A good reason to always have a revolver

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OptimusPrime

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I busted up my hand pretty good and am in a cast for a few weeks. It didn't cross my mind until a couple days later when I finally left the house after surgery, but I had no way to rack a slide, clear a jam, or reload a mag under stress. Thank God that I had diversified lately and kept a couple revolvers in inventory. Reloads are slower but physically possible at least.

So to those out there who have gone 100% to semi-autos, you might want to always have a revolver as a just-in-case gun for when you temporarily become 1-handed.
 
:DAs Kodiak says hope for a quick recovery, a revolver is always in my reach at the very least a .357 mag. Can't trust .38 spl no more, I hear they can't even kill armadillos!!! :D
 
I think revolvers are easier to shoot one handed than most semis, even if you have both hands intact. But what do I know, I also like exposed hammers, that I can get my thumb on. :rolleyes:
 
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Thanks for the kind words fellas, I'll heal quickly.
It occurred to me to post this as words-to-the-wise since I've seen many threads where people mentioned that they have pared down their stock to only semis, or only 1 caliber, and how that might be an oversight. We can't predict when a hand might get smashed in something and all you'll be able to operate is a revolver.
 
OptimusPrime

Here's to a speedy recovery of your hand injury. When I use to live in a somewhat less than ideal neighborhood I use to take the dog for walks at night. One hand was on the leash, the other hand wrapped around the grip of my S&W Model 38, conveniently located in my coat pocket. Didn't worry too much about a reload as I felt the dog was sufficient back-up.
 
Revolver is fine choice, but to equal modern compact sized double-stack mag semi-auto you need to carry brace of them.
 
OptimusPrime said:
...but I had no way to rack a slide, clear a jam, or reload a mag under stress.

One handed magazine changes and slide function are standard issue drills around here for a a semi-auto. Anyone that shoots a semi-auto for defensive purposes should know and practice these drills.

Not saying that there aren't good reasons to carry a revolver instead of a semi, but these are training issues, not platform limitations.
 
You can rack the slide one handed. Use the sole of your shoe, lift your foot up so it is behind you, place the rear sight on the sole and push forward while pulling your foot up. You can also place the pistol between your side and arm, squeeze hard and rack the slide. Also between you thighs. You can also use the edge of a table with the rear sight to pull the slide back and engage the slide stop with your thumb.

Reloads can be slow but will work. Extra mag on stongside, once pistol is empty drop the mag then place between weakside arm and side to hold it, use strongside hand to grab and load mag, use the slide stop with stronside hand or bottom of shoe with the rear sights to rack the slide.
 
Good opportunity to point out that everyone who carries should practice one-handed shooting with strong and weak hands. Even in fight, it's possible that your strong hand (or arm) could get injured or disabled before the gun is brought into the fight.

You will fight no better than you train, so train hard and train smart.

Hope you have a speedy recover, O-P.
 
I thought about having sold most of my revolvers a few weeks ago. I especially missed my stainless model 60. They are near $ 800, so when I saw a model 637-2 which is plus p rated for $ 450, I bought it.
 
Get well soon!

I have plenty of bottom feeders, but nothing warms my heart like a good ol' revolver. :)
 
16 rounds in a Glock 19 versus 5/6/7 in a revolver? Hmm...you're not reloading either quickly without training.

It seems to me that staying with a semiauto makes more sense if you don't know or practice single handed reloads.
 
I busted up my hand pretty good and am in a cast for a few weeks. It didn't cross my mind until a couple days later when I finally left the house after surgery, but I had no way to rack a slide, clear a jam, or reload a mag under stress. Thank God that I had diversified lately and kept a couple revolvers in inventory. Reloads are slower but physically possible at least.

So to those out there who have gone 100% to semi-autos, you might want to always have a revolver as a just-in-case gun for when you temporarily become 1-handed.
Well that should teach you that you shouldn't be skateboarding while drinking. You're not a kid anymore.
 
slide racker

I lost the use of my left hand in a motorcycle crash 7 years ago. Fortunately, I have always been a revolver shooter and that is all I own.

However, one day I decided to challenge myself and learn to use a semi-auto and bought a Glock 19 to play with. My son showed me how to use my boot or pants leg to rack a slide but I found an alternative that may interest Glock owners.

Brownell's sells a slide racker assist that bolts onto the rear of a Glock slide that makes slide racking a breeze. Before I got a chance to check it out thoroughly my grandson, who didn't even know I had it, mentioned he was shopping for a Glock 19 so guess who got a new gun?

FWIW: http://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?k=glock+slide+racker&ksubmit=y
 
:DAs Kodiak says hope for a quick recovery, a revolver is always in my reach at the very least a .357 mag. Can't trust .38 spl no more, I hear they can't even kill armadillos!!! :D
No, they won't.

In fact, studies show the bullet will likely bounce back and hit the shooter! :p

Seriously though, a .357 magnum is a beautiful thing, but for defensive use like the OP is talking about, a .38 special I find to be even better. With loads like the classic 158 grain LSWCHP +P FBI load and the new Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 grain JHP +P (yes even from a 4" barrel) you'll get plenty of stopping power (with good shot placement) and with faster follow up shots and less damage to the ears indoors, with less muzzle flash to boot.

My S&W Model 64-6 sleep above my pillow every night with me. It's got a 4" barrel, DAO from the factory with the front sight painted flourescent orange, and wears Pachmayr presentation grips. It is a 1999 make and was used by Brink's security company until it was sold as surplus by J&G Sales, when I bought it last year for a steal. It's in excellent shape, the classic "carried often fired little" trade in. Here it is:

M8x_MTAaotu20pxt_WHOcqgd_YIUNx7_Cbk_E7_P81_K1mo_KKo.jpg

I keep it loaded with the above mentioned Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 special +P 135 grain load. This particular load, designed for snub nose revolvers, also performs extremely well from 4" service guns like this one. Low recoil, almost no muzzle flash, and very respectable performance in calibrated ballistics gelatin, comparable to many 9x19mm JHP loads in said media.

I keep it with the two speedloaders at the ready as well, with a flashlight right next to it. I feel like if God forbid I'd ever need it, it would do the job. Can't help but like a good revolver, super reliable and always cleared hot. I sure love mine!! :D
 
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Think it's hard to load a semi-automatic one handed? Try a revolver one handed.

While I pack a J Centennial often, I'd still use my Glock 26 if I only had use of one hand.

Deaf
 
My S&W Model 64-6
Love that 64, Cooldill. I picked one up awhile back from another member here, also a 4" DAO security trade-in. I just recently got it back from a LGS; had a standard S/DA hammer installed (by a local gunsmith) and some other work via a return to S&W. Just got it back yesterday, and looking forward to warming the barrel this weekend.
Great guns.
 
Loading a semi with one hand is much quicker than loading a revolver. The slide can be easily racked on any hard surface such as your belt or heel of your shoe. That's how I was trained in the academy.

Consider this, most semi's have greater capacity which means you won't need to reload as soon as with a revolver.
 
I practice weak & strong hand shooting, & the revolver is the way to go. I like autos & have a bunch of them, and i'm sure i could manage a mag reload, but if one hand was out, reloading a mag would be tough! Ejecting empties with the revolver is easy one handed, as well as dropping in either loaded moon clips, or single cartridges.

For some reason, i'm not a accurate with my weak hand in autos. I can shoot revolvers in s/a with nearly the same accuracy as strong hand, but not the autos.. might be a flinch thing.

Still, i agree that with training & practice, either platform can become easier. I can also shoot a rifle one handed, but not as well. set on a flat surface, it is a lot easier.
 
Question: How do you reload a revolver under stress with one hand?

I can easily rack the slide on an automatic one-handed. There are several techniques. One is simply to catch the slide on your belt or the trigger guard ledge of your holster and press down. Another is to take the gun in your hand, thumb around the grip safety and close your hand.
 
Question: How do you reload a revolver under stress with one hand?

I can easily rack the slide on an automatic one-handed. There are several techniques. One is simply to catch the slide on your belt or the trigger guard ledge of your holster and press down. Another is to take the gun in your hand, thumb around the grip safety and close your hand.
Best I've seen was shown by Massad Ayoob.

You eject the brass using your middle finger push the ejector nod and your thump behind the hammer. Then with the cylinder still open stick the barrel in your pants with the cylinder facing out. Insert the speed loader and load the revolver. Dump the loader, then rotate the gun as you draw till the left side is facing you. Close the cylinder against your body then you are ready to go.

Here's a similar way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrwtyeM2aGY
 
How is that faster than reloading an automatic?

Military Police, for example, carried the M1911 in Condition 3, and chambered a round by quickly half drawing the pistol, then catching the end of the dust cover on the trigger guard ledge and pushing sharply down then back up.

Similarly, reloading by simply dropping the mag, thrusting the gun into the belt and inserting a fresh mag is much faster than one-handed reloading a revolver.
 
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