Buying a small-framed revolver probably isn't something I'd ever casually recommend to someone asking about a smaller defensive handgun ...
Shooting a standard size revolver requires good, basic revolver skills. Shooting a reduced size, or even diminutive, revolver requires even more refined revolver skills, by most folk's accounts ...
The very attributes that folks favor when it comes to the short-barreled 5-shot snubguns ... short barrels/sight radius, reduced profile iron sights, smaller grip dimensions, short trigger reach, light weight, etc., etc.. ... can often be the very things that make it much harder to accurately, effectively and safely shoot the little guns.
Factor in the DAO models and the heavier triggers, and you have some issues that would seem to reasonably require some increased skills, knowledge and training considerations.
I've watched some young LE pistols shooters, who were reasonably skilled and competent pistol shooters, suddenly feel as though the world had changed the rules when they brought their newly purchased J-frames to the range for qualification, and discovered they suddenly couldn't shoot nearly as well as they had expected ...
Whenever one of our folks asks me what I think of 5-shot revolvers for off-duty/Secondary Weapons, I first explain the pro's & con's, and then offer to them shoot a couple of them we keep in the training collection, or one of mine, if I've got it that day. More often than not, shooting one is enough to make them reconsider things. Some folks just don't seem to be inclined to spend the extra time and effort mastering the skills necessary in order to shoot the little guns as well as they would like, or as well as they could, it seems.
When I first picked up my 642-1 Airweight, I discovered I had to spend some frequent range sessions dusting off my revolver skills ... and I'd already owned a couple of other steel-framed J-frames, and a Ruger SP101. Once I'd worked my way through more than a case or two of various .38Spl ammunition using my 642, as well as a couple of training J-frames (steel and Airweight models), I was starting to feel comfortable and confident in my skills once again. Then, I had to make sure I included them in my training frequently enough in order to keep my skills from starting to rust again.
Not necessarily easy. I rather consider the J-frames, especially the Airweights, to be demanding little things. If you're willing to consider shooting a perishable skill with larger handguns, then you can see how much more difficult it might be for a lot of folks to maintain their with the smaller models.
Then, there's the whole beach & sand issues to consider. Revolvers tend to dislike grit getting into the innards ...
The steel vs. lightweight snubgun issue is one to consider carefully, too. I can't certainly can't pretend to make the right choice for anyone other than myself ... and I own both steel & Airweight models.
