This. 9mm or 45ACP. Taurus makes inexpensive but good 9's. If you got a little bit more cash Springfield Armory is good too.
Im liable to narrow it down to the two of them. Asking you guys is very different from asking the internet at random
I'd go with 9mm, it has a lot more stopping power than a 22 but it won't take down a wall like a 45. The G2C is great starter 9: https://www.taurususa.com/pistols/see-all-pistols?view=category&id=92
After you load it and field strip it a few times you should find a range and practice, practice, practice. am I forgetting anything?
Damn how did that never come up in my best under 500 search? It looks great at 300
Like you said, Taurus makes good starter guns. Most people will not be able to shoot well enough right off the bat to he able to really tell the difference between a Taurus and something higher quality. They're reliable in my experience.
If a person could only have 1 handgun, I'd always recommend 9mm. Ammo is/was cheaper. Adequate stopping power. And manageable recoil. for newer shooters.
No external safety on that G2C, which may be a concern for OP based on another comment.
Taurus makes crap guns.
That is no longer true. It was 25- 30 years ago. Not now.
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