In theory, in conjure, in high round count training class, in competition, but in reality in self real defense situations that civilians find themselves in, I wonder how much of a difference it really makes... That is higher capacity double stacks vs single stacks vs wheel guns. For all the pontificating from some of the fullsize, double stack, G19ish EDC'ers, no one has really produced any anecdotal examples or evidence to make their case. As I stated before, but it was promptly dismissed, all the evidence we do have and what we know is that it really isn't making a difference in real life situation.
Semoautos are better in capacity and reloads, but revolvers are generally better when it comes to reliability simplicity. They aren't affected by limpwristing, can't be pushed out of battery, and some can be fired from the pocket... In a drawn out gun fight or maybe even defense against several attackers (all less likely to happen), a semiauto would shine. Having to fire during a physical scuffle (I've seen video of L.E. and civilians who had to do so), while having a weakened grip due to injury, or if you had to fire from concealment, I'd take a revolver. One is only better than the other depending on the hypothetical conjured up situation.
The semiauto types only acknowledge the multiple attacker and long drawn out gun fight scenario, and will dismiss, ignore, or downplay the scenario where revolvers shine.
Setting capacity and reload speeds aside in this context.
For similar weight handguns firing similar power cartridges the semi-auto mechanism does reduce felt recoil. In a gun fight this recoil reduction combine with a shorter lighter pull trigger might mean slightly faster followup shots but more importantly in training you can shoot more before you get fatigue making your training session more beneficial.
I can understand the limp wrist-ed argument when shooting one-handed or injured but I would counter that with have you tried to shoot a double action revolver one handed, weak hand? Having shot quiet a bit of stages that require both strong hand only or weak hand only I can say I find the semi-auto easier to shoot one handed and I have never had a limp wrist functional issues with my semi-autos. Shooting a double action revolver one handed is slightly more difficult and a bit slower than the semi-auto in my experience.
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Now I am going to go off on a competition tangent as a hopeful example. Yes I understand it ain't real training but this example is about the equipment not the training The USPSA classifier stage 06-10 SpeedySteel VII (
https://uspsa.org/viewer//06-10.pdf) is a six round classifier stage used in the USPSA National ranking system so it's shot by lots and lots of competitors always setup the same way. You start standing behind a barricade (2ft wide wall) with you hands on the wall and your gun loaded in your holster. On the start signal you draw and engage 6 pieces of steel as fast as you can from around the barricade. So no movement and no reloads required for the stage. This stage is about as equipment agnostic as you can make one in the sport. If both the revolver and the semi-auto where comparable here we would expect the score required to make Grand Master (or any of the classifications levels) on the stage to be the same across division. The Grand Master score is set by taking the average of the best shooters (mostly Grand Masters) the first time the stage is shot at a National match or similar Area match. This is not an artificial number but one based on how well the best of the best shoot the stage.
GM minimum Hit-Factor in Revolver is 7.70 HF or roughly 3.9 seconds (Revolver, usually a moonclip fed 6 or 8 shot N-frame)
GM minimum Hit-Factor for Single Stack is 8.97 HF or roughly 3.3 seconds (Single Stack, your classic 1911 is the only thing allowed in this division)
GM minimum Hit-Factor for Production is 9.42 HF or roughly 3.2 seconds (Production, typically fairly stock Glock, XD, M&P compete is this division)
GM minimum Hit-Factor for Open is 10.36 HF or roughly 2.9 seconds (Open, your ultra-space-blaster, highly modified double stack 1911/CZ with compensators and red-dot optics.)
I expect similar results on the half dozen or so other 6 rd classifier the sports uses. In short even the best of the best can't run the revolver as fast as they can the semi autos. This stage has no movement, no reloads, this is simply the time to draw (from a competition holster) and shoot six shots at 3 Pepper-Poppers and 3 Mini-Poppers at 36 feet.
