Gwinny,
I would also like to add the Ruger P90 and the Taurus PT-945 if you are looking into big bore autos. My youngest brother bought a PT-945 and I played around with it a bit. Good trigger and action, good sights, ambidextruous controls, nice weight and size (reminds me of a double action Commander) and can be carried cocked and locked. Plus there is that lifetime warranty on any Taurus that I have seen honored time and again over the years, even with a used weapon. I think that is very important, as every manufacturer I know of has built a dud or two. I have seen much better service from Taurus in this regard than from Colt, Smith & Wesson, Beretta or SIG Sauer.
I would also like to second the advice on the revolvers, though I personally do not like being limited to a .38 when .357 Magnums are so readily available. To me good choices have been the S&W model 586, the Ruger GP 100 and the Taurus 669. I have Glocks, Colt autos, Taurus autos, Springfield autos and carry a SIG P226 .357 on duty but I still have more faith in my old S&W 586 that was recently retired. A good double action revolver can be used for anything due to being able to digest varied loads and is a lot cheaper. Too many people go out and buy a $500 gun and practice with $50 of ammo rather than a $200 gun with $350 worth of practice ammo. They may not be the "latest and greatest" in the gun magazines but they have been doing yeoman duty in the line of fire for a long, long time.
Good luck and God bless all,
Paladin
