Just an opinion question. I work security and carry a .357 Smith. Since the 1911 was approved many who carry those say I am outdated and need to buy one. I was just wondering why people think a 7 or 8 round .45 is more modern than a 6 or 7 or even 8 shot .357 Mag. As much as I respect 1911s I just feel it offers no great advantage over a revolver. Anyone else feel this way?
1911 vs Revolver
- Thread starter BTR11584
- Start date
- Status
HitFactor
Member
I really like my revolvers, but I carry a 1911. Quicker reloads, great trigger and a slimmer profile are the main points. I can shoot a 1911 with more accuracy and faster if need be. So, I don't feel that way but I doubt you are alone.
ugaarguy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2006
- Messages
- 13,828
The two major advantages to a 1911 over a revolver are better trigger and faster reloads. But if you've been shooting a revolver for a while, and are well practiced with using speed loaders those advantages are going to be minimized. Of course, you can get extended mags for single stack 1911s that hold 10 rounds.
If you're asking in the context of your security work, what other handguns are approved for duty use by your employer?
If you're asking in the context of your security work, what other handguns are approved for duty use by your employer?
carsten1911
Member
not faster - seamless reloads!
Howdy,
a pistol (without magazine safety) can not only be reloaded FASTER, but also "seamless".
If an enemy watches you while reloading a wheelgun he will probably recognize a chance to strike "now or never".
If the same guy watches you reload a pistol he will (provided his grey matter is functional and working) ask himself: "Does he still have one in the chamber?"...or you could tell him straight in the face that you still got one round chambered.
In fact you could probably secure a small group of enemies with a pistol and let them watch you reload...if they are not fanatics, totally dumb or driven to utter despair.
Carsten
Howdy,
a pistol (without magazine safety) can not only be reloaded FASTER, but also "seamless".
If an enemy watches you while reloading a wheelgun he will probably recognize a chance to strike "now or never".
If the same guy watches you reload a pistol he will (provided his grey matter is functional and working) ask himself: "Does he still have one in the chamber?"...or you could tell him straight in the face that you still got one round chambered.
In fact you could probably secure a small group of enemies with a pistol and let them watch you reload...if they are not fanatics, totally dumb or driven to utter despair.
Carsten
ArchAngelCD
Member.
The S&W M327 holds 8 rounds of .357 Magnum goodness so it holds 1 MORE round than a standard 1911 magazine. Of course over the past few years 8 round mags have become the normal but still, a revolver shooting 8 rounds of .357 Magnum is a formidable weapon.
Check the S&W site and take a look at the Model 327 M&P R8 or M327 TRR8 and see what you think. (M&P has a fixed rail, TRR8 has a removable rail) They even sell a 2" snub nose M327 which also holds 8 rounds you can use as a BUG/off duty carry. That gives you 16 rounds of .357 Magnum with no reload, Priceless!
Check the S&W site and take a look at the Model 327 M&P R8 or M327 TRR8 and see what you think. (M&P has a fixed rail, TRR8 has a removable rail) They even sell a 2" snub nose M327 which also holds 8 rounds you can use as a BUG/off duty carry. That gives you 16 rounds of .357 Magnum with no reload, Priceless!
45_auto
Member
Without getting into real live shootouts, the easiest way for you to see the advantages would be to go shoot in a couple of competitions that emphasize combat handgun speed and accuracy (IDPA, USPSA, etc). Compare your scores to the people shooting 1911's. Then decide if your substantially lower scores constitute "no great advantage" for the 1911's in your world.
Stress_Test
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2012
- Messages
- 209
Anyone else also find it funny that they call him outdated then say he should carry a 1911?
Do those guys realize why it's called a "1911"? I bet they're young (20s).
Anyway, is the 1911 the only auto that's approved to carry? I'd be very surprised if the company would let you carry those and not something like an M&P with a thumb safety.
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,085
There was a good article in the last issue of "Handguns" magazine about revolver vs auto for SD. You'd be surprised at what they found. Really there's no difference between the trigger and speed of a 7-8 shot revolver over that of an auto. Capacity of a 1911 is no more. With practice reloads can be almost as fast.
frankiestoys
Member
I've carried both but tend to stick with Airweight J frames or a compact 9mm even a compact 1911 (.45 acp) can be heavy all day ...the ammo alone is heavier! So round count and reliability come into play, the 1911 offers a round or two more in a full size unless you went to a 9mm then its a plus, reliability will always be a win for the revolver...Accuracy depends a lot on barrel length and shooters ability.
Last edited:
Stress_Test
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2012
- Messages
- 209
Read here for an amazing story of an officer with a .357 revolver in a gun battle.
This guy is a bad-ass no doubt!
http://www.policeone.com/policemark...-Down-Never-Say-Die-Body-Armor-Saves-the-Day/
This guy is a bad-ass no doubt!
http://www.policeone.com/policemark...-Down-Never-Say-Die-Body-Armor-Saves-the-Day/
g_one
Member
I own both, but I have different uses for each. I love my 1911 and I love my Dan Wesson .357 equally (well maybe not equally, but only because the DW has sentimental value)
My 1911 is my home defense gun. The muzzle/cylinder flash of a .357 revolver (or even a .38) I feel as though would be counter-productive in a nighttime, shooting in low-light scenario. I also feel as though the .45 is less likely to overpenetrate than the .357 but maybe that's just me.
My .357 is my outside-of-the-home defense gun. I carry it when I'm in the woods, I carry it in my car, and as soon as I get a good holster for it it's going to be my motorcycle holster.
My 1911 is my home defense gun. The muzzle/cylinder flash of a .357 revolver (or even a .38) I feel as though would be counter-productive in a nighttime, shooting in low-light scenario. I also feel as though the .45 is less likely to overpenetrate than the .357 but maybe that's just me.
My .357 is my outside-of-the-home defense gun. I carry it when I'm in the woods, I carry it in my car, and as soon as I get a good holster for it it's going to be my motorcycle holster.
Arkansas Paul
Member
For sure. Took 2 hits from a 12-gauge and then went against a rifle, armed only with a .357 revolver. And he won. Don't jack with that dude.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
Depends on the ammo you are shooting from your .357. Full house magnums will recoil more and have much more muzzle blast/flash than a .45acp. I would go with the 1911.
With a little practice you will be better off with the 1911.
With a little practice you will be better off with the 1911.
tinygnat219
Member
What I think is funny are those that say the 1911 is more modern. The .357 round came out in 1935. The 1911, in 1911. Keep that in mind.
In my humble and so on, anyone who thinks a man armed with a .357 revolver is undergunned needs some education. Unless you are expecting an attack by a huge drug gang or thousands of screaming jihadists, and you can shoot that revolver, you are not in any way outgunned.
Jim
Jim
Old Dog
Member
Yes, yes, there is a difference. (Unless you're Jerry Miculek) I challenge the average shooter to see what he can shooter faster and more accurately -- an N-frame revolver, every shot double-action, or a full-size 1911.
And using quality 8-round mags, topping off, you've got at least 9 rounds -- and some of us carry 10-rounders as our spares. I absolutely love the .357, but let's not fool ourselves -- the 1911 is far easier to shoot if one's goal is to get a lot of rounds off in a hurry with great accuracy.
Having said all this, if I had to carry a revolver (in a duty capacity, not worried about concealment), I'd be all over the S&W 627 PC or Pro ...
Old Dog said:
Likely because the average shooter doesn't shoot a revolver as much as a semi-auto. No matter the skill level, a shooter who generally shoots revolvers would likely do better with a revolver than a 1911. My answer to the OP's question, then, is "choose whichever you shoot best".
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,085
I consider myself an average shooter and doing drills at the range, my speed and accuracy with my 7 shot L-Frame is so close to the speed and accuracy with my 1911 Government with factory 7 round mags that I beg to differ with you. That said, I don't CWC either of them much as I prefer my 5 shot J-Frame. I carry a 5 shot revolver most of the time, having another coupla rounds is not a priority. But then I practice regularly with both my revolvers and 1911s. For the average shooter that doesn't practice, I doubt regardless of what firearm they have in their hands, speed or rate of fire is not going to be their issue. Missing with 10 rounds does no more damage than missing with five, but 5 extra misses gives 5 more chances of hitting something you don't want to. I've found for those unfamiliar to shooting, that a revolver, is easier for them to pick up and be accurate with, especially with follow up shots, than my 1911s. Now they won't get off as many rounds as quickly with the revolver as compared to the 1911s, but more shots will be on target. At least that's my experience.
In the "Handguns" test they took folks familiar with firearms, but not experts. Altho at the start of the test everyone believed as you did, that the auto would greatly outperform the revolver, two outta the three shooters consistently did better speed wise and accuracy wise with the 8 shot revolver than they did with the 8 shot auto. Their conclusion? That speed isn't about a particular action or gun, nor size of caliber. The single most important variable in the equation was the shooter. Not surprisingly, those 2 shooters that did the best with the revolver, preferred the way it felt in their hand. The one that did better with the auto said the auto felt better to him. The last sentence of the article summed it up well.....
hariph creek
Member
Whichever you like better and can operate (hate using that word but it fits) better.
Unless security is paying much better than it used to? I'd hate to beat up a good (expensive) 1911 for that kind of wage.
Unless security is paying much better than it used to? I'd hate to beat up a good (expensive) 1911 for that kind of wage.
Well, I guess you'd have to define average...which really isn't a very good comparison anyway.
I will observe that in a High Speed, CQB class I attended recently, the guys shooting 627s and 625s were just as fast and accurate...if not more so, than the 1911 guys.
For an unskilled beginner, I think a 1911 might have an advantage as it's SA trigger does cover a multitude of trigger management sins.
For a shooter who has had some training in trigger management technique, it has been my observation that shooter using a DAO pistol have usually been more accurate, when shooting at speed, than SAO shooters. I imagine that same skill would translate to revolver shooters
Getting NRA distinguished revolver is a lot harder than getting distinguished service pistol (which is shot almost exclusively with 1911's although M9's are allowed).
I shot an IDPA class with a revolver shooter/ex-Green Beret. He was wicked fast at reloads. But he still shot more effectively in that game using a STI Spartan in 9mm.
I shot an IDPA class with a revolver shooter/ex-Green Beret. He was wicked fast at reloads. But he still shot more effectively in that game using a STI Spartan in 9mm.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked