I have both a Ruger and a BuckMark and like them both very much. IMHO, you can't go wrong with either of them. However, I've recently acquired a gun I think would be a much cheaper and very practical option. It's the GSG 1911 imported by ATI. It's a full-featured 22 LR M1911 45 clone with nice sights and an ambi-safety. As a lefty, that last feature is much-appreciated, and I love shooting my M1911s, so....