I voted Other for a couple of reasons. First off, I would rather get a 357 than a 38 even if it would be mostly shot with 38 as then you have the option to shift to a more powerful round if you so chose. Second, for a gun thats primarily night stand duty I would get something that held more rounds and had a larger grip than a snubby (yes, you can switch to larger grips but you can't enlarge the cylinder).
For what you described I'd seriously look at a Taurus 617. You have the greater retention abilities of the short barrel, you have 7 rds of 357/38 in the cylinder and you have a larger grip. Also the greater weight of the gun would reduce the amount of recoil your feel, depending on how well the grips fit your hands. What you don't have is the ability to easily carry the gun in a pocket. This gun would probably need a belt holster for carry.
I feel the Smith revolvers are over priced as well (but not so bad) as the Rugers. However, that SP101 will be shooting magnum rounds long after the others are back getting rebuilt.
Now if you are talking about a gun thats primarily a carry gun that also does night stand duty as well as a range gun I'd look at a Taurus 651. You have the smaller size for ease of carry, the option to cock the hammer, the ability to have smaller grips for carry or larger grips for night stand or range work.
FYI, my secondary carry/ready access home defense gun is a Taurus 650 which is loaded with a medium velocity 357 Magnum load (Winchester 110gr JHP). The recoil on them is similar (to me) to the Remington 158gr LHP in 38 special +P out of either my M650 or my M85. Previous to this my M85 was in the secondary role.
Here's a link to a thread where we discussed various reduced recoil/medium velocity 357 loads.
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=3169.0
As far as the Rossi, I'd still rather get a 357 than a 38, unless the 38 is a great price (like my M85 was). I'd take a look at the R461 or R462. They are basically the same weight (26 oz vs 24 oz), hold an extra round (6 vs 5) and are in 357. Plus the 357 guns have the same MSRP as the 38 guns. Where the Rossi really comes out ahead is in price. I think the MSRP on the blued gun us a bit lower than what I see anything else on the list for locally by a bit. Where they are behind is that there isn't much for after market grips etc for the Rossi's that I'm aware of. If you don't like what the gun comes with I'm not sure what all is out there. Newer Rossi's are covered under the Taurus Warranty.
Steelheart
For what you described I'd seriously look at a Taurus 617. You have the greater retention abilities of the short barrel, you have 7 rds of 357/38 in the cylinder and you have a larger grip. Also the greater weight of the gun would reduce the amount of recoil your feel, depending on how well the grips fit your hands. What you don't have is the ability to easily carry the gun in a pocket. This gun would probably need a belt holster for carry.
I feel the Smith revolvers are over priced as well (but not so bad) as the Rugers. However, that SP101 will be shooting magnum rounds long after the others are back getting rebuilt.
Now if you are talking about a gun thats primarily a carry gun that also does night stand duty as well as a range gun I'd look at a Taurus 651. You have the smaller size for ease of carry, the option to cock the hammer, the ability to have smaller grips for carry or larger grips for night stand or range work.
FYI, my secondary carry/ready access home defense gun is a Taurus 650 which is loaded with a medium velocity 357 Magnum load (Winchester 110gr JHP). The recoil on them is similar (to me) to the Remington 158gr LHP in 38 special +P out of either my M650 or my M85. Previous to this my M85 was in the secondary role.
Here's a link to a thread where we discussed various reduced recoil/medium velocity 357 loads.
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=3169.0
As far as the Rossi, I'd still rather get a 357 than a 38, unless the 38 is a great price (like my M85 was). I'd take a look at the R461 or R462. They are basically the same weight (26 oz vs 24 oz), hold an extra round (6 vs 5) and are in 357. Plus the 357 guns have the same MSRP as the 38 guns. Where the Rossi really comes out ahead is in price. I think the MSRP on the blued gun us a bit lower than what I see anything else on the list for locally by a bit. Where they are behind is that there isn't much for after market grips etc for the Rossi's that I'm aware of. If you don't like what the gun comes with I'm not sure what all is out there. Newer Rossi's are covered under the Taurus Warranty.
Steelheart
both of them loaded with Speer Gold Dot ammo.
