Yes - once on a lonely Texas highway at night many years ago, the brief inadvertent display of my trusty S&W 357 Magnum ended a potentially nasty encounter.

On another occasion, I attempted to dispatch a rattlesnake with a round loaded with small shot using the same weapon. Fired at close range, it did not do the job. So I took care of Mr. Snake in the usual way, with a shovel - a far superior tool.

That 357 Magnum, purchased in 1964, is among my most cherished possessions. I have very little else that approaches its level of craftsmanship. I keep it clean and ready, but it is not central to my preparation plans. Many other items will be more generally useful in most emergencies.