Say you had $450 just sitting in your pocket....

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Phooey!

Crow 61 beat me to it! It's an old joke, but a good one.

Since I'm already OK for .22 pistols, I'd go for a S&W Model 29. Used would get it for that amount I think, and blued if you please. Or mebbe a down payment on a target-level 1911.
 
My wife and I would really enjoy 22 and it would be much cheaper to feed .
After basic personal defense, owning guns is all about fun. And saving money is great. Spend the $ on a good .22. My vote is for the Buck Mark.
-David
 
If you'd like to involve the wife in shooting and actually enjoying the gun, then a very good .22 is a wise investment. I personally enjoy the Ruger Mark III I bought a while back and I've shot the Sig Mosquito as well. Both are enjoyable and accurate. The Walther P22 appears to be a fun gun as well as are the SA revolvers. Never shot a Buck Mark but how could one go wrong with it?

BTW, how much "fun" will shooting a .357 or .44 be? Like most others who have gone down this road before you, it will be shot a few times at the range and then relegated to home defense. Too expensive to feed and too powerful to have "fun" with" when compared to plinking and shooting with a .22. One 500-round brick of .22LR ammo is about the same price as a 50-round box of .357 target ammo. Just my opinion.
 
The choice is obviously yours, but if it were me, I would buy the .22 for now and then just buy a .357 or .44 down the road. If your wife would like to shoot it, go ahead and make her happy. Also, you could theoretically also use the .22 for squirrel or rabbit hunting if the feeling hits you.

However, if you decide to go the .357 route, consider a used revolver from any of the big manufacturers. I see Smith 686s and 629s all over the internet in the $450 range. Also, Taurus and Ruger can be found in that range or cheaper.

If you may hunt with it, and your primnary goal is a range gun, not for CC, then I would recommend a 6 inch barrel.

Todd
 
Say you had $450 just sitting in your pocket.... Well my wife would find out and take it from me. That is why I bury all my money in the neighbors yard...

But seriously, the Ruger Mark II is hard to beat for the money. Around here a nice used one can be had for a little over $325 in Stainless. For $450 you can get a nice old Colt Woodsman. Classic gun.
 
Why not get a .22 revolver? Best of both worlds.......:D

I would get a Smith 620--4" of stainless, L-framed, .357 goodness, with a 7-shot cylinder to boot. I love mine, and will NEVER get rid of it.

And I already have the itch for another revolver--they're right, it grows on you.
 
Well, the wife made this decision easier on me today. She picked me up a new Buckmark this afternoon. Haven't even seen it yet. She came by the office and showed me the box. What an evil woman, in a good way.
 
Get the .22 for sure. Anytime you and your wife can have fun at the same time, go for it.

For $450 I would get both you and your wife each a .22 pistol.

Mine is a Rugger 22/45 with 5.5" bull barrel. Cost me $240 new. Shoots accurate as heck and Ive never had a failure one. Superb gun. Comes with the mounting hardware to toss a red dot on it if you want, could make it the super plinker.

ruger2245.jpg

My wifes is a Walther P22 with the 3.4" barrel. Cost was $230 new. Not AS accurate as the Ruger but still minute of tin can. Comes with changeable back straps and front sights. My wife is little and this is one of the few guns she can handle comfortably. The gun is light and easy to manipulate with little hands. It will start exhibiting failure to feeds after about 250 rounds but if you hit the feedramp with a cue-tip your good to go again. My wife LOVES her little gun and shoots the crap out of it.

waltherp22.jpg
 
I can spend $450 on a new pistol and I have two voids in my collection. Sensibilty tells me to buy a good .22 cal auto like a Buckmark but my wild side really wants a 357 or 44 mag revolver. I don't have either a 22 cal pistol or a revolver. My wife and I would really enjoy 22 and it would be much cheaper to feed.
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The Buckmark will be a good one for both of you to enjoy! Congrats!

I was in the same boat myself a few weeks ago , with no wife to help make the decision I ended up with an excellent condition 1981 vintage Smith 66-1 357 mag:D Always been a 357 fan! Also already have a few rimfire handguns.
 
I could hunt with revolver, but that is the only way I can justify it. My wife and I would really enjoy 22 and it would be much cheaper to feed. Suggestions? Comments? Thanks guys.
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As a certain ex-president used to say, "I feel your pain".

Best double check that you can hunt with the revolver. In this state anyway, a revolver in a caliber that starts with a number less than 4 couldn't be used.

Cheap? If you handload you can shoot plenty cheaply, but nowhere near as cheap as shooting bulk .22LR.

Sensibilty tells me to buy a good .22 cal auto like a Buckmark or a Ruger 22/45, but my wild side really wants a 357 or 44 mag revolver
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The plastic framed 22/45 doesn't move me. For that money I think I'd be looking at something like this.

Don't forget, BTW, that you can get a .22 Wheelgun, like maybe a Single Six.
 
I never would have warmed up to the Ruger 22/45. I handled more than a couple when I was searching. The Buckmark always felt better. She made my mind up when she brought home the Buckmark. It shoots great, and honestly just beat out my SA-XD 45 for the top spot in my meager pistol collection. Acurate, reliable, fun to shoot, and cheap to shoot, what's not to love? Thanks for all the advice guys.
 
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