My advice is to handle/shoot as many guns as you can. They key is the gun be comfortable to YOU. For a concealed gun you are going to want thin and light so you are more apt to carry it. If you buy something that is not comfortable to carry, you will find yourself consciously or subconsciously not carrying it because of that. It's not going to save your life if you don't have it on you. Concerning brands. I think most major brands are going to be good and reliable. Once you have handled/shot several different guns, go read some reviews about what models felt right to you. Also, I was anti glock/composite gun for a long time. That being said I carry a Glock 36 now. My primary issue was the tactile feel of the composite gun, but the 36 feels really solid to me. I have medium sized hands, and with the clip extender I can get all 4 fingers around the grip. The caliber subject will open up a lot of debate. I prefer .45, but I may end up with a smaller 9mm/.380 this summer just because they are easier to conceal in summer clothes. My father carries a Kel Tech PF-9 9mm. Price was around $200, and it is a very solid/reliable little gun. Easy to conceal/carry as well. HTH, H