Get one of these:
Glock Mod 17 9mm Handgun
You're getting something like a $600 handgun for $389 (since $300 seems like your price range).
9mm ammo will be inexpensive and plentiful enough that you can shoot it until you're comfortable with it. There are pretty good 9mm Self-defense loadings out there, that you can use for protection.
Although a glock is ugly and not as easy to shoot accurately as a 1911, you won't go wrong with one.