I'm thinking about just edc my revolvers,I like not breaking down them to clean like you have to clean auto's.I am 67 years old now and don't run the street like I did when I was young and brave,lol.Five or six shots is enough fire power.I haven't made that decision yet,i'm only thinking about it.

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Life is short,live it fully.

Sounds like you have a realistic view of your needs and situation.
Personally, I've always felt that 5 well placed rounds would be enough to get me out of any potential situation I may get involved in. (Statistics agree, BTW),

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Dave

I pocket carry either a j-frame or a Ruger LCR both in 38.
Always there and have only had to draw it once in 30+years. Also one stripper clip.

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I like Ike.

CC revolvers need attention too,especially if you pocket carry. Lint and dirt can gum up the works just as easily as a semi.Well..maybe not just as easy. I sat down one day to clean my pocket carry revolver to find a tic- tac lodged in the barrel (I don't even eat them) .Always good to have a routine cleaning procedure on your EDCs. I do it about twice a year,whether it needs it or not.

Depends on the level of cleanliness you desire. It is usually MUCH easier to field strip an auto and clean one barrel than to clean six or seven on a revolver. And while a revolver certainly doesn't require detail disassembly very often, when it does it takes real care.

When I don't want to pick up brass, I shoot a revolver. When I don't want to spend a lot of time cleaning, I shoot an autoloader.

Absolutely no heartburn when my old Model 49's in my belt slide holster or cargo pocket. A couple speed loaders come along too.

I carry the Ruger SP101 with the 2 1/4 inch. I have never had to use it for self defense so I have no proof that 5 rounds of .357 mag would stop the threat but if it doesn't I shouldn't have been in that place to begin with. It can be carried in a belt holster, pocket holster or IWB, Sticky holster works well.

It all boils down to the most simple of philosophies and a personal choice, no matter what your age. Disregard what you read in gun magazines or on gun forums.

Carry what you like, what you're comfortable with, and what you're competent with. Don't second guess yourself based on someone else's circumstances. If you're in your late sixties, or older, and have been a shooter for any length of time, you know what works for you and what doesn't. Use that knowledge and experience in making your choice, and everything will be okay.

This is right up my ally. All I carry and shoot are Revolvers. These are My choice of carry guns. My LCR357 is not in the picture. I normally carry Two J-Frames at all times. They just fit me the best.

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Two Handguns every day

where i live the pack mentality prevails... when i DO carry a J, i carry 2. 1 hks loader, and a speed strip too. figure the first J (638) is to stop the threat, 2nd (442) to get outta there with a loaded gun in hand... still prefer my, "gasp..." G19 or G36 however, but do have complete faith in my Js!

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why? why not?

I have a number of revolvers I carry in addition to some semi-autos.
Speaking of self-defense, CCW or open, only.
I have a pair of Pythons (one is actually on loan to me) I like, in Mernickle holsters.
Also a pair of 586s.
Rarely, but still on occasion, a 29-10 Lew Horton 4" with .44 Special self-defense ammo.
A Detective Special or a pair of Police Positive .38s.
A Model 37 with LaserMax grips is often in a pocket.

I've got a couple of years on you and also am a Vietnam era Marine that no longer runs in the mean streets of my youth. But I have found that in today's World the mean streets can come to you unexpectedly and without warning.

I consider lawful concealed carry to be a commitment that goes beyond personal protection. Today I carry to create a sphere of protection for those everyday citizens around me. I don't go looking for trouble, but my life experience tells me that trouble can find you.

A close call, and wakeup call, came a few years ago when my wife and I had a brush with a deranged mass murderer who went on a racially motivated killing spree who picked a Chinese restaurant we frequent for his murderous rampage.

We arrived to have lunch just moments after he left, smoking gun in hand, missing his departure but just a couple of minutes. While we were not of the ethnic minorities that he targeted, if we had not been delayed by happenstance, we most likely would have been walking in as he came out. It was a close call to what could have been a deadly encounter for us, as it was for the two people inside that he murdered.

That single event is what led to my getting a CC permit and a renewal of awareness that it is within the realm of possibility to encounter a deadly threat, no matter how sedentary a life we lead as senior citizens.

So by all means carry what you can and train with it to become proficient with your weapon of choice. The life you save may not even be your own. As a Marine your oath to defend America and it's people has not expired.

Semper Fi,

digiroc

Richard Baumhammers - Wikipedia

All I've ever carried.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Pass it on.
Mark

I usually feel adequately armed with a 5-shot J-frame. All the stats I've found indicate that will most likely be enough. I like it's simplicity, reliability and extreme close-quarter advantages. The average number of rounds(when shots are fired) to resolve the vast majority of armed civilian encounters is something like 1-3 rounds. I imagine just simply presenting a gun diffuses most. However, I would ask why are the average numbers of rounds fired so low. I think the most likely reason being is that most attackers flee or end hostilities as soon as the shooting begins. Pretty much gun will work in such circumstances.

However, what if the attacker(s) does not flee or stop. I've come across quite a few cases where a revolver wouldn't have been enough. In the case of the "determined attacker" who is someone that will not be deterred until you physically stop him, it can often take a relatively high number of rounds to stop the threat. If involved in such a situation, I honestly would probably prefer to be armed with one of my Glocks.

It's all about looking at the various pros/cons, deciding what odds you're comfortable playing and determining what you think is the best choice for you. I feel there truly is no right or wrong answer.

These revolvers are some I would choose from to edc.



S&W 638-3 .38 spl.+p
CA Bulldog .44 spl.
Taurus 605 .357 Mag.
S&W 442-2 .38 spl.+p
Taurus 85 UL .38 spl.+p
Ruger SP101 .357 Mag. in center.

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Life is short,live it fully.

Well with six handguns you have an adequate group to choose from. Pick two that you are most comfortable for you and carry them both.

digiroc

Oorah,Semper Fi.

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Life is short,live it fully.

Carry whatever you are comfortable, confident and confident with.

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K & N S&W revolvers

Not to mention that these days there is often MORE THAN ONE bad guy. Add that to the possibility of shots that actually MISS and you have a good case for carrying (2) J-frames, plus reloads.

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Stay protected my friends.

You are the best person to pick what is best for you, but I would go with the 442. Second choice would be the 638.

The reason being is because an enclosed hammer snub can do things no other gun can. It can be fired from inside a pocket, bag/purse or otherwise entangled in clothing since there is no exposed hammer to obstruct. You may have no interest or intent on firing from inside a jacket pocket, but the feature that allows it could also be a positive attribute in a close-quarter scenario where an attacker is attempting to grab the gun and disarm you where the hammer could intentionally or inadvertently get blocked by making contact with you or him. The enclosed hammer frame also allows you a greater variety of grip options, namely getting up higher on the backstrap to aid recoil control for faster follow up shots. Additionally, the centennial frame affords a snag free draw should you opt for pocket carry and there are no concerns about lint/debris finding its way into the action.

I see absolutely no realistic need for having single action, especially considering what you're giving up to get it.

The enclosed hammer snubs are pretty much the only revolvers I have a practical use for otherwise I would probably go with an auto rather than a larger, exposed hammer wheelgun.

Carry what you know, appropriate for your situation. Heck, some people still carry derringers. 1955 Chiefs Special Airweight here. Also a knife, because Gibbs Rule #9. (Though not the classic knife in this photo. Recognize the Black Cat?) Sometimes also a "New York reload" instead of just speedloaders.

I've carried all of the revolvers below at one time or another. All of them are chambered in .357 Magnum, although I usually carry .38 +P loads in the J-frame revolvers since I can put rounds on target much faster with accuracy in a given interval of time than I can with the heavier recoiling .357 Magnum. The K and L frame sized revolvers can be shot much more effectively with a well chosen .357 Magnum load.

Left side, top to bottom - 2.5" S&W 686+, 2.75" Ruger Speed Six, 2.5" S&W Model 66;
Right side, top to bottom, - 3" Ruger SP 101, 3" S&W Model 60



The J frame sized revolver on the right are lighter (around 24-29 oz) while the revolvers on the left are much friendlier to shoot and offer 6 or 7 rounds rather than 5, but heavier in the 35-40 oz range.

I don't find the larger K and L frame sized revolvers to be any harder to conceal and with a good IWB holster and a well made double thickness leather carry belt they are comfortable in all day carry. I shoot a J frame better than the vast majority of people who own them, but I still shoot a K or L frame better with a +P or .357 Mag load.

----

Statistically, 95% self defense shoots are over and done with in 5 shots or less at 5 yards or less in 5 seconds or less, so there isn't a burning need for a reload, nor much time to clear a malfunction, so what ever you carry has to be as close to 100% reliable as you can possibly get.

That percentage includes LEO involved shoots, and given that armed citizens should be looking to avoid going into dark and scary places looking for bad guys, the percentage of shoots where an armed citizen would need more than 5 rounds is even smaller.

---

Shot placement is king when it comes to getting an assailant to stop, so you need to carry a handgun that fits you well, that you can shoot well, and that you will practice with on a regular basis.

Ideally you should select the type and model of handgun that fits you best, and then you should get it in the hardest hitting caliber you can shoot well.

Everything else is secondary.

----

Personally, if I carry a revolver I hedge my bets with the 7 shot 686 loaded in .357 Magnum, and I practice using a speed loader.

If you make every administrative reload a tactical reload (whether you carry a revolver or a semi-auto) over time you'll begin to build a great deal of repetition and muscle memory that will make reloading faster. So while it's not of primary importance, it is something that can be added to a training routine easily.

If you plan to carry a revolver and a speed loader, do some research on the FBI Reload, the Universal Reload, and the Stress Fire Reload. They each have some pros and cons. The FBI is a bit faster, but less positive with a short ejector rod pistol in .357 Magnum. The Stress Fire Reload is slightly slower, but much more positive and it has some distinct tactical advantage. Once mastered, any of those techniques will produce a reload in not much more time than it takes to reload a semi-auto.

I'll also carry a Kimber Micro in a pocket holster at times, partially as a "New York Reload", but mostly to have an easy to hand off handgun for my wife, who shoots but does not normally carry. If we ever need to get back out of a situation she'll can be armed and lead the way back out while I cover the withdrawal.

Indeed! In our day the 1911 was what we trained with. Surely you must still have one of those in your collection and that would be a good back up to your revolver.

digiroc

Are you referencing a particular study?

The only armed civilian focused ones I'm aware of are those from Tom Givens and Claude Werner. I've often seen mention of one by Ed Lovette, but have yet to find it.

I'm actually moving in the opposite direction. Lately I've thought I needed to be better armed. I'm not too worried about the common street thug but I'm more concerned about the terrorist. In my area the chances of having to deal with either of these situations is pretty much null, but there's always that thought in the back of my mind when I'm out in public at a theater or restaurant or in church. I guess the threat (whether real or imagined) dictates.
Example, I took the dog for a walk around the neighborhood today. I carried the j-frame because one person walking their dog down the street is not a terrorist target at all. On the other hand, last xmas when I went to a large, well advertised, sold out, xmas play at a church near a metropolitan area, I carried the Glock and extra mags because that would've been a prime soft target for terrorists.

90% of the time I belt carry a 2" K frame or I pocket carry a J frame. Sometimes I switch to an automatic pistol but only under certain conditions. If I am in the field I only carry a wheelgun, probably an L frame or N frame. And I'm a shade or two older than you but I've been doing this for a very long time.

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For years I carried a 2" 36 in a pocket holster.

Nowadays with all of the "allahu akhbar!" nonsense going on, I just don't feel that's adequate.

I switched first to a Glock 19, then to a 3 1/2" M1911.

Times change, and with them the threats.

I changed my response.

As often said in this thread, carry what you want. I carried j-frames but found the LCP to be significantly easier to carry, particularly if you pocket carry. Probably true with a LC9 too??? Tho certainly not in the same League of Cool as a S&W Snubbie. My 2 cents of contribution.

It's also Princess Pugsly's EDC. It keeps the other dogs and cats away when she's eating. She loves me, but she'd shoot me between the eyes for a crumb.

Ps. Keeping in step with others also in this thread, sometimes I carry my Glock 19 or 5906, and I recently picked up a P227 SAS that I load up with Underwood 45 + P. But I haven't heard too much on the 380 failing in a real world conflict where something bigger would have prevailed.

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Just hanging with my dogs

A few months ago, I got rid of my last semi (a Glock 17).....and stopped loading 9mm. Now, I carry only my Smith model 64-3 3"....and load only 38 special for it.

I carry the 64 every day. I'm perfectly comfortable with it.... not looking back.

I live in a small cabin that is about 60 miles from any major sized city, I'm 63 & a Retired California LEO. My hands and wrists have deteriorated to the point that a .38 +P is about the limit of comfort and accuracy for me, I have carried a 4" Model 64-3 more than anything else lately. I've found that I just plain shoot the 4" K better than any of my shorter barrel revolvers, it is actually more comfortable IWB than my 2.75" Speed Six. I have carried 2 EDC's nearly everyday for the past 38 years, a small 5 shot carried in a pocket is the New York Reload of choice ... along with 2 full reloads for the 64-3 ( Old Habits Die Hard ). Thinking I might go ahead and sell my Speed Six ;o)

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Retired & Livin' my DREAM :)

I normally carry two handguns, one the Glock 30 (45 caliber SF), with ten rounds and one in the pipe. I like having the J
frame 642-1 Smith & Wesson airweight revolver as a 2nd gun.
For one thing I carry the Glock with a holster completely covering the trigger guard but requiring me to unsnap the
holster before I can draw. The revolver would be a faster draw
if needed. I carry concealed but unconceal inside my vehicle
for faster access to either gun. I will not dial back as long as
anyone second guesses our President on protecting the country.
I also carry extra magazines as well. I feel that if our country
cannot be adequately protected, that its up to me to protect me
and my family. I won't delegate that responsibility to anyone else. Yes I know that in a shooting exchange its highly unlikely
more than four rounds might be fired. Also just recently four
or five armed robbers were arrested so the possibility of more
than one bad guy convinces me to carry extra firepower and
extra rounds. And I am convinced that our country cannot be
adequately protected. I am happy that I only travel by automobile into states that recognize my gun permit. The
older you get the more you look like prey to a predator.

Duplicate post, please delete

I am pushing 60 and am still active LE as a watch commander. My work mandates the issued Glock 23 when at work. It will remain as my primary EDC post retirement but I envision using service and snub .38s as out of state traveling iron. No ridiculous magazine restrictions and my disabled bride has enough hand strength for six shots from a K-frame Smith.

I can fully understand wanting more firepower, but being more concerned with being targeted in an terrorist attack vs far more common threats makes little sense to me.

That's not to say we shouldn't be concerned about the possibility of terrorist attacks and there is nothing wrong with being prepared, but just put it in perspective based on probability.

And if concerned about terrorism, remember not all terrorist attacks are large scale active shooter type attacks by multiple heavily armed individuals targeting large groups. We have seen many lone wolf attacks who target single persons often with just a blade.

However, terrorist attacks are still an extremely rare occurrence, but armed robberies, muggings, physical assaults, rape, car-jackings and the like are not and happen pretty much everywhere to some extent, especially in or by large cities. I would also probably have to add protesters(who have been known to get violent) to the list of current most likely potential threats one may face when traveling in or through large metropolitan areas.

Always carried revolvers, starting with a Model 60 in the early 1970s. Later a 442 or 12-3.
I live near a university with many middle eastern students.
There have been a couple incidents, including one at the LGS owned by a friend.
Recently upgraded the carry selection with a 3953.
I think of it as a slim 8-shot DAO 9mm revolver:

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Well, everyone has there one thing with CC handguns.
Me? My M 638, M49 & the M 640 I just got is more then enough for what I may need. Extra rounds in the strip's I have seem OK, but who would have that much time to reload?

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I switched to a revolver for CC many years ago and haven't second guessed my decision. I carry an LCR357. I just bought a 640-1 that might get carried.
IMO a revolver cannot be beat for a small conceal carry gun. I would bet my life on a small revolver but not on any small size semi auto. But like anything that is my beliefs.

Semper Fi my brother. Welcome home. USMC 68-72. Viet Nam (69-70) . Retired SoCal LEO after 32 years. I collect and love older S&W revolvers. I have a ton of them!
I'd like to say I usually carry a cute J or K frame snub with Mother of pearl grips, but the truth is, I carry a Glock 19 with a G17 reload. In a moment of weakness, I sometimes carry a 9mm Shield.
If nothing else, in 32 years of Law Enforcement, I learned that there are a ton of A-holes out there, (quite of few who don't like me) and they often come in groups.
Just my 2 cents worth.

When I first started thinking about CCW, I figured there was no need to defend yourself from someone beyond bad breath distance.

After all you don't get mugged by someone from 75 feet away.

But in recent years, with shootings in theaters, large parties, or night clubs perhaps it's useful consider longer ranges.

At least practicing at 25 yards or even a bit more seems worthwhile.

And it might be useful to consider the very unlikely need for a longer range defensive shot when selecting your carry gun. Perhaps, if you want to stick with J frames, a 3" with adjustable sights.

I came up in the late 60's and 70's with a 1911 pattern as primary carry, ultimately with a Colt Combat Commander with many upgrades of the day. A Colt Cobra as back-up when I felt one was needed.

Now as I have aged I find that such heavy iron is harder to carry all day. Now my primary carry is a 360PD AirLite, under a pound loaded and holstered. I find that appendix inside the waistband carry is the best choice for quick access, superior retention, comfort and concealability.

Although the 5 shot revolver is enough for 99% of likely encounters, the ability of a NY reload is far superior to trying to perform a high stress revolver reload of any type, especially for me, as my weak hand (left) has had surgery to splice tendons I severed in a work related incident that has left me with very limited left hand dexterity.

I still shoot well left handed and practice weak hand shooting often, but my left hand is far more recoil sensitive than strong hand. While my carry options include a Kimber Ultra Carry II and my 4040PD AirLite, I find it more comfortable to carry those in my belt pancake holsters at behind the right hip for a NY reload, just dropping the revolver and drawing the auto right handed.



Now I also have the option of a 3914 DAO inside the waistband on the weak hand side. This allows a NY reload before my 5 shots are expended. A weapon in each hand is far more intimidating for multiple attackers, a situation that becomes more likely in today's gangbanger and mob environment.



The 3914 actually conceals better than the snubby and may become primary AISW with the J frame in my ankle holster when dress demands better concealability.

I've put a Big Dot night sights on it for very rapid sight picture acquisition. Note how slim the 3914 is:



digiroc

Not quite 3" but I find my 340 Pro Series a better choice when out of the range of the laser equipped 360 AirLite. The night sights on it are not adjustable without a sight pusher, but I have found them to be point of aim from the factory so it is not an issue.



The weight of the 340 makes belt carry as backup to the AirLite AISW a good choice for comfort. If carried ISWB weak side along with the AirLite AISW I'll load both with .38 Hornady Critical Defense loads. 357 magnums out of a 2" barrel is like a flash bang in your hand. Followup shots are quicker running 38's as recoil is a lot milder.

When I want a long range shot and stick with revolvers my model 69 with both laser grip and FastFire III on top the best choice.



The big 44 actually conceals pretty well in the holster shown above, as long as I can wear a cover garment. An open untucked shirt does well to conceal the 44 in warmer seasons and does not look out of the ordinary in casual environments.

digiroc

My EDC

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John

5 shot snubby works for me:

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Keep on Chooglin'

Three thoughts on this:

1) Zero distance with a self defense handgun

People often ask what distance they should zero a handgun - 5 yards, 10 yards, 25 yards - as if it actually made a difference.

Handgun cartridges are not flat shooting, but even at a lowly 700 fps, a .38 special isn't going to drop much in the time it takes to travel 25 yards.

The angle of departure also makes a big difference at short ranges, and most front sight heights on a handgun will vary from .5" to .8"

In practical terms this means my Model 66 with a .8" sight height zeroed at 5 yards with 700 fps 158 gr .38 Special ammo (about as slow as it gets) it will print .5" high at 10 yards, 1.0" high at 25 yards, .9" low at 45 yards and 1.8" low at 50 yards.

If I zero at 10 yards, it will be .3" low at 5 yards, .3" high at 25 yards, .8" low at 30 yards and 4.4" low at 50 yards.

In however I zero it at 25 yards, it will be .3" high at 15 yards, and .4" low at 30 yards, and will be 3.9" low at 50 yards.

If I zero it at 50 yards, it will be about 1.0" high at 10 yards, 2" high at 25 yards, and about 2" low at 60 yards.

----

The purpose of adjustable sights on a handgun is to allow that handgun to be re-regulated for different loads. Most folks understand that a lighter, faster bullet will shoot lower in a handgun than a heavier, slower bullet as the muzzle rises more prior to the bullet exiting with the heavier, slower load, increasing the angle of departure. Most .38s and .357s for example are regulated for 158 gr loads and will shoot a couple inches lower at normal social shooting distances with a 125 gr load.

If you've got fixed sights, the load selection will largely determine point of impact and 'zero' distance.

----

For self defense shooting purposes it makes no significant difference what distance you choose to zero a handgun as long as it's somewhere between 5 and 50 yards. The good news is that even if your handgun does not have adjustable sights and shoots a couple inches off point of aim at 10 yards, it won't matter in a self defense shoot at normal ranges where you are shooting center of mass.

-----

Personally, I zero my adjustable sight snub nosed revolvers at 5 yards as it will put me within 1" of my line of sight from 0 to 45 yards. I'll zero my 4" and 6" revolvers at 50 yards, mostly because I like to shoot them at 25 and 50 yards, and I can easily hold 2" low at 25 yards and hold dead on at 50 yards. And being 1" high at 10 yards is a non issue in a self defense shoot.

2) Snub nosed revolvers are capable of greater accuracy than most people who shoot them.

People equate short barrel revolvers with "inaccurate" but that's not the case.

A short barrel revolver has a commensurately short sight radius, but that just makes sight alignment more critical. A given amount of alignment error with a 3" sight radius will have twice as much error on the target as the same amount of alignment error with a 6" sight radius.

In "short", that just means you need to be more precise in your sight alignment if/when accuracy matters with a short barrel revolver, but it does not mean that you cannot shoot accurately with a snub nose.

Under ideal lighting conditions, the Mk 1 Mod 0 human eyeball can detect differences in width as small as .005", and well made iron sights are designed to create a sharp edged high contrast sight picture where you can compare the white space between the black sight elements.

With my 2.5" Model 66 with it's 4.3" sigh radius, a .005" sight error produces only a 1" error at 25 yards. In if you double the error to .01" that's only 2" at 25 yards, or 1" at 12.5 yards.

3) Lighting is important.

As noted above accuracy with a short barrel revolver is attainable if you've got sufficient grip and trigger control to allow you to maintain a good sight picture - but that sight picture is very light dependent.

In aggregate, police officers in the average police department demonstrate hit percentages that are only in the 15-25% range depending on engagement range, lighting conditions and the number of officers involved.

Even the best trained officers suffer a performance decline in low light. For example, Baltimore County PD has some of the best training in the country and over a 13 year period achieved a 64% hit percentage in daylight shootings. But in low light that hit percentage dropped to 45%.

As an aside, many people claim that police officers do not use their sights in real world shoots, and many officers will report that they do not remember using their sights. However, the fact that hit percentages decrease in low light suggests otherwise, whether they remember it or not.

A well trained officer will at a minimum place the front sight on the assailant and with sufficient practice and a well developed grip and muscle memory, the rear sight will be well enough aligned all on it's own for accurate combat shooting.

If you're one of those folks who don't think training to use the sights matters, you might want to re-think it.

Range also plays a factor with the hit rate at ranges over 7 yards being only about half the hit rate at less than 7 yards.

Low light also plays a factor in mistake of fact shootings. About 25% of all shoots by law enforcement officers are mistake of fact shootings where the officer thought a weapon was present but where one was not ultimately found. About half of mistake of fact shootings involved the suspect making furtive movements and about 75% of mistake of fact shootings occur in low light situations.

You need to be aware that while the courts give officers a great deal of attitude in a mistake of fact shooting given their role in the community. However, as an armed citizen you will receive absolutely no latitude at all - mistake of fact shootings occur in armed citizen self defense shoots, they just are not called that when the individual is charged or sued. Officers also have Dept. attorneys and liability coverage behind them that you won't have, so you will be fully liable for each round you fire.

Adding it all together

A shooting in a theater will create several conditions that are not conducive to accuracy:

- You're going to be shooting under extreme stress where you will devolve to your lowest level of MASTERED training. People are notorious for over estimating their level of mastered training.

- You're probably going to be shooting at ranges over 7 yards.

- You're going to be shooting in low light conditions, which will degrade accuracy and increase the potential of a mistake of fact shooting.

- You're probably going to be shooting in an environment with lots of bystanders and the shooter will probably be moving among them.

If you are serious about training for this type of scenario, you need to train not just at longer ranges, but also in low light conditions and you need to consider getting a set of tritium night sights to improve the low light sight picture, or at a minimum get a tritium front sight that you can place on the target.

I too find the DAO 3rd gen Smiths very revolver like in their operation. Here is my 6946 DAO when 8 shots may not be enough:



A bit harder to carry concealed with the double stack magazines. but it becomes a 17 shot "revolver" on reload with aftermarket magazines.

digiroc

Very well put BB57! As statistically 70% of muggings and related attacks come during hours of darkness the importance of low light defensive gunplay becomes critical in armed self defense.

This is why I equip my defensive weapons with laser and or night sights. I have found that a laser equipped weapon is the best option for a fast response in low light, especially at close ranges.

Putting a laser on center mass of a threat can have a deterrent effect and may settle things without firing a shot. Stopping an attack is the goal, and if it can be done without deadly force that is the optimal outcome.

Night sights are second best option for low light situations. Not much deterrent effect on an attacker, but accurate aimed fire is paramount in stopping an attack when the shooting starts.

Having a shooting range in my backyard gives me a chance to train in low light conditions. Home defense will likely be needed in low light conditions. I keep my home lit well enough for target recognition at nightime, but accurate fire is still enhanced with lasers or at a minimum, night sights.

digiroc

Everything is a trade-off. To gain something, you will usually lose something.

The primary reason I carry a snub revolver is due to its ECQ advantages and it's suitability for the most common civilian defense situations. By going with a 3" J-frame with exposed hammer, I would lose many of those advantages. It would be a case of trading away advantages in likely scenarios to possibly gain a very slight benefit(not sure it even would be) in extremely unlikely ones.

If I thought encountering terrorists or active shooters were remotely probable and I was preparing for such an occurance, I for sure wouldn't want to engage them with a 5 shot 3" snub revolver.

The close quarters advantage of any revolver is negated if the attacker grabs the cylinder of your weapon.

The ability to use the bobbed hammer of my 360PD AirLite gives me a huge advantage when the attack comes to grappling distance. Once cocked the gun will fire even if grabbed. If it goes of early and unexpectedly in a high stress encounter it's not so bad, and just might end the attack sooner I also like the ability to ride the hammer on reholster.

I don't think one inch of barrel length will make much difference other than give better accuracy with a longer sight radius, even my 4.25" model 69 comes out pretty fast from my Don Hulm front break holster.



The above shown model 69 as equipped would be my handgun of choice in Mister X's last statement:

Mister X: "If I thought encountering terrorists or active shooters were remotely probable and I was preparing for such an occurance, I for sure wouldn't want to engage them with a 5 shot 3" snub revolver."

With backup of one of my .40 S&W double stacks or this dandy laser equipped 17+1 9mm:



digiroc

Rotate your gun hand in the opposite direction of cylinder rotation while pulling the trigger.

That is a pretty common response, but it is fairly difficult to grab ahold of and stop the cylinder of a snub revolver from functioning during a dynamic scenario(a real defense encounter or FoF training). It usually takes two hands on the weapon and a dominant control position. I've seen it happen a couple of times in classes, but every time it was big Officer vs a small one and always on the ground or backed into a corner. Any gun would have been rendered useless in these instances once that type of control was not prevented.

The rotating technique ContinentalOp does work and would probably free the gun up anyway.

I would never recommend preemptively cocking a revolver in the context you outlined. And in those exteme close-quarter scenarios where you let an attacker get his hands on the weapon, that cocked hammer can be obstructed or entagled in clothing much easier than the cylinder can be grabbed and stopped from rotating. Plus that hammer acts as a nice little leverage hook for the BG to take advantage of.

That extra one inch of barrel will slow draw slightly, but my point about it was that it greatly enhances leverage for someone attempting a disarm. Pocket carry is severity negatively impacted as well.

These things are effectively tested via force on force training.