This article, one of the best ever, from the American Handgunner March-April 2002 by Massad Ayoob follows right along with this discussion and Lance Thomas is one of the United States' all-time heroes in my book.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...6/ai_82533205/
Started with a J-Frame and "evolved" from there.
"It is not lost on him that he has expended 60 percent of his ammunition to neutralize 50 percent of his antagonists."I still like five shot 38's as a general matter. I lived in Los Angeles Conunty at the time Mr Thomas was doing his fine work, and could not believe the politically correct cry-babies at the Los Angeles Times.