I have this exact pistol, and it has become one of my favorite guns.
The gun is reliable, and low maintenance (Ruger revolvers are built like a tank), and the .357 mag round is powerful (a .357 mag will stop anything on two legs and most things on four) without the .44 mag's wear & tear on your wrists. And the fact that you can practice with, less expensive, .38 Spl ammo is also a plus to me. If you are looking for a wheel gun this is a great choice. Just for the sake of completeness, you could also look at the S&W 686. It is a nearly identical .357 revolver, and some people prefer it's trigger, but it will cost you $200-$300 more.