[CoyoteJack]

Originally Posted by dgg9

I have zero experience with the alloy frame models, but generically: a new shooter needs to shoot, often and with enjoyment. A gun that is ergonomically wrong (too big or too small); a gun whose recoil is too harsh; a gun too fragile to take the ongoing pounding = NFG. Practice becomes a burden, and then is discontinued. Or worse, practice is continued, but recoil creates flinching problems.

The alloy sounds like a promising carry gun -- not sure it's a learner's gun, though. Revolvers are super-expensive, and I can see getting a light alloy carry gun, and a separate practice gun, the latter being some big comfortable steel revolver, or even -- going the other direction -- one of those 8-shoot .22LR revolvers.

This particular S&W retails for about $500. I have a larger Rossi in .357 that was pretty inexpensive.