ORIGINAL: s. il. hntr
Looking into buying a good handgun, but don't know much about them. I would like something with very little recoil and fairly cheap ammo, but with some decent stopping power
Your main requirements are mutually exclusive! As a matter of fact, NO HANDGUN has "decent stopping power". Certainly there is NO HANDGUN with "low recoil" that is satisfactory for shooting deer! If one thinks the .357 Magnum is "low recoil", I'd hate to see what that person thinks is a "high recoil" handgun! A T/C single-shot chambered for the .50 BMG round, perhaps!
The efficacy of any small arm projectile, whether fired from a pistol, rifle, or shotgun depends on shot placement. Therefore, your needs would be satisfied with an accurate handgun in .22 LR about as well as any caliber, except for shooting deer, of course!. A good .22 can be extremely accurate, and they are the easiest to learn to shoot well. Practice, practice, practice!