[Jeff Higgins]

A sidearm is a very personal thing. What is "best" for me may not work at all for you. It's already been mentioned, but it bears repeating - go to a local range that rents guns and spend some time shooting a variety of them. Most areas will have such a range, even if you have to drive a bit to get there.

You should start with a variety of .22's, just to get the old, long dormant juices flowing again. Get used to shooting before going on to larger caliber defensive weapons. I've seen it happen a number of times where some one in your position starts right in on the big boomers. The first few you try will be so discombobulating and entirely unnatural to you that you will probably strike them from your list, even though they may have wound up at the top of you list had they been tried after you gained some experience. So go slow. Have fun. Burn up some ammo and start to form some impressions. Then go back through and try them all again. You'll find something you like.