Thanks for the replies guys, some good info there.
Last chance gun you stick in ear, head, etc and pull trigger
If I were planning to depend on an NAA revolver for defense, I certainly wouldn't engage anything greater than contact distance anyway; the muzzle would essentially be inches from the assailant's face (if not touching) when the hammer fell and I'd strive to have the element of surprise... I wouldn't brandish it before use, that's for certain.
This is essentially how I view my P32; if I were ever forced to use it, I can almost guarantee the surgeons (or coroner) would find powder stippling around the bullet entry/entries.
I was also intrigued by the use of CCI shotshells at extreme close range as I suspect a 52gr payload of #11 shot to the face would at the very least
distract an assailant, if not for anything but allowing a better aimed follow-up shot to the face with a solid Maxi-Mag. Though I don't own one, I can see these things having the potential to be somewhat effective for a last-ditch defense... more so than stern words, I'd guess.
I guess I'll shine some light on why I'm asking. My wife's coworker (also an RN in post-op) is skittish and mentioned to my wife that she carries a knife in her purse for "defense" to and from her car at work. As they often switch from days to nights due to a nursing shortage, they find themselves leaving at night quite frequently. The hospital has several well lit parking lots and parking garage with updated security cameras (though are only as good as those watching them) and I understand Security is Johnny-on-the-spot with providing escorts when requested/available. With all these precautions, they still have hospital staff routinely hit up for money from bums and addicts that have learned the shift change times.
My wife will leave only with others who are leaving as well and will request an escort from security when leaving at off-hours. Her coworker will occasionally leave by herself, not having the patience to wait for others or for an escort to become available. There is a strict no-firearm policy in place at the hospital and this lady probably wouldn't carry one in her purse even if allowed. When I described NAA revolvers to wife, she seemed under the impression this coworker
may opt for an NAA as they don't really fit the "gun" profile... with the diminutive size allowing it to seem more acceptable to those who might be put off by the presence of a traditional firearm.
Being this lady is even smaller than my wife (perhaps 5'2, 100 pounds), it seemed the NAA would make a better option than some Buck folder, especially when the wielder has limited physical strength.
We haven't seriously considered approaching this coworker with this option and may never... she'll probably end up with pepper spray, which I'm sure the hospital is far more tolerant of anyway. However, it was interesting to toss around the idea and I even think I want one for myself after scrouring the net for info and seeing how cute and diminutive these inexpensive revolvers are.
Anyway, thanks for the replies!