pistol or cigars?

What is the purpose of the pistol, home defense, every day carry, sport shooting, or some other desire. What is your budget, how often are you going to shoot?

every day carry I would go with a 1911 style pistol that you can carry condition one cocked and locked. My recomendation would be a Kimber Super Carry Ultra.

Home defense? I wouldn't get a pistol. Get an AR, get Hornady TAP ammunition, mount a weapon light to it. People may disagree but look into "over penetration" the right 5.56 ammo is less likely to over penetrate and hit somebody you don't want it to vs pistol ammunition. When somebody suggests a shotgun with bird shot look at them strange.

Sport shooting? Glock or XD(m). Both are very fun to shoot.

whatever you do get look at your budget that you have for both the weapon and ammo. cut it in half. use half to buy the weapon, the other half to buy ammo. get said weapon and ammo and shoot shoot shoot. if it is for everyday carry practice shooting from varying postions, moving forwards, sideways, backwards, one handed, two handed. if you are going to carry a weapon make sure you know how to use it, but most importantly when to use it.

ok, getting off the soap box now.