It's a great revolver. Accurate, recoil's not bad considering, never a minute's worth of trouble with it for any reason. My husband uses it for metallic silhouette.
I much prefer it to the .44 Mag, which I consider just too much recoil for ANYbody. I put about 20 rounds through a friend's .44 and had to stop -- the darned cylinder release actually BROKE OFF from the recoil, and the shattered remains cut about a 2" gash in the inside of my thumb. The recoil's so bad, I didn't notice until my friend said, "Hey! You're bleeding all over my pistol!"
That really was enough for me. (I've still got the scar.)
He's got a point about the S&Ws, but the Dan Wesson 741 is also very worthy of consideration, expecially if you like the idea of interchangable barrels- I'd be very happy with the 4-inch and 8-inch numbers, but bet I'd probably collect a few others as they came along at a right price, too. Likewise the possibility of multiple or custom grips with the Danny gives you decisions, decisions, decisions.
The three I owned were all fixed-sight Model 58s all with 4-inch barrels. I put maybe a box each of 50 of the hot *bearkiller* loads between the three, which I carried for just that purpose, and had two or three speedloaders worth, plus one unbroken box. The *light* loads, which to me felt right between a hot loaded .45 ACP and a .44 Special, were quite suitable for most of my other purposes. Two of the three were quite okay in the accuracy department but I had to learn where the loads printed with each; the sights of the third were exactly on, and I really really should have hung onto it, though it went to a friend who'll let me use it when I'm in his neighborhood, and he keeps a few other goodies on hand for me for my use if I'm around, so it's not a total loss.
It might also be worth your while to look at the .41 mag version of the Desert Eagle- I had one of the .357s for a while, and always figured the .41 would have been ideal. Of the calibers then available for the big N-frame S&W, the .41 was my choice if a 4-inch barrel was to be used; the .357 really required at least 6 inches worth, and the 8 3/8-inch version of the .44 Magnum was the way to go, IMHO. The .45 Auto-Rim versions were just fine in the GI 5½ M1917 offering, or trimmed to a round butt K-frame configuration with the barrel cut back to a bit obver 3 inches.
But a Model 57 or 58 is a really supreme piece of work, with the adjustable sights of the 57 being the way to go if you want to play with multiple handloads [or .40 S&W or 10mm in full-moon clips] and the fixed-sight 58 if you want hammer-like reliability and servicability. I'd pick a good holster I favoured [Dillon has a sweet deal on a nice one] pick ammo and HKS speedloaders [or magazines, if you go for the D.E.] as it comes along, and watch for a bargain or swell deal, then grab it. But they're like peanuts, pretzels and good potato chips: once you've nibbled on one, you may find them fair addictive....