Question for Die-Hard Revolver Fans

I like both revolvers and autos, but I almost always prefer to carry a wheelgun. I shattered my left forearm in 2015 and lacked the grip strength in my left hand to rack my Glock 19 slide for about six months after. I've practiced one-handed drills for autopistol operation, reloading and clearing malfs, but during that time I found that, for me at least, a revolver can be much more easily operated one-handed with either of my hands.

Back to the question: I tend to like service-type pistols. I have a SIG P47/210, Colt 1903, Husqvarna 1907, Manhurin/Walther PP (in .32), MAC 1935S, Star Modelo Super, 2 Astra M400s and 2 1911A1s. The SIG is the most accurate and expensive of the lot, but I probably enjoy shooting the blowback Astras and Husqvarna the most -- the snappy recoil of their heavy slides is different and fun.

My only centerfire handgun besides my revolvers is a 1911. However it is only used occasionally. For me plastic pistols just don't cut it.

Im a revolver guy, with my only 2 handguns being Ruger single actions.

For automatics, 1911 A1, ruger Mark II 22, smith and Wesson 39 and variations.

Never had a c96 but I think they are neat. Same for hi powers. Basically I like all metal guns, older ones.

I have carried and used a Glock a fair amount. But I don’t get any enjoyment from one.

I got in a tight spot a while back and had to choose between selling the 1911 I’d carried 10 years or the new Blackhawk I had just started carrying. I chose to keep the Blackhawk. I like revolvers better.

Prefer a revolver [several],
however admit to a 1911 and 22RF auto.

I guess I'm just set in my ways. SA revolvers are my cup of----um, coffee, as I do not care for tea anyway you can drink it. Nasty stuff and I could never understand why the colonists got so upset about an increased tax on it. Just quit drinking the foul tasting stuff. No more tax at all. I certainly like the 1911 platform and equally the DA/SA revolvers. My handguns need to have a hammer and be made of metal. Striker fired and plastic, excuse me, polymer (fancy name for plastic), just don't flip my switch at all.

Colt Woodsman, CZ 75, 1911, Sig 210, S&W model 52.

Once you learn how to load a magazine and chamber a round, Glocks aren’t that much different than your average revolver - pull trigger and gun goes bang. No thumb safety or grip safety to worry about….

aaaaa said:

This is in no way an attempt to denigrate revolvers. I, for one, love and prefer revolvers (both SA and DA). But I am curious what semi-auto pistol is there, if any, that you find as fascinating as a revolver. For me, its the 1911. Ever since I bought my 1911 I can't stop playing with it and shooting with it every time I get a chance to go to the range (4 trips and 500 rounds since I purchased it 6 weeks ago and planning to run another 100 next Monday). I am curious to hear what semi-autos you die-hard revolver fans really appreciate.

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In a nutshell, I'm with you on this.
I love revolvers. Single and Double Actions.
I love 1911's

This is like the bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy of hand guns!

I love my Smith & Wessons and my Ruger revolvers.
I also love my Glocks.

I'm a revolver fan and have been for 50 years. I love any Smith & Wesson revolver.

As for autos, I like the 1911 the most but for Steel Challenge shooting I really like my Volquartsen Black Mamba .22.

Of the 19 handguns I own, all but three are either revolvers or 1911's. One of the three that isn't is a BHP, so that's close to a 1911. Another of the three is a 1903 Colt, and that's pretty close to a 1911, in design, anyway. I carry between a Commander-size 1911 in .40S&W and a snub-nose S&W .357M.

Love the Colt SAA (along with it's copies), the Ruger Blackhawk, and the S&W Model 686 but I feel pretty much the same way as I do with the 1911,(and all it's variants), the Browning Hi-Power, and the Ruger Mk.II .22 Target Pistol.

DaveDeLaurant

but I probably enjoy shooting the blowback Astras and Husqvarna the most -- the snappy recoil of their heavy slides is different and fun.

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When it comes to shooting the Astra 400 or 600, you and I definitely have a polar opposite meaning of the words "fun" and "snappy recoil"! More like taking a hammer and pounding your shooting hand with it! A box of 50 rounds and I was done shooting for the day!

I had several M1911s, actually M1911A1s, while in the Army. These were for the most part nearly silver from age. A friend of mine had several M1911s of various make as he collected military firearms.

I was on a pistol team and we were confined to the use of as-issued .45s. We did pretty well but were shot down in the last phases.
I have owned, and shot, a Colt Gold Cup, both in .45 and in .38 Special. My Gold Cup was supposedly set up for hard ball ammunition and was good for crows out to about 75 yards or so. I had a very good load using the Sierra 185 gr. JHC (Jacketed Hollow Cavity) bullet.

The .38 was nothing to brag about, in my opinion. Be aware most pistols sold today as M1911 are not really M1911s but are merely imitations of the basic Government Model Colt.

Bob Wright

50/50 revolver/glock guy. When I dont feel like picking up brass I shoot a revolver.

I have 5 or 6 revolvers, mostly pre lock Smiths. I also have some HK's, P series Sigs and 1911's. For me the HK's are state of the art pistols. I like the 1911's for the history but I wouldn't carry one. The longer you shoot the more you appreciate new and the old. All good.

Im a wheelgun nut, but I appreciate autos like the Luger and P7 for their ingenuity and craftsmanship. The Remington 51 and 1907 Savage are up there too.

there are no semi auto's that tickle me in quiet the same way as a good wheelgun. Even 1911's with their history and almost infinite variations are boring to me.

There are only four or five unique semi auto operating mechanisms anyways, so really, cosmetics and features are the selling points of most auto's, they are all pretty derivative at this point. Thus you get guns like the Kimbers with their funky slide milling and cosmetic features that are like wearing a pimp suit just because you want to get noticed on the street.
Or you get one of the plastic guns like the M&GlokXPSig. They are all starting to run together aesthetically.

There is just something about a wheelgun that presents itself in a way that no semi ever has. It is a quality tool from an era in which quality tools were valued for more than their utility. They were a machine that required precision and knowledge to produce. Its a different vibe than an injection molded and computer cnc'd semi auto. Older revolvers approach functional art to me. Customizing a competition revolver meant more than just lego'ing parts into it like many semi autos today.

This:



is equivalent to but is aesthetically not in the same league as this: (forgive the storage grease)



Then you have the myriad of features that are part of the process of antiquated production and technologies that just tug at the heartstrings.

This just looks goofy. It doesn't belong:



But this does:

Sig 200 series pistols. I own a 220, a 226, and a 239. They, along with a Kahr K9, are the only pistols I shoot or use in any capacity outside of the range.

jstert said:

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.

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Top tier 1911s are both mechanical jewels and functional tools. In fact, Bill Wilson used to be a jeweler before he built Wilson Combat. I like my revolvers, but love my 1911s.

I like revolvers, especially S&W revolvers, but I'm not capable of "building" my own. Except for maybe swapping sights, adding a scope, or a simple spring replacement, any other modification that could be made to a revolver is beyond the tools I have at my disposal. I have replaced the grip frames on a couple Ruger Blackhawks but that really was not too difficult and well within my wheel house of capabilities.

1911's are another story. I really like 1911 style pistols for both the way they shoot and the nostalgia and mystic of the design. I have assembled a few with parts of my choosing and have enjoyed the projects. I have 1911 style pistols chambered in 8 different cartridges. (45 ACP, 40 S&W, 357 SIG, 38 Super, 9x19, 38/45 Clerke, 38 Special and 22 RF) and probably more to come in the future.

I have other semi-auto pistols but they are mostly tools and purchased for a purpose.

I have a decent variety of semi autos to go along with my various revolvers. I will admit that I limit my semi’s to common calibers that I don’t reload for (.22 LR, .380, 9mm, .40, .45 ACP. But I also have a .45 Super that some day I will load for.)

When it comes to a favorite semi, I must admit that I don’t have one favorite, I like them all. Over the decades I have learned to shoot my Berettas, Glocks, CZs, various 1911’s, Ruger centerfire and rimfire autos, (and a few others) pretty much equally well.

Stay safe.

I have always wanted a Mateba auto revolver.



That and a Thunder 50, 50 BMG pistol.

I'm a revolver guy. I shoot semi-autos too, but I definitely prefer the revolvers.

It's very handy to have something like an LCP as a tiny carry piece.

Full-sized steel service pistols are fun to shoot.

Good 22 autos are very nice.

I shot mostly revolvers in my teens and 20's. I've shot semiautos equally in the past 30 years or so, but my feel for semiautos will never really "catch up". My muscle memory for revolvers and my comfort with them runs very deep.

Three handguns[so far!]; two Italian replicas, Pietta and Uberti in .45 Colt. One semi-auto in .45 acp, a S.A. mil-spec 1911-A1. All rather delightful to shoot.
Wait a minute, how the heck did I not mention the Ruger BH in .357!? That could be a stand in the corner moment. Scheese!