staying with just 1 gun, that's what I thought too. I'm 7 deep...Glock 17, Kimber Pro Carry 2, Colt Mustang Pocketlite, Browning .22, a revolver, AR & shot gun.

 

[benny hill]

My traveling gun is a FNH full size 16rd 45auto w/nite sights and suppressed, but I cannot hear anyway.