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A lot of this will depend on your budget, you really can't get a quality new gun for much less than $400 or so. Used maybe down to $300 but that's pushing it.

I'm with the crowd who would prefer a used Glock, Sig, or S&W revolver over a brand-new Taurus/Kel Tec etc.

http://www.texasguntrader.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is a good place to look for used (in addition to the guns for sale on this forum and a few others).

For a first gun, try to decide how you think you'll carry it. A snub-nose 2-inch revolver is great to carry in a front pocket. A 9mm semi-auto is great for carrying in a belt holster, either inside or outside your waistband. And don't forget the quality (and thus price) of your holster and belt are as important (or more so) to comfortable concealed carry as the choice of firearm. For decent quality (not the best, but good enough), plans to spend about $50 on a stiff belt (try 5.11 tactical web belts and leather belts with kydex stiffiners - about $35). For holster, try one of the many knockoff leather/kydex hybrid holters like http://www.oldfaithfulholsters.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or the "kholster" .... same idea as more well-known and expensive Crossbreed Supertuck and Comp Tac M-TAC, but cost less.

For beginners, I recommend Glock, Springfield Armory XD, Smith & Wesson M&P, Ruger SR9 in semi-auto and S&W, Ruger, and Taurus revolvers. If you have small hands or short fingers, also consider thinner semi-autos with "single stack" magazines (instead of guns listed above with thicker double-stack magazines which make the grips thicker). A Kahr CW9 is about $400 new. Taurus PT709 Slim is about $375.

Try them out and see what fits your hand best (but be sure you know how to properly grip a gun or "how it fits" may not be how it SHOULD fit in your hands with proper firing grip).

For a quality and relatively inexpensive NEW gun, look at Ruger. Either the SR9/SR9c or the LCR revolver should be available for $400 or less if you look hard enough (Academy and others overprice these into the mid $400 range).

http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.asp ... r=RUG-5401" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.asp ... r=RUG-3301" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.asp ... r=RUG-3313" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;