Scout,
Go by price. Start with Pietta as the minimum, at Cabela's at 169.95, and if they don't look good enough for you, look at Uberti's and Cimmaron Firearms Uberti's, at about 100 bucks more.
If you're new to this, don't know if you will enjoy it, why go to top priced guns? They won't shoot any better. The best you can do is 1 hole and all CAN do that, if you are good enough.
Like saying I want to try a rifle, gonna buy a 40X for my first.
180 or so for the pistol, shipped, 4 bucks for caps, 9 bucks for 100 balls, 15 to 20 for a can of powder, 7 for a tube of Borebutter, or a quarter to the wife for a little Crisco for over the ball grease, which you don't need, see Mike, but you might want to try. 225 bucks or so to go shoot the first 100 rounds.
You don't like it, shoot all the consumables, sell the gun on Gunbroker, most likely get most of your money back.
You show an interest, I would be surprised if you did NOT like it after your first outing. Go buy one, give it a whirl, you'll be back here in a couple days with raves and questions, what do I gotta buy, now. Not much more to buy, although I shoulda mentioned a measure for 15 to 20 grains of BP way back then. You should have one, for consistency, but you can use a measure made from a cartridge case "dipper" till you buy one. A 38 special holds 24 grains of Black Powder, hacksaw 1/4 inch off it, you should have a decent load.
Buy one and shoot it, come back and tell us what you think, it is the dirtiest, smelliest sport I could ever imagine, or God, that stuff smells heavenly, I gotta go scrub this sonomagun for tomorrow, and get more caps and ball, got lotsa powder left, but gonna need more 'a that pretty soon.
I think it will be the latter. And welcome to the fraternity. Come back often, y'hear?
Cheers,
George