Any room for improvement in revolvers?

One thing about revolver guys though... some of them are traditionalists. Probably makes it hard to stick too many advances in there at once.

 

I'd like to see options in sights, grips, and barrel length.

Due to the massive increase in recoil, light weight is mainly a pocket carry thing, absent medical or similar issues.

Go shoot a scandium 2" 357Magnum. Then shoot a steel frame 5" 357Magnum. Does recoil matter?

We have soldiers walking into combat wearing packs weighing 60 to 160 pounds. Many of us can stand to lose 5+ pounds from our gut. Is a few ounces of pistol weight more important or should we lose some gut?

Medical and similar issues are different.

Sights, grips, a clean trigger. Rounds on target in a way that does not creat unmeant trouble.

Each of us is different and platforms do matter. There are reasons that some people do better with a platform, and someone else has to work harder with that same platform.

At the end of a long hard day, any handgun can feel like a rock. Personal comfort vs family safety. A personal choice.

Hunting, range fun, personal enjoyment of old stuff or new stuff, and so on are all different.

Just some thoughts.

 

Two great revolvers that work for me. And any lock better not ever fail.

 

I have always wished my 637 had better sights. Does that count?

 

I've always wondered about the autorevolvers myself. Mateba used to make 'em, and they look so cool.

 

Personally I always thoght an autorevolver is solution to a problem that doesn't exist. The Mateba looks...different, I'll say that. Kinda like something they could have used in Hellboy. i don't not like it, but it just looks

 

I'll take a revolver made like this. Caliber: .45 Long Colt

 

^^^Mount a laser in the barrel rib.

 

I look at my little 637 and wonder why it has to have a full sized trigger guard, way out of proportion with the rest and more trigger space than I need. I may feel differently when the rheumatoid arthritis bump on my trigger finger gets bigger. For now, I have small hands. How about a gun to include average women and good for men with small hands. That would not rule out 357 Magnum, because I have observed a slight built young woman student at the range, who could really shoot with her Smith snubby and box of 357s.

 

Heh...I think J.H. Fitzgerald came up with a fix to your concern about 90 years ago...



.

 

I would not own a revolver made after 1996.
No way, no how.

 

Ok, good, that's a constructive answer to the thread's question.

In the future, all revolvers should be made prior to 1996.

Now maybe you could suggest how we might implement that improvement.

 

Damn! That's going to be the wait list from hell at the LGS!

 

Maybe I'm missing something but what happened in 96 that changed everything? I was only 10 at the time so I don't remember much...

 

Honestly, I think a lot of the things that can be done to "improve" revolvers detract from what revolvers bring over semi-autos: simplicity. It's kind of the answer I got when I asked why they don't make more gas-sealing revolvers like the 1895 Nagant. I mean, you can mix-and-match what you like best to create your perfect revolver, but I don't think much is going to change.

I am a min/maxer, and while I like the idea of putting on custom sights (my carry guns have night sights and my primary HD gun has a red dot) and the ability to put on a flashlight, with the revolver you're going more for durability. It's hard to have a revolver fail from round to round like it can with an auto. You won't have a stovepipe, or a magazine failure, or a dud round slow you down. The more moving parts or interchangeable parts you have, the more likely it is something will get out of place when you don't want it to.

 

Guys, I just prefer weapons pre 1996. I really don't care for the new stuff.

 

LOL!!!

 

Why don't you tell g one what's so special about 1996?

 

Right, I got that. But how does that answer the question we're discussing in this thread?

How can the design of revolvers be developed, improved, advanced? That kind of implies that we're talking about NEW revolvers that haven't been built or even invented yet.

So, if you can think of a way to design a NEW revolver that will only be built before 1996, we're all ears...

 

I think simplicity will be the next advancement for wheel guns. Ruger's taken a lot on with the LCR design, sure polymer parts make for a lighter gun but it also makes it cheaper to make. We have seen an explosion in revolver interest and therefore revolver development should move along too!

The next step will be modularity. Dan Wesson tried it, Ruger has made some moves towards it, soon S & W will follow with even more refinement of the idea. Imagine drop in trigger kits or interchangeable frames allowing you to switch calibers? It will make it cheaper for the companies and therefore a more attractive prospect for them to develop.

Just my two cents though...

 

Unfortunately, I don't believe that revolvers will ever be able to compete with Glock style appliance automatics due to the fact they don't lend themselves to being made out of rubber....and I'm perfectly happy about that.

Revolvers offer inherent advantages in power, accuracy and reliability over automatics. Automatics are superior in capacity, speed and size.

I think there are two designs changes that offer some real advantage to revolver evolution.

1. Modern integration of the gas seal system would lend itself very well to modern high powered revolvers like the 460 S&W.

a. It eliminates any chance of flame or gas cutting in high pressure, high velocity cartridges.
b. It ensures prefect alignment between cylinder chambers and barrel which improves accuracy.
c. The revolver can not ever be fired if it were out of time. No side spitting.
d. Substantial reduction in sound and concussion, especially in enclosed spaces...like a firing lane/booth.
e. Small but definite increase in velocity.
f. A suppressor could now be made effective.

2. Barrel alignment with the bottom chamber .

a. Reduction in felt recoil.
b. Decreased muzzle rise.
c. Improved balance.

I have a Nagant and it is true it has a 22 lb DA trigger pull. But it has nothing to do with the gas seal system. It has a 22 lb trigger no matter if the cylinder is installed or not. The gas seal system is extremely simple consisting of a small spring in front of the cylinder and a small pawl behind it.

I would sell a kidney to have a modern magnum, bottom barrel, gas seal revolver.

 

Didn't the gas seal on the Nagant have a lot to do with the cartridge design too?

 

Yes and no. But you're right, it's a matched set. The cartridge was unique in that the brass completely encapsulated the bullet and extends about a tenth or so beyond. The neck of the cartridge is actually in the barrel...no real forcing cone as we know it. Another advantage.

Just to make it clear. The gas seal system is not just an unused novelty. While no pistols other than the nagant use it...many, many large caliber military weapons use it. The ADEN and DEFA aircraft 30mm cannons, the American 25mm chain gun...and more than a couple more. They are revolver cannons that either have a sleeve that moves in forward in the cartridge chamber and then covers the chamber to cylinder gap or a long neck cartridge...

A gas seal system on a S&W 460 or Ruger 480, IMO would eliminate many of problems with pistols of that power level.

 

I'd like to see full sized revolvers in a polymer frame. A polymer L-frame 38 special would be cool. Not traditional, but would make for a fun speed gun. I love the old blued steel guns but there's no reason we couldn't have both. Something a bit more substantial than an LCR would be cariable as well as shootable. Maybe a 2.5-3" polymer K-frame as well in .38 Special +p. Weight of a snub J-frame in a more shootable package.

 

I'm wondering if $10 more on the price tag could improve QC just a little.
Or maybe a slight premium for a gun that's already had the action slicked up. All of the new revolvers I've bought could have been improved with an action job.

And the most recent one I bought might just get one if it doesn't smooth out to my liking with a little shooting wear.