This sort of question is more of a risk assessment question than a pure equipment question.
If I were going to return to active duty and go out on patrol or handle a daily caseload in some detective type of position?
Then
no, a 5-shot short-barreled snub revolver wouldn't be my choice as a primary duty weapon. (I would, however, be fine going back to carrying a 6-shot revolver of 2 1/2", 3" or 4" barrel length, but that's another subject.
)
Since I'm retired, and I no longer concern myself with the possibility of invoking peace officer authority off-duty and taking an enforcement action by intervening in an active, on-view criminal activity?
Then
yes, in many situations that involve my normal retirement activities I'm willing to rely upon one of my several 5-shot snubs as a retirement CCW choice, in case I find myself having to protect myself (or my wife or family) from 1 or 2 attackers within reasonably close range.
Can I predict what risks might present themselves on any given day or night, and which combination of handgun, caliber and ammunition capacity might ultimately be needed?
Of course not. I never had a crystal ball for the 34 years I carried one or another badge (I did have a Magic 8-Ball, given to me by a close command staff friend, but it never seemed to give me the right answers for the right questions
).
I did, however, develop a sense of awareness and learning to assess and balance risks that let me walk the line between oblivious and paranoid.
As was already mentioned, though, being able to accurately, controllably and effectively shoot a diminutive DA/DAO snub revolver under stress may be a skillset that isn't as easily gained as some folks might wish.
Yes, it's relatively easy to slip a pocket-holstered J-frame into a pocket ... but ... the very attributes that make the snubs so ubiquitous and popular as CCW/off-duty choices for a lot of folks also tends to make them harder to shoot well compared to other, larger revolvers ... or even smallish pistols chambered in 9 or .380.
I'd think that each person would have to realistically ask him/herself if they were carrying that little snub more as a talisman or good-luck charm, or as a dedicated weapon they're confident they can use well under stress.
Me? I come from the generation of cops who carried revolvers on-duty, at least for several years before the hi-cap pistols finally nudged revolvers into their niche in police history. I liked revolvers and a Colt Commander for my off-duty needs, but eventually realized that environments presenting less looming threats made a J-frame a handy thing to have as an option. Initially that meant attending meetings, some LE training classes & seminars, court appearances, etc.. Eventually, as my skill using 5-shot revolver grew, it came to mean having one or more of them as an off-duty option.
Now, as a revolver aficionado and a LE firearms instructor of an earlier time, I also had the opportunity and motivation to devote time to developing, honing and maintaining my revolver skills, and especially my snub revolver skills (which tend to be harder to shoot).
Everyone has to ask themselves if they have the justified confidence (and experience) necessary to safely handle and shoot
any particular handgun safely and well enough to rely upon it in an unexpected dynamic, chaotic and rapidly evolving deadly force situation.
The venerable 5-shot snub is just another option to be found among the growing wealth and breadth (and clutter) of handguns available to be carried as dedicated defensive weapons nowadays.
Suit yourself, but hopefully for the right reasons. Make your own informed decision (which might require some additional training, knowledge and insight, as well as a frank assessment of your own abilities).
Also remember that even if you're carrying the "right" gun, and have all the "right" training and experience, and may do everything "right" if something bad ever comes your way, that's still no guarantee that everything will work out. Trying to manage risk and limit exposure to unnecessary risk doesn't eliminate risk.
I've met my fair share of people who could carry a pistol that holds 17+ rounds of the latest and greatest JHP ammunition, and maybe 50-150 rounds of extra ammunition on their person in assorted extended capacity magazines ... and they were still likely going to find themselves less prepared than they probably wished to think they were.
