If you would consider a 9mm (the route many take for a cc auto), my son and I both have an M&P 9mm compact and are very pleased with it. The recoil is just fine (though I see threads that say it is much more in the 40 compact). And you can always put in +P rounds. Right around 500 new, with the S&W warranty, great reliability, and concealable.

Going from revolvers to autos, you may want to give close attention to the reliability question.

My son got his used, in the factory box with papers and the extra mag, for 400. The early ones apparently had some issues with the mag release (loaded mag could drop out after first shot) but his is fine, and I understand this can be resolved with a phone call to Smith and replacement mag release (just saying so you can research this in advance if you choose to go this route).