RachelMarie,
If you can make it to Danville (west of Indy) on May 2 for a class, we'll let you try as many things as you like. PM me if you'd like the details. We'll have revolvers and autos.
If you want Accuracy, Reliability, and Self Defense, you don't want a .22. (That's my opinion not sugar coated). Beats fingernails though.
If you want Accurate and Reliable, good for learning to shoot, and something you'll always like shooting, then a .22 is an excellent choice... The problem with a pocket .22 like the Taurus or the very similar Beretta is that you'll quickly outgrow it. An entry level target .22 like the Smith and Wesson 22A, Ruger Mark III, or Browning Buckmark will be with you for a long time. All three are good, it just comes down to what feels best in your hand. Taurus does make some other nice compact pistols though in more "self defense" oriented calibers though.
For ~$299 I will echo the recommendation for a Bersa Thunder .380CC. It will be accurate, reliable, and is at the starting point for good self defense calibers. For <$250 you can get the non "CC" version of the Thunder .380 in "DuoTone"
Plus it's easy to learn and use, easy to take apart and clean. Not exactly a pocket pistol though.
Next up the price scale (~$240 to ~$340) are the Kel-Tec pistols P32 (.32ACP), P-3AT (.380 ACP), P-11 (9mm), and PF-9 (also 9mm). The first two are pocket pistols, but the P-3AT is a handful (kicks hard because of its small size and weight). The P-11 holds 10+1 round of very potent 9mm, and the slightly skinnier PF-9 holds 7+1. Both kick pretty hard, the PF-9 more so, because of a powerful round in a small package.
Right at $300-$330 are the Smith and Wesson "Sigma" pistols (SW9VE and SW40VE for example) and aside from a trigger that gets complaints, they are solid and relaible... Likewise the chunky but bulletproof Ruger "P" series, but they're up around $400. My favorite is the Ruger P95 DC ("decock only").
Once you get over $400 and get up to ~$500 the world opens up to you and you can get into some very nice used revolvers in .38 and .357, and possibly a new .38 Smith and Wesson snubby. Also there are some nice Autos in this range like the Springfield XD, Smith and Wesson M&P, Ruger SR9, some Taurus models and used Glocks.
If you can make it to Danville (west of Indy) on May 2 for a class, we'll let you try as many things as you like. PM me if you'd like the details. We'll have revolvers and autos.
If you want Accuracy, Reliability, and Self Defense, you don't want a .22. (That's my opinion not sugar coated). Beats fingernails though.
If you want Accurate and Reliable, good for learning to shoot, and something you'll always like shooting, then a .22 is an excellent choice... The problem with a pocket .22 like the Taurus or the very similar Beretta is that you'll quickly outgrow it. An entry level target .22 like the Smith and Wesson 22A, Ruger Mark III, or Browning Buckmark will be with you for a long time. All three are good, it just comes down to what feels best in your hand. Taurus does make some other nice compact pistols though in more "self defense" oriented calibers though.
For ~$299 I will echo the recommendation for a Bersa Thunder .380CC. It will be accurate, reliable, and is at the starting point for good self defense calibers. For <$250 you can get the non "CC" version of the Thunder .380 in "DuoTone"
Plus it's easy to learn and use, easy to take apart and clean. Not exactly a pocket pistol though.
Next up the price scale (~$240 to ~$340) are the Kel-Tec pistols P32 (.32ACP), P-3AT (.380 ACP), P-11 (9mm), and PF-9 (also 9mm). The first two are pocket pistols, but the P-3AT is a handful (kicks hard because of its small size and weight). The P-11 holds 10+1 round of very potent 9mm, and the slightly skinnier PF-9 holds 7+1. Both kick pretty hard, the PF-9 more so, because of a powerful round in a small package.
Right at $300-$330 are the Smith and Wesson "Sigma" pistols (SW9VE and SW40VE for example) and aside from a trigger that gets complaints, they are solid and relaible... Likewise the chunky but bulletproof Ruger "P" series, but they're up around $400. My favorite is the Ruger P95 DC ("decock only").
Once you get over $400 and get up to ~$500 the world opens up to you and you can get into some very nice used revolvers in .38 and .357, and possibly a new .38 Smith and Wesson snubby. Also there are some nice Autos in this range like the Springfield XD, Smith and Wesson M&P, Ruger SR9, some Taurus models and used Glocks.
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If you wanna come shoot here on my range let me know 
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