The S&W M&P 340 .357 Magnum is my constant companion. Factory equipped with the XS 24/7Standard Dot with Tritium. The gun has since been equipped with Crimson Trace Laser Grips and the current load of choice is Hornady Critical Defense.

In the current era, the semiauto pistol is the king of the hill. Even so, the response to a recent revolver feature by Tiger McKee was heavy – and none of it was anti-round gun. I find myself drawn to the revolver. My primary artillery is the autoloader and it has been for many years except in rare circumstances. When I was invited to a hog strafing safari, my primary handgun was the S&W Model 629 Classic. I carried the five-inch revolver in a Galco holster worn crossdraw and had the Galco 2X2X2 ammo carrier. As we were on private property, I made no attempt to hide the cannon. The S&W M&P340 five-shot .357 Magnum, a constant companion for the last eight years, was discreetly carried in a pocket holster. I've been carrying one-or-another small revolver as a backup gun since 1978. I'd at first carried the S&W M60 Chief's Special .38 in a Bucheimer suede clip-on rig off duty in the front waist of my jeans about 25 years before I saw that carry referred to as "appendix." It wasn't the best type of holster for the job and I've since going to carrying a holster gun at all times – in addition to the small revolver. I harbor no delusions that most folks will agree with me and use the snub as a spare gun. For most, carrying one gun pushes their limits and many carry that gun without a spare load of ammunition. You pay your nickel, you take your chances.

Ruger LCR, this sample fitted with an XS front sight, has a great double action trigger and is more than accurate enough for defense.

I've made extensive use of S&W J-frame .38 revolvers for the back-up task. I've also used the Ruger SP101, a 2 ¼" barrel, five-shot .357 Magnum, the spurless hammer version that was 'double-action only.' I let someone talk me out of that one, but it had consumed large amounts of Magnum ammunition while in my custody. A testament to Ruger's standards, it was as functional when it left as it had been when it got here. When the Ruger LCR was new to the industry, a five-shot polymer .38 +P, I was at a media event. Bo, from XS Sights was there and he seized a sample LCR to fit a Big Dot front sight. He had to guess where the gun would hit it as they'd not had one at XS to properly mate the sight to the gun. I shot that gun for a few days and engaged steel targets from fifty to eighty yards distance. Only one target was left unscathed. The LCR is available still – in the original trigger-cocking version, as well as the exposed hammer LCRx – and in calibers including .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .38 +P, .357 Magnum, 9mm and .327 Federal Magnum. Crimson Trace Laser Grips are available for both the S&W and Ruger small revolvers – and I highly recommend them for the small guns. Once they're on and you zero the laser for the rounds you carry, they become a real asset when you can't raise the gun to eye level for one reason or another.

Pocket holsters are great for the back up gun. On the left is the creation of retired LAPD officer Bob Mika and on the right is the Safariland pocket holster.

As the concealed carry revolver is a "spare tire" for me, I make use of discreet holsters including pocket holsters from Safariland, Bob Mika and Galco, among others. I use Speed Strips, from Bianchi, and/or Quickstrips from Tuff Products, to carry spare ammo. Given a willingness to shoot the gun and learn it, the snub revolver has a place in your defensive firearms plan. -- Rich Grassi