^^Yeah I also want a pistol for taking deer also!!I don't have a lot of money either,would a tuarus raging bull in either 357mag or 44mag do?I won't be useing it very often for target shooting or home defense..I'm not looking for somthing fancy!!
You probably shouldn't worry about taking deer with a handgun for a while.
It takes A LOT of shooting before you get good enough to do that.
Heck, I've been shooting a while and I still don't trust myself to shoot a deer past 10 yards with a handgun.
If you want a first gun that you can use for deer then get a 357Mag...but be aware that many people consider a 357 as marginal for deer.
A 44mag would be great, but not as a first gun.
I think you're on the right track when you mention the PT92.
A 9mm would make a great first gun.
Recoil is low and ammo is cheap and plentiful.
I wouldn't get a 40S&W...I've seen quite a few people get those as first guns and never learn to shoot them well due to recoil.
As far as dispatching game animals goes, a centerfire handgun will do more damage than a 22LR out of a rifle. Your only option for less damage is a 22LR, 22 short, or 22 CB out of a handgun. A 17 would do more damage because they expand and fragment too easily.
A 22LR would make a fine first handgun. If you get a 22LR revolver then you can shoot CBs and shorts without feeding problems.
I think you're trying to do more things than a single pistol can do.
Focus on getting that first gun and learning to shoot it. More handguns for special purposes will follow
I agree that you should shoot as many different guns as you can before buying.
Here's a list to start:
-357 revolver (with 38 specials) such as a Ruger GP-100 or S&W 686
-9mm semiauto like a model 92, Glock 17/19, Sig 226/228, S&W M&P, XD
-22LR semiauto such as the Ruger MKIII or 22/45, Browning Buckmark
-22LR revolver such as a Taurus Model 94 or 970, S&W 617, Ruger Single Six
If you end up getting a gun for deer then the taurus revolvers are fine. However you will have to shoot them a lot before you can expect to hit a deer with it.
I started with a Sig 228 (got a good deal on it) and recently got a Ruger Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger to shoot deer...there's no way I could shoot a 480 accurately without starting with the 9mm then moving to heavy loads in my 357.