[Hugh R]

No expert at all, but the top armorer in Hollywood told me if you want a handgun that is going to sit and is for emergencies, get a 38 revolver. His rationale is that a revolver doesn't jam and has no springs under tension when sitting for months or years. Semis that are loaded have at least two springs under compression the one for the slide, and the one in the magazine feeding the bullets. You want something that will always work if its sitting around for home defense.

OTOH, a friend who is a San Joaquin County Deputy Sheriff says that's nonsense and old school thinking and that new name brand semi's don't have spring failures even sitting for years, and that you want the biggest knockdown capability you can get. He says he's seen too many bad guys who weren't stopped by 38's and 9's. I think he carries a Glock or Sig 40, not sure.