TS & RR,
The Hi-power is a great firearm. It is, however, not my first choice for a first handgun. I personally do not care for the Hi-power because of caliber choices and the magazine safety that is incorporated into the design.
The Ruger I suggested is built for a lifetime of hassle-free ownership. Won' t rust, easy to clean and maintain and extremely reliable.
The Hi-power has a legacy as being the rest of the free worlds #1 choice for military and law enforcement. Mostly in the .9mm configuration. Great. So what?
I am not denying that the Hi-power has not earned a great reputation as a good weapon, all I am trying to say is that there are less expensive option out there.
As a first time handgun owner, why would you pay hundreds of dollars more for a weapon when they both have the same aggregate accuracy out-of-the-box? 3.25 " @25yds.
Can anyone account for the fact that police department in this country use Ruger.45' s and do not use Hi-powers?
Why do our elite law enforcement and military STILL want top quality .45' s over anything else?
I am really attempting to build a case for the round more than the delivery system.
The long and short of it is simple...There are a vast array of hand guns to choose from, and with them are even more opinions attached to each one. Wether those opinions are based on emotion, conjecture, facts or real life encounters doesen' t matter. The truth is that no one can truly select a firearem for you. You have to decide on several things like: intended purpose, fit, feel, ergonomics, etc.
The .22 is a great training aid. It is probably the best choice for a " first hangun" ,
for the reasons that Briman and Nomercy have already stated.
The truth is that a couple of well placed .22' s to the cranium will everything that the 9mm, .40S&W or the .45acp will do with half the recoil or muzzle flash. The problem is trying to do that under a stressful situation.
The Hi-power IS a great gun, it is just not a great gun for ME.
It could be, if they made it in .45 and removed the magazine safety.
Now if we start talking Kimber,Wilson Combat, Les Baer, Caspian....These are truly<to me> great weapons.

My choices or suggestions are certainly NOT based on lack of experience!
You have your choices and I have mine. I' m sure neither are based on a lack of experience.