If it's for defensive purposes, I HATE any gun that does not go bang 99.99% of the time.
After that, it's personal taste, and what you shoot accurately.
For target shooting, you're talking a different animal. But for basic paper-punching, 2-4" accuracy at 10-15yds, and utter reliabililty, stay with a modern design, $400-600 gun. For beginners, pick a good high-capacity, low maintainance 9mm, and shoot the hell out of it... 100 rounds per week.
When you get 4-6 months dow the line, shoot some more guns, refine your tastes, practice, practice, practice.
Unreliable guns? There are exceptions to every rule. There are "bad" Glocks, and "perfect" Tauruses... But for $400-600, in a modern 9mm, 90% of the guys on this sight would be happy with a Glock, XD, or M&P. Rounding out the pack would be the Kel Tec, Ruger, and Walther guys, and then the pricier Sigs and HKs. They're all excellent guns, just do your shopping, and shoot as many as you can.
Good luck!
JW