Question for Die-Hard Revolver Fans

There really is nothing that gets me going like a revolver. Like you, though, I am a deep admirer of the 1911.

I will go off the deep end by noting that I have an embarrassing infatuation with the .50 AE Desert Eagle...

My Mauser C96.

My tastes are rather simple: if it isn't an N-Frame Smith, I want it to be a 1911.

Revolvers somehow get a mythical view. People think the level of complexity is much higher for revolvers. But a modern semi automatic took more smarts to figure out the locking mechanism than the entire revolver took to design in my opinion. Every revolver uses the same principles. Spring materials vary, mechanisms are different. Lockup is slightly different, some are stronger. Colts are flawed and turn backward..... lol. but they are all very similar. If you want more power handling....make it thicker. But 99% of it is pretty simple from an engineering standpoint. Getting a light enough trigger but having enough impact to light a primer is one of the bigger issues. Machining is a different story, very much more involved

Semi autos have to over come the lockup/unlock issue unless they are Blowback design. Many ways are tried. Beretta locking lugs and rotary bolts. Peters locking. Toggle links. Roller lock up..... then you have to figure out how to get a good trigger, but one that's drop safe (unless your SIG). Which brings about a good deal of engineering unless you just have a hammer. Decockers have to be safe and pretty involved. Safetys can be pretty intricate too. I find that aspect of semi autos pretty fascinating. I can't imagine JMB designing and making guns with a pencil and paper and wood cutouts. Revolvers lack all that engineering.

So I won't say any one semi auto fascinates this revolver fan, but all of them.

I've been in manufacturing and engineering my entire career. I can build a nice car from the ground up. I truly believe I could have designed and made the revolver. But I have no doubt that if id tried to design the modern semi auto (other than blowback action) I'd be known by some cool nickname like lefty or one eye.

I like the self-sufficiency of reloading and casting. Revolvers allow for much easier (better) conservation of resources, and are typically more forgiving with a wide range of projectiles and velocities. Lots of semis are interesting, but not really buying any. However, love those Beretta 92/96s. Cowboy movies may have immortalized the SAA, but Lethal Weapon and Die Hard made that updated Walther design so cool.

For a revolver the most interesting one is easy, a Nagant gas check pistol. The whole cylinder slides forwards to seal against the barrel.

Most fascinating semi auto is probably my CZ-52 with its roller delayed action. Second would probably be my Desert Eagle L5 in .50ae with its gas actuated rotating locking bolt.

I own several 1911's and they are the most fun to shoot. My Browning 1911-380 is probably my favorite with one of my match 1911's in .45acp being a very close second. I just don't find the 1911's all that fascinating though since I have taken them apart and been through them so many times.

Easy! The Webley-Fosbery!

PRD1 - mhb - MIke

I like them all, as long as they work reliably and shoot OK.

Having a nice mix of things to shoot regularly, keeps things interesting, helps keep you from specializing, and helps you stay on top of things.

I'm a Single Action kinda guy, but if I had to own (and I do) an auto, it'd be a 1911. If I couldn't have that, then an FN High Power also checks a lot of boxes for me. Lugers are interesting but not enough to own one; same for P38's and C96's. Otherwise, I'll stick with the SAA's.

Mac

a revolver is a mechanical jewel. a semiauto pistol is a purposeful tool. both serve well.

keltec p32 has become this civilian revolver guy’s daily ccw. comfortable and reliable. 32acp fmj ball ammo is no slouch for close-in suburban defense. flat and easily concealed carried.

I'm afraid Crestoncowboy doesn't appreciate
the complexity of getting a revolver to work
perfectly despite his lifelong engineering
background.

And to put it plainly, autos are simpler
and cheaper to make than even an
average revolver.

He does admit the
machining of said revolvers can be
complex. And there's the rub.

In the case of some autos, Rube
Goldberg would be proud to claim
ownership in their designs.

And now to the OP's question, the
answer for me is the Beretta 92s,
a carry over from the Walther P38.

I find the Sauer 38h fascinating.

I prefer CZs and HKs. Any quality DA/SA

Fascinating as to design? The Boberg is the only recent example. Some of the early auto designs were very interesting also.
To shoot? 1911.

Ruger Mk's (.22 cal.).

UncleEd said:

I'm afraid Crestoncowboy doesn't appreciate
the complexity of getting a revolver to work
perfectly despite his lifelong engineering
background.

And to put it plainly, autos are simpler
and cheaper to make than even an
average revolver.

He does admit the
machining of said revolvers can be
complex. And there's the rub.

In the case of some autos, Rube
Goldberg would be proud to claim
ownership in their designs.

And now to the OP's question, the
answer for me is the Beretta 92s,
a carry over from the Walther P38.

Click to expand...

I do understand. And like I said, I've built everything from cars to automation robots. As well as been around the making of parts, by hand by mold and by cnc. Ive also built 1911s and changed most any piece in a p series Sig, or Smith revolver (and of course a glock but a 5 year old can do that)

I did say the tuning and manufacture of a revolver was far worse. The cylinder star on a 10 shot 22 is enough to give me nightmares.

BUT from a design standpoint the revolver was pretty much done over 100 years ago with the revolving cylinder. Yet the semi auto is still getting different barrel locking designs today. It's just not up to snuff yet. One is fragile (broken locking lug wings). One is heavy and big (like the Eagle) one is harder to disassemble, one is hard to mass produce and get accuracy and still be reliable (1911) etc etc. Just that one problem is still not satisfactorily solved over 100 years later. Just think being the first guy without 100 years of design research to "borrow" from

aaaaa said:

One thing that stands out here is most die-hard revolver guys favor metal semi-autos, with the exception of the excellent Kel Tec P-32, which I have and sometimes carry leg-holstered as a backup. But the P32 is not a range gun. Funny thing is I don't mind losing my P32 as evidence, but won't carry my Beretta Tomcat because I like it too much--its also a bit bulkier than the P32 so...

Click to expand...

I certainly favored hammer fired semi autos for years of my revolver days. Beretta 92/96, USP, P series Ruger, P series Sig, 1911, hi power, third gen smith, Tip up Beretta 21/950 etc etc.... id say I preferred metal frame but not really exclusively. But until my first Glocks I hated the thought of no hammer and I was a very late adopter of the Glock . Lol.

Your question is asked as if we have to pick one over the other.

Big 1911 fan. A good .357/.44 revolver, .22 Target Pistol and a 1911 constitutes the majority of my handgun shooting and would serve me well as a basic battery.

Crestoncowboy, I believe the idea or
basic concept of the auto dates to
before the 1860s unpleasantries.

The piston engine designs pointed
the way. But black powder stood
in the way as well. Black powder
was even the bugaboo for the
vaunted Gatling gun concept.

A side oddity, John Browning I
believe came up with a concept
to automate the Winchester 73.

But at heart, revolver lovers are
on the side of the heavenly angels
while, well, Satan might figure into
the auto designs.

I am a pretty hard core revolver user but am fascinated by most firearm designs. The more convoluted and unusual the more interesting they are to me as an engineer.

This said it is hard not to acknowledge the simplicity of the modern polymer semi-auto. I am partial to the XD but it's hard to argue the Glock and its derivatives like the XD, M&P, etc are some extraordinarily effective, efficient, and highly manufacturable weapons that are fully taking advantage of modern materials and modern design and manufacturing process.

I believe there was a time in our past when the revolver was that weapon much as the Glock/XD/M&P/etc are today. Advancements in ammunition, propellent, materials, manufacturing and tactics have replaced the revolver with the modern semi-auto.

The Sig P226 Legion 9 is the one semi auto I own I enjoy shooting as much as my revolvers. My Shield 9 is a tool that often gets the nod for CC over my snubs now because it fills that roll so well. They're my only semi autos.