This topic often causes tummy upset and dissension among many folks.
As someone who served as a LE firearms instructor, and who had to qualify people who chose to carry 5-shot snubs as both Secondary and off-duty weapons, I look at the question a little differently ... and only having 5rd capacity
isn't the biggest consideration.
Simply out, is any particular person who chooses to carry a 5-shot snub revolver 'skilled enough' to run a little DA/DAO revolver hard, controllably and accurately?
Of secondary concern would be the
weight of the model chosen. The differences in all-steel models ... or aluminum frames with steel cylinders, yokes and solid barrels ... or aluminum frames with steel cylinders but aluminum yokes and barrel shrouds ... and aluminum frames with aluminum yokes and light
titanium cylinders ... can really change the dynamics for some shooters.
Then, there's the ammunition used (and whether it's appropriate for the model selected).
The combination of revolver weight and recoil of the chosen ammunition could have a profound effect on how well (
or not) the shooter might be able to run the little snub ,... especially under stress and duress..
The use of 5rd revolvers comes with the inherent limitation of 5 round capacity. Just like the days when the use of 6rd revolvers for duty and self defense use came with the inherent limitation of 6 round capacity. (And 1911's used 7rd magazines.) Better be able to make effective use of what you have available.
When I decided to return to carrying a 5-shot snub on my own time, but wanted something lighter than my older all-steel models, I went with my first Airweight. The introduction of the 642-1 rated for a diet of +P intrigued me. That required not only dusting off my DA revolver skills, but working to improve on those older skills. It took me a little time and at least a couple cases of ammunition to really dial things it, skills-wise.
The next decade saw me adding more 5-shot snubs, and they became a staple in my range sessions, no matter what other issued or personally-owned weapons I ran during the range sessions. After all, the very attributes that make the little (and lightest) 5-shot snubs so attractive and practical as concealment weapons, also makes them harder to shoot for most folks.
I still, more often than not, carry one or another of my J's as retirement weapons.
Now, as to the question of whether having only 5 rounds available before having to reload for any particular situation will be 'enough'?
Well, I've seen my fair share of folks for whom having 15 or 50 rounds available before having to reload may not be 'enough'. It still comes down to whether someone has worked to get their skills sufficiently
hard-wired, physically, and their knowledge, judgement and decision-making sufficiently
soft-wired, to allow them to effectively function under stress and duress.
It ain't just about ammunition capacity.
Daily carry everywhere. 2x2x2 sees a lot of duty or an HKS in cargo pocket. I feel completely safe in any environment
