1. .357 is a fantastic round.
2. Ruger makes a variety of .357s.
3. If you're after a "chunky revolver", the odds that you're going to be "packing" it are minimal. Chunky=hard to hide.
4. If you insist on it anyway, you can't beat a Smith and Wesson K Frame. Classic revolver, fantastic for beginners, and easy to modify.
5. "Packing" a 9mm is ridiculous. It doesn't have any stopping power.
6. Don't cheat yourself on barrel length. Length and accuracy go hand in hand.
7. Sorry you live in Oz. Have you tried getting a bent stick license?

>>115
Rugers are great. My friend has a .357 and I've shot it, it's a fine shootin gun. I on the other prefer the larger rounds because I hunt and there's bear and cougar up here so I bought a ruger Vaquero .45 colt. Load that thing up with corbons and it will stop anything.

>>149
.45 and 762 are my favorite rounds

I personally have a Springfield GI 1911 with a custom 6.5 inch slide

its not a pic of mine but you get the point.
(still restoring mine!)

I use a .357 Ruger Blackhawk and frankly it is fun to shoot, easy to clean and accurate.

10mm/.40 is more powerful. I have a S&W 610 with a 6" bbl, and the recoil is more than the .357. But, with the .357, you can practice with .38spl, cheaper ammo and not as hard on the gun. I have a S&W mod 19 with a 2"bbl and shooting .357s fast, loosens and heats up the gun too much.

10 is hard to find though, so if your going to go for more power a 40 is better

If you want to have a weapon for self defense, go with a regular semi-automatic handgun. The police switched to them for a reason. I prefer a Beretta 92, but I know a lot of people are into glocks.