for me? small frame S&W Snubby such as the 340 PD in 357... or hammerless (shrouded) airlight like the 432 PD in 38 +P... i can stick it right in my jeans pocket and no one knows the difference other than it looks like my wallet or whatever... it's easy to get to, won't snag coming out and it'll do what it is meant to if the situation calls for it...

if you have to "reload" in a close range self defense situation you are probably already dead or damn close to it...

the small snubby is easy to control... more difficult to remove from your hand, is easily concealable and unlike an auto... won't FTF or FTE and stovepipe at just the wrong moment... simple and effective for the "inside the circle" situations...

but... that's JMHO...

J