I may take some heat for this but when I started to CC , I started with a S&W 63 3" 8 shot 22, I had 3 choices a S&W 642 (couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it at 1st) a S&W SDVE 40 ( I shot it good , but a lot of FTF with that gun) and the 22. I knew at some point as I learned more I would carry something better, I just really wanted to get used to carrying everyday with something I knew I could shoot with. That only lasted a couple months, after learning more about guns and buying better ones I now carry either a 38+p or my 9mm. I know I would never carry a semi automatic 22 unless I knew I could throw it hard enough to knock someone out LOL.