IMO, the Ruger is a good choice..
If your shooting mice or snakes, which make for pretty small targets,
I would rather have that extra barrel length.. For ballistic reasons, as
well as the longer sight picture... Holsters can be obtained for them,
and they are small/light enough so as not to be too much of a pain..
Which Ruger??? Auto/target, or Single Six??? What I said goes for both..
Contrast that against a stubby little mankillin pocket pistol..
Designed for very close range, mansize targets...
I have a Single Six, had it for many years...
One of my favorite guns, my kids learned by shooting it too..
(first handgun) Sweet pistol, shotshells work fine in it, and
have never caused any I'll effects..
Like I said, Just IMO!!!
<S> and good luck w the new gun!!!
RC