[Drakker]

You don't need a pistol to start out. Actually, you never really need a pistol, in most games its just an expensive dead weight sitting in a holster. Get a good rifle and don't make it overly powerful (<350fps) and you will be able to engage people up close without hurting them. The range difference between 350fps and 400fps is negligible (about 3 to 5 meters most of the time) and the 300$+ you'd have spent on the pistol can go on a better rifle or better gear.

And as SuperCriollo said, try holding a few rifles first. You might find that a Sig or an M14 is more comfortable for you than a M4 or an AK.