22-rimfire
Member
You just have to keep your eyes open for a purchase on a S&W, Ruger, or Colt DA revolver if you are going to religiously stick to your budget. My suggestion is that you save up some more money, keep the money on hand, and buy when you find what you really want. I would certainly be interested in a Dan Wesson revolver that was in good shape if I found one.
I have settled for "less" in the past and have always been unhappy within a year or so. You just keep looking and lusting for that S&W M17 or 617. That is precisely what happened with my very first 22 revolver purchase years ago and I have not regretted making the choice to buy a higher quality revolver. Of course, I had to buy the lesser priced product first to learn. Price is kind of relative. The difference now is that you have a $500 or more budget and in the past, you might have had a $150 budget.
I have settled for "less" in the past and have always been unhappy within a year or so. You just keep looking and lusting for that S&W M17 or 617. That is precisely what happened with my very first 22 revolver purchase years ago and I have not regretted making the choice to buy a higher quality revolver. Of course, I had to buy the lesser priced product first to learn. Price is kind of relative. The difference now is that you have a $500 or more budget and in the past, you might have had a $150 budget.