Autos over revolvers for ccw... is it because of capacity?

I choose my revolver with moon clips. quick to reload and I am just use to it.

I went with the flatness of my P3AT even though I much prefer revolvers as a platform.

Yes, I want the most bullets I can carry in gun that fits in a holster I can conceal. I don't know about anyone else, but I have never been in a gun fight. I do not know what my reaction would be, but what I have researched is, you fall back on training, your fine motor skills disappear and you get tunnel vision. So, I want to be able to shoot as much lead at the attacker or attackers before I worry about reloading. That is why I carry either my Sigma or G23C and usually with a spare mag. Definitely a spare mag for my single stack guns. JMHO.

It is b/c I am a HORRIBLE shot w/a revolver.

What Magic Man said.
Also, there is no right or wrong answer to this. Carry what you like and can shoot the best with.

I recently went with a G36 over my revolvers because it's a slim gun that can ride on my hip without me noticing it, or even get shoved in my waistband without an issue.
I only have 6+1 capacity with this gun, but with a small spare mag I have 13 rounds of .45 auto at my command.

At the end of the day though, it just packs easily for me and I shoot it just was well as I do a J-frame (better actually).

sorry can't vote either...... being a native new yorker, i always have my "new york reload"

I recently went with a G36 over my revolvers because it's a slim gun that can ride on my hip without me noticing it, or even get shoved in my waistband without an issue.

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Isn't that what Plaxico Burress did? Never ever at any time would I carry a Glock without a stiff, trigger covering holster. I don't like the damned things anyway, I'm just sayin', you don't wanna get shot with your own gun and become yet ANOTHER headline victim of the "safe action".

9mmepiphany said:

this isn't completely accurate.

there are many folks that can reload of revolver faster than a semi-auto. i'd even venture that of the people who carry a revolver defensively, most of them can reload faster than people who carry a semi-auto...folks carry a J-frame might throw this off...because most folks who carry a revolver, larger than a J-frame, usually practice using speedloaders.

what folks using speedloaders or moonclips give up to folks loading with magazines is the number of rounds of each reload

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I doubt a skilled reload with a revolver could be faster than a skilled reload with a semi-auto. There are few exceptions, but I think along the entire spectrum of "skill" the semi-auto will almost always make the faster reload.

reloading is important but in most self defense instances not a factor.

I like to carry an extra mag or some rounds in a speed strip but they are not a priority for me

The width of the revolver vs. my Kahr was/is the determining factor.

I carry revolvers and semi-autos interchangeably. Capacity is A factor, but not the sole one, or even always the major one.

I don't have a .45 caliber revolver that's of a size conducive to concealed carry, whereas I can easily conceal one of my M1911s.

The actual capacity advantage of a semi-auto for me is the fact that I don't need to have as much ammunition in my pocket for reloads. With my Glock 19 or Glock 22, I on'y carry one extra magazine. With a revolver, I always carry at least two speed loaders.

My primary reason for carrying auto's is profile; no matter how light and ergonomic the wheelgun, there's nothing you can do about the width of the cylinder.

However, one cannot argue the capacity advantage of even the smallest autos. No one ever survived a gunfight and said "Man, I wish I hadn't had so much ammo"

I voted no.

I much prefer revolvers over autos, so I'm not concerned about capacity or reload speed. I can reload a revolver just as fast as I can an auto; and I figure that six shots of .357 magnum will take care of anything that I might ever encounter. When I carry an auto, it's simply because the flat profile makes it easier to conceal.

There are times when it's difficult to conceal the bulge of a revolver's cylinder. That's where my flat little automatic comes in handy.

I shoot semi-autos better than I do revolvers and magazines are easier to carry than speed loaders or just loose ammo in my pockets. Ease of reload is a big thing too.

The old axiom still holds true, 3 rounds, 3 yards, 3 seconds and it's over. So ok tell me, why is it I need 18 rounds?

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I wish people would get this idiocy out of their minds.

I think we need to stop thinking in terms of what may have been true 50 years ago and start thinking of what a modern gunfight may be. Your FBI statistics may not be there to save you if you should encounter an 'active shooter' or two.

*You cannot control the dynamics of a gunfight.

*Each gunfight may be different than the last.

*You will probably miss at least half your shots.

*There may be multiple attackers. Not all criminals are stupid or cowardly and not all work alone. They may have friends and accomplices with them. Some even practice with their own weapons and practice developing their tactics. Some fully expect resistance from their intended victims and train to overcome it.

*In the event you have to use deadly force, your shots may not stop the threats, even if you get solid hits on the bad guys, regardless of the caliber you carry. For each aggressor, you may have to "shoot them to the ground."

*Your bullets may have to traverse through intermediate barriers, reducing their effectiveness.

*Some bad guys are hardened career criminals. Some have been beaten, stabbed or shot before. They know what pain is like. The sight of your little 5 or 6 shot gun may not deter them from an attack.

*A determined criminal wants to take your life a lot more than you want to take his. He will have initiative and aggression on his side. As a good guy, you will be reacting to the situation and be naturally more hesitant to use deadly force. The bad guys know this and will use it to their advantage.

*Instead of 'low-balling' a life threatening situation, plan on the 'worse case scenario.' Expect multiple attackers and expect to miss half your shots and expect that your shots may "fail to stop."

*Your weapon choice should take into account all these factors. In my opinion, a weapon for self defense should be as versitile as possible within the scope of a concealable self defense handgun.

Capacity is only a small part of the issue for me. I carry the gun that I am most familiar with, handle the best in any circumstance, can take it apart and put it back together in the dead of night and complete darkness, and can hit what I aim at, time and again, with either hand. For me, it's not a revolver.

If they'd let me walk around with an AR-15, I would do it. Fact is, you never know what you're going to need. That's why, when it comes to caliber, we say, "carry the most gun you can". Why shouldn't that apply to capacity as well? "Carry the most lead you can!"

This is coming from a guy who sometimes carries a 6-shot .357. We make choices every day that are trade offs. Sometimes I pocket carry a .380 because it's just uncomfortable as hell to carry my .40 cal. Sometimes I carry a .357 because I just love my S&W and want to feel close to it.

These are the facts. I don't knock ANYONE for carrying more than I am, and I sure won't call them paranoid. OTOH, if someone can only carry a .32, I'll try to talk them into at least a .380, but I realize that a .32 is better than nothing, and they're making a very personal decision that is, really, none of my business.

Carry safely, carry often, and carry something BIG that throws a lot of lead.

I don't worry much about capacity. My concession to the possibility that I might need more rounds is to carry two guns. While autos can be reloaded pretty quickly (generally faster than small revolvers), drawing a second gun is faster than reloading either. I have three off-duty guns. Two of them are 5 shot revolvers, a .38 Special Airweight and a .357 Magnum SP101. My other is a M&P in .45 ACP. More often than not I carry the two revolvers. Sometimes I choose to carry an auto and a revolver.

There are a number advantages offered by revolvers over automatics. IMO the best of which are the ability to fire while pressed up against the target (multiple times if necessary), and the ability to fire multiple shots from coat pockets. I also find small revolvers to be much better pocket guns than small autos. The .38 Special and .357 Magnum are also very versatile cartridges, more so than any traditional self loading cartridge.

That isn't to say that either is really better than the other. They both have advantages and disadvantages. I do think that the majority of the time a revolver will be sufficient, but I don't fault anyone who wants to carry something with more capacity or a faster reload, I just happen to be comfortable with revolvers.

Depends how I carry more than anything else. IWB definitely and auto, pocket carry it is mostly a snubbie, OWB could be either a large frame auto or a large frame revolver.

My favorite carry method is pocket so I tend to tote my S&W M49 more than anything. Of course that was before I moved to the people's republic of Maryland in September.

While autos can be reloaded pretty quickly (generally faster than small revolvers), drawing a second gun is faster than reloading either.

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<sigh> This totally misses the point.

To illustrate, let's do this: You take your two revolvers and holster them however you want to. I'll go with my M&P-40 carried in a KyTac BraveHeart.

Starting hands at sides, guns holstered. At signal, we both draw and fire 6 shots each at center mass of two IPSC targets set at 10 yds for 12 shots total. First one done, wins.

The fastest reload is NO reload.

I haven't been exposed to very many revolvers. So familiarity would br the main reason.

I voted for capacity, I'm a pretty good shot, but I prefer to have as many rounds with me as a can carry. Although I do carry a Taurus PT-145 MIL PRO for my primary and a Taurus M85UL as a backup.

My other reasons were the increased flatness for concealment and ease in reloading.