If you're not a gun person don't bother with a rifle or handgun, get a shotgun.

You don't have to worry about over penetration with a shotgun, and it's easier to hit with than a pistol.

If you want to know what a proper rifle is, then that's really a subjective assessment. I would say that a 22lr is ok, unless you need fight people in body armor. But I can see how big burly Muricans want something in 338 lapua or 50 bmg.