Revolver or Auto: Which Do You Shoot Better?

I shoot revolvers better overall unless an HK P7 is in my hand.

I'm pretty sure that the snapping slide and flying brass are enough distraction to cause my shooting to deteriorate. I assume that with enough practice that would be overcome, but at this stage in life it seems unlikely that I will ever bother.

Whatever I am shooting most at the current time.

There were several years when I was heavily into shooting USPSA matches where I would switch between my Semi-auto and my Revolver. Most of the local clubs would lets us shoot the match more than once if time allowed. So I would shoot it once with my semi-auto and once with my revolver. I managed to get to B-class in Limted-10, Production and Revolver doing this alternating guns.

Later I went about three years shooting nothing but revolvers in competition. When I went cold-turkey and switch back to Limited my performance went down noticeably but after a few weeks of practice and matches it came back pretty quick.

I carry a handgun similar to whatever I am shooting most for fun and competition.

I almost never shoot revolvers. Yet in the one competition I participate in, Bowling Pin, I shoot my S&W Model 29 faster and more accurately than my Colt 1911. Must be the 6 1/2” barrel.

Concealed carry requires a small profile firearm given my body shape. My original CCW was for a Glock 36 (45ACP) w/8 rounds in extender and chamber and a Ruger LCR 5 round 38 Special. Practice from concealed & timed draw and fire has shown me a significant improvement in accuracy with the semiauto. Missing in a defensive situation is never a good idea. Now my CCW is only for the Glock. I do not want to come off second best.

I think if I was taking my time, and just shooting at a target for best groups, a revolver is better for me - but, if I want to put 8-15 rounds fast on one or 2 or 3 targets, semi-auto all the way.

Semi auto in defense drills. Slow and steady is revolver, for me

I generally shoot revolvers better, probably because that's all I owned for a number of years.

I've been shooting revolvers in competition for nearly 50 years and do much better with them than an auto. I've shot USPSA and my times are better with better hits using my revolver but the most part is it's more fun.

I enjoy the fact that I have to reload so much more often. I've worked on my reloads and can get them done in under 2 seconds.

I started playing with a Ruger Mark IV about 4 years ago for Steel Challenge matches and had a lot of fun but I recently changed to my S&W 617 and cut 40 seconds off my fastest time with the auto.

From a pure accuracy standpoint, if Im simply trying to shoot for groups, I usually shoot my revolvers, DAO, better than my autos.

Change things up, and get a bit more realistic and energetic with the shooting, and the autos usually take the lead and come out on top there.

A 4th poll choice would fit me: I Don't Know, too new to handguns. Haven't taken the 38 Special and the 9 mm auto to the range together yet but now I have one more reason to visit the range. (Of course there are 50 reasons to visit the range in every box of ammo )

I shot IDPA a number of years with a Wilson Combat .45. When we moved out to the country I set up my own range and started to use my revolvers because picking up brass outdoors was not an easy task. I have always prefered revolvers more and use them for hunting and haven't touched my Wilson for 10 years now.

Definitely bottom feeders. Reason I went back them and a bigger one for carry.
Still shoot wheel guns well, better than most I have seen, and they do see some pocket carry time.

When shooting slow single action drills with downloaded target rounds I am far more accurate with my model 28, 6” barrel. With full house loads, rapid fire, da, not so much.

The difference really becomes apparent past 15 yards where groups start to open up with any of my semi’s and rapid fire in that 10-15 yard range it’s a toss up between my 586, 4” barrel and the semi-autos. The longer barrel certainly helps me along with owning and shooting the 28 longer and more often.

The exception (for obvious reasons),is my compensated Buckmark field/target with which I can get settled in for the follow up faster than anything else I shoot.

Revolvers hands down. Probably cause I’m too worried about losing brass. If it’s .22 then it doesn’t matter.

If I were hunting with a revolver and could shoot every shot single action I find a long (6"+) barreled revolver to be more accurate. The better triggers and longer sight radius wins.

But for defensive shooting a semi-auto wins every time vs shooting any revolver DA. Any semi-auto, any trigger action, any cartridge.

Autos- much faster, and much more accurately.

I shoot both revolvers and semiautomatics with equal accuracy within reason but my EDC is a S&W Shield 9X19mm.

I’m like the small town red neck that can drive the wheels off of a 1982 Chevy pickup doing 4 wheel drifts down dirt roads, but couldn’t drive a high dollar sports car if his life depended on it.

I’m getting pretty good with bone stock Glocks for defense drills and somehow end up with better slow fire groups than when shooting a single action revolver.

I purposely shoot a lot of autos and revolvers when I hit the range. I am not an action snob; DA, SA, DAO, striker, I like them all.

The result is; I am not a bullseye champ with either, but I’m pretty good with both.

Stay safe.

I simply shoot autos better... but that's with a caveat: Single-action autos, or strikers like my Kahr. I do not shoot DA autos well, at least, not as well as I can a 1911, et al. It has to be the geometry or something. I can shoot anything well enough if I'm standing at a station slow firing into paper or whatnot, but if I'm to pick up the pace a bit, I'll win with an SA auto hands down.

I like revolvers. Aside from a snappy looking 1911, I think most standard revolvers are more aesthetic... think 4" Python, a 4" or... be still my heart... a 5" Model 27, a Colt SAA... certainly better looking than a Tupperpistol, but I don't really shoot a lot of revolver.

For Self Defense quick accurate shooting I am pretty good with a 1911 or Sig P226. For hunting or target shooting I appreciate the revolvers accuracy more. That’s a non answer I know but I also voted both! It depends.

Tough question for me;

Here's 3 good reasons why,to pick this 3..... just sayin,plenty more to choose from. DW744 vs #14 Smith vs Colt GC. All with factory sights.

The DW will flat out bring smiles anytime you're looking for precision,with full house 250g hunting loads. Make that single action please.

#14 stoked with mild-mid range cast,is a double action dreamboat.... so easy to shoot well in a mode that has to be up there on degree of difficulty(DA).

GC,although not my favorite 1911..... it is a tackdriver with target cast loads. Factory trigger is <4#'s,breaks when it's sposed to,and overall is just so easy to call your shots(one of the keys towards better pistolcraft).

It depends on the type of shooting I'm doing.
For fast self defense style shooting I do better with a SA pistol than with a DA revolver.
When slow firing in SA only mode I shoot revolvers better.