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You're on the right track when you say "first", as you'll likely end up with a few. Budget is always a consideration, don't be afraid of "inexpensive" if you're on a budget, but do a lot more research before you shell out your $$$.
Every gun has its quirks and features, I learned basic gun smithing so I could iron out any "issues", and also found some guns are just better from the get go.
As previously mentioned, racking, trigger mechanism, etc. can be checked to see if they are comfortable even without live firing. Some guns are just harder to manipulate than others, and while this may not affect you, it can be an issue for some. Learn the differences between SA/DA and various approaches to safeties. Look up reviews or YouTube videos on guns you're considering. Don't count on counter people at the gun store, I've had to show them how a gun works more than a few times when it's one they aren't familiar with!
The fit of the grip in YOUR hand needs to be at least reasonably comfortable - a single stack subcompact is significantly different than a full size double stack for instance. There are aftermarket solutions to add to an existing grip as well.
Being in CA, you have to "stick to the roster" if you're buying NEW... it's going to be an older "out of date" design, and a pretty limited selection... not necessarily bad, but your choices ARE significantly limited - not going to get any "hot" and popular firearms like they have in them free states!. The Marketplace here is your friend, as you can find used and off roster stuff (sometimes at a premium, sometimes not).
If you have to "buy something", a Phoenix HP22A is dirt cheap and a lot of fun (as long as you stick to standard velocity ammo, per factory recommendation). There's a "22" for ya, and it's got lots of safeties, and a few easy modifications to make it a lot more user friendly! I bought one when looking at "real guns" just because it was cheap, a couple more have ended up in the collection... stupid cheap and fun to shoot.
My 9mm's are a couple old Ruger "P series" (P95DC specifically), bought used (and cheap, no "off roster premium"!) in the marketplace - kinda heavy, built literally like a tank, and shot one ragged hole first time at the range, as opposed to the SD9VE that I couldn't group with for beans.
That gets down to the other key point - IMO SHOT PLACEMENT trumps caliber - a gun that you can't shoot accurately is not going to "defend" anything terribly well. There are certainly things you can to do to train to shoot accurately, but my experience (see above) has been that I just shoot some guns much better than others. Maybe it's me, maybe it's the gun, but I've gotten rid of the ones I don't feel like I shoot well and kept the "ragged hole" ones. Makes it a lot more enjoyable at the range knowing where the rounds are going!
If you're considering concealed carry, that's a whole other discussion, but the Sig P238 is a sweet shooter that most everyone seems to love once they shoot it, and it's on roster. With a Hogue grip it's not much more recoil than a .22, if you find yourself recoil adverse, and with the right ammo, should be adequate for defensive uses (again, shot placement counts).
Every gun has its quirks and features, I learned basic gun smithing so I could iron out any "issues", and also found some guns are just better from the get go.
As previously mentioned, racking, trigger mechanism, etc. can be checked to see if they are comfortable even without live firing. Some guns are just harder to manipulate than others, and while this may not affect you, it can be an issue for some. Learn the differences between SA/DA and various approaches to safeties. Look up reviews or YouTube videos on guns you're considering. Don't count on counter people at the gun store, I've had to show them how a gun works more than a few times when it's one they aren't familiar with!
The fit of the grip in YOUR hand needs to be at least reasonably comfortable - a single stack subcompact is significantly different than a full size double stack for instance. There are aftermarket solutions to add to an existing grip as well.
Being in CA, you have to "stick to the roster" if you're buying NEW... it's going to be an older "out of date" design, and a pretty limited selection... not necessarily bad, but your choices ARE significantly limited - not going to get any "hot" and popular firearms like they have in them free states!. The Marketplace here is your friend, as you can find used and off roster stuff (sometimes at a premium, sometimes not).
If you have to "buy something", a Phoenix HP22A is dirt cheap and a lot of fun (as long as you stick to standard velocity ammo, per factory recommendation). There's a "22" for ya, and it's got lots of safeties, and a few easy modifications to make it a lot more user friendly! I bought one when looking at "real guns" just because it was cheap, a couple more have ended up in the collection... stupid cheap and fun to shoot.
My 9mm's are a couple old Ruger "P series" (P95DC specifically), bought used (and cheap, no "off roster premium"!) in the marketplace - kinda heavy, built literally like a tank, and shot one ragged hole first time at the range, as opposed to the SD9VE that I couldn't group with for beans.
That gets down to the other key point - IMO SHOT PLACEMENT trumps caliber - a gun that you can't shoot accurately is not going to "defend" anything terribly well. There are certainly things you can to do to train to shoot accurately, but my experience (see above) has been that I just shoot some guns much better than others. Maybe it's me, maybe it's the gun, but I've gotten rid of the ones I don't feel like I shoot well and kept the "ragged hole" ones. Makes it a lot more enjoyable at the range knowing where the rounds are going!
If you're considering concealed carry, that's a whole other discussion, but the Sig P238 is a sweet shooter that most everyone seems to love once they shoot it, and it's on roster. With a Hogue grip it's not much more recoil than a .22, if you find yourself recoil adverse, and with the right ammo, should be adequate for defensive uses (again, shot placement counts).
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