There will be those who prefer revolvers (wheel guns) and those who prefer semi-autos. The revolvers are simpler and more reliable, but my personal preference is the semi-auto. I like the 9MM, and if price is a consideration, Taurus makes some very nice quality home defense 9 mils (24/7 Pro series and the Millenium Pro). For personal carry, if that becomes a need or desire, the Bersa 380 Thunder (.380 caliber) is based on the Walther PPK's simple design, is just as reliable, and is about half the price of the Walther. Reviews on this little gun have been consistently good, and it's an excellent handgun for concealed carry, IMHO; however, 9 MM ammo is about 2/3 the price of 380, so if you're going to target shoot on weekends, go with a 9 mil. In fact, if you don't already own a handgun, I'd suggest that you start with a .22. These aren't any good for self defense, but they are loads of fun to shoot, ammo is way cheap, and it's a great way to learn stance, technique, weapons safety, etc. Both Ruger and Browning make really nice .22 caliber pistols.
I HIGHLY recommend that you take a concealed carry handgun course even if you don't intend to carry. A properly taught course will provide instruction on safety, the law, techniques of handgun defense, and will answer any questions you have regarding conceal carry. Getting the actual license will require additional background checks, and the course is a prerequisite to obtaining a CC permit. There are so many restrictions on carryng a concealed weapon with a permit, that it's a real haasle to carry legally. (You can't carry and drink a beer or carry AFTER drinking a beer, for example, and I LIKE to drink beer...)
I agree that it would be a good idea to go to a commercial range and try out a selection of guns prior to making a purchase decision.
Like anything else these days, there are numerous forums to check out, ask questions on-line, and read reviews of various handguns. I suggest:
www.thefiringline.com, and
www.gundirectory.com. If you go to a manufacturer specific site like
www.taurusarmed.net, or
www.bersatalk.com, you'll only hear that "Taurus is the best." or "Bersa is the best." (Sort of like BA.com for motorcycles...)
Fair warning that many of the folks on these sites are decidedley to the far right of the political spectrum and are just a tad "sensitive" (and downright paranoid) about the results of the recent election and what impact it might presumably have on the right to arm bears under the 2nd Amendment. If they even catch a whiff of you being inclined to think liberal thoughts, they will pounce on you with the logic of a stark raving maniac.
Good luck!
