Revolver or Modern Hi-cap Pistol?

Ideally new shooters need to get trained and then shoot different types of guns - and THEN decide. But most important is good safety training. Without that nothing else really matters.

kBob said:

Here is a clue, on civie street the average gun fight/ self defense shooting is over in under three shots. Back in the world I felt comfortable with even a five shot J farme sized .38 Special close to hand in the house or car..

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There's plenty of legitimate reasons why a J Frame might be the right choice, but bogus statistics aren't among them.

Besides, what if you are the lucky guy whose encounter is above average?

John Joseph said:

For most of us who will never parachute into an Hamas command post, training to be an operator is of questionable value---fun, but questionable.

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Strawman argument.

Kleanbore said:

No one in his right mind will base an important risk mitigation decision on averages

How "comfortable" one may "feel" does not reduce risk.

I would recommend a six shot model over a five shot revolver.

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That’s one reason why I bought this .327 FM SP101 (already have the .357):

Revolvers aren't any safer around women or children. He needs to learn how to shoot before he ever brings a firearm into his house. Then, he needs to teach everyone else how to shoot and to respect firearms. We're miles away from choosing a gun.

For an old timer - a revolver with a cheap Harbor Freight lock box.
https://www.harborfreight.com/personal-portable-security-safe-64079.html
Plus a class for him and his wife from a NRA certified handgun instructor.

I'd tell him to look for a used Smith & Wesson or Ruger 38 special or 357 magnum revolver. Get something quality that you hand down to your adult children. A couple examples:

A couple S&W 38 special revolvers to look at.
$429
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/878795748
$450
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/878185295
$459
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879506725
$500
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879099738
$529
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/876953066

Ruger Security Six 357 mag $549
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879019439

I would not recommend a snubby J-Frame.


For a younger guy, that will put time, effort, and training into learning to safely shoot and carry a gun? I'd tell him to get a Glock 19. It's defense and competition ready out of the box. Carried by the majority of law enforcement and military all over the United States and the world. It's the primary side arm of the US Army's Special Forces. Every security contractor in Afghanistan and Iraq is required to carry / master the Glock 9mm. It's a dime a dozen gun that offers high capacity plus is accurate, reliable, and easy to carry.

Key with the Glock is to protect the trigger and not Glock-Leg yourself. Finger off the trigger till you are ready to shoot. It requires a holster that rigidly protects the trigger via rigid leather or Kydex. Be mindful of clothing and protect the trigger when holstering.

Ideally new shooters need to get trained and then shoot different types of guns - and THEN decide. But most important is good safety training. Without that nothing else really matters.

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That says it all. I paired my purchases with training. I learned to shoot both. I shot them in competitions and realistic training venues such that I could evaluate each type for their pluses and minuses in different circumstances. Thus, I find the endless dichotomous question that reappears every month or so, to be quite silly.

The other silly thing is to quote averages as Kleanbore said - take a statistics course, for God's sake. Learn what an average, distribution, risk and probability are all about.

I prefer DAO revolvers because it eliminates the temptation to cock the hammer, which substantially reduces trigger pull weight plus requires manual uncocking if a shot isn't fired. This can lead to accidents.

Charlie Martinez said:

This morning I received a call from a friend who wants to buy a handgun for SD & HD.

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I don't get a sense from the OP for his willingness to train or practice with his chosen firearm. At the end of the day this is a big part of the choice. If he won't get much in the way of training, he should get a 38/357 double action revolver and a nice gun safe to put it in.

If he's inclined to learn, the 9mm semi-auto is a great choice (I have a couple). The wife should join in for training if possible, and the gun secured while the grandkids are around.

1) Agree entirely with the premise that you can answer "none, but..." to any query. If you are the expert, relatively, that's your expertise. 90% of my day job is saying (usually more nicely: that's a stupid request, let's dig into WHY you want that and come up with a solution).

2) I keep seeing people say a revolver is simpler to operate. Prove it. I have tried. Give 10 minutes of instruction in the basic operating principles and manual of arms of a semi-automatic handgun: give people the gun. They will use it, with adequate proficiency. Most everything is pretty obvious and easy to use in modern day firearms. Now, give the same person 10 more minutes on the revolver and let them have a go: they will struggle to shoot or operate it well. Just reloading is stupendously un-obvious, so you can show them the ejector rod, have them try it, then see them either vaguely gazing at the gun in wonder or trying to pick the shells out with their fingernails a few minutes later when they have shot it dry. If they can get the cylinder open.

3) If they think a firearm is all that will help: a simple 9mm handgun with as much capacity as you can get. Whatever is reasonably trustworthy (glock, M&P, whatever is available at the LGS), with NO controls but trigger and magazine release. No fussing with hammers, decockers, safeties. Max capacity as they will fail to even THINK about reloading if a situation arises when they need it, and they are not gonna train.

3a) Try to get them to pony up a few bucks for a laser/light combo, ideally set up to come on automatically (e.g. when pulled out of a holster). Avoids accidents (they can see that it's their daughter sneaking home) and improves hit percentages a lot. Stuff I wouldn't necessarily trust the way I use my guns, like Viridian, have inexpensive ones that do this, will work just fine for a "nightstand" gun.

4b) YES 1000% to making them buy a lock bock or reliable other lock for the trigger or something. Make them use it. Tell jokes about how kids are the only ones to open kid safe caps to drive it home. Remind them thieves look for hiding spots For A Living. Lock, do not hide or hope.

I guess I'm like others in the thought that the OP's friend is entirely firearms illiterate, but is he? Has he had zero experience in handling and using/shooting firearms of any type? The thoughts projected by the OP that the friend is highly unlikely to put any effort into learning and practicing would make me hesitate to recommend anything. If he's likely to buy a gun but remain content in his lack of knowledge and ability...I'd just struggle with the thought that I was a contributor, if anyone were ever harmed from the gun being misused or mishandled.

Upon going through a divorce, my aunt decided she needed the means to protect herself. She asked me what I'd recommend. I told her to meet me the next evening at the family owned property where I shoot. Went over safety, safety, gun function, safety and more safety. Let her shoot .22, .380, 9mm. Told her to think about what felt best and meet me out there again tomorrow. She said "I just want a recommendation on what to get. I don't have time for all this"...So I recommended pepper spray and a stick.

Charlie Martinez said:

This morning I received a call from a friend who wants to buy a handgun for SD & HD. He will not CC but wants to keep it at home or in the car for long trips. He asked me which 38/357 Magnum revolvers I recommended. I asked him why he wanted a revolver. He responded that he thought revolvers were "safer" to have around the house in case one of his grandkids or his wife happened to stumble across it.

I am a revolver guy because that's what most people used when I started shooting in the early 70's. However I recognize the value of a modern hi-cap pistol for SD & HD especially in 9mm because factory ammo is relatively cheap. .

I recommended that he seriously consider a modern 9mm hi-cap pistol & added that a revolver would be as unsafe under those conditions as any pistol.

Am I wrong?

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This is half a only one gun thread & half a gun for beginners thread? Is that accurate?

I'll assume thats the theme and give my best advice and explain why.- (i haven't read any replys so forgive me if i'm repeating info, i do this to offer an unbiased and natural response without 20 other things popping into my head)

A 4" barreled 357 is the best bet for a new shooter and a one gun solution IMO.
Plenty of power if needed, easy to load down or up. Simple to operate. Simple to determine if its loaded. No safeties or nonsense to fiddle with. No concern about bullet profiles that dont feed. Stylish good looks. Easy (for me) to shoot well , with option of SA or DA operation. Good for basically all areas that may have restrictions. - the list could go on forever.

My choice would be a 4" gp100 , second choice 4" 686.

Its just the right thing to do.

I've come to the point that if someone asks me to recommend a gun and they are not known to me to have adequate training, I will not recommend a gun until they at least get some.

Kleanbore said:

No one in his right mind will base an important risk mitigation decision on averages


I would recommend a six shot model over a five shot revolver.

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I'm curious as to how significant the window of opportunity is for situations where 5 shots is insufficient to protect yourself from the threat, but six shots does the trick?

ether said:

Revolvers aren't any safer around women or children. He needs to learn how to shoot before he ever brings a firearm into his house. Then, he needs to teach everyone else how to shoot and to respect firearms. We're miles away from choosing a gun.

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And time is up to buy just about any gun, let alone ammo

Pudge said:

I'm curious as to how significant the window of opportunity is for situations where 5 shots is insufficient to protect yourself from the threat, but six shots does the trick?

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3 opponents and 2 shots each, vs 3 opponents with 2x2 and 1x1

GEM said:

I've come to the point that if someone asks me to recommend a gun and they are not known to me to have adequate training, I will not recommend a gun until they at least get some.

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I can tell you don't work at a gun shop.

labnoti said:

Yeah, advise him that he'd really need a handgun safe to secure any handgun that isn't under his control. Other than that, this is just another revolver vs. semi-auto thread.

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Well...you were correct...take a bow angle head to the range and practice with your...wait for it....HANDGUN!!!

I went from revolver only to full blown semi .. now I have more revolvers than semis and I carry a revolver way more often ....

As of late , my go to revolver is a
Charter Pitbull in 40 S&W

I've thought about this question, and keep a Beretta 92, in a surplus OWB military holster in my desk sometimes. The risk of someone finding it - taking it out, figuring out how to take it out of the holster, racking the slide, and operating the safety, and pulling the trigger, to discharge it - for the few times I leave it there when I go out to my garage or to the bathroom, totally fine IMHO

My revolver, anyone could get it and just pull the trigger and it would go bang. So, I keep the one there sometimes that required more know how to discharge.

Revolvers and Modern Hi-cap Pistols; all depending on my circumstances and frame of mind at the time.