Little guns have pretty much always been more of a challenge. Its always amazed me they are so often pushed on those with little experience.
It's always puzzled me, too.
If chosen by someone with minimal-to-average skills with a larger handgun, it's probably going to be really challenging and difficult, to say the least, trying to master a skillset using the smallest guns.
I frequently hear someone using one or another of the small pocketable guns explain that they're only using it for "up close", as if they feel the need to justify themselves, and some will go on to offer that they know it's not accurate as far as a larger gun.
Depending on the owner's mindset, attitude and willingness (to pay attention and perhaps learn something), I'll often try to explain how one of the good quality little guns are really only limited by the skillset of the user, and are often capable of much greater inherent and practical accuracy than might be suspected. Some folks are quite surprised when I show them I can shoot one of my DAO J's and hit steel at 40-50yds, more often, and more quickly, than they can manage with their full-size duty pistols.
I'll also offer that spending some time learning to run the smaller guns well may pay a dividend of learning to improve their overall skillset, and might improve their abilities with their larger guns.
Then, there are the occasional above average-to-superior shooters who are willing to take the time to learn and master the requirements of shooting the little guns well.
I question if you would even get a chance, if you ran it dry, and still had opponents. My spare 17 mags are easier to access than any gun carried in my pocket. How are those who carry a spare mag for their smaller pocket guns (if they even do) carrying their reloads, and how often do they even practice doing reloads?
I look at carrying reloads for my LCP's as a situational context thing. Sometimes I do, but mostly I don't. Why? Because I really only carry one of the LCP's when I'm engaging in activities in places where I expect a very low risk to exist.
Yes, I understand the need for a spare mag in the event of a mag-related problem, or a type of feeding stoppage that requires ripping/discarding the itty bitty mag in the gun. A calculated risk.
On the other hand, having carried a service revolver on & off-duty for many years, I learned to carry either speedloaders or speedstrips on my own time, and the flat speedstrips worked quite comfortably in pockets. The habit stuck.
Besides, I happen to find loading a revolver, even the snub, to be relatively easier and faster than loading the LCP. Easier manipulation,
for me, than the super diminutive LCP.
I also consider the .38 Spl snub revolver to be a bit higher on the ranking of personal defensive weapons than the .380 ACP.
Handguns are all a compromise.
Some more than others.
Safety practices regarding equipment use can vary with the equipment and the conditions in which it's used.
I don't wear a helmet when I drive my car, but I do when I ride a motorcycle.
When I was a young man I used to consider wearing yellow or clear shooting glasses at night while driving a patrol car, on the odd chance I might require eye protection against spalled glass from bullet impacts. Gotta be ready, right?
I didn't wear them on the way home in my POV, though. Then, there was the ONE night when I was driving home in my POV, and some knucklehead decided my car looked like a nice target for a "freeway sniper" target. Got 2 rounds through a side window. My eyes weren't injured ... and I still don't wear ballistic eye protection while driving a POV. Not high on my list of things to overly worry about, although obviously it could happen.
I don't always carry a fire extinguisher in a personal car, and never on the bike.
I don't wear one of my armor vests during my normal retirement activities, either (although in colder weather they can help cut the wind when riding a bike
).
Wish I had a crystal ball, sort of. Some things I'd just as soon not have to know were coming.
Best.