Head0001, you need to choose your words more carfully, spray and pray!, shame on you!. You are correct to a point, a revolver is reliable, certain revolvers are veryconceallable, but of those certain conceallable revolvers,38spl you have the same effects of exterior ballistics as a 9mm when useing 124 or 147gr bullits, the 357 mag is a different story, but when they are that small, they are not that pleasent to shoot!.My Glock 30, 45acp for those who dont know the model size, is just as conceallable as a 38spl2" snubby, carries 10 roundsand iscomfortable for daily wear, and with a IWB holster it is concealled with just a t-shirt. As far as a recomendation, I beleive a newby shooter should get a 38spl revolver, just for the fact of its ease of opperation, in a pinch it is easier to fire, my only recomendation is to make sure it can handle a +P round. I also highly recomend some sort of course to familurize ones self with personal defence, not only how to use a weapon, BUT WHEN TO USE IT!!. The main reason for semi's popularity is the variety of calibers, "for self defence, I wouldnt choose below a 9mm, until the past couple years I wouldnt even concider a 9 until the improvement in ammo",you have a range of 9mm,357sig, 38sup, 40s&w, 10mm, 45acp that all can be had in a reliable,compact pakage, high round count and very conceallable, drawbacks are in a pinch harder to operate under stress! "safeties, thats why I choose Glock, my index finger is my safety".