I'm not sure there's a hard-and-fast answer to this question.

To my mind, the "best" handgun is the one that you shoot well, is reliable, and you have confidence in.

Try a few on for size, to see how they balance in your hand. I've seen some high-end pistols (revolvers and semis) that just felt awful to me; I'm sure they're fine weapons, but just not right for me.

On the other hand, the Hi-Power design feels like it was made for me. Because it feels good, and because mine has never failed me, I shoot it pretty well. But that's not to say you'd feel the same about it.

If accuracy is really high on your list, a long-barrelled revolver might be more to your liking...but it will then be a compromise with how readily you can swing it around in a self-defense situation.

Lots of variables in this equation. The good news is, it's fun to check out a bunch of different guns!