If you're stuck on a large caliber wheelgun, what about the Charter Arms Bulldog .44 special? Lots of those still roaming around, alloy frame makes it comparatively light and I believe it's a five-shot. Here's a new one in stainless:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976725699.htm

Hard to believe I can be at work, wearing a .45 and .380, but can't look at any sites because they are blocked by websense.

GEORGED... checked out the link... I could probably live with one of those... it does not look like a lite weight, & may even be a 6 shot... but I much prefer stainless or alloy guns... ( hard to tell much from the listing )... I wonder if my local dealer can get one, or if they have been discontinued like the other 44's ???

You guys don't think a 38 Special is enough energy? There are SO many factors involved with this discussion. Placement being the most important. I know one thing....I wouldn't carry a 9mm for protection. I know they have killed millions of people, but in the early 90's a dip sh-t walked into Wendy's(hamburger joint) and shot 6 people. ALL LIVED. Now don't throw stones at me, I just got through saying placement was everything, but the 9mm doesn't have the energy that would cause me to use it. I am probably wrong in my assumption, but there are better calibers. My next pistol will probably be a Glock 10MM.

S&W airweight hammerless in .38spl loaded with light quality hollowpoints would do well as a carry gun that is easily carried and concealed.I have been carrying for years and i shoot handguns frequently and the wifes airweight is always a pleasure to shoot and for close up shooting it is quite accurate.Anyone who thinks that a ..22 or .32 has enough energy to consistently stop an intruder or bad guy needs to research more ,they will not.The airweight is very comfortably carried in a quality ankle holster and with its light weight you forget that it is there.I shoot and enjoy the auto pistols but i personally choose the dependability of a revolver for a carry gun that may have to save me and or the wife.I carry a Ruger SP 101 with a 2" barrel that is also a good choice and packs more punch being a .357 mag but the .38 with + p loads in the airweight can come close for stopping power although it is quite a bit heavier than the airweight.

One of my buddies from bear camp carries one of those bulldogs. I was real impressed. Surprisingly it was accurate with little recoil. Less recoil than my commander I carry.

Exactly right which is why one needs to look into the real science behind what makes people stop doing what they are doing and expire.

A lot has been written on the subject and it isn't between the pages of most gun rags or spewed forth by most gun writers who write for them. One needs only to go to a well equipped library with a good medical section or find a resource which allows you to access good medical papers and articles. Look for a man named "Martin Fackler M.D." and start reading. Some other names to start looking for are Duncan MacPherson, Ronald F. Bellamy M.D. among other. Fackler should keep you in reading for a very long time. The guy has done tons or real research on the subject.

There are several for sale. This one says they were discontinued in 1993:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976736542.htm

All you'd need your local dealer for is to receive the shipment and play the registration game, usually $20-30. When I buy guns over the Internet, I always send the purchase money to the FFL holder who will be shipping the piece. That eliminates the con artist possibility.

My carry gun is a good ol cheap Ruger SP101 in 357 mag with a 3" barrel. 5 shot double action wheelgun. I put a set of decent rubber grips on it and I can shoot full power 357 without being uncomfortable, and of course in a defense situation you'd never feel the recoil.

I did some comparison tests between 38 lead 158 grain plinker SWC loads, 38 hollowpoint +P loads, and 38 fragmenting self defense loads. Shooting gallon milk jugs full of water. The fragmenting loads transfer all their energy in the target without carrying through like the others. The lead plinkers split the jug and upset it, the hollow points blew it apart and rolled it, and the fragmenters literally exploded it. I would be very comfortable with a 38 special with those loads for self defense. Like was mentioned earlier, it's not about caliber and speed, it's transferring energy into your target stopping the target.

I have a smith 696 and love it, surprisingly accurate, not a tack driver, but a worthy combat piece. I wouldn't hesitate to carry a .357 snubby either, I just fell into the 696. The energy, stopping power debate has raged for years, anyone shot in the right place with a .380 or larger with a good hollow point is going to change his tune. Get a weapon you are comfortable shooting, and shoot it a bunch, practice does make perfect