Cullen, Do your homework. Check out reviews. Handle a bunch of handguns at the gun shop. Shoot a buddies or rent different firearms at the range. You may get your first handgun that is not perfect or it may be just what you want. No stiff on this site can tell you what YOUR best first handgun will be. Great buy on the .308 Savage rifle by the way. Super rifle. You made a great decision there. Follow your intuition on first handgun. Go with a quality company with good customer service if needed. Once you get your first it wont be your last.

Cullen, one of the most ergonomic and natural pointing handguns is the CZ-P10 Compact : budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/24801/cz+p-10+compact+9mm+blk%2fblk+15%2b1+402in

Go to a local range and rent a bunch of different guns to try before you buy The best gun will depend on what you are doing with it and what fits and feels best to YOU I recommend a 9mm for the cost of ammo and practice

Get a Glock 19. It is easy to operate and easy to field strip. It is not heavy nor to big in certain areas. I am one of the lucky ones in California who can conceal carry and the 19 is one of my best choices. It will make a great first handgun. It doesn’t have too many bells and whistles like some more expensive guns. There are endless amounts of replacement parts, whether you plan on replacing stock parts or customizing the Glock. I consider the Glock pistol to be the AK-47 or pistols. I also carry a Glock for duty use, but I carry the Glock 22 40m S&W. The Glock 19 also has a rail for lights and lasers. You can eventually change the sights if you don’t like the Glock sights. Honestly, it is a great gun overall. It’s a simple yet very very very effective one.