looking for a budget wheel gun that would serve primarily as home defense, but would also be called into service camping and hiking. would be required in the latter instance to deal with anthing from snakes to an angry blackbear. i do NOT want to use it hunting, but to simply deal with the little variables nature sometimes dishes up.

i don't know handguns, but i'm thinking 357, double action, ruger, taurus or rossi. thoughts?

Don't buy a Taurus. Junk!

I have a 357 Rossi SS 971"Compitition" not manufactured any more and
a Ruger GP 100 SS 6". Get the Ruger you won't regret it.

boysda, your right on the money. A Ruger in 357 Mag. is an excellent choice. You can shoot the 357 Mag. and 38 special plus shot shells for the nasty little critters when they are too close for a solid bullet. I carry the Ruger Security Six where every I go.

I'm a big fan of the Ruger SP101 in .32H&R mag for home defense. It's as stout as most .38spcl rounds, and considerably flatter shooting. I've got four guns in .32H&R now, two "Vaquerito" single sixes and two SP101's (one blued 4" and one stainless 3")...

I'd trust my life to a ruger anyday, and I absolutely love my SP's for hiking when the small game opportunity comes up.

????What data do you have to substantiate this???

My GF uses a 4", 7 shot Taurus 357 mag revolver model 66SS4.
It is a good shooter .
Taurus revolvers are nicely priced .
It has a Unlimited Lifetime Repair Policy™ warranty .
Only thing I didn't like is the grips ,but she loves them. I have large hands , I like LARGE grips ,but thats easy to change .
OH she out shoots me some times with it.

You could not go wrong with a 4 or 6" GP100 also.

Johnch

I think one of the many well made .357mags should serve you well.

All mentioned above make great guns and only abused ones would give you any trouble. The .357 is the stopgate to the real big pistols. Leathal as h e double toothpicks.

I would check my local gunshops and pawnshops,for me a S&W 357,in the barrel lenght you like and the frame size. K,N, ect. vangunsmith

I got the sp 101( in 357 mag)& the gp 100 both i love & s others say would be real good choices.
Got 3 taurus,s also a 38& 2 / 22,s i see nothing wrong with them& never had any problems with them either -

Got lotsa rugers& i just like then a lill better& better built it seems in someways to me.
( i did have a problem with the sp 101 cylinder lock up& one of the cut notchs in the cylinder& they fixed it all free of charge& made everything right.