Well, quite a few answers since I went to bed!!
Firstly, yes, I'm in Estonia. The budget I've given is enough to get either a decent semi or a decent revolver. Not both.
The reason I am limited to a 4" revolver is that a local shop has access to bankruptcy stock from Finland and this includes some 6" and some 4" GP100s that are going for about $750 or €650. When those are all sold, then I hav to go to the other stockist and there any GP will cost me $1200 or €900, and an SP101 about $1000 or €800.
Ideally 3" would be preferable, but that means the second stockist by default.
Semis:
9mm is the way forward as this is by far the most affordable SD round, albeit not the most powerful. 1911? No way. At $1600 or more for an entry level STI and about $700 for a 1000 .45 ACP rounds.... and they only carry two more than a revolver! no thanks.
Other models include a Sig Pro 2009, G17-19-26, a Steyr M9-A1 and a Sig P250 although that is really stretching the budget.
The only slim chance of getting both is a shop with a second hand g26 and second hand S&W 60 or 62 LS and see if they would do me a sufficient discount to make it possible but even that would be way more than the new,
full price, GP100. The S&W is a Lady Smith
rolleyes
but then I don't have shovels for hands, and the Glock doesn't stir my soul, even though I recognise it is a very competent gun.
I am trying to factor in the following:
an slightly long, but very low priced Ruger (for here) over a cheaper to buy, cheaper to load and easier to carry semi but that can't be in conidtion 2 or higher, all in the context of a SD situation that is pretty unlikely. For the forest and home and range a semi would be fine.