Help me figure this out

[barbasol]

I have the opportunity to buy a Taurus model 66 357 and a ruger convertible 357/9mm. Taurus is about 100 bucks more. This gun will live in my nightstand but will primarily be a range/desert plinker. Whattya guys think?

[morfeeis]

Ruger

[Bullwinkle]

I own the Taurus 66SS6 (6" stls) and have no complaints... except the grip is too thin for me, but it's still comfortable to shoot nonetheless. Took it through a defensive course once, and it held up just fine (used .38's). Has handled full-power .357s okay, too. I'd endorse it.

Whenever I teach new shooters, I start them out with a .22LR SA revolver (Ruger Single-Six). When they're comfortable with that, then I move them up to the Taurus (w/.38's). Then onward & upward with various other systems/calibers as we progress further. To a person, every one of them enjoyed shooting the Taurus best, which I find curious. I'm not a certified instructor, BTW... I'm talking about immediate family, nephews, friends, friends' spouses, or whatever; and I don't own a GP100, so can't compare the two. Who's to say they wouldn't have enjoyed shooting one of those just as much or even better than the Taurus?

I assume, however, that since you said you were looking at a .357/9mm convertible, it's a SA revolver w/interchangeable cylinders? Although I know there are some people who do it, I personally wouldn't keep an SA revolver in the nightstand for personal defense... but of course it's better than nothing.

Just my experience.

[JTROKS]

I'll take the ruger as a plinker.