Look at the inside of the recoil shield ( the frame area between the hammer and back of cylinder ) if the area around the firing pin hole/bushing is shiny, its had lots of rounds through it.
Not necessarily a bad thing, just something to be aware of, it will also either shore up or shine doubt in the "low round count" statement.
Cock the hammer as if you were going to shoot, then while the hammer is fully cocked check to be sure the cylinder is locked in place and does not turn, if it turns and you hear a quiet click, it *could* be out of time. Do NOT cock the hammer slowly as this WILL often cause the cylinder to stop short of full lock-up, it needs the momentum to ensure it locks in place.
Beyond that, look at overall condition and as stated earlier, a .44's gonna kick and weight is your friend, especially as this is your first, a full size STEEL gun is the way to go.