Ruger SR9c. Thin and has good weight. Doesn't feel cheap. Holster, gun and a box of carry ammo should be no more than 550.
First, thanks for all the suggestions.
Well, after roaming the gun show *all* day, I decided to go ahead with the idea of a .40. The Ruger SR9c is a nice gun, as well as the Taurus offerings, but the Ruger didn't save me enough size/weight to justify settling for a 9mm, and, well, I'm just not a big fan of Taurus.
In the .40 class, I narrowed it down to a Glock 23 or Springfield XD-40 sub-compact. Though slightly larger, I decided I liked the XD a little better. Then, since I figured I'd typically use the extended mag most (don't care for a three-finger grip), I figured why go with what amounts to a short-barreled XD-40. So, I just bought the XD-40 full-size. At $439.99 the price was right.
I wore it home, and the weight was manageable. One thing I did realize was that I need a sturdier belt - or a better holster than the one included in the XD kit (probably both). Other than that, the weight feels manageable and I'm really happy with the gun, itself.
Now to get out and shoot the dang thing.
How much was it to shoot at popguns?
$19/hr. + $5 for one additional person with you. That includes use of hearing/eye protection and one large paper target.