Newbie and would like advice

Hi friends, I’m a 1st (ish) time gun buyer and I’d like some advice for a planned gun purchase this year for home protection and maybe down the line carry.

For the record I am 5’0” left handed and small hands.

I’ve gone shooting maybe almost a dozen times very sporadically thru my life. The recent times I have gone I tried a few handguns that I thought looked cool (I don’t remember the exact models). There was an H and K and Sig Sauer that I wanted to like but I was not shooting well with them no matter the distance. I hate the look of a Glock but I found that I am pretty precise with it and accuracy was ok but definitely could use improvement at farther distances.

So I think my only good option right now is the Glock (17 or 19). Wondering if y’all had any other recommendations and what other options I should try before committing. Shooting ranges in LA are pretty expensive so I’d like to limit what rentals I try. And you have to bring a 2nd person with you.

Also if anyone had recommendations for gunshops in the Los Angeles area.