Get the Ruger...ANY Ruger in this situation. I've bought/traded a LOT of handguns over the last 20 years and I too started out with a "cheap" Taurus revolver. I would have been far better off to just delay the purchase until I could have afforded a quality piece. Taurus QC is all over the place. It was true 25 years ago and from what I've read it's still true today. My Taurus 85 snub had way over-sized charge holes in the cylinder. This caused crazy key-holing at 21 feet!
There are lots of areas one can be cheap and save money....handguns should NEVER be one of them.
There are lots of areas one can be cheap and save money....handguns should NEVER be one of them.