I qualified for my carry license with a 950BS (long story about the vagaries of the kinds of pistols you can subsequently carry and .22’s not being an acceptable carry caliber in Oklahoma). After the qualification, the examiner asked to take a turn with the 950BS as he was unfamiliar with the gun and his wife refused to carry a .380. He was impressed with the reliability and accuracy and indicated he might consider in as an option for his wife. I’ve never carried it, as I prefer revolvers for self-defense work.
The pistol does have an unusual manual of arms, in that it does not have an extractor. Racking the slide will NOT clear a chambered round. The pistol is single action and if the shooter is right-handed, it can be carried cocked and locked. If left-handed, you have to thumb-cock the exposed hammer as you really can’t get to the safety. The barrel release lever can be used as a second safety, as with the barrel out of battery the firing pin can’t reach a chambered round.
The pistol has a reputation for being extremely reliable in .25ACP. At self-defense distances it is also very accurate. The sights are small but useful, and the trigger pull is short and light.
The magazine release is near the heal of the grip, but if you run dry you should just throw it and run. People with large hands, if not careful with hand placement, will get cut by the slide.
The .25ACP is no “man-stopper” but ball ammo will penetrate to 12 inches (see brassfetcher.com). That said, .25ACP is not a center mass round, it is a center of the face round (aim for the nose). Two thoughts apply:
“A face full of .25ACP bullets should give you the edge in the fistfight that might follow.” And
“A small gun that you have when you need it is better than a bazooka at home.”
Best of luck in you search, match the tool to the task.
