My revolvers have included a .38 J Frame, a 617, PC627 5", PC627 2 5/8", and PC629.

It was in the Spring of 1978 that I received my first professional training with a firearm, compliments of Uncle Sam. When, more recently, through the agency I serve, I was introduced to Glocks, I was not impressed. However, given what was approved, I have since had two Glock 22''s, the latest a 4th Gen., a Glock 35, and a Glock 27 BUG, all .40.

Thousands of rounds later, it seemed increasingly logical to move away from revolvers to a Glock for defensive carry. No malfunctions from either my Glocks or two S&W 1911's (Gun Site Edition and a PC Melonite). To stave off the switch to semi's cause I'm a revolver guy, last Summer I purchased a UDR (PC 627). Beautiful weapon, balanced, and accuracy that belies it's 2 5/8" barrel. This had 8 rounds, I bought match grade moon clips for fast re-loads, a Galco Combat Master holster, took more training, but in the end, my head prevailed over my heart. It just no longer made sense to carry the beauty of the PC 627 over the business of a Glock 22.

I looked at my duty Glock 22 (.40) with the Federal Premium 180 grain loads at 392 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy, and compared to the revolver I had good energy, less recoil, faster follow-up shots, more accuracy (http://www.pbase.com/dwever/image/139037121), DOUBLE the capacity chambered, better concealment, better at night, and my pants aren't being pulled down. On duty I'm at 46 rounds minimum, 71 with an extra mag and BUG; defensive carry I'm at 31 with one spare mag - even at that lowest number, with the PC 627 that is one round shy of four moon clips and three re-loads.

I carry the Glock now, and last month sold my UDR PC 627 on this site as I came to realize the hard truth that there is a significant difference between an Ultimate Defensive Revolver and an Ultimate Defensive Weapon. In the end, I chose duty over beauty, function over feelings, reality over romance.

I am not to posting to engage a debate. I know I'm being provocative here to the revolver crowd, but this is simply my narrative, my report to you regarding a personal change in my thinking, my reasons why, and the resulting actions on this topic of concealed carry and self defense. Ironically, without the financial reasons, I ended up mirroring my agency when they moved away from the wonderful 686.

So there is 46 rounds, 76 rounds, and 31 rounds? I learned to hit with just a few. WOW! Two examples? Then it MUST be real.

If you feel the auto suits you, fine, it's your choice. Be safe.

__________________
Sure you did

Why not make it an even 100 rounds? ---- You might run out!

You make some very good points and I can see why you have chosen not to carry a revolver. Although you do not think revolvers are a viable option that does not mean they are not good for others in different situations.

dw: Well written and presented. You make a great case for a small segment of our self-defenders population; those that can afford to carry a 'selected' firearm type. My contention is the old adage that "any gun is better than no gun" still applies to those that for any miriad of reasons can't equip themselves with the latest in semi-auto weaponry. The old guy in his wheel chair with his tried and true S&W Model 10 in a side pocket. The young professional lady who has had only the time and interest in learning to shoot and carry her Charter Arms five shot revolver. The house wife that has been taught to shoot her husbands BUG revolver. The Taxi driver that only has a S&W Model 19 at his disposal, etc, you get the idea. ....... The day of use of revolvers for self-defense will never be over for some. May all good intentioned people be equipped with the revolver of their choice! ........... Big Cholla

Correct. I am not saying to the revolver crowd on any level that they need to convert. I am simply reporting my own narrative topically within, "Concealed Carry and Self Defense."

If I was trying to use a 627 as a concealed carry gun I'd be looking for something else too. I'm not out looking for a fight or to save the world or to step in between gang bangers doing a public service (shooting each other), or fantasizing about it either. A 342 and a speed strip will do just fine as personal protection. If I were to "what if" things enough I guess I'd want a hi-cap semi-auto and extra mags too, or better yet an MP5 and extra mags. Seems like it depends where you draw the line.

To each his own. I had a semi auto fail at the worst possible moment. Thank GOD I had a snubby 38 Special revolver as a BUG! I love my Mdl 37 Airweight®.

__________________
David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

Revolvers have will always have a place in SD. The have advantages the Semi's cannot compete with in accuracy, caliber choice etc. They are also great choices for BUGS. As some have also said, for the guy who shoots twice and year cleans his gun once a year, it is the only choice. I own Semi's and Revolvers. Personally I feel like carrying one of each gives you the best of both worlds, simplicity/specialization and capacity.

From a LEO standpoint....My issue with the "younger set" is the spray and pray philosophy many have developed, revolvers eliminated that mindset. I watched a Dept last week have 30-40% of it's officers have to stay over to attempt to qualify 2-3 times, we're talking 70% anywhere in the black on a B-27 from 3-25 yds. I can do that left handed, I'm a good shot, but certainly no comp shooter. As many have said before, it's not who shoots first or most, but who hits what they are aiming at.

In the end, I agree the Semi probably is the best choice for a duty weapon 70% of the time, especially in city settings. In rural areas, the power and accuracy of a .41 has something going for it. Firearms are tools, I wish Depts would focus more a giving a set of tools for varied situations instead of 1 size fits all, but in the end budgets drive decisions.

You should definitely carry what you shoot the best and are most confident with. Stay safe out there, good job expressing your viewpoint.

I went in the opposite direction. I started out carrying a S&W 908 but wanted something that was lighter, easier to conceal and would allow me the option of pocket carry. I chose the Ruger LCR and haven't looked back. The biggest factor is that I shoot the LCR much better.
As far as capacity, I'm not in law enforcement. I will never have to chase a perp down a dark alley, kick in the door of a crack house or take someone into custody. I also have an option that LEO's don't, I can run away from a bad situation! I also avoid bad areas and seldom even go out after dark.
This all goes to show that there is no one perfect carry option for all, carry what works best for you. Maybe when I get more experience with different weapons I'll change my mind again, but for now I say snubbies rock!

As many have stated here as well as in many other, similar posts, each individual needs to decide what tool will work best for them (presuming you have a choice and aren't limited to an issued gun, in which case you just do the best you can with what you have). I was a big fan of semi-autos until a year ago when I re-assessed my own personal situation and decided revolvers were a better choice for me. Does that mean I think anyone who chooses a semi-auto is a mall ninja waiting to take out zombies? Of course not. It just means that for me, at this point in time, revolvers are the best tools. I still like semi-autos and will likely own them again someday (if someone has a spare M&P 45c they'd like to give away for free, let me know... ). Who knows, I may even decide to carry them. Times change and I think it is good to be adaptable.

Hello Dwever. you make some good points and I believe that you have made a sound choice. kinda sad really that a few people saw fit to belittle your choice simply because they choose otherwise.

Maybe I'm missing it, but I did not see anyone belittle anyone else, just state their opinions.

Good for you for stating your case and I agree w/you. Anyone in LE should carry off duty the same type of weapon their agency requires on duty, and semi-autos make a lot of sense in today's world. My issued gun was the Glock 23, but since retirement in '97 I've carried a small .38.

As others have said a civilian CCW is only concerned with self protection and has the option of running away if at all possible. If I were to return to LE it would make sense to carry a modern self loader, but since I'm too old for that I feel well armed with the .38.

Stay Safe,
Old Cop

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Very sound advice (as always). Now that I am a civilian I follow the same logic. My only difference is that I carry two J frames.

__________________
David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

First off let me say that I'm a revolver carrying type of person.

In spite of that fact I chose, for some reason, my Glock 32 when
going out to put some mail in our box the other night.

About 1/2 way down our driveway, which is 200 yd's long through open fields so I was
as exposed as I could be, a bunch of Coyote's started yapping up a storm about 100 yd's
to my left. I hear them all the time and don't feel that they are a threat, but, with a few threads
on here recently talking about their, sometimes aggressive, behavior I have to admit that I felt
a little more at ease knowing I had 12 rd's of .357 SIG with me, as opposed to the 5 of .38 SPL
that my normal "mail gun", a S&W M36, would have provided for me.

Different Strokes for Different Folks!!

__________________
Ogy

I think you stated your case very eloquently, and truly it is a well-thought-out course of action! As for myself, I am a civilian CHL. I live in a rural area, and carry (right now) a semi-auto. I am just thankful that manufacturers make so many different kinds! So many weapons, So little time. But the end of the whole matter is Gun Control! And Gun Control is being able to put the bullet where you want it to go!! So journey on people, and safe & happy shooting!!!

You had "A" semi auto fail? I have had more than an "A" that's why I carry a wheelie.

Hey, FWIW, I don't think you're being "provocative" in the least. You've made a realistic and informed decision based upon your needs and your experience.

As long as you continue to invest the training & practice time, and use the manufacturer's (or your agency's) recommended maintenance practices, and continue to develop and maintain your skillset with the weapon, it's your choice.

Besides, it's more about the mindset, training, experience and the ability to effectively access your training & experience under arduous, demanding and rapidly changing conditions that's more important, anyway. The gun is a tool. Use whatever tool is best suited to your perceived needs and skillset ... and move on down the road to something else that's important to you.

My choice to include some 5-shot revolvers in my typical retirement CCW is something based upon my experience, training, continued practice regimen and daily consideration of what best suits my daily needs. I have quite a number of 9, .40 & .45 pistols, ranging in size from small to medium to large (and some other 6-shot revolvers in .357 & .44 which still see some range time, but haven't been used for carry for a number of years). Sometimes my pistols get selected, and sometimes one of my diminutive revolvers. Depends.

All of them get a fair amount of trigger time, though, since I still keep my hand in things as an instructor & armorer. (Okay, and having the run of a LE-only range and large ammo inventory doesn't hurt, either. )

There are definite advantages to selecting one of the good quality service-type semiauto pistols of modern manufacture for LE duty. No doubt.

On the other hand, I'm one of the diminishing number of older shooters who wouldn't have batted an eye if they'd told me I was going to have to carry a 6-shot .357 Magnum revolver toward the end of my career (instead of the issued 7+1 .45 compact 4513TSW they'd issued me for a while).

I carried an issued M66 and then a M686 service revolver back as a young cop, and at various times carried issued 9, .40 & then .45 pistols of various capacities (7, 8, 9, 12, 14 & 15 rounds, in no particular order).

I've also often thought that it's been easier to transition a skilled revolver shooter over to semiauto pistols than the other way around, too. Handgun skills earned while shooting DA revolvers seen to make for a better, all-around skillset. (Little wonder, since DA grip angles & grip stocks are hardly "ergonomic" or "natural" ... DA trigger strokes are long and heavier, requiring a pretty developed level of trigger control ... and you only have 5 or 6 rounds available to use between loading. )


Yes, the ability to carry more rounds between loading (or "reloading", if you prefer ) is a fine thing ... but being able to hit my intended threat target rapidly, accurately & effectively with the first 1-5 or 6 shots was of greater importance to me.

I know other cops (including another instructor) who have been involved in on & off-duty shootings with issued and personally-owned hi-cap pistols. A couple of them still have 6-shot K-frames they like to carry as off-duty weapons, and one has a little 640 he favors, although they also have some pistols they'll occasional carry, as well. Just depends, it seems.

Suit yourself. Your choice. Your responsibility, right? You don't have to justify it to anyone else (outside your agency).

Take care and stay safe out there.

Best regards.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Thanks for your thoughts dwever.
I love to hear from people who have a different take on things than I do.It challenges me to reconsider my own decisions and gives me insight into points of view I may not have considered.
For me a wheelgun is the right choice.As it is for many others.
For you a semiauto is the right choice.As it is for many others.
Forums like this make it easier for a lot of people to make right choices.

Sometimes it might be the tool user more than the tool, too.

I can generally out-shoot most of our folks (including some of our instructors) using one of my J-frames while they're using duty pistols. I can reload my J's faster than a lot of them can reload their pistols.

That doesn't mean they should change over to 5-shot snubs, now, does it? And yes, I can do even better with larger pistols of various make/model & caliber, on any given day ... but I decide where I want to draw that line for compromise in my daily equipment choice nowadays, and I have only myself to blame if I choose wrongly.

I try to make it a point to avoid denigrating another person's choice in dedicated defensive handguns (especially if they have no choice in the matter, or are limited in their choice for whatever reason). It doesn't help to subconsciously erode someone's confidence in their weapon choice. Not at all.

Of course, it isn't much good for someone to have an unjustified level of confidence in a defensive weapon just based on the particular weapon make/model/caliber, either, I'd think.

We work with what we have, or what we "like" the best, even though that might not be the "best" or "optimal" choice depending on a given shooter's/owner's skillset & experience.

I've certainly seen any number of shooters demonstrate much better skills with one type of handgun than another, but choose the one with which they can't do as well when shooting it under demanding drills simply because they "like it better".

If we have no choice ... we have no choice, although disparate impact (related to equipment) court cases and newer service pistols with some adjustment available to accommodate a wider range of users is helping address this sort of thing in LE work.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

The revolver is seeing an increase in popularity. There are more people carrying them than one thinks. I see few available these days. There are a couple I am currently looking for but the LGS say that the used revolvers fly out the door about as fast as they come in.

It may well be they are as popular as the auto loaders.

How many here carry an auto loader for main carry but a revolver for a backup? I know a lot of officers that carry a revolver in their pocket.

I carry auto loaders for many of the same reasons as the OP though I do love revolvers too. In fact my next gun will be a 686 but not for conceal carry. I don't have enough room in my clothes for reloads and I'm aware that I would not likely shoot the same in a life or death situation as on the range and though I don't believe in spray and pray I feel 17 chances to save my life gives me better odds than 6.

__________________
sticks-n-stones&hollowpoints

S&W alone makes a bunch of small revolvers every year.

__________________
NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Different styles and sizes all serve a purpose. If I am dressed up to go to a wedding I have my pocket .32. Heading to the Bronx in New York I have my 4006. Going upstate hunting I have my 627 on my hip etc. The point is become proficient with your firearm(s) and carry what you think is best for you or the current situation. There is no right or wrong.
Just practice and be alert with your surroundings.

Regardless of the type, I'm just glad to read of so many people that carry a gun. For me, a revolver and semi auto are two diferent tools made for specific tasks. I own and carry both depending on the circumstances and feel lucky to have that option. Its all good.
Whw

I have enjoyed reading this thread immensely, and I'm sure it will continue. I am so impressed with the thoughtful, polite discourse. Another reason I'm glad I own a Smith! A 67, BTW.

Chuck

I have enjoyed reading this thread immensely, and I'm sure it will continue. I am so impressed with the thoughtful, polite discourse. Another reason I'm glad I own a Smith! A 67, BTW.

Chuck

Great post dwever.

I carry semis. I don't have the right revolver for carrying. My revolvers are VERY large and very small.

I know my semis quite well, and feel safe enough with them. I do like having more rounds in case things get out of hand. But I also carry a tiny 380 with only 7 rounds sometimes.

I can tell you one thing though.... If 1 old 0311 doesn't quit posting that picture of his beautiful wheel gun, I will end up finding one of those somewhere and buying it. I don't know what it is, but the shape of it screams comfort and hide-ability. The shells look like they are .38's so they have enough power to do the job.... That is a beautiful gun there 1 old 0311!

Different jobs require different tools. For a service size belt gun, it doesn't get any better than a Gen 2 Glock 17 (IMO). For deep concealment, the Airweight Centennial is the best choice (IMO).

It just depends on what you're needing the gun for...

__________________
Centennial Every Day

By Federal law, all U.S. manufacturers report to the ATF their manufacturing production by calendar year.

According to the ATF, in 2009 1.8 million pistols were manufactured in the United States and .547 million revolvers.*

By 2010, there were 2.2 million pistols manufactured and slightly more than half a million (.558) revolvers.*

But that doesn't give a clear picture of revolvers and pistols because of imports. Glock in 2010 alone imported around 350,000 pistols to the U.S., and our Federal Government gets their Beretta's from Italy which was also a six figure number for 2010. Germany sent 230,000 H&K, SIG & Walthers. Of course Taurus imports both pistols and revolvers, but I have no idea of the half a million weapons imported by them in 2010, how many were pistols and revolvers.

*ATF Online - Statistics

Stats are stats. They do not indicate what is being carried. There were many years where few auto loaders were made. Another thread here shows about 75% of all those here are over 50 yrs old. Those of us in that age group will remember the days when a revolver was all there was to carry or use. We also remember the accuracy of the revolver.

Back then any handgun was a pistol. Some dumb guy came along and started the pistol being an auto loader.

Try finding one of those handguns today. People have them, people hold on to them and people shoot them. Revolvers are not used by LE due to a certain maker more or less giving their stuff away.

Try reading the threads of all those that carry concealed. I bet most carry revolvers. Many LEO carry revolvers for a backup gun.

Many carry revolvers for defense. I am not one of them but have often and still will on occasion. I am fortunate in that I can just shove a 1911 in the waistband and walk into a store due to open carry being allowed. I have also grabbed a snubby model 36 and placed in my front pocket. But there has been thousands of times I put a Model 66, 19 or 686 in an OWB.

Go to a large indoor range and see who is shooting what. Older guys shoot revolvers more often than not. Young guys shoot auto loaders because that is all they have ever known and they got their intro to them compliments of Hollywood.

As to what is being made: How many of those auto loaders were sold to government agencies? How many remained on foreign soil? Let's face it, one third of all handguns produced were revolvers. Eliminate the government purchases and it may well be that over half of all individual purchases were revolvers.

I still see LEO carrying revolvers on occasion. If more of the young would try using revolvers, they would find they can shoot more, hit more and use fewer rounds doing it. They can shoot .500 S&W, .44 mag and a lot of others with a revolver.

The revolver is a long way from being dead.

FWIW: I have seen many young officers take a revolver off someone and then cannot unload it because they do not understand how it works.

Yup, a few who like to do so then hide behind the "ignore" button. They can't leave well enough alone.

We all have choices to make. Sounds like you've thought things through and came to a sound conclusion.

Funny isn't it? Seems to take a while and then the light bulb comes on.

IMHO it all depends on the situation!

If I were a LEO (especially a uniformed one) I would more than likely agree with you on most of what you have said. When you are in the streets you never know how many "bad guys" or exactly what situations are going to present themselves. Having large amounts of fire power in a reliable & easy to control gun is definitely reassuring.

I am a civilian and when I carry it is concealed and discrete. I am (presumably) not being targeted like so many LEO's are, and the need for me to pack a heavy bulky gun with pounds of extra ammo is not really needed or practical.

I did at one time carry a Colt 1911 in .45 acp and found it just too big, bulky and heavy for me to actually carry on a daily basis. That did not last very long. I now carry a M60-7 5 shot 38 stoked with Buffalo Bore Heavy+P loads. I carry 6 extra rounds and I feel quite comfortable with that combo. I use a Kramer Horsehide Belt Scabbard along with his ammo pouch and Horsehide gun belt. As a civilian packing discreetly, I doubt I will ever need more than that.

My home defense gun is not a hand gun at all, it's a Remington M870 with an extended magazine tube. My back up HDG is my M60.

This is just my opinion, but in general I truly believe that most CIVILIANS are better suited to carry revolvers. In general they are simpler, more reliable, easier to operate, and if there is a "dud", simply pull the trigger again. LEO's, well that's different.

Chief38

I am glad you are comfortable with your choices. I guess we all have different needs. I rarely carry except for my walks at night and then I take a revolver. Easy to load and unload and lock in my gun safe. I bought my daughter an S & W Bodyguard for the same reason. Easy to load and unload for home defense. Easy to check. That was actually a recommendation from our retired police chief. Yiogo

Here is my personal take on this issue. I have spent decades shooting semi autos in IDPA and USPSA and love doing so but my constant companion off the range is a j-frame size revolver. I see the semi autos in general as offensive weapons and my revolvers as defensive . With a semi auto I am generally running toward something and with my revolver I am going to be running away from something. I am an old guy that doesn't go to stupid places, do stupid things or hang around stupid people. The one time I got shot at I was with a police officer friend and even there I would have only fired my revolver if my friend was in harms way. The revolver is easy for me to conceal and I am a good shot with it at self defense distances. OTOH, to each their own and if you have personal reasons for carrying a semi auto it certainly is none of my business.

__________________
I like Ike.

In 2010, there were more .380 pistols manufactured than all revolver calibers combined. Are government agencies buying a lot of .380 pocket pistols? Besides, civilians buy tons of government trade-ins anyway.

I think it's a safe bet that civilian ownership of autoloaders significantly outpaces that of revolvers. That said, I'm not so sure that has a direct correlation to what folks, who are permitted, actually carry concealed on a regular basis. I know a lot of guys at the Club with gun safes stuffed with autoloaders, but regularly carry a small frame revolver.

http://www.atf.gov/statistics/downlo...ort-report.pdf

First off, I do not believe those figures are correct at all. Yes, they are published but figures are made by the makers.

You have to be a young guy. You do not remember the years when we had revolvers. You obviously do not remember the gun makers like Davis that put the same serial numbers on every gun they made, or that turned in paperwork that was filled with errors.

While I do think a lot of .380 guns are being sold, I know the demand for 9mm is more than a .380. The demand for .40 cal is more than 9mm, if for no other reason than the law enforcement demand.

Since you enjoy figures, find the number of .22 caliber guns made since their inception. It will be far more than any other production caliber. But statwise, it does not mean anything other than there have been a lot of .22 calibers made and more have been shot by them than any other caliber.

As to your mentioning Government buying, one area agency of 611 people ordered 240 .380 caliber handguns last year. They never received them. Also, there are some foreign agencies that issue .380. Many of them are south of our borders.

Now since you like to figure so much, please tell us why makers would build so many .380 calibers.

I still maintain there are more revolvers in circulation than auto loaders. I maintain there are more revolvers made than autoloaders if you eliminate the plastic guns. Yet I do not care. Out of all my guns, you will not find a .380. Never cared for mouse guns. I had one and sold it. Nor do I think anyone I know owns a .380. Maybe I do not run in the circle of people that want a .380.

But I do know that manufacturing stats are not accurate.

Hi:
lets keep this between you and me--I like Glocks for the same reasons.
BGs run in packs and I an't good enough to hit my target (s) everytime under stressful conditions.
To keep from being stun slapped yet again, I also carry a S&W Revolver as a BUG.
Jimmy

A Glock? Seriously? Where in the world did you find one of those? You know that revolvers are much more common than those seamy autos. About the only ones that buys those things are the guvmint and the police.

Jimmy, you ain't done formed your own guvmint or opened up your own police department have you?

I will probably give some of you heart attacks to hear this (or make you spit coffee all over your keyboard)....

but I just sold my 66 snub (to a forum member...keeping it in the "family") in order to purchase a.....Glock 26 subcompact..

I do have a 340 M&P for carry....but the 66, as sexy as it is...just did not fill the role I was hoping for.

For concealed carry, the subcompact Glock is outstanding.
Light weight
10 rounds of 9mm,
easy to reload,
accepts magazines from larger Glocks,
lots of holsters available,
easy to maintain,
no external safety....

And in the past, my experience with these subcompacts has been outstanding....
Now....if I could afford it, I would have many semis and revolvers!

Oldman45,

My post was in regard to your notion of what folks are currently purchasing [["Eliminate the government purchases and it may well be that over half of all individual purchases were revolvers"]], not how many .22s have been sold in the 19th and 20th century.

Yes, I agree with you that a great many government agencies do buy autoloaders. A great many are Glocks. However, you may be confusing domestic production data. If you notice, the US manufacturing data shows that Glock Smyrna GA manufactured 30,000 pistols in 2010. However, the ATF also reports over 400,000 handguns being imported from Austria in 2010. What do you think those were? (See Dwever's earlier posting regarding imports). So... attempting to subtract law enforcement autoloader demand out of total reported domestic production [["Eliminate the government purchases and it may well be that over half of all individual purchases were revolvers"]], doesn't appear to be good math or logic. If you were to add in all the imported autoloaders, then subtract law enforcement purchases, I might be interested in reading your conclusions.

Curious... [["I maintain there are more revolvers made than autoloaders if you eliminate the plastic guns."]] That may or may not be true, but what has it got to do with anything being discussed here?

A new 2012 Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger does everything a 1970 Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger does only better. Further more, the new ones do things never dreamed of by the old ones. And they do it with comfort and all the modern conviences. With that said, the 2012's are much better cars than the 1970's are...they just have that certain "soul" that you can't engineer in a lab or explain. That's my thought with the semi vs. revo

__________________
17-2, 65-5, 442-2, 10-5

I managed to get a rare Gen3 19 for the civilian market... but they are scarce.

not one thing does it have to do with anything being discussed here. i sell 10 .380's for every small revolver. The big reason is because the new generation plastic frame guns are much smaller than the revolvers. Now as many of us know it's not real hard to carry a bigger gun like my .45 SIG or my Glock 19 but many people don't want to put forth the effort to carry a larger handgun or they are like my nephew. He's a traveling salesman and he has to observe something I don't called a "dress code" so he can't wear untucked shirts or what i call cover clothing, so a bigger gun is out for him but he can carry a smaller gun like the LCP or the LC9. They may be plastic and thus irrelevant to someone but as I am fond of saying, "They'll kill a Son of a biscuit eater as well as anything". Of course like ChattanoogaPhil I might be a little young for my opinion to count for anything

Random thoughts...
Semi-auto vs Revolver, it is an age old question. I have used both as primary duty and both backup guns.

Now retired, I use both for daily carry away from my property.

I prefer a S&W 5 shot revolver as my "little gun".
Most of the time I carry a 1911 in 45 ACP as my primary...

Sometimes I will carry a "little 1911 as a backup...

However on hunting trips, while traveling, I sometimes carry a 4" S&W 44 Mag as my Primary.

I always have a little extra ammo for the 38 backup.

I always have a lot of extra ammo for the Primary...

Extra ammo is carried in speed loaders or magazines...

For most "Civilians" that are not well trained I recommend a revolver, or two.

For a person that is VERY well trained,. I recommed a little revolver as a No2 and a Semiauto as a No1. You should always carry the "little" revolver, as usually, any deadly force encounter, will be at conversational distance, or Closer... You will normally find yourself using your No2 revolver first...

I have and love them both. I have all 3 sizes of Glocks in .45 caliber-21, 30 and 36. I normally leave the 21 at our place in Florida for walking around in the woods or for trips on our boat. It gets mighty desolate sometimes in the upper reaches of the Apalachicola River and it's comforting to know it's in the boat bag. I'll take the 30 and 36 along on any everyday outing where I can conceal them IWB. But for deep concealment or pocket carry I'm trying real hard to make one of my J-frames work all the time.

Why? Easy, it's what I'm used to and what I love. I bought my first two Model 36's in 1970 and still have one; I'd have them both except for my truck being broken in to in my driveway. I have confidence in a J-frame and my hand just seems to go naturally around it. I don't consider myself an especially good shot, but I spent many hours back in the '70's putting holes in a 55 gallon drum with a model 36 at about a hundred yards; it's a gun I know well, love and trust!

I'm not saying that I'll never have to go with a pocket .380 for deep pocket concealment, but I'm going kicking and screaming. In an effort to avoid doing so I just spent $850.00 yesterday that I didn't really need to spend to order a 340PD. So I should have the weight easily down into pocket .380 territory so it's just a matter of a little extra width in the cylinder.

There's just not a right and a wrong here in my opinion, except carrying nothing or something you don't love and trust.

Just my .02.