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I work as a range officer/ sales guy for a gun store and range....so I teach a lot of first timers to shoot.
Generally, those people who initially have trouble with racking an auto, are able to when coached on it. Those people who typically have strength concerns racking the slide, also have strength issues with the heavy revolver trigger pull. (I was in a CCW class where two older ladies dropped out on the live fire portion, because they couldn't keep pulling the trigger on their revolvers. And I've had numerous customers return a rental revolver for something else.)
I typically have better luck getting first timers to hit well with an auto, than I do small revolvers.
How I see it, is that a beginner will either have to invest the time and energy into learning how to operate an auto, or will have to invest time and energy into learning how to hit well with their small revolver of choice. Between the trigger pull, more felt recoil than Glocks or Sigs will have, and typically the poor sights and how j-frames point in your hands....it takes beginners longer to begin to hit well with these guns, in my experience. In other words, given a time and accuracy requirement, first timers generally meet that requirement sooner with autos than revolvers.
Given that both require that time and energy to really be able to use them defensively...which would you rather have in a fight? A Glock 26/ Sig 239 9mm, or a J-Frame?
I would suggest thoroughly investigating and shooting both platforms before choosing one.
In regards to the original question: Sig 239 9mm, Glock 26, S&W M&P9c, XD9sc, HK USPc 9mm, Kahr CW9, etc. If price is the limiting factor, then consider buying used. The Sigs, Glocks, HK's...all have a long life. The only thing that really wears out are springs, these are cheap easy fixes.
Blowback .380's tend to have just as much felt recoil as a modified Browning type 9mm. I'd stick with 9mm if you can, it'll also be cheaper for practice, too.
Best of luck,
JD
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