What pistol should my dad buy me?

Get the one that is built be a reputable company and fits your hand the best.

If you don't want a .22, a 9MM or a .380 may be good to learn on. Not a lot of recoil so you don't learn any bad habits or develop a flinch. You can always get a bigger caliber later on.

As far as a specific suggestion, I say check out a Smith & Wesson M&P. I own one chambered in .40 S&W, and I love it. The .40 has more recoil than the 9MM, but depending on your size, it may be ok too.

The BIGGEST thing is to get what fits your hand. You'll know it when you find it.

P.S. Tell your dad that I said thank you for his service.

Edit: Mr. IT has been reported twice.

With all due respect, whether you want a .22LR or not, that is what you should start with. Not only will it cost less to feed, which means you'll get more practice with it, but it will be easier for you to master the mechanics of shooting a pistol. Yes, they're different than shooting a rifle.

You did mention that you don't want it to be too expensive, but here's the thing... 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP are all fairly expensive, especially compared to a box of .22LR. .357 Magnum and .38 Special can get fairly expensive, too. .22LR can be found for as little as $3 for a box of 50 (as compared to $15-$20 per box of 50 for the others), and 500+ round boxes of .22LR are as cheap as $20.

I'd suggest a Ruger Mark III or Mark II, if you can find the latter used. You could also look for a Browning Buck Mark, a Beretta Neos, a Walther P22, or a Sig Mosquito. I don't like the last two, because they have a reputation for being choosy with ammo, but they're options.

If you absolutely MUST get something bigger than a .22, get a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm or a Springfield xD9.

EDIT: Mr. IT has been reported.

I'm not going to recommend a specific firearm. Instead, I think you should do some research and get some ideas and, when your dad comes back, it'll be great spending some time with him checking out a few firearms and seeing how they fit and feel in your hand. Then you can both decide what's best.

While I also recommend a .22, but since you do not want one, you may want to start looking at guns with which your dad is familiar. A couple of likely candidates are the Beretta 92 and Sig 229.

You should discuss the choice with your dad, who is obviously somewhat familiar with firearms.

My own recommendation would be for a .22, frankly, and I think a revolver is a better choice for a first gun than a semi-auto. It will also give you the opportunity to buy cheap ammo on sale, whereas cheap or old ammo is often a problem with semi-autos, in any caliber.

The .22 might seem like a wimpy gun to you, but it's not. And it's the ideal first gun to learn good marksmanship & safety habits with, since you can shoot all day for a tiny fraction of what other ammo would cost you. Believe me, you will get a lot more fun out of that .22 than most other guns you'll ever own, and if you buy a good-quality one, you'll have it for a lifetime. I'm partial to Ruger, myself, but any name-brand gun will serve you well.

If you insist on something bigger, I'd recommend a .357 magnum, and you can still shoot the lighter (and cheaper) .38 ammo thru it. I don't recommend semi-autos as a first, or basic, gun since most are a bit picky about which ammo they'll feed properly, and semi-autos are more complicated to use for defense, when stress, panic and/or sudden awakening can leave you a bit scatterbrained in a critical situation.

Anyone getting a pistol should get one which feels comfortable in his/her hand and which he/she can shoot well. Since you cannot legally own one, it may be difficult to find one which fits those qualifications. It also depends on your reason for owning one, at this point in your life that should be target shooting when accompanied by an adult. Actually a .22 would be the most appropriate and would allow you to learn how to shoot correctly. In another 5 years, you can buy one which is larger.

I got a Springfield XD-45 for my oldest son when he was 16 and allowed him to use if for legal purposes until he turned 18, at which point I gave it to him. He has enjoyed it over the years.

Smith & Wesson 1911. Great gun, i have one and i prefer it over my 2glocks and .44 magnum. I have quite a collection of weapons

glocks are nice like the glock 19 or you could get a M1911..its really your choice my man do some looking around on the internet at some 9mm's cause those are relatively inexpensive and also the ammunition is cheap.

Glock 9mm or a .45