[PHOEBISIS]

MXTitan,you can get a great handgun for $600 or less.I am partial to S&W revolvers.Here is my take
1)S&W-4"stainless steel model 66-6 shots 357-$450 or so new.Powerful(about 500 ftlbs with a 125 gr in a 4").downsides relative to am auto is fewer shots(12 or more for the 40 cals),and it is a bit heavier-about 35 ounces unloaded-and very brisk recoil with full power loads-more brisk than a 40 cal 155 gr with about the same 500 ftlb power.
2)Sig 229 40 cal-12 shots,about 31 ounces~$600 new.I like the double action autos,the long fairly heavy pull makes them less likely to accidently get discharged in the heat of the moment.It has about the same power -with the right loads-as a 357 4",and twice the shots.
3)Glock 23-$500(12-or more shots- in 40 cal) about 25 ounces,or Glock 27-9 shots-$500 if you want a really compact auto- about 22 ounces.The downside to the Glocks is the Trigger pull is kinda soft(5.5 lbs),and maybe a little easier to accidently discharge than a SIG229 WITH A 12 LB pull on the 1st shot.Now I don't mean the gun going off from catching on clothes-the glock has a safety built into the trigger that will prevent that-I mean going off when you grab it it the middle of the night,and just accidently squeeze the trigger.Harder for a kid-12 lbs is a pretty hard pull for a child- to accidently shoot also.The DA revolver also has about a 12 lb pull on DA-maybe 5 lbs if you **** the hammer.
4)S&W makes,or made a 6906 series of 12 shot DA autos(made of stainless steel with aluminum alloy frame-the sig and Beretta also have alum alloy frames-the Glocks have a fancy plastic frame reinforced with steel so you have steel to steel contact).They are 9 mm,fairly light,and reliable.I like them because they are well made,relatively inexpensive$300 lightly used,maybe $450 new,smallish.Most importanly they can't be shot if the clip isn't in the weapon.I like this feature.You can keep a round in the chamber,but keep the mag separate from the weapon,and it can't be accidently discharged by a child..Downside is the 9mm.Some say it doesn't have enough"one shot stop power".I think it is just fine with the right ammo 115 +P,and the recoil is less than the 40's.Other S&W autos have the mag safety feature.(you can also have it ready to go with the mag almost ,but not quite seated in the well-just push it the last 1/4" in and you are ready to go-a kid would have a hard time doing this,but I wouldn't trust to this with kids around-you could keep it this way if you had a small safe by the side of the bed-that way you have to make a couple of deliberate movements before accidently shooting the family dog in the middle of the night).I like 9mm-more shots,less recoil,and you can get great deals on used 9mm's because folks think it isn't potent enough-BS of course-proper ammo and bullet placement take care of that.
I wouldn't fool with the Taurus(QC),Beretta(kinda bulky) Colt-the SA auto is single action,and the revolvers aren't as good as S&W.Well,good luck,Charlie PS Rugers are ok,but kinda clunky(not as elegant as a S$W)-cheaper though,and the revolvers are reliable and strong-nothing wrong with them.