I use/carry a S&W 629, 2 1/2", 44 Mag, fixed sights, all steel. I have never liked "light" or "small" revolvers...just personal preference. The Smith weighs 32 oz's, and is bearable even with top end 44 mag loads. I load "down" (250 grain Keith @ 700 or so) for use in the home, and up a bit (250 grain Keith at around 950) for CCW, outside of the home. For a "last ditch", close up, dangerous game load, I could employ full house loads, and have shot them in this gun just to see how it felt and handled. I can stay "on target" in double action mode, and yes it is abusive, but most top end loads in big bore's are to some degree. In that situation, who cares! What I really like about the gun is, that it is easy to handle in close quarters, around the house...in the car.... is reasonably unobtrusive, and light enough to carry, but, is heavy enough to satisfy my need for control and some semblance of recoil absorbtion with the heavier loads. This gun with top end loads is "as much" recoil as I can handle well, (or would care to handle) in a gun that I consider to be small and light enough to carry comfortably....so, I guess that my thinking is in line with markallens. This type of gun is not for everyone, and granted it is a "compromise" to the extreme, but, most large bore snubbies are.