I've posted this pic in another thead, and have owned this Combat Commander for 28 years. Even though the barrel is 1" shorter (4.25) it's steel (unlike the lightweight Commanders), so the recoil is trivial compared to my magnums. I'd forget about the laser stuff...a bit of practice, and it's point & shoot for defensive purposes. It's compact enough to carry (if one so chooses)...I wouldn't trade mine for anything:
ps: Matt is spot on regarding "cocked w/ the safety on"...can't be fired by dropping, etc. either.
pps: One other thing...when a magazine is empty, one button releases it (the slide is locked open), pop another in, and release the slide...it becomes "second nature" and is fast (and I'm left handed, so it's even faster for a righty).