My exroomate is looking for a good self defense handgun for him and his new bride. What would you all recommend. It cannot be more than 250.00, absolutely no more than 300.00. Should he get a revolver or a semiautomatic? What caliber would be best? What brand would be dependable?
                                      Thanks in advance

If you want to go cheap and are not familiar enough with firearms to really tell a good used pistol from a bad used pistol, then a .357 revolver is probably the best way to go.

Makarov or a used S&W 686.

For that price there are some very good pistols. First you have to find out if this is carry or home defense and if his wife is going to use it, and if she can manipulate the slide of an auto (not sexist, my wife has problems with my Glock). Revolvers can be had for about that price, you could also check out the Taurus pistols, the milennium is about $300 and thats a 45. About the same size as a mini-Glock. I agree with a Makarov. Good and accurate and cheap.

Quoted: Yup, find a nice S&W police trade-in revolver.

+1

Get a used Ruger P95.  They're 9mm and hold 15-17 rounds flush.  They function flawlessly and can be had for that price.

Hi-point???

Quoted: Get a used Ruger P95.  They're 9mm and hold 15-17 rounds flush.  They function flawlessly and can be had for that price.

+1

They ain't pretty, but they sure go bang every time.

If you want to go cheap and are not familiar enough with firearms to really tell a good used pistol from a bad used pistol, then a .357 revolver is probably the best way to go.

+1

Quoted: Yup, find a nice S&W police trade-in revolver.

Lots of Ruger G100's out there too.

Quoted:   My exroomate is looking for a good self defense handgun for him and his new bride. What would you all recommend. It cannot be more than 250.00, absolutely no more than 300.00. Should he get a revolver or a semiautomatic? What caliber would be best? What brand would be dependable?                                       Thanks in advance

Rock Island Armory M1911 -> $300, .45ACP

Revolvers aren't, IMHO, good self defense weapons.

The trigger pull is terrible on every shot (DA) or you have to hand-cock each shot (SA), and they take longer to re-load...

What does a used Taurus Beretta clone cost these days?

Quoted: Quoted: Get a used Ruger P95.  They're 9mm and hold 15-17 rounds flush.  They function flawlessly and can be had for that price. +1 They ain't pretty, but they sure go bang every time.

If you get a Ruger, get a P97 in .45.  I'm not saying this because of the caliber, but because it has a standard-style mag release.  I had the P95 in 9mm, and the mag would release itself in my waistband because of the retarded design of the mag release.  I had to sell it for that reason.

I favor a quallity used gun over a cheeper "NEW" gun
Lot of good used revolvers out there (I prefer 686"s) . I myself am not to crazy about Taurus,some think them a good value . Ruger sp101 (used) not a bad choice for a small gun,but kind of heavy.Sounds like
with this tight budget a second gun is some time down the line.Might take some fancy shopping to find a gun
that fits two sets of hands .A guy can always shoot a smaller gun even with pretty large mits,but a small women with small hands or possible strength issues will have serious trouble with a large grip gun or a semi
with heavy springs.Ironicly many compact semi's with small grips have springs that take greater hand and upper body strength. My female cousin has small/medium hands and some strenght issues (joint problemns) she shoots 1911's ok but struggles to get one into action .A full size glock 9 works just fine for her. I guess this doesn't fall within the budget.If this is only for home protection give up on a pistol and consider a shotty. A mossburg 500 is easy on the budget ,buy a brand new one and sleep secure.

Id suggest a nice CZ 40-P . Its just over your 250.00 limit, but its a fine pistol for the money.
I first bought a CZ 75 P-01, and fell in love. then  i had to have the 40-P.
The 40-P uses the P-01 alloy frame, slightly modified, and matched to a 40-B slide.
These  were made in limited numbers. Rumor control has reported that CZ had 40-B slides and barrels left over, and made the decision to add them to existing P-01 frames.

There were only (approx) 1500 units made, maybe be collectible some day, maybe not.
Its made with excellent CZ quality, accurate as hell out of the box, and you can use your 10 round .40 40-p mags as hi-caps in your P-01 9mm gun. I get 14 9mm rounds in my .40 mags.
Great value, great gun, I wish i had money to buy a few more before they are all gone.
Ive seen em from 275.00 plus shipping, and just saw a guy on the CZ board offering em for 315.00 shipped CONUS.

Quoted: Hi-point???

Quoted: What does a used Taurus Beretta clone cost these days?

around here commonly for 299.

I got this Taurus Protector model 651, .357 for  $239.00 plus tax new in the box.

Home protection or for carry?

Since you asked which is the best handgun i'll give you my opinion.

If for home nothing beats a 3-4" .357 Mag, preferably a S&W.  Many used ones can be had damn near anywhere - gun shops, pawn shops, gun shows, in the equipment exchange here.  All within your price range.  

For carry you'll get 9 trillion answers on what to carry, each with their own pros and cons.