Am a Revolver carrier over the Semi Auto

357smallbore

357smallbore

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Leavenworth KS
This is not which gun is better. It's about personal preference. I started my gun journey back in 1983 with revolvers. To this day I love them. I have several semi's and they are enjoyed and serve a purpose.
But I find myself being a revolver guy primarily when shooting and carrying ccw or other. I have a soft spot for my Ruger Super Blackhawk and S&W 686. My ccw is either a S&W 36 or a Ruger Speed Six.
Once in a while I carry my S&W Shield. I really love that gun, just not as much as the ole thumbusters.
Any one else primarily a revolver guy?
 
Well, yes. I’ve carried the same Colt Agent for roughly twenty five years now. It’s just…..easy. Sure, there are others, and I have several semi’s, but the revolver is just … easy. And intuitive. I don’t fantasize about running gun battles with Hamas teenagers, gang-banger roundevous, supply runs post-apocalypse, Purge scenarios or any of the countless other “what-ifs” that get posted here on THR and could give anyone a good dose of PTSD.

My Colt is for bad breath distance encounters, because that’s realistically what an encounter will really be. And it’s 20% more capacity than a J frame.
 
I'm a revolver guy for sure. I to have several semi pistols and enjoy shooting them and carry my 1911 for certain situations. and have been known to throw my Italian 25acp in a ankle holster for special occasions paired with a wheelgun as primary. Even my setting on the couch or doing yard work gun is a naa 22mag mini revolver in my pocket. I say to each there own and there's alot to say about comfort level and muscle memory when it comes to carry pieces. I'm plenty competent with my semi pistols but a wheelgun is what I feel the most comfortable carrying and using.
 
recently moving towards revolvers. I might go back to the semi platform again at some point, but for now I just feel like going all revolver for a while. I actually seem to shoot them better for whatever reason, think it is the fixed barrel.
 
I've got several single actions, cowboy guns and flat tops, all 44 or 45s. Double action revolvers, 586, 686 and a Taurus 44 special. I've shot ICORE with the S&Ws. Always double action.
 
I to am a revolver guy I do have some semi auto but my preference is revolvers especially big bore there is nothing like firing off a 357mag , 44mag , 454 Casull or a BFR in 45/70 I like the flash and boom. I do have revolvers in 9mm , 38 special, 38 super and 45 auto rimmed . They just never fail.
 
I started with revolvers many decades ago, and continued through the start of my career in LE. They are completely viable for citizen self-defense. I'm gonna say now I multi-task and carry both revolvers and automatics as the occasion warrants. For sporting purposes, I use mostly revolvers, and .22 target automatics.

Favorite revolvers for carry:
Charter Arms Off-Duty .32 H&R Mag (aluminium frame), Undercover and Police Undercover .38 Spl (all-steel frame hi-polish), and Bulldog Classic .44 Spl;
S&W .38 Spls Model 36 Classic 2", Model 10 Classic 4" and Model 10-7 2".
Honorable Mention to S&W Models 442 (.38 Spl) and 431PD (.32 H&R Mag).

Favorite Revolvers for Hunting:
S&W Model 57-6 6" (.41 Mag), S&W Model 63-5 5" (.22 LR), Ruger Blackhawk 4-5/8" (.45 Colt), Ruger SP-101 4" (.327 Federal Mag).
Honorable Mention S&W 629-6 5" (.44 Mag)

Favorite Revolvers for Target Shooting:
S&W 14-3 6" (.38 Spl)
Honorable Mention S&W Governor
 
I use a S&W model 60 or a Ruger 3” SP101 both 357/38 both in Mika pocket holsters. Revolvers from 22 through 480 all double action. Only have one single action, 10” Flat Ruger 44.
 
Generally, I'll carry a micro 380 ACP semi auto, but I'll carry a S&W M642/442 on occasions.
 
This thread is presently in General Handgun Discussion, not the revolver forum, I take that to mean it is open to those that do not prefer a revolver.
My 1st centerfire handgun was a new 357 Mag S&W 686 in 1987; I still have it and a couple more revolvers but they are not carry guns for me.
Most revolvers are 5-6 rounds which is capacity deficient to a semi.
I've had concealed carry over 30 years and never "needed" a single bullet; that said, I am not going to intentionally handicap myself with less capacity.
5 rounds versus 11 plus the semi has less felt recoil and a better trigger.
Screenshot (27).png
 
I feel equally secure whether I am carrying a semi-automatic with 15 rounds or a revolver wit only 5 or 6 rounds. I began shooting handguns with revolvers while Ike was President and only added semi-automatics during the Lyndon Johnson Presidency. Even today when I do carry a semi-automatic it will most often hold only a few more rounds than my revolvers.
 
I prefer revolvers, always have.
But I have some centerfire semi-autos as well.

The general reliability of semi-autos has come a long ways over the past few decades.


Maximum capacity has never really been a primary consideration for me. But to each their own. If 5-6 rounds on tap isn't enough for you, I'm not here to make a lawyer's case to you about it. Ideally we don't have a situation where it comes up, and that's what we all hope and pray for.
 
Personal choice/preference over the better platform.

The truth is the semiautomatic pistols today are extremely reliable, accurate, and have more capacity in smaller packages. This makes them a better choice for carry.

Running around doing my daily tasks I have a j frame in my pocket. It is comfortable, reliable and slips in and out of my pocket with ease.
Slipping in and out of my pocket is important. If I stop at the bank, post office, or medical center it stays in the car. I am giving up capacity for my personal convenience and comfort.

Today I have to go to a city that has a much higher crime rate than where I live. I will have a micro compact 9mm with over twice the capacity with me. I should carry it 100% of the time. But much of the time I go with comfort over capacity.

The centennial hammer design does come out of a pocket easier than a micro compact because of its shape. Personal experience...
Screenshot_20231109_075945_Chrome.jpg

When asked by people what handgun should I buy for CCW.
I recommend that they go to a rental range and shoot as many different 9mm carry guns as you can.
 
I carry a revolver almost exclusively now a days, especially when I am out in the woods. I do not lie to myself that the revolver is better than a semi-auto especially for self-defense but the revolver is sufficient. I do believe I run a revolver pretty well after several years of shooting USPSA and IDPA matches with them (I shot the USPSA Revolver National Match in 2014). Nothing's better than beating the filthy bottom feeders with a noble round gun at the local USPSA or IDPA match.

PXL_20230528_194406110.jpg
My Model 10-11 is almost always on my hip when I am out and about on the hunting property.
 
I'm a semi-auto guy myself but I started out on revolvers and still love a good revolver today.
 
Started out a revolver guy with carrying a Charter Arms Undercover (first generation-late '70s), then later a Ruger Speed Six and countless S&W J frames in .38 Special. My older brother preferred semi-autos (he started with a Mauser HSc and a Browning Hi-Power). I soon became enamored with the sleek styling, overall functionality, and design efficiencies of semi-auto pistols (that plus the large magazine capacity of the Hi-Power), that I began my conversion to carrying guns like a Walther PPK/s, a Beretta Model 84, or a Colt Combat Commander and was more than satisfied with my choices.

I still have a couple of J frames (namely a Model 649 and a Model 638), easily dropped in a coat pocket for a quick trip to the grocery store but other than that I'm pretty much sold on "micro nines" (like the SIG P365, Glock G43X, and the S&W M&P Shield Plus), for EDC.
 
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I certainly have strong preferences when it comes to guns. I have purchased a lot of guns based on those preferences and they get shot at the range. My first handgun was a revolver (I still have it after many decades) and revolvers are my favorite type of handgun.

That said, I choose guns to carry based on how I perform with them and based on their capabilities. In my case, that has resulted in my carrying firearms that aren't necessarily my favorite guns, or even my favorite types of gun.
 
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