First gun advice

[MikePGS]

The thing about recoil is that it's different for everyone. On forums I frequently read that some guns are huge, kick like a mule, etc, but when I see/shoot the guns myself this isn't the case at all. Even looking at pictures doesn't give you that good of an idea because some guns look tiny when in reality the aren't that small, and some look huge but when you hold one at the gun store you see that it's easily concealable. My point is to get out to the gun stores/ranges and shoot as many as you can. After a while you'll probably find that you like a particular gun/caliber more than the others and end up buying that one.

 

[NMGonzo]

Go to the store and look at the price of ammo.

Consider that it will take between 5000 and 10,000 rounds of ammo before you are reasonably proficient with a handgun.

Now look at the price of a good (Ruger/Browning) .22 handgun and the price of .22 ammo.

Add up the costs.

After that, go buy a decent .22 and learn how to shoot (10,000 rounds). Then (and only then) buy a centerfire handgun based on your own experience.

Then buy a 1911 in .45

 

[KodiakBeer]

He can buy whatever he wants, but it makes absolutely no sense to spend 3 to 5 thousand dollars in ammo costs to learn how to shoot.

 

[harmon rabb]

FN 5.7 is a bad first gun, unless you're willing to spend a ton of money on practice ammo.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Start small and progress as your skill level increases. Much easier to learn the basics with an easy to shoot one than one with flinch-inducing recoil. Nothing at all wrong with beginning with a .22lr handgun, be that a revolver or a semi-auto.
Secondly, a great idea would also be to look and find a competent instructor. Just like starting small it's best to learn the proper techniques before the incorrect ones are engrained into your muscle memory.

 

[Furncliff]

.22 LR

Great first guns. Inexpensive to buy.
Light recoil.
Cheap to shoot. Very cheap compared to centerfire.
Everyone needs one to practice with, might as well make it the first one. I haven't "grown" out of any of my pistols. They all have their own task.
Lots of choices. Revolvers with cylinders to shoot LR and Magnum, double action revolvers. Semi autos in plastic or steel.
Go onto Gunbroker.com and search .22 pistol. just for fun.
Get into a shooting program, or get some private instruction.

Please practice safe gun handling.

 

[CZ57]

+1 on the SA XDm. I would choose it over the standard XD because of the interchangeable backstraps. The fact that it has a "Match Grade" barrel doesn't hurt either. There are several fine pistols that use interchangeable backstraps and this may be an aid in fitting the pistol to your hand. 9mm chambering for sure to start so you can get plenty of Range time/practice before you move on tho other calibers. The FNx-9 would also be a solid starter pistol IMO.