All good points listed above. You'd do well to heed all the above advice.

I think the best advice is to still go out and rent a few at the local range. Be sure to try different calibers. You really have no point of reference to tell if one is better than the other, that only comes with experience.

Personally, I've always preferred shooting .40's and .45's, but I still find it much easier to carry and conceal a .380.

You also might want to look into reloading your own brass. It is a good skill to know, and can save you a ton of money in the long run.

Enjoy the world of gun ownership. Glad to have you aboard!