Taurus is okay. Don't get anything cheaper.
I would say there are three brands that you'd want to look at.
1. Smith - They're the best, lock or not.
2. Ruger - Heavy duty, very durable, heavy assed trigger.
3. Taurus - Cheaper made S&W knockoffs, but the best knockoffs around.
You might want to check out North American Arms as well, but they're mostly small carry guns.
What NHAT said about hammerless is horseshit unless you plan on shoving a gun into your pocket regularly. Get a good holster with a small button flap over the hammer and you can fire SA, which is much more accurate. Of course, if you do plan on shoving a revolver into you pocket, sans safety (They don't have 'em) I guess a hammerless job would be better.
I'd recommend a J frame Smith, personally. I have a model 60 snub nose with crimson trace laser grips. (Another 150-200 bones, but more than worth it.) Mine is older so it only shoots .38 special, but the newer ones are thicker and will also fire .357 mag.
If you get into one of the really light ones, stick with the .38 - Those scandium composite .357's are too light and will punish the shit out of your hand. You won't practice of you're afraid of the thing causing pain.
Again, as I always add, I don't like to show brand partisanship, unless it's to condemn a whole company, but if you were to ask me what I like, again, I own Smith and Ruger, when it comes to revolvers.
That pick I just posted is a gun manufactured in 1979. It works just like a brand new gun. *Shrug* let that be my recommendation, I guess.