I own a lot of hand guns, I shoot a lot. some of this advise is very good, some of this advice is very mediocre. It doesn’t matter what everyone else likes, it doesn’t matter if you spend a little, or a lot on your gun. What matters is if it’s reliable, fits your hand well, meets your needs, and you can hit what you shoot at. The fundamentals of shooting are something that are learned, good shooting is a skill that takes practice and discipline and is also a perishable skill. You can spend a lot of time fussing over glock, sig, 1911, custom, off the shelf, what looks cool, what does that guy like. The fact is the more you shoot the more you learn about what your needs and what your requirements are. If you take some lessons from a training professional you’ll learn that stuff faster and less expensive than on your own. The first gun you buy will never be the right one for you, be prepared to buy three or more pistols before you find “the one” if you buy a gun and carry it every day but never shoot it, it’s less likely you’ll be proficient when (if) the time comes that you really need it.