I spend (too much?) time trolling handgun forums. One of the common-running threads is "which xx pistol?" or some variation. The other is "I just bought an XXX and let me tell you how wonderful it is" Getting a real objective evaluation is almost impossible.
Typical comments in the .22 threads run along the lines of "this is the best handgun ever made" or "this is the worst ever made." I love the line of "eats ammo like jelly beans" which usually is amid of "won't fire hardly anything" for the same pistol. You also read about accuracy with almost impossible groups at almost impossible ranges. Most don't show pictures of typical groups, or say if they get them from a rest or freehand. I also like the threads with comments on the lower-priced brands, usually being trashed by people who don't own them and never fired one. One of my favorites is responses to Heritage Rough Rider pistols which go on to say that you should by a Ruger Single Six because the Rough Rider is made of inferior materials and it is not a gun that can be passed down two or more generations. It would appear that if you want to buy a new family heirloom, buy anything, shoot it a couple of times so it can be said that "granddad shot this" put it up in preservative in a temperature/humidity controlled area. If you follow the threads long enough, although some brands get more postive reviews, every handgun made is simultaneously the best, most accurate, most ammo insensitive ever made or the worst ever made.
Centerfire pistols are much the same way. Brand X is either "great, best shooter ever and I can't wait to buy the next model or more of this model" or "worst gun ever made and wash your hands multiple times if you even think about touching it." One of the best examples of this is the Hi-Point brand. If, on all but the Hi-Point forum, you ask about them, you almost hear the spit before the name is typed. My experience with them: 5 9mm rounds in a 2 inch group at 15 yards and 4 .45 rounds in a 2" group at 17 yards. Every round chambered and ever round went "bang" when I pulled the trigger.
It's darned hard to get an objective evaluation of handguns on forums, or for that matter from gun reviews. Rarely do you hear "I bought one, and it doesn't shoot at all well for me," or, "I bought one and don't like it enough to recommend that anyone else buy one." It takes a lot of sifting to get an objective evaluation because in opinions, unlike noses, everyone has more than one and most really aren't objective.
That being said: the (Ruger MKIII Hunter, MKIII 22/45, S&W 22A, Ruger Single Six) is the best handgun ever made, drives tacks at 50 yards and will shoot almost any ammo without problems. All because I happen to own these. (If they drove tacks at 50 yards, I'd need a large area with contiguous tacks, if I were doing the shooting). Actually, my guess is that most of them do reasonably well at the use they were intended. But it is certainly fun to read the comments and reviews.
