[Jeff Higgins]

I will go ahead and cast a vote for a revolver as a carry gun. A round butt Model 19, like the one Paul is considering, would make a wonderful carry gun. No, they are not as ultimately concealable as a small auto, but under the right circumstances they are not difficult to conceal. Simply wearing a dinner jacket is one easy way to hide them. When it would be inappropriate (too obvious) to wear something that would adequately conceal one, carry something else.

And yes, absolutely, such a small revolver shooting full power .357 mag ammunition is "no fun" to shoot. Besides, like I said earlier, it's hard on the gun anyway. That's why we don't do it, beyond, like I said, verifying point of aim. In any defensive situation you will never notice the recoil. The other guy will be having even less fun than you. So don't worry about that - shoot .38 Specials for fun and practice, and load it up with .357 mags for "social" (Col. Cooper reference there) work.