The Night Guard's rear sight is the rugged Cylinder & Slide Extreme Duty fixed U notch, which can be replaced and fitted with an adjustable S&W sight.

The Model 315NG turned out to be my favorite. It possesses the positive features of my old, trusted Model 12--light weight, compact size and a six-round cylinder--while featuring improved sights and grips for superior accuracy and recoil control, along with the ability to use +P ammo. While some of today's "experts" belittle the .38 Special as a defensive round, I firmly believe that if you can't handle the situation with six rounds of .38 +P you don't need a handgun. You need a SWAT team.

The 386NG is only slightly larger than the 315NG and would serve equally well for concealed carry. I have used a pair of L-frame 686 revolvers for action pistol competition for almost two decades and believe this size revolver provides an optimum combination of size and weight for fast, serious shooting. And there's not a damn thing wrong with having a seventh round of ammo either.

The downside is that, because of its light weight, the recoil generated by magnum cartridges has a negative effect on accuracy and the ability to make fast follow-up shots. My advice would be to use .38 +P ammo.

While some favor them, I have always found N-frame revolvers a bit too large for me to shoot comfortably, and I feel that the 329NG is a too large for the average or even "above average" person to carry concealed. However, if used for home defense, its size would not enter into the equation.

In addition, Rusty and I both found that firing .44 Magnum cartridges out of it was, well, a painful experience. If I were to use it for defensive purposes I would stoke it with .44 Specials and reserve magnum loads for those times when it would serve as a trail or backup gun for hikers or hunters in bear country.

Despite the popularity of semiautos, there are a significant number of law enforcement officers, homeowners and licensed civilians who still prefer the revolver, and this is the market niche that S&W sees for the Night Guard revolvers. And, excuse the pun, I believe they are right on target.

The 315NG quickly became the author's favorite as it was reminiscent of his Model 12, but he found the other two a bit painful to shoot with magnum loads and recommends .38 +P in the 386NG and .44 Specials in the 329NG for practice.