inexpensive 357 mag or 9mm?

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old fart

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i traded around and have a little money to spend, i have $300 max to spend and no more. if i try and save more it would only be about $20 a month so it would be next year before i could get a more expensive gun. i only have a heritage rough rider loaded with 22 mag for defense now when i go walking and hiking, i would like to get a bigger caliber but don't know yet which way to go. i'm leaning to 2 calibers a 357 mag revolver as i'm a revolver guy and they make great woods guns. or a 9mm even though i don't like auto's that well they tend to cost less for people on a budget. also i will have to have my local shop order it as i can't order online and have it shipped to them as they don't do that, but they offer good prices. and the nearest dealer that does is 80 miles away thats 160 round trip so gas would take care of any savings i could get. now i have a 12 gauge for home defense with pistol grip and it wouldn't be bad to hike with but since i have a little money i thought i would try and get another handgun. i'm up for any suggestions on any guns that fit my budget, i know in the long run you get what you pay for, but just need one now to last untill i can get a better one. also how would 38+p be against hog or feral dogs?, i've looked online at alot of revolvers from eaa to taurus as for auto's i don't know much about them. thanks for any help.
 
Four inch .357 LEO turn in at J&G Sales. Bud's may have something similar as well, or...? .Shoot mostly .38s for target, JHP .38+P for HD. Then, clean out the chambers and load .357 158s for trail duty when you think critters you might run into warrant. Snakeshot (shotshell) for the no leggeds. Nothing better IMO than a K Frame Smith (or Ruger Security/Speed Six) for what you're looking at--function and budget wise.
 
The EAA Windicator is a solid and reliable .357 magnum revolver and the S&W SW9VE would make a great affordable 9X19.
 
Not sure how much hassle it'd take for your dealer to get either of these, but the EAA Witness and Arcus (98 I think - a Hi-Power clone of sorts) are both available in 9mm right around $300. I was all set to buy the Arcus until something else came up at the last minute. They get good reviews, definitely better than a similarly priced Sigma.
 
The SW9VE, Ruger P95, Taurus PT111, are all a pinch over $300. Don't forget about possible shipping costs and your FFL fee. They'll be $350 all said and done, or close to it.

The cheapest .357 I have been able to find lately is this Taurus... I have no experience, but you're not going to find a new Ruger or S&W cheaper... there may be a Charter or Rossi model that's cheaper, but not by much.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...tols/Taurus+2605021PLY+M605+357+2"+POLY+Blued

I know CDNN was having a huge blow-out on Taurus .327 Federal Magnum models. Taurus has discontinued making guns in that caliber, which is a shame... I just got an email from them that the 2" duotone is only $199. I'm pretty sure that the .327 has about double the energy of a .38sp.

For hiking defense against smaller critters as you've mentioned, I think a revolver is the way to go. That .327 is a very potent round, but ammo is very tough to find in stores... plenty of it online though. It'll shoot other calibers, but the other calibers it'll shoot (.32H&R, .32 S&W) aren't any more potent than .38sp.

To be certain that anything you encounter is going to the ground in one or two shots, I'd stick with a .357. Taurus, Rossi, and Charter all have models in the sub $350 range. To be perfectly honest, a decent .38sp of comparable quality isn't going to be much cheaper than the same in .357. If you're certain your budget is $300, then I'm sure you'll be happy with an EAA.

There's always the used route... classifieds and pawn shops... or most LGS's have layaway plans.
 
Seems to be a variety of used Taurus revolvers right around that price range. Taurus is probably going to give you the most variety to chose from and that price.
 
I just did a quick search at Buds Gunshop and J&G for 357 revolvers and neither of them seem to have any police trades in 357. J&G had some S&W model 64s (38spl) for about $300 give or take depending on condition. Buds has one new Rossi for just under 300. They also have various Taurus and Charter 357s between $300 and $350 depending on the model.

Also don't forget to search the auction/classified sites like Gunbroker, GunAuction, and GunsAmerica. If you look long enough, your bound to find a deal on a used gun eventually.

Also if ammo cost isn't a factor, do look at those Taurus 327s Buds has some for under $300 and CDNN I think still has some for even less. The rounds supposedly perform like medium 357s, but it is expensive ammo and only likely to go up in price now that several manufacturers have stopped making models in that caliber.

Edit to Add: Just looked on Gunbroker and there are several no reserve auctions on various 357 revolvers (including Colts and S&Ws) still below $300. This is probably your best bet for cheap used guns of good quality if time is not a constraint.
 
My recommendation would be a Rossi model R46102 if you can get one. The price is very low for the quality of revolver you get. It is a 2" barrel blued 357 magnum. I don't know what your local shop will be able to get them for but my local Academy Sports had them on sale for $240 a little while ago.
 
If you want a revolver, look for a used Ruger. As some one mentioned above, a Smith & Wesson Sigma is a good place to start. Not a great trigger, but reliable and accurate.
 
As someone posted if you have some pawnshops around you I would check them out. As far as 9mm I would either go with the S&W Sigma ( SW9VE ) or a Ruger P95 bout can be had for around $300 . As far as revolvers go some of the best deals for around $300 would be Taurus . I got a 7 shot .357 snub for $270 OTD at a local pawnshop. And to help if you go with a used revolver I suggest reading this thread about checking used revolvers. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57816&highlight=revolver
 
If your budget is that tight I suggest a 9mm. It will cost much less to practice with. Even shooting .38spl a revolver could get expensive to practice with.

Both calibers will do the trick more often than not.
 
I have notice a Rossi 4" .357 magnum revolver, or 2, on gunbroker for about $300. Personally I prefer the revolver to the pistol, especially for a field handgun.
 
If u do get the 9mm. Get the p95. I shot over 3000 rounds out of mine. Takes any and all junk, well most . Solid gun for the money.
 
Jasmith85 said:
" My recommendation would be a Rossi model R46102 if you can get one. The price is very low for the quality of revolver you get. It is a 2" barrel blued 357 magnum. I don't know what your local shop will be able to get them for but my local Academy Sports had them on sale for $240 a little while ago."

Little known factoid: it's the only--or if not, one of the very few--current production small frame 6 shots in the .357 class (Armscor may be an exception but IIRC is a 'just" a .38 and Taurus itself has a small 6 shot but is also a .38). It's remarkable how close in size the 461/462 is to the vaunted but long discontinued "D" (sort of a "J+") frame Colt Detective Special, still considered by many as the ultimate carry piece in a .38 class revolver. In A-B'ing the two in a store, it looked to me Rossi was inspired by--if not outright copying--the Colt. The Rossi is a bit beefer in the frame ahead of the cylinder, as might befit it's magnum chambering. I'd still shoot mostly .38s or +Ps in it anyway, as magnums can get obnoxious in a hurry in any snub...but its good to know it can at least occasionaly shoot them.

Last I checked, the Rossi's got the Taurus lifetime warranty and the good ol' fashioned hammer-mounted firing pin. There are some detractors of the gun--IMO mostly regular Taurus (perhaps for good reason!) bashers lumping Rossi in with them (supposedly different manufacturers though same larger ownership now) or remembering some older generation Rossi .38 snubs that supposedly had a spotty record, but a few have claimed bad experiences such as cylinder lockup, etc. However, the majority of the owner reviews I've read have been positive. As a snub (any snub), I'd view it mostly as a carry/SD piece versus a rangemeister. I won't argue against those suggesting a used K Smith or Ruger (I was one of them)--always hard to wrong with. But, if you want new close to $300, the Rossi appears to be a bargain.
 
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There are some used "shooters" around ...from S&W ...in .38 spl or .357 mag / and then you can shoot .38's in it of course....

maybe an older model 19 ....that's got a lot of holster wear / so the collectors don't want it ....especially in a 4" ...which is a nice gun. Maybe a model 66 as well ( mod 19's and 66's are both K frames ).... The trick will be to find someone who is selling a "duty gun" that they carried for a long time ...and most of them shot them very little ...

the older model 10's seem to be everywhere now ( .38 spl ) ...but they're solid guns ...and on a lot of them ...guys at gunshows are selling them ( parkerized finish is worn off ) ....and they're selling for around $ 200 - $ 250 when they have a lot of wear / but they are still mechanically sound - and shoot very well. I've have one that's been in my family for 4 generations ...and its ugly ...but it has a really nice trigger and shoots well ( its a Victory model - pre mod 10 ) - it means a lot to me / but its only worth $ 150 - $ 200 or so on the market.
 
I would second that if budget is that tight then the only choice is 9mm due to ammo costs. Ruger P anything is always a good value. You can pick up P89's all over for $300 and they are bullet proof duty guns. Plenty of choice in the 9mm market.

On the same note I got a beautiful used GP100 Ruger for $400 and it is my goto trail gun. Would also be happy with a Security Six for less than that.
 
I think that I would put the word out to friends and family about your being in the market for a pistol or revolver. You might be suprised about the amount of responses that you get. Good luck. :)
 
Definitely 9mm due to cost. There aren't many of them, but there are some 9mm revolvers out there that take moon clips if you prefer revolvers that much to autos. You probably can't even find a used one for $300, but there are Ruger Blackhawks that can shoot 9mm or 357 mag. They have 2 cylinders, although for long range shooting the 9mm's won't be quite as accurate out of a 357 barrel.

I own both a .357 mag and 9mm handgun. The 357 is my camping/woods gun and I carry a 9mm daily. If I could only own one handgun I'd easily go 9mm. If 357 ammo was as cheap as 9mm ammo then it would be tough. I don't reload and here is about what I can find prices for on each round in boxes of 50.

9mm: $10-$12
38 special: $14-$18
357 mag: $21-$27

If I encountered a black bear or boar in the woods I'd hope I have my 357. Anything else and the 9mm would be fine.
 
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