G'Day Fella's,

John, I've been shooting IPSC continuously, since 1980, so I may have some useful advice for you.
The best thing I can suggest is, either go to a local gun shop (that has lots of Centrefire Handguns) or to your local IPSC range, on a day that they are shooting, and handle as may different pistols (you did say, you wanted a Semi-Auto), that you can!
The reason I say this is, you can read an magazine article etc on a particular handgun, and think "Thats the one for me"! but if when you finally get a chance to handle one of these, it feels like your hanging onto a Cactus or Dog Turd....... whats the use!
Mate, we all have different size hands and fingers and what works for one person, won't always work for you or me!!!

Luckily, there are so many quality handguns available these days.
Personally, I use a Kimber 1911 stainless target II in .38 Super and a HS-2000 (marketed in the US as the Springfield "XD") in 9x19 Luger. These are both great pistols and I'm very happy with them both!
But these days and after selling a number of them to mates and customers, I'd happily buy an STI 1911 pistol (in 9x19 or .38 Super), as they are probably the best value for money 1911 on the market! By this I mean, well made and very tightly matched and fitted parts (Slide to Frame and Barrel to Slide, etc)! FYI, the Kimber came with a plastic Mainspring Housing, and MIM made internal components etc, which I replaced strait away. But given this, it still shot 2 1/2" 10 shot groups (Hornady 124grn HAP @ 1300fps and in a Ransom Rest), at 50 meters, OUT OF THE BOX!!!

FYI, I am looking at getting a new 9x19mm pistol (just for a change) and the Steyr L9-A1 or maybe the Walther PPQ M2 may be it! I used to own the same but shorter barreled Steyr M-9 (along with a heap of now prohibited handguns), before the Handgun Buy Back scheme, and I really liked it so..................... (FJWH)!
Also, a good mate of mine has just payed for a new Sig Sauer P226 X-Five Classic, in 9x19 as well (It should arrive this week), and these are a very impressive firearm but again, not for everybody.

When it comes to feeding these beasts, you can't go past a Dillon 550B press etc and Dillon Pistol Dies! Contact Mario Mori (Victoria) at www.saffiretrading.com.au for your Dillon bits!

Hope that helps

Also, If I can be of any further assistance, you have my Ph number and email address, so don't hesitate in contacting me!

Regards
Homer