Anyone CCW an SA Revolver?

[montanaoffroader]

Yes, a Colt SAA 5 1/2" in .357, it was the only centerfire handgun I owned at the time. A bit bulky, but not impossible to conceal effectively.

It only comes out on range days now, but I still wouldn't hestitate to trust it in a life or death situation. I'm very comfortable with it, as I have been shooting SA revolvers since I was old enough to wrap my hands around the grips.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Battle Rifle... Welcome to the High Road... but I'll have to stridently disagree with you.

A ball-peen hammer is NOT more effective than a single action revolver. Given your low post count, none of us can make a real guess at your personal skill set or history, though given your name I can guess as to your preference.

I can understand if your particular skill set is not tuned to single action guns... that is not a bad thing in and of itself.

You do yourself a disservice however if you think for an instant that any of us who HAVE put the practice in are any less armed than someone with a (insert favorite high capacity semi auto here).

Other guns are not "better" options, they are merely Options. Our skills determine which option works for the individual. I am no more or less armed when I carry my M&P, or my .45 colt Schofield with speed loaders, or my model 10.

Beware the folks with only 5/6 shots, we tend to make them count. Remember, in most real Self defense shootings... the rule of 3s... 3 Seconds, 3 Yards, 3 shots.

 

[Lawdawg45]

"Nope.
So many better options.
A ball peen hammer would actually be a better system."

Welcome to the fold Battle Rifle! One thing you must realize in this forum is that many members are cowboy action shooters who have more trigger time on a SA than most military or LE personnel have with their sidearm, and they would strongly disagree with your opinion. I myself am a retired LEO/FTO of 30 years, and I've carried everything from a wheel gun to a 1st generation S&W semi auto, to a 3rd gen Glock, and I still frequently carry a SA .45 Colt. I have no issues with a 300 grain JHP traveling at 1300 fps, and SA's are the safest gun to carry and have the highest rate of "first shot on target" of any gun out there. It may not be the choice for you, but for many it's a perfect choice.

Happy Trails..........LD45

 

[cluttonfred]

If I did decide to carry a single-action revolver, this would be the one.

Jesse James, here I come! ;-)

 

[Dnaltrop]

You have good taste Owlnmole... but I'm biased I would have gone for the 3" barrel but I wanted to have a touch more accuracy further out. Either way top-breaks make great conversation pieces.

Most SAA's are more accurate further out (at least the ones I've shot)... but the Schofield rapid reload capability using speed loaders over the SAA's loading gate more than makes up for it.

I almost wish Ruger made one... I'd deal with a transfer bar if I could carry without an empty under the hammer.

 

[savit260]

LIKE that holster - how does the strap work, never saw that before? (And i like that gun a lot too!)

It's just a simple set of straps that convert the holster for IWB use. They attach to the holster with Chicago Screws. Take 'em off and it's a great OWB holster as well. Rob at Simply Rugged calls them "inside out straps". I have 5 of his holsters that are set up this way.



Here's a pic of two that are a bit more fancy. The small one with the Cobra in it has the "inside out straps" removed in the pic.

 

[CraigC]

Anyone CCW their SA?

Yes, quite often, in a Mernickle PS6. When weather permits a light jacket or coat.

A ball peen hammer would actually be a better system.

You obviously have no idea how wrong you are.

One thing you must realize in this forum is that many members are cowboy action shooters who have more trigger time on a SA than most military or LE personnel have with their sidearm, and they would strongly disagree with your opinion.

I don't shoot CAS but I guarantee I have more trigger time with single actions than 99% of law enforcement personel with their sidearm. I do strongly disagree with BR's opinion.

 

[Rexster]

Nope.

So many better options.

A ball peen hammer would actually be a better system.

Welcome to THR!

Sorry, bit I must disagree. A sixteen-ounce framing hammer is better than a ball peen hammer.

Furthermore, there are those here for whom a single action sixgun is actually a quite good choice.

 

[ExMachina]

Ultimately it's not about whether or not anyone ELSE carries a SA, but whether or not you feel a SA is the best choice you have to protect all that you hold dear.

My personal decision--in light of all the gun designs and actions I've experienced--is that I am most comfortable and capable with a DA revolver or an autoloader. In my opinion, practice practice practice, is what is most crucial when it comes to being realistic about employing a gun for serious purposes. As has been said, there are folks who practice almost exclusively with SAs, but that's not me. I have found that I can practice most-efficiently with a gun that I can load and unload faster, focusing my range time on presentations and engagements.

So I'd say, explore all the options and then go with whatever you feel will serve you the best.

 

[Lawdawg45]

The discussion/debate has been very professional and informative, and I appreciate the adult responses. I would add a couple of comments in response to the anti SA comments. I understand the slightly slower rate of fire for a SA and the reloading problem, but the DA and semi auto also have their set of problems. In the typical self defense scenario (3 feet, 3 seconds) the DA and semi auto can be easily rendered inoperable by an attacker simply holding the cylinder or slide, however the SA when cocked can still fire a round at close range, even when held. The list of possible malfunctions for the semi auto are long, and the typical smaller DA calibers pale in comparison to a hot 300 grain JHP out of a .45 colt. In my opinion, trying to stop a midnight attacker with a belly or pocket gun is far more dangerous than a solid SA.

LD45

 

[CraigC]

That's a very good point. The one time in my life that I thought I might have to shoot somebody, I would've GLADLY traded the KelTec .32ACP in my pocket for a big single action on my hip.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

In my opinion, trying to stop a midnight attacker with a belly or pocket gun is far more dangerous than a solid SA.

Gotta agree there.

 

[Dirty Bob]

It is true that, for its weight and size, a SA revolver can offer more power than a DA revolver or an auto. The base pin that is solidly anchored at both ends, combined with a solid frame, makes this possible. It also tends to be an accurate system (other handguns can be just as accurate, however).

I don't think I've ever heard the veteran of a violent encounter wish that he'd had a smaller caliber gun.

In reality, this is at least partially a software question, in that what matters and what makes the SA revolver viable, is the skills of the shooter.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[harmon rabb]

In the typical self defense scenario (3 feet, 3 seconds) the DA and semi auto can be easily rendered inoperable by an attacker simply holding the cylinder or slide, however the SA when cocked can still fire a round at close range, even when held. The list of possible malfunctions for the semi auto are long, and the typical smaller DA calibers pale in comparison to a hot 300 grain JHP out of a .45 colt. In my opinion, trying to stop a midnight attacker with a belly or pocket gun is far more dangerous than a solid SA

A semi-auto can still fire the round in the chamber if the slide is held. Yeah, it'll jam and you'll get just that one shot, but it WILL make that shot.

 

[savit260]

A semi-auto can still fire the round in the chamber if the slide is held. Yeah, it'll jam and you'll get just that one shot, but it WILL make that shot.

Not if it's pushed a tiny fraction of an inch out of battery it won't

 

[Rexster]

That's a very good point. The one time in my life that I thought I might have to shoot somebody, I would've GLADLY traded the KelTec .32ACP in my pocket for a big single action on my hip.

Indeed! I have fired a Kel-tec, and own a Seecamp. I used to own Colt Mustangs. I believe an SAA or equivalent to be a far better weapon than any of these tiny guns, for a wide range of circumstances. I would rather have an SAA than a 2" J-frame with skimpy grips, if a gunfight were in progress. At the level of an SP101, or a 3" J-frame with oversized grips, in my hands, I start to feel comfort-level equivalency with an SAA, and the SAA will still trump the little fiveguns at longer range, if the sights are matched to the carry load.

Of course, an SAA is not as small as the pocket guns mentioned, but it puts things in perspective. And, when I say comfort-level equivalency, I am not implying per-shot ballistic equivalency, but a combination of favorable handling
characteristics and reloading times. The SP101 will be faster to reload
completely, while the SAA will thump the target harder, with a heavier bullet, plus a 5.5" to 7.5" SAA gets the front sight out there where I can start to
focus on it, without eyeglasses.

 

[CraigC]

At the time, a little pocket gun was really my only option. I was at work and couldn't risk printing in front of a fellow employee or customer so it was really the .32 or nothing. However, the fact remains, I would've been vastly better equipped for that particular confrontation with a big sixgun. Contact distance to several yards is one thing. Standing off with a wannabe 1%-er on his porch with a rifle, 20yds away is quite another. Luckily, as is usual, he was bluffing and cooler heads prevailed.