Am a Revolver carrier over the Semi Auto
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Mosin77
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I like both. Some days I get more satisfaction out of a revolving cylinder and simple reloads between each string of fire, other days I usually prefer the recoil and general feel-in-hand of a semi-auto. I find semi-autos better in theory for self-defense or combat (or training for that) but I like revolvers better for fun at the range or “civilian” applications like carrying in the woods/hunting. They both have their place. If I had to choose just one gun I’d be very hard-pressed to choose between a K frame smith and a polymer semi.
mcb
Member
For USPSA, to be competitive you're going to need to go to moonclips and an 8-shooter. S&W 929 is the current King of the Revolver division with the 627 a distant second. Speedloaders are perfectly legal but not very competitive compared to moonclips. Speedloaders are much more competitive in IDPA.
There are no restriction on the type of speedloads or moonclips you can use and no restrictions on where you can wear your spare ammo or holster around you body. The only restriction is the heel of the revolver's grip must be above the top of the belt and gun and reloads must be within 3-3/8-inch of the inside of the belt.
This is my current setup.
A S&W 627 shooting hot loaded 38 Short Colt on moonclips. The holster is an old BladeTech and the moonclip server is a North Mountain. When worn the belt buckle is behind me and the moonclip server is right across my belly slightly offset to the left (my weak hand). I leave the revolver in my strong hand during reloads hence the offset to my weak hand.
I am not Jerry but I can do OK. The video is me doing some dry fire practice; draw, double tap, reload, double tap, it 3.6 seconds beep to beep.
Practitioners of human factors engineering know that when persons who must operate devices quickly under stress and when errors can be costly, sticking with one design is a much better idea.
That applies to aircraft, fire fighting equipment, weapons, racing cars, and everything else.
Having shot in 2700 Bullseye Competition for about a decade now, I would have to think hard if I have 80% or 90% of all conceivable malfunctions. Others around me, have had a few that I have not had. It is probably only a matter of time till I experience them all. Of course I am shooting the lowest recoiling 45ACP loads that function the pistol, and even temperature drops, thick lubricants, bullet changes (plated bullets), and primer changes have caused failures to eject or feed. However factory 22lr is not exactly 100 % reliable.
Alibi rounds collected by a Match Director. The shooter signals an alibi, the Range Safety Officer inspects the situation. Takes the offending round from the competitor and hands it to the Match Director. Who drops these rounds in this cup. Seems to be that 22lr is over represented.
Even when shooting stock box factory 1911's, with full power 230 FMJ reloads, This one had real magazine issues:
I am very sure all of my 1911's have experienced jams at the range. I do use the "best magazines" in competition, there have been times when it was obvious that the magazine was a problem, most of the time I have no idea why the round jams on the feed ramp. I can't remember a stove pipe with full power 45 ACP rounds, but, I don't keep track of malfunctions when practicing. I do in 2700 Competition.
When autopistols jam, troubleshooting and clearing of malfunctions can require three hands and a fair amount of time. Most Bullseye shooters learn to carry a brass rod to drop down the muzzle to knock out a live round in the chamber or squib bullet in the bore.
My revolvers have been much more reliable than my auto pistols, only old mainsprings have caused ignition problems in cold weather. I do recommend replacing mainsprings on old vintage revolvers. Can't hurt. These little airweights are snag free and very compact.
I think this was $250 out the door, and I have been very happy with the accuracy and function of these Taurus snubbies
This six shot version fits into Colt Detective Special Holsters.
Old school. Issued to the Detectives at Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department. Shipment date, 13 June 1934
No notches on the Colt DS, so it is a cruelty free gun!
Alibi rounds collected by a Match Director. The shooter signals an alibi, the Range Safety Officer inspects the situation. Takes the offending round from the competitor and hands it to the Match Director. Who drops these rounds in this cup. Seems to be that 22lr is over represented.
Even when shooting stock box factory 1911's, with full power 230 FMJ reloads, This one had real magazine issues:
I am very sure all of my 1911's have experienced jams at the range. I do use the "best magazines" in competition, there have been times when it was obvious that the magazine was a problem, most of the time I have no idea why the round jams on the feed ramp. I can't remember a stove pipe with full power 45 ACP rounds, but, I don't keep track of malfunctions when practicing. I do in 2700 Competition.
When autopistols jam, troubleshooting and clearing of malfunctions can require three hands and a fair amount of time. Most Bullseye shooters learn to carry a brass rod to drop down the muzzle to knock out a live round in the chamber or squib bullet in the bore.
My revolvers have been much more reliable than my auto pistols, only old mainsprings have caused ignition problems in cold weather. I do recommend replacing mainsprings on old vintage revolvers. Can't hurt. These little airweights are snag free and very compact.
I think this was $250 out the door, and I have been very happy with the accuracy and function of these Taurus snubbies
This six shot version fits into Colt Detective Special Holsters.
Old school. Issued to the Detectives at Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department. Shipment date, 13 June 1934
No notches on the Colt DS, so it is a cruelty free gun!
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Strawhat....Agreed on the multiple attackers thoughts...stay alert, trust no-one, and don't let the old man in....and thanks for the compliment on the holster....at 77+ yo, I don't have the time to build out of the family.....
As to the two Smiths....the top one is the .45 acp model of 1955....heavy bbl. gives it away
The bottom one, same pic, is a M-24-3 .44 Special given to me by my older son. Quick story...I bought the identical way back when Smith first reintroduced them...wanted the 4" bbl. but could only find the 6-1/2". I loved the gun, loaded for it with home cast Keith's and Lyman's 429215gc. At the time I was 41 years old and could still see the front sight clear as a sunrise without glasses & competed in a NRA 50' bullseye league.
Well that Xmas, I gave my son a Marlin M-39 Mountie that I'd had in college. He was immensely proud of it, qualified for his 1st BSA Merit badge with it and could routinely hit charcoal briquettes at 50' offhand. He went through .22 ammunition like it was water and I bought him all that he could shoot here on our farm. The woodchuck population was drastically reduced!!
We ran half a dozen quarter horses at the time and spent a lot of time weekends and evenings riding and shooting on our fence lines....just before his birthday in April, we were out dusting off the winter's drop of hickory shells and residual walnuts...having a great time too.
Feeling especially accurate that afternoon, I jokingly asked him if he'd bet his beloved Mountie against my Smith .44 special at 50 ft. He laughed nervously...then said, "Sure". Geez, I didn't think he'd go for it, but....if I won I'd give him the gun with a strong admonition that bets were not a good idea in general, and that this one...against his dead-eye Dad was an especially bad idea....ya gotta know the game, 'fore ya lay your money down, son!!
Well, you know how this turned out, NEVER BET A REVOLVER AGAINST A RIFLE AT ANY RANGe over 20 yds!!!
He won the gun with a center punched walnut, and I forfeited my Smith M-24...a deal is a deal. He was 13 at the time...and for years, I'd ask him if he wanted a re-match....he'd learned his lesson tho...and never bet again...he was, and continues to be a superb shot with most anything he picks up.
Some 30 years later, he found the M-24 in the pic at a local shop and gave it to me for Xmas...I asked him if he'd trade the one I lost originally, for it...and his answer was Nope..."I won that one fair and square".
So that's the deal on that particular M-24...accurate as all get-out, but the bbl. length makes it a range or chest holster carry gun, but one with a story behind it!.
Best regards and sorry for the thread drift......Rod
As to the two Smiths....the top one is the .45 acp model of 1955....heavy bbl. gives it away
The bottom one, same pic, is a M-24-3 .44 Special given to me by my older son. Quick story...I bought the identical way back when Smith first reintroduced them...wanted the 4" bbl. but could only find the 6-1/2". I loved the gun, loaded for it with home cast Keith's and Lyman's 429215gc. At the time I was 41 years old and could still see the front sight clear as a sunrise without glasses & competed in a NRA 50' bullseye league.
Well that Xmas, I gave my son a Marlin M-39 Mountie that I'd had in college. He was immensely proud of it, qualified for his 1st BSA Merit badge with it and could routinely hit charcoal briquettes at 50' offhand. He went through .22 ammunition like it was water and I bought him all that he could shoot here on our farm. The woodchuck population was drastically reduced!!
We ran half a dozen quarter horses at the time and spent a lot of time weekends and evenings riding and shooting on our fence lines....just before his birthday in April, we were out dusting off the winter's drop of hickory shells and residual walnuts...having a great time too.
Feeling especially accurate that afternoon, I jokingly asked him if he'd bet his beloved Mountie against my Smith .44 special at 50 ft. He laughed nervously...then said, "Sure". Geez, I didn't think he'd go for it, but....if I won I'd give him the gun with a strong admonition that bets were not a good idea in general, and that this one...against his dead-eye Dad was an especially bad idea....ya gotta know the game, 'fore ya lay your money down, son!!
Well, you know how this turned out, NEVER BET A REVOLVER AGAINST A RIFLE AT ANY RANGe over 20 yds!!!
He won the gun with a center punched walnut, and I forfeited my Smith M-24...a deal is a deal. He was 13 at the time...and for years, I'd ask him if he wanted a re-match....he'd learned his lesson tho...and never bet again...he was, and continues to be a superb shot with most anything he picks up.
Some 30 years later, he found the M-24 in the pic at a local shop and gave it to me for Xmas...I asked him if he'd trade the one I lost originally, for it...and his answer was Nope..."I won that one fair and square".
So that's the deal on that particular M-24...accurate as all get-out, but the bbl. length makes it a range or chest holster carry gun, but one with a story behind it!.
Best regards and sorry for the thread drift......Rod
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hawg
Member
I started out at a young age with single action revolvers and I wondered why some guns had the trigger so far forward. It wasn't until I was about 13 I found out they could be fired by just pulling the trigger. It was such a long hard pull and I didn't like it so I just cocked the hammer. I still shoot my DA revolvers by cocking the hammer. It's second nature to me. I carried a full size 1911 for years. My wife carried a S&W 637 with Pachmayr Grippers on it. When she died I started carrying it. I don't know why. I guess just because it was hers. It's a nice little gun and the hammer is easy to get to.
A good post Hawg....sorry she's gone....you know why you carry it....I'd do the same....Rod
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Miami_JBT
Member
As someone who has professionally used firearms for over two decades and shot competitively longer than that. I'm fine and so is Jerry Miculek. It ain't the arrow, it is the Indian.
I have no idea how you shoot, but there is oly one Jerry Miculek
But that wasn't the issue. When on shoot incomperion, one knows what firearm on is using. when on carrris doe defwns, an if one varies what one carries, one must identify which gun it is when one draws. It takes time to do that. That's where human factors engineering come in, and it is a well established science.
I started with auto-loaders, but evolved to prefer revolvers. The GP100, seen in my avatar image, is my favorite handgun, period. Among other reasons, I used it, successfully, during a defensive incident. (Yes, my finger is on the trigger. I originally composed that image, as part of a series of images to show how I grip a revolver, to include finger position on the trigger.)
In late 1982 or early 1983, at age 21, my first handgun was a 1911. I was interested in WW I, WW II, and Cold War history. The US military handgun of that era was the 1911. At the time, I thought that revolvers were, well, quaint. In late 1983 and early 1984, however, I had been hired by a large PD, and was attending the academy, where I had to learn to use an S&W L-Frame. After being sworn-in, in March 1984, I was required to use a 4” DA revolver while on duty, and, during personal time, could only carry DA revolvers, during my first year of street duty. Working in a boom-town big city which was vying with Detroit for murder capital of the USA, it seemed wise to how to revolve at a high level of performance. So, I did.
I still like some autos, but, to this day, I perform at my best, most consistently, with a medium-frame or medium-large-frame revolving pistol. Whoever designed the original-pattern factory grips for the Ruger GP100 and SP101 revolvers must have hands very similar to mine, because these two weapons fit me so very well. S&W K- and L-Frames fit me well, too, though aftermarket or customs grips are very helpful.
I also like single-action revolving pistols. My favorites are my USFA Single Actions, but Rugers are decent.
In late 1982 or early 1983, at age 21, my first handgun was a 1911. I was interested in WW I, WW II, and Cold War history. The US military handgun of that era was the 1911. At the time, I thought that revolvers were, well, quaint. In late 1983 and early 1984, however, I had been hired by a large PD, and was attending the academy, where I had to learn to use an S&W L-Frame. After being sworn-in, in March 1984, I was required to use a 4” DA revolver while on duty, and, during personal time, could only carry DA revolvers, during my first year of street duty. Working in a boom-town big city which was vying with Detroit for murder capital of the USA, it seemed wise to how to revolve at a high level of performance. So, I did.
I still like some autos, but, to this day, I perform at my best, most consistently, with a medium-frame or medium-large-frame revolving pistol. Whoever designed the original-pattern factory grips for the Ruger GP100 and SP101 revolvers must have hands very similar to mine, because these two weapons fit me so very well. S&W K- and L-Frames fit me well, too, though aftermarket or customs grips are very helpful.
I also like single-action revolving pistols. My favorites are my USFA Single Actions, but Rugers are decent.
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Tallball
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- Oct 2, 2014
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@Slamfire , I totally agree with you about revolvers being more reliable. I've been shooting handguns regularly for over 40 years. Just a few malfunctions with revolvers. Normally because a part broke or it was a squib load. Malfunctions with semiautos have been much more common. Usually ammo related. 22's are the worst for that.
Revolvers are more reliable when I'm just standing there punching holes in paper. If someone is grabbing at me and trying to wrestle me to the ground, I definitely want a revolver. A semiauto is way more likely to malfunction then.
Emptying a 15-round magazine, reloading, and emptying another 15-round magazine is impressive and fun, and it's necessary training for military and LE, but that's not how civilians end up defending themselves.
Revolvers are more reliable when I'm just standing there punching holes in paper. If someone is grabbing at me and trying to wrestle me to the ground, I definitely want a revolver. A semiauto is way more likely to malfunction then.
Emptying a 15-round magazine, reloading, and emptying another 15-round magazine is impressive and fun, and it's necessary training for military and LE, but that's not how civilians end up defending themselves.
sgt127
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- Apr 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,113
I love revolvers. Have…a few.
Sadly, now, anything over .38 special hurts my hand. There’s a magic spot on the first joint of my thumb that gets whacked when the gun torques. I have small (but strong) hands. And, often, a revolver does not sit perfectly centered in my hand for me to reach the trigger. So, the horn hits that magic spot.
Thicker rubber grips help. But, my hand is even further canted to reach the trigger. A Ruger SP101 is small enough to center. So, I can shoot magnums out of it. Starting at about a K Frame…nope. .22 and .38 are about my limit.
Probably because I’ve shot thousands of .357. .41. .44. In my younger years.
Sadly, now, anything over .38 special hurts my hand. There’s a magic spot on the first joint of my thumb that gets whacked when the gun torques. I have small (but strong) hands. And, often, a revolver does not sit perfectly centered in my hand for me to reach the trigger. So, the horn hits that magic spot.
Thicker rubber grips help. But, my hand is even further canted to reach the trigger. A Ruger SP101 is small enough to center. So, I can shoot magnums out of it. Starting at about a K Frame…nope. .22 and .38 are about my limit.
Probably because I’ve shot thousands of .357. .41. .44. In my younger years.
Consider the 32 caliber revolvers. From 32 S&W to the 327, all are pleasant to shoot from a K frame.
Kevin
I agree whole-heartedly, Tall....and pray that I never have to eat my words. With respect..best regards, Rod
fastbolt
Member
I forgot to add that during the heyday of service revolvers at my former agency, .44MAG/SPL and .45Colt/ACP were all authorized optional calibers that could be carried on-duty. I never saw anyone carrying a .41MAG on-duty with us, although one of the laterals came from a large city PD who had issued them.
I didn't feel like spending the money to custom order a Buscadero rig (which a LOT of the senior guys and gals used) to carry one of my .44's on-duty, so I only occasionally carried them off-duty. The agency only supplied remanufactured .44SPL for quals for the folks carrying .44MAG, so when I took mine through the range I brought my own Magnum ammo.
I didn't feel like spending the money to custom order a Buscadero rig (which a LOT of the senior guys and gals used) to carry one of my .44's on-duty, so I only occasionally carried them off-duty. The agency only supplied remanufactured .44SPL for quals for the folks carrying .44MAG, so when I took mine through the range I brought my own Magnum ammo.
luv2safari
Member
I carried my old no-dash Mdl 37 for years, that or my Commander LW 45acp. I'm finding I prefer carrying my Ruger EC9s because it's sleek. I would love to have a Smith 642.
Old_Grouch
Member
Absolutely! I have a few center fire semi-autos; a Shield 9, a CZ P-01, an STI 1911 (9mm), a SA XDM sub compact .45. My list of revolvers is MUCH longer.
A S&W 642 lives in my pocket. If I feel the need for something more the 642 goes into an ankle holster and a 686 or Model 10 goes on my hip. Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away I was trained on a revolver, qualified with a revolver, carried a revolver as a duty weapon, and competed with revolvers.They're what I'm comfortable with.
Revolvers - anachronistic yet highly efficacious.
While I chose to carry a 20-round 9mm as my EDC, I chose to compete with a S&W .357 wheelgun.
For some reason, I find the DA trigger on the revolver easier to control than any auto and shooting light .38 Short Colt reloads helps a lot with control.
I own 11 S&W revolvers in .22, .38 Spl (3), .357 (4), .44 Mag, .45ACP and .45 Colt. I've worked over the actions on all those guns and all are super-smooth.
I've been known to carry a 3" 686+ and a 4" M29, but not for long.
For some reason, I find the DA trigger on the revolver easier to control than any auto and shooting light .38 Short Colt reloads helps a lot with control.
I own 11 S&W revolvers in .22, .38 Spl (3), .357 (4), .44 Mag, .45ACP and .45 Colt. I've worked over the actions on all those guns and all are super-smooth.
I've been known to carry a 3" 686+ and a 4" M29, but not for long.
lots of great contributions here. here is my little revolver story.
my first handgun experience was a lousy, hurried, two mag, famfire session in the army at 18yo with a clapped-out, ww2 era, m1911 pistol. a dozen years later i bought my first handgun, a steel taurus 85 j frame revolver. it was my only (surreptitious) firearm for 25 years due to my locales. the 85 was, and remains, accurate, handy and reliable to the max. my deep ccw these days is a keltec p32, and my most-shot firearm is a ruger sr22, but i remain a committed revolver guy.
my only complaint about revolvers is the higher cost and lesser availability of 38sp ammo, relative to 9mm.
easily swappable grips, mild to wild ammo choices without feeding worries, one-handed operation, no mag lips or springs to worry about, intuitive manual of arms make revolvers my suggested first handgun to most gun newbies.
my first handgun experience was a lousy, hurried, two mag, famfire session in the army at 18yo with a clapped-out, ww2 era, m1911 pistol. a dozen years later i bought my first handgun, a steel taurus 85 j frame revolver. it was my only (surreptitious) firearm for 25 years due to my locales. the 85 was, and remains, accurate, handy and reliable to the max. my deep ccw these days is a keltec p32, and my most-shot firearm is a ruger sr22, but i remain a committed revolver guy.
my only complaint about revolvers is the higher cost and lesser availability of 38sp ammo, relative to 9mm.
easily swappable grips, mild to wild ammo choices without feeding worries, one-handed operation, no mag lips or springs to worry about, intuitive manual of arms make revolvers my suggested first handgun to most gun newbies.
.308 Norma
Member
Deleted.
35 Whelen
Member
I carry a little Kel-Tec PF-9 in my front pocket every single day at work, simply because it's easy to conceal and I don't have to wear a holster. (At my place of employment we're allowed to carry concealed, but not open.) All other times I carry a revolver as I am much, mucvh more proficient with them and have far greater confidence in myself with a revolver.
35W