Am I foolish to carry a SA as my car gun?

[cookekdjr]

Well, if the cops think I'm a good ol' boy, they'll be right!
Actually, as an ADA I carry a badge and I'm exempt from most state weapons laws...although I have a CCW permit just to make gun buying easier.
Thanks for your input guys...
David

 

[Control Group]

In my (admittedly inexperienced) viewpoint, the most important thing is to have a gun. Just that puts you way ahead of the curve, and anything that shoots is adequate. Second most important is to have a gun that you're comfortable with, so if the SHTF and you get that cold shot of urine straight to the heart, your situation isn't complicated by an unfamiliar tool.

Sounds like your Blackhawk meets those criteria.

All that being said, I personally would rather have and be familiar with a bottom feeder. Yes, almost all gunfights end in fewer than five rounds - but no one's ever lost a gunfight because he had too much ammo. The "you're almost certain to never need more than five rounds" logic sounds suspiciously like "you're almost certain to never need a gun" logic, to me. I don't like that "almost" in there at all.

As for the idea that the BG will be intimidated by a SA, because he'll have to assume you know how to use it...I think that's giving more intellectual credit to your average street thug than he deserves. Any intimidation you're going to achieve is going to be because he never expected to be on that end of a gun.

Of course, I'm not an expert of any stripe, and my opinion is worth exactly what you've paid for it.

 

[popbang]

When it was stated earlier to check some old threads about carrying a single action revolver, well, I am one of those that does just that. I am very comfortable with my Bird’s Head Grip Vaquero. I don’t second-guess my choice at all. I know that I can accomplish the desired outcome effectively. I am also keenly aware of the shortcomings of the weapon type.

Just yesterday I was at the range hitting 12 inch square steel targets at 100 yards with it. And for fast shooting just put a silhouette up and let me race. Am I better with it than everybody else is? Nope, but I am better that most people. I also practice with it a lot.

Now, would recommend to other people to use a SA revolver? No way. Unless you are willing to put the time in, of course that is with any chosen platform, you are going to be a disadvantage.

So, in the end use what you are comfortable with. Train often and stay current. I would also offer some advice and take it for what it is worth; if you normally carry another type of firearm then your car gun should match that action. Good luck and I believe your choice is a good one.

 

[mutt]

Colt?

I carry a Colt .45 4&3/4 concealed some of the time. According to how I dress. I love single actions ! And with a little practice you can become quite good. Look at all the cowboy action folks. Some of them are very good and FAST .........MUTT

 

[TimboKhan]

My simple, short answer is no. my long answer, which i won't give you, is still no. A SA is a perfectly good car gun, provided that you know how to use it. For what its worth, Sheriff Jim Wilson wrote an article a while back saying that he used one occasionally for just that purpose.

 

[cookekdjr]

I really appreciate everyone's advice and comments.
And if anyone out there has a contrary opinion, I am still very open to consider another point of view.
For right now, I am still very comfortable with my decision. They key factors so far have been how natural the Blackhawk feels and points in my hand, and how I automatically pull back the hammer when I raise the pistol to fire. That translates into an accurate first shot that's as fast as an double action or semi-auto.
So far the only shortcoming is a little slower follow-up shots. Thats something I'm working on now...
Thanks again everybody,
David

 

[GEM]

If you are serious as using it for self-defense, have you tried it in typical self-defense scenarios? Have you trained in self-defense firearms usage?

Maybe a local IDPA club would let you run a scenario or two with it as an experiment?

Clearly, as a deterrent, it would work just fine. That's most of the DGUs anyway. However, for usage in a multiple shot, attacker scenario - I would want to try it out.

 

[lyricsdad]

I carry my p99QA which is i would say a single action pistol, I carry it chambered w/ it decocked.

 

[mainmech48]

Nope, not if you can shoot it well, IMO. Only hits count, and a solid hit with a 125 gr. .357 JHP will ruin any perp's day. If you have to hit him more than six times, you should've brought a rifle

 

[cookekdjr]

If you are serious as using it for self-defense, have you tried it in typical self-defense scenarios? Have you trained in self-defense firearms usage?
No formal training, beyond when I had to qualify with a Glock at my old DA's office.
Right now I have a LE escort to and from my car. He carrys a Glock 23.
The primary danger I face once I'm in my car is carjacking. I have to drive through some rough parts of the city sometimes. I like to have a powerful weapon within arms' reach during those times.
I once foiled my own carjacking several years ago. All I had was a .32 S&W in the glovebox, but when I saw the fellas approaching I knew what was coming before they could draw their gun(s). When I reached for mine, their hands went in the air and they moved away from my car. They smiled like it was a big joke but they put their hands up and got out of the way. I was pretty angry but I left the scene with my life and my car.

 

[tuna]

I don't see a problem with it, I carry my .45 Blackhawk quite a bit. Don't buy into the using a spare mag as a reload, it is slower than a handful of shells. Like many have said, folks carry a snub .38 without a reload, so what is the difference? Also, it would be hard to paint someone carrying a single action revolver as a gun crazed nut looking for an excuse, after all, a Blackhawk isn't the gang-bangers first choice for a drive by.

 

[TallPine]

I spent so much time playing with cowboy cap-guns as a kid that cocking a SA sixgun is just natural to me.

A gun without a hammer to cock just doesn't feel like a gun to me.

(kind of like a truck without a clutch )

 

[charby]

Who cares what you have for a car gun? Just remember any gun in hand is better than two at home in the safe.

Charby

 

[Burt Blade]

he subject of de-cocking a Single Action under stress deserves some discussion.

When I de-cock a revolver, and I do not have a handy berm for catching an "oops" I put my offhand thumb between the hammer and the pin. Once the hammer reaches the thumb, I remove my thumb from the action and finish de-cocking the weapon. Testing on the range has suggested that the weapons I have tested do not have enough energy in the less-than-half-cocked hammer to fire normal ammunition.

This is not a guarantee, just a way to make a slip less likely to cause a loud noise and suddenly-brown shorts in bystanders. (And pain compliance will help teach you not to slip.)

If all else fails and you are just too discombobulated to manipulate the gun, just set it gently on a flat piece of ground. As long as no one touches it, it will quietly await your further attention. Once the shakes pass, you can return your attention to making the weapon safe

 

[yotehunter]

I see no reason not to use a SA revolver if you know how to use it properly.
I have been using my Uberti Schofield top break 45 Colt with a 3 1/2 inch barrel latley. This SA revolver makes me want to practice as often as I can because I love shooting it.
I have been carrying a 3 inch 629 for a couple of years, but now I find I can recover between shots and be back on target faster and shoot more accurate with my Uberti. I know its not for everyone, but there is no right or wrong here, its what makes you feel safe that matters, but it will take practice.

Not to mention the looks you get at the range and within the local gun group when they find out what you carry.