A silenced .22LR was the preferred weapon of mob hitmen. May still be, for all I know. Until the last couple of decades of the 20th century that and .38 special were responsible for the majority of people killed by handguns.
CC
I’ve read about the 22 as a hitman’s weapon.
I like 38 special a lot.
I have been shopping to find a 357 Ruger 6-1/2” Blackhawk. Found one use in a gun store they wanted $700 for one that was 15-20 years old. (it was clean)
List price (that means nothing now) is about $650 new.
Not looking for a concealed weapon, just a good on my property gun. I reload 38/357 and have bullet molds for them. Have lots of brass for 38 and enough for the 357.
They are easy to load, cheap to feed and reliable. Like everyone else, I don’t have enough large pistol primers. We will have to wait a while for that.
I have more than enough primers for my rifles. (I don’t own an AR or an AK.)
Love .38 pistols and 30-30 rifles. (very cheap to feed and can be very accurate for the range I need.)