O. K.
Everybody around here asks me, so here's the standard script.
Somebody: "What gun should I get?"
Me: "What do you want to do with it?"
Somebody: ". . . "
Me: Sigh. "Point defense? Hunting? Benchrest? What?"
Somebody: "Oh! Self defense and stuff."
Me: "Good. Start with a handgun. Here are the steps, in order;"
"1. Go somewhere with a lot of handguns on display,"
"2. Handle a bunch of 'em and find one or a few that feel good in your hand, and make a list,"
"3. Find a range that rents some or all of the guns on your list, and shoot 'em. Any you don't like, cross off the list. Now you have a short list to consider."
"4. Can you afford the one you really like, along with enough fodder and feeding devices, holsters, security, cleaning stuff, etc. to keep, carry, and practice with it safely? How about two?"
"5. Get a few hundred rounds of cheap plinking ammo, and go practice, every week. There are some good schools out there, think about going to one. Learn and live the four rules."
Somebody: "What caliber should I get?"
Me: "Whatever chambers in the frame that fits you. 9mm/.38 spec. up to .45/.44 spec. all have very similar ballistics. Caliber is not as important as confidence."
Somebody: "The internet said. . ."
Me: "There are way more people on the internet than there are knowledgeable firearms enthusiasts. Some are just repeating misinformation, some have an axe to grind, and some are just liars. Hell, I'm on the internet, and you know what a troublemaker I am."
Somebody: "That's a lot of trouble. Is there an easier way?"
Me: Sigh. "There is a shortcut. Just buy a Glock 19 or 26 and practice."
Somebody: "But you carry a .45!"
Me: Walking away sadly, "Mumble, mumble mumbleing, MUMBLE MUMBLERS!"