Auto vs Revolver

[whm1974]

I got into an argument with the guy that sold me the XD-9. He said that autos are so much better then revolvers, that I will sell my model 10 after I've been shooting the XD-9 after a while.

He claims that most of the people he knows that had revolvers gave them up after shooting autos. I have to disagree with on this, due to most I know that have handguns have both kinds even if they perfer one or the other.

The guy is younger then me and didn't grow up with guns. In fact he has gotten his parents into guns.

We have agru about this before. My view is that each has it's place. I perfer revolvers when I was younger doe to most wondernines not fitting my hands and the fact I had a hard time racking the slide.

-Bill

 

[Boss Spearman]

I actually now like both. At home I still feel the most comfortable with my 6 inch .357 S&W Model 19.
For ccw, my Browning Pro 9 or Para LTC Commander best fit the bill.

 

[whm1974]

If we had CCW in this state then yes I would perfer an auto. But I do keep my nubnose loaded when I'm home.

-Bill

 

[Cosmoline]

I've owned and shot many revolvers and semis. While there are a handful of pistols I admire, for the most part I find them inferior in quality and workmanship to revolvers. The trigger pulls tend to be horrible, the actions clunky and the accuracy unimpressive. I also find that they are priced way too high. I have found superlative pinned S&W's for under $250 with butter smooth actions. I've found tough, reliable Ruger Security Sixes for similar prices. But to get a quality used pistol such as a Sig P225 or nice 1911 I'd have to pay far more.

 

[whm1974]

My friend here claims that he can shoot a auto more accuracly then a revolver. Of course his favorite gun is a Para Ordidince LDA .45. I'm wondering if he is comparing apples to organges here. A $800+ gun in comparsion to a used $300(or less) revolver?

I keep asking him would he recemend an auto for proctection to person who has never or rarly has handled a gun before. Myself, most people I wouldn't.

-Bill

 

[AechKay]

I would think in the field, one would want something that they could reload rather quickly. What type if field you ask? It doesn't matter, your being shot at by people... I guess this is just coming from someone that might possibly be in a hard situation. For the average person, I really have no idea if its better or not. Guess it depends on what you shoot well.

 

[bow4828]

You're friend doesn't work at Cabelas does He?
Sounds like one of the guys behind the gun-counter.

OOPS!!! Did I type that out loud!?

 

[whm1974]

Well a revolver can ketp loaded and is much harder for a newbie to have an AD then an auto. I'm talking home defence here.

Personally I din't think one is better then the other. But one or the other may be more suitable for some people.

-Bill

 

[bow4828]

I generally agree;I usually recommend a relover to a novice shooter.Simple operation and lets face it more reliable(less that can go wrong)

 

[whm1974]

You're friend doesn't work at Cabelas does He?
Sounds like one of the guys behind the gun-counter.

He works at the same place as I do. But he works for the company while I work for the cleaning service. Needless to say he does make quite a bit more money then I do.

He has an $2000 AR-15 w/ doodads and adds. He claimed that AKs other Krebs are all juck and don't last long after I mention I wanted one. This should tell you how much money he has. By the way he still lives with his parents.

-Bill

 

[eagle45]

For a newbie, if I had to recommed only one type of weapon, I would probably recommend a revolver also, while still recommending they shoot several types and choose what works best for them.

This is an arguement that just won't go away though, and honestly it is not worth arguing about in the first place (like the "is this manufacturer reliable" threads). Buy and use what you prefer and don't worry about the preference of someone else. If you ever have to draw a weapon in a SD situation, you won't be thinking of someone else's arguement or preference or whether or not they think you made a wise choice. Hopefully you will be drawing a weapon that you like, that you have practiced with enough to be confident in the weapon's reliablilty and your own skill with it. If you don't have that level of confidence in the weapon and your own skill then it really does not matter what weapon you have.

I personally like both and carry both depending on the situation. It might be an XD 40 subcompact or a 38 snubbie. There are situations that each is the weapon of choice.

 

[hightech]

Revolver

I would say that your friend does not know how to shoot a revolver. He should take a basic class and learn the advantages and disadvantages of both a revolver and semi-automatic.

 

[DragonFire]

I would think in the field, one would want something that they could reload rather quickly

Actually, for incidences for many if not most non-LEO people, a reload won't come into play. And if a reload is necessary, I believe its been shown that an extra second or two for a reload hasn't been a major factor.

And with practice, you can reload a revolver rather quickly.

 

[Z_Infidel]

I enjoy shooting both revolvers and semi-autos. I generally shoot a little more accurately with revolvers, but feel I can perform faster follow-up shots with a semi-auto. For looks, I prefer classic revolvers hands down.

I also sold my AR-15, which was a perfectly good rifle, and bought a couple lever guns if that tells you anything.

 

[Elmer]

If I was back in a patrol car, or if I was in the military, I'd carry an auto, but in my house, or walking the woods, or in the desert, I prefer my revolvers. But it's what I carried when they gave me all I could shoot, so it makes sense for me. I can pretty much shoot ten rings with my eyes closed.

One of the things I like about this board, is all the folks who realize a revolver can still do the job, especially the younger folks. Course what I don't like is what it's done to the prices of all those old wheelguns!

 

[yorec]

...that I will sell my model 10 after I've been shooting the XD-9 after a while.

Why? Doesn't sound based in reality to me.

My friend here claims that he can shoot a auto more accuracly then a revolver.

Maybe he needs to learn to shoot, marksmanship is basically the same for both and manipulation comes with practice.

He has an $2000 AR-15 w/ doodads and adds. He claimed that AKs other Krebs are all juck and don't last long

Has he worn many out?

...he still lives with his parents.

I thinkI see a pattern developing here. Enjoy your friends company and shoot his expensive toys with him. You can teach him a lot by example, but ya can't teach some kids by just telling them facts... Ya gotta show 'em. (This guy sounds like a spoiled rich kid who has entered the adult world, but still has some growing to do, at least in the field of firearm knowledge. Wish I could buy the same priced toys he can, then I'd show him how to shoot a $800 revolver!)

 

[bakert]

Agree with yorec. It really irks me for someone to tell me the "old" gun I'm using or carrying is not as good or costly as theirs. See it more with new or young shooters but not always. Some of the old guys real "experts" and gun bashers(your gun) too. I've been told some strange things by gun shop workers and oddly to me, range workers and instructors who should know better. Like the one poster, I shoot a revolver just a better than an auto but I carry both concealed. Actually carry the auto mostly but think it's easier and safer for a new or occasional shooter to use a revolver. Think a shooter needs more training with an auto but that just my opinion. In any case safety the most important thing to consider with either and then lots of practice!
Baker

 

[boldkharma]

I will admit I prefer autos. Don't know if its the way they shoot, the capacity or what. I own three revolvers and will always have them around. I have had only one failure with a revolver and it was an old llama .357 I bought for next to nothing.. I have had many failures with various autos. For the most part, revolvers are robust and reliable and in my opinion, no auto will ever be as reliable. Thats why I gave my wife a sw airweight 38. I believe that autos tend to require more training to feel comfortable with. I absoultely trust and depend on my autos, but they took more time and effort to master.

 

[Brian Williams]

Revo for Defence
Auto for Offence

quoted from C.R. Sam, Great grandpappy of TFL and THR

 

[whm1974]

After I mention some bad online reviews of the S&W 22A(I own one), to him, he then said it's junk because it has an aluminium frame. Yet there other pistols he has raved about that also have aluminium frames. I do perfer steel myself but...

-Bill

 

[Ala Dan]

Both weapons have positive and negative point's about them. For example,
revolvers are slow to reload with the number of rounds ranging from five
to eight (centerfire calibers); but are totally reliable. Heck, if it doesn't
fire, keeping pulling the trigger on DA revolver's until a chambered round
goes go BOOM!

OTOH, most semi-auto's are finicky 'bout keep'in 'em clean, ammo,
magazines, etc. And some are just not reliable enough to use as a CCW;
but they do offer more firepower generally speaking, and are quick to
reload. But, have a JAM and unless one practices clearing malfunctions
you could find yourself on the wrong end of a fire fight.

BTW, I have both revolver's and semi-auto's; and I train with both!

 

[Malamute]

I agree with most of what Cosmoline said.


"My friend here claims that he can shoot a auto more accuracly then a revolver. Of course his favorite gun is a Para Ordidince LDA .45. I'm wondering if he is comparing apples to organges here. A $800+ gun in comparsion to a used $300(or less) revolver?"

I've had, and shot, some expensive autos, I just never owned or shot an auto that I could consistantly shoot as well as a revolver. I tried real hard for several years, it just wasn't happening. Most of my carry and use is in the hills. The revolver is much more powerful and flexible that use, not to mention more reliable when not cleaned or maintained for months (or longer) in a dusty environment. I LIKE auto's, but they are more of a novelty that a serious gun to me. At this point I only own one auto, a 1911, and I can't say I'd miss it if it was gone. One of my criteria for how much I like a gun is if I would replace it if it was lost/burned up in a fire/stolen etc. The auto doesn't make the grade.

If I was stuck in the front of the battelfield with the Canadians invading, I MAY feel differnt, but I'm not sure. That power of even medium 44 loads just gives me warm fuzzy feeling compared to my results shooting game with a 45 auto..

 

[L-Frame]

I prefer revolvers, and I've owned and shot all kinds of both. I carry revolvers. I've taken so many classes and seen so many semi-auto's malfunction(from Makarovs to Les Baer 1911's), I just prefer the total reliability of the revolver.
In some cases it was the gun, in some cases it was the shooter, but either way, it happened. Yeah, I know, many reply that they have never had their glock malfunction, or their buddy's revolver wouldn't fire. All true, but that hasn't been my experience. Hence, my choice of a revolver. Plus I just like shooting them more. For those who like semi's more, God Bless and go to shootin'.

And, with practice, revolvers are definitely not slow to reload, just a little slower than a semi-auto.

 

[middy]

Will a revolver really still work when filled with sand or mud like most 1911s/Glocks will?

Just asking. It seems to me that it would lock up pretty quick, but I don't know.

 

[whm1974]

Well my friend here may be right about one thing. I'm starting to like the XD enough that I might quit shooting my model 10 or don't shoot it very often. Of course the "new gun" factor and that I got 1200 rounds with it may have a lot to do with this as well. I don't have to reload ammo for awhile.

-Bill