People that know about guns: look here

Ok, I'm writing a story, and I want the side character's weapon of choice to be a pistol. But I know nothing about guns, so I have no idea what kind of gun for the character to use. I want the pistol to be semi automatic (that's where it fires just one shot at a time, right?) and I want it to be something you could get in the U.S. What kind of gun should I use?

A .45

Beretta 92fs. Pretty common gun found here in the states; usually amongst law enforcement, military, and other armed/security forces.

Beretta 92fs. Pretty common gun found here in the states; usually amongst law enforcement, military, and other armed/security forces.

worthyofnote

I just googled it, and it looks like that would work, unless I get something better. Thanks ;)

Berretta 92f

Colt M1911

Browning Hi-power

Glock 17

Colt 1911. Sleek elegant, and now on its 100th year birthday. Probable the largest produced pistol in history.

It has power, accuracy, and reliability. Still used by special forces today.

Definitely the Colt M1911. That firearm truly stood the test of time.

M1911A1 .45. It's an American classic, and there's a reason it's still in frontline service after a century (LITERALLY) of use.

give him a .50 cal revolver ala captain rhodes from day of the dead or hellboy (not as humongous obviously).

give him a .50 cal revolver ala captain rhodes from day of the dead or hellboy (not as humongous obviously).

Neo-ganon

What is your character supposed to be using the gun against? What's his/her physical/mental traits? How does he/she acquire this weapon?

Your current limitations don't really do anything as they cut the range from "an ridiculously large variety of guns" to "a very large variety of guns". By the way, given that you specify "pistol" I assume that revolvers are out, so that at least cuts down on most older models.