As to legalities:
You can make the prosecution look like idiots if they don't like your "Cowboy Gun".
Ask how they'd react if you had something ultra-modern and high-cap!
The truth is, they just don't like people defending themselves and would drop red herrings all over the place no matter what. It's a "Goldilocks problem", where the gun will always be "too murderous" or "evil and ultra-concealable" or "ancient junk" or "modern .mil wanna-be" or *something* screwed up.
The reality is, an SA wheelgun is usually particularly accurate and capable of moderate-speed but well-aimed fire if you do your part. As long as you're well-practiced with it, it's the most "bystander-friendly" type of defensive handgun made.
If possible, I would recommend something with a transfer bar or hammer block safety. That means Ruger or FA, or maybe one of the German SAs? You could then explain that it may look like a 19th century gun, but it has modern metallurgy and distinctly 20th century safety features. Failing that, you could explain how five-up carry works.
Blue Duck may be right about a pair of 7.5" barrels though. When I finally score CCW via my current Fed court lawsuit
, I hope to carry a 4.5" to 5.5" barrel .357 or possibly .45LC, plus a .22Mag SA minirevolver as backup. That combo should work pretty well both street and court.
Jim