A good revolver is more reliable/dependable than any semi-automatic. It is a mantra so carved in stone that I risk lightning bolts coming at me through the computer screen if I question this conventional wisodom. So - I'll just tell you what happened.
Last November I switched from Glocks back to the 1911, which I had carried for over 20 years prior to my 4 year Glock experiment. I bought a Wilson KZ-45 which has subsequently fired over 2500 rounds, most of which were reloads but some JHPs testing for carry ammo function. It has not had a malfunction to date. In the same time period I have fired a little over 500 rounds through my current carry gun, a Kimber Compact Stainless Aluminum. That also includes test firing my carry HP ammo. It has not malfunctioned to date. I went through a shooting session of 150 rounds with each of two other 1911s, my old competition gun (a lightly customized 1959 Government Model Colt) and a Kimber Custom Royal. Neither of those guns malfunctioned.
My wife is back to the 1911 from Glocks too, and I've seen her shoot several hundred rounds of both factory ammo and my reloads through her two carry Kimbers.
I still like revolvers, particularly N-Frame Smith & Wessons. After teaching a class today I got out my 3.5" Model 27 357 Magnum revolver to do some test firing. I had three targets set up so I did a very casual "El Presedente", i.e. two shots on each, reload and then two more on each target. At least that's what I set out to do.
After the first six rounds of "factory" 357 Magnum ammo I dumped the empties and reached for a speed loader with the same factory ammo. I filled the cylinder and tried to close it but it was tight. Thought I might have a tight chamber so I opened the cylinder and pushed each round in more firmly. I was then able to close the cylinder but it was so tight I couldn't pull the trigger in DA.
I eventually emptied the gun, looked under the ejector star and found unburned granules of powder. A quick brush with the toothbrush from the shooting box and the gun worked as good as new, but...
I only got off six rounds before the revolver MALFUNCTIONED to the point that it took me several minutes to clear it. Now I still like revolvers and will still own and shoot them for recreation, but I just don't believe this business about revolvers being more reliable than autos. Remember, six rounds and the revolver was jamed up tight. I put a minimum of 150 rounds of reloads through any one of several 1911s in a shooting session and I'm still waiting for a malfunction with the current guns we own.
Were the powder granules under the ejector star a fluke? Sort of, but it can happen every time you eject the empties. Sorry but that just isn't anywhere as reliable as has been touted, time and time again.
As always, YMMV!
Last November I switched from Glocks back to the 1911, which I had carried for over 20 years prior to my 4 year Glock experiment. I bought a Wilson KZ-45 which has subsequently fired over 2500 rounds, most of which were reloads but some JHPs testing for carry ammo function. It has not had a malfunction to date. In the same time period I have fired a little over 500 rounds through my current carry gun, a Kimber Compact Stainless Aluminum. That also includes test firing my carry HP ammo. It has not malfunctioned to date. I went through a shooting session of 150 rounds with each of two other 1911s, my old competition gun (a lightly customized 1959 Government Model Colt) and a Kimber Custom Royal. Neither of those guns malfunctioned.
My wife is back to the 1911 from Glocks too, and I've seen her shoot several hundred rounds of both factory ammo and my reloads through her two carry Kimbers.
I still like revolvers, particularly N-Frame Smith & Wessons. After teaching a class today I got out my 3.5" Model 27 357 Magnum revolver to do some test firing. I had three targets set up so I did a very casual "El Presedente", i.e. two shots on each, reload and then two more on each target. At least that's what I set out to do.
After the first six rounds of "factory" 357 Magnum ammo I dumped the empties and reached for a speed loader with the same factory ammo. I filled the cylinder and tried to close it but it was tight. Thought I might have a tight chamber so I opened the cylinder and pushed each round in more firmly. I was then able to close the cylinder but it was so tight I couldn't pull the trigger in DA.
I eventually emptied the gun, looked under the ejector star and found unburned granules of powder. A quick brush with the toothbrush from the shooting box and the gun worked as good as new, but...
I only got off six rounds before the revolver MALFUNCTIONED to the point that it took me several minutes to clear it. Now I still like revolvers and will still own and shoot them for recreation, but I just don't believe this business about revolvers being more reliable than autos. Remember, six rounds and the revolver was jamed up tight. I put a minimum of 150 rounds of reloads through any one of several 1911s in a shooting session and I'm still waiting for a malfunction with the current guns we own.
Were the powder granules under the ejector star a fluke? Sort of, but it can happen every time you eject the empties. Sorry but that just isn't anywhere as reliable as has been touted, time and time again.
As always, YMMV!