I often, but not always, carry a revolver for its simplicity, its reliability, and its versatility. For travel to town, my choice is often a Smith Model 60 with full lug 3" bbl. My carry load is a 135 gr Gold Dot Plus P in .38 Special...tho the gun is chambered for .357 Magnum. Here on the farm, as a part of my daily life, I routinely carry a Smith M66, M69 and/or a Ruger BH. All are useful, but for town trips it's usually the M60.
My choice of the .38 Special load breaks down to this: In my experience, the shorter case of the .38 Special makes for surer ejection of empties, if the need for a reload is necessary. Magnum length brass in a snubbie often hang up on the cylinder release...too the slightly longer 3" bbl. helps....its steadying weight out front makes for better control for follow up 2nd, 3rd & 4th shots.
Revolver Simplicity: Its manual of arms is simplicity itself when compared to that of an auto-loader. Kept clean as all duty/CC guns should be, it's reduced to: draw, pull the trigger. Repeat. As to reduced capacity & since I'm a civilian, I don't run towards the sound of the guns, just as I don't frequent the rough parts of town. I anticipate a limited shooting encounter and at very close quarters and do everything possible to avoid an extended gunfight. I keep my distance, remain alert to my surroundings and act early to avoid any trouble. And I insist that those that accompany me on my sojourns, do the same. We take appropriate measures to avoid trouble before it becomes an issue...no discussion...we leave. We go armed in all legal localities. It's simple when you pay attention.
Reliability: I demand that all my guns work, to that goal, I keep them clean. I don't ignore maintenance issues. I use good ammunition tailored to the locale I'll be frequenting: Modern JHP's designed for snubbie use when in town or on the road. LSWC's around the farm, loaded to a suitable, usable level. Wadcutters for fun on the range and to practice reloading as they're tougher to get aligned with the cylinder chambers. I carry a speed loader as a matter of habit & use it for nearly every reload on the range. The bulge it makes in my pants pocket does not bother me.
The gun and I are reliable...we're a team that has over 50 years of familiarity going for it. We continue to practice, almost daily, here on our farm in KY. We've taught others to use their weapon choices and the teaching has made us a better fighter as we've thought out a great many problems/scenarios, while answering questions. In practice, we shoot from standing, laying down on the back, kneeling and while moving. We shoot in rain and snow and while squinting into the setting sun. We've shot in full darkness...having a personal range on the farm is truly a luxury...and builds reliability.
Versatility: A revolver as a choice of weapon, its ammunition, and holsters are at least as good as any auto-loader I can name...and in most cases, better. In particular, most any ammunition choice need not affect reliability. From target wadcutters to full house magnums, the gun works when you press the trigger. Holster choice is another plus. IWB, OWB, Pocket, Shoulder rigs are available choices...and BTW, a revolver will fire from inside a pocket & more the once if necessary...not so with an auto-loader.
Sights: I always choose adj. sights to take advantage of different loads for different purposes. I've never had a problem with unwanted sight movement, nor with hang ups when completing the draw/presentation movement. It's a matter of training, & of using a sensible holster, with suitable and frequent practice.
In fairness, I don't use nor recommend IWB or AIWB carry positions. Practice is the key to successful CC. Both IWB and AWIB holsters allow the gun to cover portions of my anatomy. The repetition of drawing and re-holstering thousands of times in practice, opens me to a mistake that could very well be fatal. I just can't justify it for the milli-second it gains during presentation, nor for much touted better concealment. I dress around the gun and routinely use an OWB holster which is far less limiting than some would have us believe. I understand that many shooters like these positions, but I do question how safe they are during practice, on a public range, or in a scuffle on the street. YMMv and I respect that, but be attuned to the potential for negligent discharges due to equipment choices.
HTH's & YMMv, Rod
