Just to throw a wrench in the game - have you looked/held a Dan Wesson .357? I went to the shop to buy the Ruger, held the Dan, and it was over. Now they are multiplying in my safe. Robust, easy to work on, smooth trigger in both DA and SA, and interchangeable barrels makes them a lot of fun to shoot. Feel like shooting a 6" one day, then an 8" another - maybe the 10" or 15" barrel? No problem. I even have a custom and now legal 106mm barrel/shroud. Otherwise, both the Ruger and the S&W are good choices, and will always be around to purchase.