Shield 9mm has replaced my Glock 19 for EDC. Installed the apex kit and couldn't be happier. Well, maybe if glock introduced a single stack I could be.
I've recently put away my trusted Springfield Armory Champion for an XD9 4-INCH & M&P 9mm 4.25... I cut my teeth on a 1911 45, but with stupidity on the rise, I've begun placing a higher priority on quantity. I will still take my 1911 out to the range & keep proficient, but I expect that polymer will be my EDC for the foreseeable future.
Nothing wrong with glocks, they work but may not be a fit for everyone. I got rid of my glocks for that reason. Of all the different handguns I have shot glocks are the worst. They just don't fit my hand well
I carry anything but a Glock. I am not knocking Glocks as being inferior or bad guns. I know a lot of people love them. I just don't like the way they feel in my hands, and I think their field strip method is just plain stupid. You should never have to rack the slide and pull the trigger to field strip a gun. Anyway, I digress. I have carried the XD9 and the XD45 and love them both. The new XDM9 has 19+1 capacity if you want big numbers of bullets. However, I have always loved the stopping power of 45ACP, and it remains my preferred carry. I have carried the ATI FX Titan 1911 subcompact, and it was okay, but a bit too small. The Rock Island Armory 1911 in the Commander series is great. Of course, I have Kimber, Para, Springfield, SIG, etc. but those will not be in your $500 price range. When the day is done, however, no advice here will do you much good. You need to go out and do some shooting with a variety of guns and find a favorite, and then carry that gun. Rent them, or go shooting with friends and try out their guns. Either way, get some real-life shooting in at the range with a variety, and you will know the right gun when you find it... good luck, brother!
Have a say arms b6p. 9th turkish pistol. It's a copy of the cz75, and has been very accurate and performed flawless for me. It's a little big for edc, but I like it.