Researching small open-carry revolver for daily retail store use
I'm helping out my 71 year old father with a little research. He works at a retail vitamin/nutrition store and closes it by himself several nights a week. Although he lives in a relatively safe area, he does have to make the deposit of the day's sales to the bank, at night, several times a week. He is uncomfortable doing this on a routine basis.
I had been encouraging him to get a gun for home defense for quite some time. Only recently he revealed that he owns a .357 Ruger revolver because his late wife, my step-mom, wanted them to have a gun! He hadn't fired it in years. He had half a box each of .38 special and .357, with price tags indicating purchase in the mid 1990's...
He has decided that he wants to open-carry while at work (legal in his state) and he wants to get a small "cell phone sized" revolver. He plans to shoot it to familiarize himself, but then admittedly does not plan to practice much at all, and no formal training.
I started out typing this post intending to seek some caliber and make/model recommendations. (I'm a Glock and S&W semi-auto guy with no revolver experience since 1990). As I read the words in front of me, I feel uneasy. Although he was trained and served as a USAF Air Policeman from 1959-61, he genuinely has never been a gun guy. He is fit, and active, but he is 71. I'm not sure in good conscience that I can recommend a purchase to him for open-carry in a retail environment several days a week unless he commits to practice and attending some knowledgeable training. Heck, we haven't even _begun_ to discuss retention holsters...
I live 6 hours away so I can introduce him to stuff, but can't take him out regularly and can't substitute in any event for a qualified instructor.
So, I'm open to recommendations on caliber/make/model revolver.
Open to reasons on why he might want to consider a semi-auto.
Especially open to some practical arguments/thoughts on how to impress upon him the need for formal training if he is going to open-carry while operating solo in a retail environment with the general public. Personally I would like to see him take a class and get a concealed carry permit, buy a .22 for frequent practice, and then carry a small semi-auto concealed. Some practical advice/arguments are welcome.
Sorry for the length. It's my dad.
Husband, Father, Veteran, Citizen
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