I started out borrowing a few different friends guns first(.44,.41 &.357mags).Then pick up a used taurus 6in. .357mag. for $200. and shot a few deer with it.But you always need bigger so last year I bought a ruger SRH in .480. I really like this gun so far but with scope and all it was app. $800.I let a friend use my .357 last year and he shot 2 deer with it and wanted to buy it but I had already bought reloading dies /powder/bullets ect . for it so I didn't let it go. :wink: