I started carrying a 36 as both my backup and off duty gun back in 1981. Still have it. At the academy we were taught to use speed strips with them and do reloads two at a time. Over the next 30 years that gun was always there. Still carry it sometimes these days in retirement. It is dead reliable, I have shot it so much that I am able to know where my bullet is going, I know that I can hit with it at 25 yards and also know that if I have to use the thing, it is going to be inside 10 yards. Not worried at all about defending myself with it . Now I will say this, if you are new to self defense and cannot make the commitment to become very good with a j frame, it is not a gun friendly to you.