inexpensive 357 mag or 9mm?

I'd look for a good used .357 revolver for the tasks you have in mind.

I paid about that much for my Ruger Police Six in stainless. It is a fine revolver and I won't be getting rid of it. Mine was used, a Century import, but is sold and built like a tank.

it sounds like you are limited to new or what little used guns the shop might have on hand. That is unfortunate since you can get some really good deals right now on used S&W revolvers and their 5906 9mm

Sticking to new, I woud go with a 9mm for the $300 price range. I would personaly stick to a more expensive revolver.

If you have any desire to carry conceal look at Kel Tec. Lifetime warranty and solid guns.

If carry is not what you are looking for check out the Ruger P95 or S&W Sigma

The reviews are all over the place but Taurus makes some good revolvers that can be had slightly used, in your price range. You might find a few used semis in your range but stay away from the cheap stuff at any price. Sometimes it is tempting but don't do it. You'll be glad later.

.38 special works great on feral dogs, +p would be even better. If you like revolvers and don't like semi autos much i'd stick with the revolver. I also prefer revolvers for woods guns. I have found good used rugers in the 300 range. I find the best deals when i'm broke though The nice thing with the .357 is the versatility of the load. Not so much with a semi auto.

I you decide to go the semi auto route. I have a keltec p-11 that i'm very happy with, it's compact, holds 11 and I think it runs around 325 new. I got mine used for 200 bux. If your looking for a bigger framed gun rugers p series can be found for 300 gently used pretty easily. They are not small but they are pretty rugged.

I'm in Austin Tx but if you can find an ffl on your end I could maybe lend a hand once you decide what you want. I come across deals all the time at work.

I've never owned a Taurus but haven't heard much good about them on the internet. Saying that, if I came across one I liked for a fair price I wouldn't hesitate. I'd like to come across the tracker? model. The one that resembles a 686. I have spoken with several folks whom I know own taurus and they didn't have any compaints.

Also search for other ffl's in your area, you may be surprised to find out that bill down the street has an ffl and does transfers for a small fee. I think I used google last time i needed to find one.

I'd stick to the highly versiatle .357 Magnum, because of the broad range of different ammo that one can shoot through one.
I carry a Stainless, 4 5/8", .357 Ruger Vaquero. Nolstalgia-wise, it rates a "10" and being a revolver, you can load over a dozen different loads into it!
Depending on the Dog, a basic .38 Special will anchor most breeds! Some of the larger ones might be better drilled with a hot .357 just to be "sure".
The Ruger can easilly handle +P loads.
Far as your question about Tarus revolvers, they are some of the best of the imports.
HTH,
ZVP

I would think a good used .38 Special will serve you well as a SD revolver and it will be within your budget. If you really want a .357 Magnum it will be hard to find @$300 or less although the above mentioned Ruger Six-Series revolvers will be close. That or try to find a short barrel S&W K frame for around the same price. A good M65 or M66 with a 3" barrel would make a great SD carry...

You said that in the long run, you get what you pay for, this is not always the case. The Ruger six-series revolvers are not high-priced, but they are solid, reliable, rugged revolvers. A Service or Security Six will last forever.

Boy, show me where I can get a used six series in .357 for $300 and I will but it right now.

The OP said $300 max, so that would be about $250 before shipping and transfer. I know there are none around for that price. I have been looking.

I would think you could get a used charter arms or rossi for that much money though, and they are good guns.

I think I'd sit back and be patient and look for a well worn but mechanically tight S&W in .38Spl. The models made since the later 50's are all OK to use with +P. And +P isn't anything to turn up your nose toward.

It's a shame you missed out on the sale of police/security company turn in revolvers at Bud's Gun Shop. At least I can't find any listing for them anymore. THey were selling for $260 as I recall. Perhaps some more will show up soon.

If you're on a tight budget I'd also suggest you consider putting together a modest and low cost reloading setup. It'll cost you up front but it will then allow you to load and shoot more for the same ammo budget.

I'd recommend a good used 9mm. In addition to being less expensive and more abundant than a .357, 9mm is much cheaper to shoot than .38 spl Winchester White Box from Walmart, let alone decent .38 +P or .357 carry ammo.

You can get a Hi Point 9mm for under $200 out the door. I see them at gun shows for $139 NIB occasionally. It is a great gun if you don't plan to carry concealed. It is too heavy and bulky but mine is pretty accurate and very reliable. The extra $100 can buy a few boxes of FMJ ammo for practice and pay for your gas. I consider it to be a "truck gun" and keep it loaded with JHP with a backup mag of cheap FMJ for armadillos. If it gets scratched I will be okay and I can't say that about my Colt Revolvers, S&W revolvers, or most of my other pistols.

I dont know about a 9mm or 38 on a feral hog. They are tough enough with a high power rifle.

Picked my most recent Police Service Six up for $300 at the Hattiesburg gun show just a month ago. Not a problem, because the one I had before I paid $180 at the pawnshop down the road in 2005.

For hiking, I would go with the .357 Mag. Decent, lightly used Rugers can be had in that zone cost wise.

Ash said:

Picked my most recent Police Service Six up for $300 at the Hattiesburg gun show just a month ago. Not a problem, because the one I had before I paid $180 at the pawnshop down the road in 2005.

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Damn! I wish they had deals like that up here. You cannot touch a Security Six for under $400 in these parts... and the one or two gun shows we get are pretty much a joke.

The 357 is more what you want, the 9mm is very good. Hipoint does not have a great name, but a friend of mine has sold 30+ with no problems.

.357- Ruger Security Six

9mm- Look for a used Ruger P95 or possibly even a Glock 17 (though you are more likely to get the Ruger P95 for that price)

Since your dealer wont do transfers you may be out of luck on those used revolvers. That stinks. Because that would be the way to go.

My general purpose utility pistol is a Kel-Tec PF9. Inexpensive, small, flat, light, reliable, powerful, accurate enough. PRetty good grip design. They sell a belt clip for it, I clip it to my walking shorts and almost forget it's there. Load with snake shot and hardball.

Meets your price point easily.

I like revolvers for range, but the Kel-Tec is what I pick up for walking around carry.

Nearly any .357 revolver is going to be very heavy and bulky to carry much. The very light .38s / 357s, Smith M37 et al. revolvers I don't care for much as the recoil annoys me.

I'd hold out for a .357 instead of buying something that you really don't want. You will find what you're looking for if you just stick with it for a while. Good Luck

The transfers issue stinks. Century marked Rugers are pretty cheap, and since I buy them for shooting, that is a great way to go.

A decent 357 at this shop? You'll just have to see what they have. I'd check and see what they have then post back with the results.

Unless you get really lucky and find a used .357 by a major manufacturer, your best bet will be the 9mm. A cheap .357 is a world of grief from timing issues to broken parts. There are scads of quality 3rd gen S&W 9mms out there. I just recently bought a S&W 910 for $300 in excellent condition. With Mecgar mags, the gun has 18 rounds on board. Depending on what size you want, look for the 3913, 908, 910, 5906, 6906, 915...to name a few models.

You might get lucky and find a decent S&W model 10 or some older S&W revolver in your price range. They are .38 Special but most will handle +p with no problem. Don't worry about holster wear on the finish as long as it's in good mechanical condition. They can be very accurate and are solid revolvers.

CDNN has S&W 5906s for $299, you won't find a better 9mm for the money. J&G has M64 revolvers for $249.