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I have a Glock 26, which is a compact 9 mm. I love it. I dont think I would want anything bigger in the car with me.
The Beretta is not bad tho it is big, you really cant go wrong with either. I just prefer Glock. Not one single problem or misfire ever with either my 23C or 26 though 1000's of rounds.
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You can go with a .40 Glock or a .357 Magnum. If you are worried about concealing it than you can even look into a .38. With only a slightly longer barrel, I would go with a .357.
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One thing you said is "starter" pistol but also something you can keep in the car. I think the larger form factor pistols are better for starters then you can move to a more compact gun for carry. It all on what you really are looking for.
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I realize looks are not really the first thing you should look at, but I would be lying if i said I have never bought a gun cause it looked cool. I really like the look of glocks and sig sauer. I think the Sig looks like a cross between a glock and the Beretta. To me Beretta just reminds me of some old school 80's and 90's action movies. A little outdated. One gun that looks bad ass and is never outdated is a nicely done Colt 1911.
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If you are not used to guns, the best "starter" for carry would be a .38 special revolver with a hammer shroud. It is the most idiot proof handgun made. S&W makes a couple of good ones.
Personally, I favor the Glock 30 -- a "subcompact" .45ACP with a 10 round double stack mag. The Glock 36 is nice also (same as above but with a 7 round mag and thinner frame)
I would NEVER reccomend a Sub-Compact gun for a first pistol. I know the OP wants something easily to conceal, but starting out on a compact can lead to some bad shooting habbits. Besides that, accuracy on a Sub-Compact is terrible compared to even a compact or full frame pistol in most cases.
I would go with a Glock 17, Berretta 92, Berretta PX4 or Springfield XD. 9mm is an excellent, low recoil round to learn on and makes for easy followups.
I prefer .40 or .45 for personal defense, but 9mm will do the job almost as well.
If you must have Compact, Look at the new Berretta PX4 Sub-Compact or Cougar. Glock Sub-Compacts are a bit "nose Heavy" and really don't conceal as well as I'd like. Look at a paraordnance wharthog in 9mm. Also take a look at a Smith Snub nose Wheel gun if you want something to throw in your pocket.
Also, for a first gun, Don't get anything with Adjustable sights, it will make for a nightmare. DO look for trijicon night sights or other active night sights.
I would NEVER reccomend a Sub-Compact gun for a first pistol. I know the OP wants something easily to conceal, but starting out on a compact can lead to some bad shooting habbits. Besides that, accuracy on a Sub-Compact is terrible compared to even a compact or full frame pistol in most cases.
You will note that I put subcompact in quotes. Look at the size of a Glock 30 or 36 (the two I mentioned). While Glock calls them "subcompact," they are close to the size of many full frame handguns.
Both of those pistols are also very accurate for their size. For the ranges applicable to self-defense (and likely much longer ranges), you will not be able to notice a difference between those glocks and any of the full frame pistols mentioned thus far.
In any case, my recomendation was a revolver with a hammer shroud... that is perfect for a beginner carry weapon. The Glock 30 is just what I use. (and as a former collegiate All American pistol marksman, I don't worry about developing bad shooting habits )
Depends on your goal. First and foremost get one that is reliable and functional. I can't tell you how many times I have been to a range to see guys pissed off that their pistol keeps jamming. I am a die-hard Sig guy because they are almost flawless. If you truly want to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship a good starter would be a .22 pistol. Why? A .22 has no recoil so it allows you to focus on the sights and develop good skills. Before you knock it, I would rather get shot at by an idiot with a .45 then a distinguished marksman and a .22. If you want it to be a all-purpose pistol I would suggest getting a 9mm, recoil is light and ammo is relatively cheap.
Shooting a pistol is drastically different then shooting a rifle. Sight alignment and trigger control are crucial with the pistol. Master those two and the rest is fine tuning like body alignment and muscle relaxation.
i've got a EAA witness compact 9 mm. it's a great gun and it only cost me 360.00. i know you were not wanting anything bigger but you can also get it in a .40 and .45. its also got a safety switch on the side of the gun as well as the abillity to lock the hammer. (this means you can pull the hammer back half way and the trigger will lock).
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What is a good starters pistol?
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