Wheel gun vs 1911

[nerfsrule2]

Which is more accurate??? I do a lot of target shooting and was wondering which style was more conducive to smaller groups??? Say a S&W 586 with an 8 3/8 inch barrel and the "3 T's" compared to a tricked out 1911 full size semi auto; say......." Wilson Combat" Please give a reason for your choice..(And Don't hold back!!!):evil:

[Funderb]

I prefer the autoloader.

Go look at both, hold them, point, etc.

pick the one that feels like home.

if one feels a little awkward you will never be as good as the other.
(don't confuse awkward with unfamiliar.)

[Steve C]

Assuming equally accurate ammo is used, of the 2 you list the revolver with its longer barrel and sight radius should be easier to shoot accurately especially at longer ranges. You probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference if both are shot from a ransom rest at typical ranges of 25 to 50 yards.

[pps]

You could have worse choices. Ginger or Maryann? Maybe both?

[Ala Dan]

Defonitely, the revolver. As mentioned, longer sight radius; consistent
DA/SA trigger pull. Perfect sight alignment, breath and trigger control
are also important factors, as too where the bullet lands~! :uhoh: ;)

[BMW2]

A 1911 can be very accurate but I think for the $600-$800 a quality revolver costs, you'd have to spend about half again as much to get a 1911 with similar accuracy. So from a dollars/accuracy stand point IMO a revolver is a better deal but try out both and see which is more comfortable for you. If it's not comfortable in your hand you'll never shoot a gun to it's full potential.

[jad0110]

Whatever works best for you is the real answer.

But in the grand scheme of things the typical revolver will possess slightly greater mechanical accuracy, given the fixed sights and barrel. Few of us are good enough to notice the difference, IMO.

[BlindJustice]

I regularly shoot my:

S&W 1911 5" Bbl. Stainless Steel
&
S&W 625 5" Bbl.. .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim

I have to say when I take both to the range
on the same day, sometimes I shoot the 1911
better, other days the 625 is better.
Carrying: I'll take the 1911, I'd also give it the
edge for follow up in the 7 yds - 10 yards ranges.
But if it was a 50 yard bullseye match or hunting I'd
take the 625.

Ok, Ginger AND Mary Ann.... heh.

oh, and I have an L-frame - 686P
4" Bbl. - I'd probably like it more if it had
a longer barrel to better handle the Magnum
slow burning powder. - but only 6" max. imo
an 8 3/8" bbl. wheel gun isn't very practical for
the field unless you're in a stand/rest. .

Randall

[Matthew Courtney]

A Wilson 1911 probably has more inherrent accuracy, but most people would shoot the long barrelled revolver better. After all, with a barrel that long, the bullet exits closer to the target!

[pogo2]

Just based on my experience with what I own, I'd take the long barrel revolver in single action target shooting, compared to a good 1911. I have both, and both can be quite accurate, but the revolver seems slightly better to me.

My oldest revolver is still my most accurate - a 50 year old S&W 27:

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/pogo2/SW2721.jpg

[General Geoff]

Revolver will be more accurate from a vice. It will also likely be more accurate fired off-hand and from a benchrest/sand bag, due to the longer sight radius.

[cobra2411]

For me it's much easier to be accurate with my revolvers, but they all have longer barrels then my 1911.

I've been working on my grip and stance with my 1911 and I'm amazed at how small changes can make big differences in accuracy. Even at 7-10 yards.

Ginger or Mary Ann: Mary Ann, more likely to cook you a steak dinner and to er.... service you while eating it...

Apologies to those that might offend, but I'm a guy... And that's what we thing about... :D

[nerfsrule2]

POGO2; Great Pic!!!!!!!:D I have the same grips on my 629 DX.. (8 3/8')

[crebralfix]

Assuming equally accurate ammo is used, of the 2 you list the revolver with its longer barrel and sight radius should be easier to shoot accurately especially at longer ranges. You probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference if both are shot from a ransom rest at typical ranges of 25 to 50 yards.

Oh, I'll notice alright. There's a big difference between a two foot group and a one foot group :)

I'm not sure how that long barreled S&W can be called even remotely "fair." Putting the muzzle one inch in front of the target just doesn't seem sporting.

[FoMoGo]

One thing about S&Ws 3Ts...
The target stocks blow...
Get good grips if thats the direction you decide to go.
The target stocks go in a drawer as soon as they get to my house.


Jim

[Drail]

The accuracy of a 1911 vs. a wheelgun has nothing to do with what type of firearm they are. It has everything to do with the barrel. That said, most people find it is easier to shoot a 1911 accurately than than a revo. That is a human factor, not a hardware factor. Clamp a quality 1911 or a S&W revo into a Ransom rest and they'll both shoot one hole groups. I guess the answer is whatever you can shoot best.

[BlindJustice]

Lest we forget, by the 1960s the Colt Gold Cup had
driven the Revolver off the firing line at Camp Perry.

R-

[crazy-mp]

I would go with the revolver, I started off with only semi-autos and have only recently went to the wheel guns (Thanks Jim Scouten!) they are a blast to shoot and usually about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a tricked out 1911. Wilson has one I really like but I would rather have the Springfield Armory M1A1 (M-14).

[HB]

Lest we forget, by the 1960s the Colt Gold Cup had
driven the Revolver off the firing line at Camp Perry.
Not because of accuracy, but because it is easier to shoot a 1911 5 times than it is to shoot your shot with a revolver, change your grip, cock the hammer, and repeat 5 times. For a given dollar amount, it is much easier to get a revolver to shoot well than a 1911.... For $500 and $100 in gunsmithing, the revolver will shoot better, easier, and cheaper but it is not competitive in Bull'seye anymore.

A 1911 has to have a TON done to it to shoot well (trigger, barrel to slide fit, new barrel, sights/dot improved, all parts fitted better etc) a good revolver might just get a trigger job and a little checkup to ensure a solid lockup

[Archie]

As originally posted, the autopistol is probably going to be the more accurate in terms of mechanical accuracy.

There are very few top level shooters in the precision disciplines (Bullseye or International) shooting revolvers anymore. The accurized 1911 pistols are far and away the first choice, followed by some European pistols with accuracy work. And it's not simply due to the problem of single action cocking in timed and rapid fire, it's the accuracy. Truly, the recoil of a K frame revolver loaded with 148 grain wadcutters is not much to overcome. One has the gun cocked by the time it's back on target.

All that being said, I probably shoot a revolver - for most purposes - better than an autopistol. My target autopistol is a Jimmy Clark Colt, so it's not the pistol doesn't shoot; I just work a revolver better.

Depending on other considerations, the revolver may do a better job of accuracy in specific conditions. I'm thinking here of long range (relatively) silhouette shooting or small to medium game hunting. I've got a M29 and an M27 that will deliver full charge loads with good accuracy much farther than any of my .45s will.

But for up to 50 yard precision work, the man who knows how to work a 1911 can outshoot most revolvers. At least, they seem to do so every year at Camp Perry.

[2RCO]

It's hella easier to police your brass with a wheelgun. A properly built 1911 will keep up with a revolver any day though. The question is which are you more comfortable with?

[GRIZ22]

I would give the out of the box revolver the edge vs a comparably priced auto. I'll go a little further and say S&Ws are generally more accurate than Rugers.

[msb45]

I've carried revolvers and have been carrying a 1911 for a few years now. Single action trigger works better for me. People talk of a longer sight radius but you need to separate range guns from carry guns. A 5" 1911 and a 4" 686 sight radii aren't noticeably different to me.

[mgregg85]

Defonitely, the revolver. As mentioned, longer sight radius; consistent
DA/SA trigger pull.

Maybe I'm missing something but how would a 1911, a single action pistol, not have a consistent trigger pull?

[earplug]

I mounted a Ultra dot sight on four of my Bullseye guns, Highstandard .22, 1911 Springfield 1911/Marvel 22, 625 and S&W M-14. This sight reduces the advantage of a long sight radius and evens the playing field on accuracy.
They all shoot very fine and the issue is me. As most Master shooters use a pistol and a red dot sight for Bullseye shooting, one should think that the semi autopistol is a better platform for target shooting.
Now if cost is factored in the Revolver gets a better slowfire score easier then most centerfire pistols of the same cost.
But ease of use slants towards the pistols for rapid fire target use.
Trigger cocking between shoots is harder then just pulling the trigger on a Semi Auto.