[Ric]

Why I like my wheelguns:

1. No picking up brass after a range session

2. No misfire procedures, just pull the trigger again

3. no misfeeds, fail to eject, stovepiping

any more you guys would care to add?

[ruger357]

They are pretty.:D

[WheelMan]

I too like revolvers.

As it seems to me a revolver is a real "shooters gun" especially for the shooter that is also a reloader, consider the following advantages:

1. Simple Manual of arms

2. Easy to check loaded status

3. Ability to function at a wide range of ammo power levels without changes to springs, etc.

4. No bullet shape concerns regarding feeding.

5. Faster total loading time (from cartridge box to down range)

6. More easily obtainable in serious hunting calibers than autos


Some advantages specific to reloading:

1. Easy to retain brass

2. Does not damage case necks

3. The lack of recoil driven mechanisms allows the handloader greater freedom to load both up and down

4. rimmed (or mooncliped) cartridges easier to head space

5. trim length and crimp not as critical as auto (related to 4)

6. If you do mess up the crimp, bullet run-out is not nearly as dangerous as bullet setback (see: paperweight v. grenade)


The inherent advantages of autos are capacity and reload time. Both of which are only really valuable in a combat or defensive situation. And In the latter they are likely to not be critical.

If I just wanted a gun to shoot and reload for I'd pick a revolver every time. With the general advantages 3 and 5 plus the reloading advantages really putting it over the top versus autos.

This is not to say autos don't have a place, but I believe they are specialized weapons, not unlike shotguns.

For awhile I thought I needed a fifteen round 10mm. As that was, as near as I could tell, the most power you could fit in a handgun. Since then I've calmed down a bit and realized that if my sp101 or SW646 (which will be my main carry pieces when I get my permit) can't handle the situation I'm probably screwed anyway and better hope I'm not too far from my 590 or my FAL.

Don't get the idea that I don't like autos either, my third potential carry piece is a Desert Eagle in .40S&W. It's one of my best shooting guns and holds 13 rounds to boot. I guess If I'm ever going to east st. Louis I'll leave the sp101 at home and take the eagle :)

[natedog]

I love that.... .357 MAGNUM- 8 TIMES :D

[dogngun]

I'm going on 57 years old, recovering from cardiac bypass surgery, and evidently will get a chance to become a really old guy. I have had a carry permit for 8 years, and plan on having one for as long as I can.

I don't get into situations where I "need" 15 rounds of 9mm +p+ and two extra mags. I'm just fine with a revolver and a couple of speed loaders.

I KNOW it will always bang when I want it to, and not when I don't.
I KNOW when it's loaded, cause I can see the ammo.(Or shake the gun and hear the ammo rattle around.)

There's no safety to worry about.

There's no mag to worry about.

I can carry one in my pocket, don't need special holsters, etc.

A retired LEO firearms instructor told me "you can't beat a revolver for the first six shots". That's what I need.


I've been shooting mostly revolvers for over 30 years, and I know how they work and feel and I like to shoot them for fun, so I shoot them more, so I shoot them better.

Currently have 3 Smiths and I'm looking at an old Ruger Speed Six.

( My only auto at this time is a Star BM.)

Mark

I think all my handguns combined cost less than a custom 1911.
Leaves more money for more guns and more ammo.

[Jim March]

I'll add one more:

Folks on a budget shopping for basic self defense should consider wheelguns. There ARE a couple of low-cost slideguns worth owning (Makarov in particular) but they have funky DA/SA operation drills that in my opinion are NOT compatible with newbies or for developing basic skills.

For accuracy, power and reliability, a $250 used revolver generally tromps $250 worth of slidegun...this holds true even if you're limited to 38Spl, and goes triple when you jump to 357 where there's still some good deals (Ruger Security/Service series, DWs, etc).

Esp. if you have the checkout available to help pick a good wheelgun :).

[munk]

And for reasons not entirely clear, the revolver is generally more accurate than semi autos.

I like revolvers because you can see what is happening. I like them because they are simple, elegant, and strong; traits I admire in people and weapons.


munk

[Eskimo Jim]

I like my revolvers for lots of reasons in addition to all of those mentioned.

I can get custom grips to fit my hand that also add to the beauty of the revolver. I've never seen grips for an automatic do that.

I think you all covered the bases rather well for reasons to go with a revolver.

Try this one out, a revolver and a box of shells and you're in business for target practice. Put the cartridges in your pocket, set the empty box in a safe spot, step back and fire away with the revolver. No extra magazines.

No pieces of a revolver that easily become seperated and turn it into a single shot:neener: :neener: LIke a magazine with a semi-auto.

-Jim

[Black Majik]

I like my revolver cuz its something to shoot after I finished shooting all my ammo for my autoloaders. :D

Hey I'm young, I still prefer autoloaders. ;)

[Eskimo Jim]

Black Majik,
How old is old? Why do you think that you have to be old to appreciate the greatness of a revolver?

Are you another one of dem youts that makes a mess and doesn't clean up after themselves?:cuss: :neener:

Just joking around with you.

Shoot safely.

-Jim

[The Goose]

I just got into revolvers in the last week or so, but another great feature is the trigger pull. The old S&W M15 that I picked up has an incredible trigger pull. Very crisp and clean. Also a note that since I got my revolver I have been shooting it every day. The indoor range where I go requires lead ammo only. I buy remanufactured lead ammo and even with my Sigs I expect 1 or 2 jams, not an issue with a revolver. Took my P220 to the range this afternoon and had 2 jams in 150 rounds and I had to sweep up a lot of brass. I have put close to 1000 rounds through my revolver without incident. I also have been begun carrying an S&W 342 .38. I like the light weight and the reliability factor. I know guys that carry Glocks with pre ban magazines, one mag in the gun and 2 extra, 45 rounds or more. I just do not envision getting into a running gun battle that requires that much firepower versus lugging around that weight all day. I am a business man and statistics bear out that if I ever need to use my gun it will only be for a few shots. I am willing to gamble that my 5 rounds with a speedloader backup will be sufficient. I am also confident that at 25' I can put 5 shots in 4" or less with rapid fire. Not competitive accuracy, but adequate for personal protection. I know that if I pull the trigger that the gun will go bang.

[Standing Wolf]

If I ever encounter a semi-automatic pistol with a trigger as good as those on my Pythons, I'll think about it—and that's assuming I can equip it with high quality wooden stocks, as well.

[SnWnMe]

Both you and the BG know when it's loaded. You because you see the rims, him because the Gold Dots are staring back at him.

[Chuck Jennings]

A good trigger on a revolver is one of life's great pleasures.

[Preacherman]

There does seem to be an intimidation effect with revolvers - I started this thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=70173) about it a while ago, following an interesting experience.

I find myself carrying revolvers more and more often, not because I dislike auto's, but because I like revolvers! I have a fairly extensive collection, and carry anything from a 3" S&W Model 13 or 65, through a 4" S&W 646 or 686, through a 4" S&W 625. For pocket/backup carry, I rotate between a Colt Cobra and a S&W 442/642. They're very accurate, reliable, and will do the job I need them to do.

[Black Majik]

Hey E. Jim.

I'm jus' blending in a stereotype with the younger crowd as to preferring autoloaders to revolvers. Of course, that doesn't apply to all.

Quite frankly, revolvers still dont really balance in my hand all too well, but I'm hoping VERY much so that it'll all soon change within a week :o

I'll admit, I'm getting kinda bored with the autoloaders and 1911's. What drew me to the revolvers is the crisp break in the trigger, similar break to a 1911. Most DA/SA trigger autoloaders dont match near the finesse of the trigger to the 1911's and revolvers. Jus' my opinion of course. :)


Older crowd or new crowd, its "all good". In the end we love shooting.

*ahem* and cleaning up after ourselves too ;)

Happy shooting :)

[sturmruger]

In the last month I have really started enjoying my Ruger Security Six. I have had it for a little over a year, but haven't shot it very much. My buddy just go a new Taurus Tracker in .357 so we had to have a little shoot off to see who could shoot their wheel gun better. When we were shooting slow I shot better, but his Taurus is ported and he seemed to do better on the fast shooting then I did.

Bottom line is we are both looking to get .22 LR revolvers this weekend at the gun show in St Paul. I am looking at the S&W 617 because of it's 10 round capacity. Aaron likes Taurus so he is thinking about one of their 9 round .22s. I own like 8 autoloaders, but I am started to get excited about my wheel guns. Another plus is my wife has shown allot more interest in my little 637 then any other gun I own. Hopefully she will take a liking to it.

[Eskimo Jim]

I think that there is more comraderie amoung revolver shooters than automatics.

Do you see as many S&W vs Ruger vs Taurus vs Colt revolver threads as you do Glock vs HK vs Sig vs Ruger vs S&W vs Colt vs Kimber vs Springfield etc?

Also, they have a strong look of nostalgia about them from every angle except the business end.

-Jim

[Majic]

The judged by 12 have made mistakes from time to time, but the carried by 6 have got you there every single time. :neener:

[kyoung05]

I'm 22 and have shooting for less than a year. My first gun was a mil-spec 1911, then a 10/22, and got right into wheelguns. I just bought my first last week, a Ruger Single Six, and am planning on getting a S&W 28 next month. After that I'm looking to get a Bisley Blackhawk Hunter and a Vaquero. There's just something about revolvers...they seem "cooler" to me. That, and they can shoot calibers/loads that are more than 3X as powerful as any autoloader can (eg. S&W 500) if you so chose to. That, and the recent auto-loaders are too "tactical" for me...something about plastic and blocky guns just turn me off. :confused:

[Marshall]

And for reasons not entirely clear, the revolver is generally more accurate than semi autos.

I believe it's the same concept for accuracy as a bolt action verse a semi auto rifle.

[munk]

A bolt with six chambers, you mean. I've read various explanations and none seem entirely clear. I just know it works.

What is the average accuracy for a semi auto pistol as tested by Dope Bag? 3-4 " at 25 yards?



munk

[greyhound]

something about plastic and blocky guns just turn me off.

Yep, I hear ya. I read 1 too many internet gun forums and traded my Model 60 2 1/4" .357 in towards a Ruger P97.

Boy, I wish I handna done that.

Live and learn, I guess.

[munk]

I've a question: When the Aliens arrive and send that magnetic field out, (you know, after your car dies and radio turns off) will a revolver be more likely to function than a semi auto?


sound silly? It is. But that is one thing i really like about my revolvers- I can't imagine anything stopped the sequence of events leading to the explosive event and the projectile moving forward. Take that, particle beam afficianados.


munk

[PALEFACE]

i also like revolvers but i will say this, although the chance of a malfunction is less in a revolver when and if it does happen it is likely to be critical. most atuo's can't be put back into action rather quickly i.e stove pipe, double feed, but what happens if you get a bent star or a spent casing that doesn't want to come out in a revolver?

[PALEFACE]

oops:banghead: i meant can be put back into action

[munk]

You tap the cases out with a pocket knife handle. If it were critical and I were in the field, I'd try and bend the star back. I'm sure that's not a good thing. Maybe I'd have to hammer it back- perhaps remove it first if the manufacture permitted. What can make a star get that bent, though?
That's hard to imagine.


munk

[Majic]

Case stuck in the chamber of a 6 shot revolver turns it into a 5 shooter. Stuck case in the chamber of a pistol turns it into something to throw. :neener:

[Geezer]

"what happens if you get a bent star or a spent casing that doesn't want to come out in a revolver?"

With your firing side hand you throw the revolver at the BG while you draw your BUG with your support side hand and continue as before.

FWIW, some tests run at West Coast Tactical demonstrated that it is faster to drop the semi-auto and draw your BUG than it would be to perform any of the malfunction clearances. It seems that the BUG is the correct solution to any malfunction in whatever type of handgun.

God bless and y'all be careful out there.:cool:

[Majic]

It seems that the BUG is the correct solution to any malfunction in whatever type of handgun.
And if you are really having one of those days and the BUG malfunctions then what?
Not everybody chooses to carry a BUG, so you make do and perform a quick repair with what you got if there's time.

[pwrtool45]

And if you are really having one of those days and the BUG malfunctions then what?
Not everybody chooses to carry a BUG, so you make do and perform a quick repair with what you got if there's time.

I tend to agree with this point. When it rains, it pours.

In that case one need only press the ejector rod and tear the brass case out from beneath the steel extractor and out of the steel cylinder. ;) In any event, the case is being torn *away* from the extractor. It's not a big a deal, and can be done in an expedient manner if practiced like all failure drills should be.

At any rate, I think this particular sub-topic has been done quite a bit. Plenty of threads available for those interested in determining their "auto vs revolver" perference based on web forum members' opinions. :scrutiny:

[Boats]

I would just add this:

If you need to reload your CCW gun, you have probably already lost. On a reload is the only time the revolver shooter is going to find out that a case is stuck. My Plan A? Whack the ejector really freakin' hard. It's not like you are going to impale your hand on it or anything. The pain will go away. Practice with some Blazers--they tend to get stuck fairly easily.

Plan B is either my little Beretta auto or loading five from the speed strip as I do not carry speedloaders due to their bulk.

[HiWayMan]

"And if you are really having one of those days and the BUG malfunctions then what?"



Drop your guns and draw your knife.




You do carry a knife, don't you???;)

I carry two identical knives now for SD and that won't change once I get CCW.

Cold steel is always 100% reliable.
:D