Bring a revolver to a defensive handgun class

[Revolver Ocelot]

Has anyone ever brought a revolver to a defensive handgun class? It seems that in todays fascination with all things tactical that the revolver has all but been forgotten about.

I have been wanting to go to a defensive handgun class but it would seem they are all geared solely around semi auto handguns. I decided to take a chance on semi autos, and shot as many types as I could think of to come up with something that works. I finally settled on a cz 75 (which worked the best for me of the semi autos I handled and shot) but between old habits and and an old injury on my non dominant hand that makes it difficult to grasp the slide, I can't help but feel revolvers are where I should just stay.

But that leaves the question, is there any good schools that do classes where a semi auto, or a revolver would be equally appropriate?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Revolvers are still viable for defense.

Whether the course of fire is designed for the revolver shooter is a different matter.

 

[Twiki357]

I haven't taken a defensive handgun class, but I should think that it should address whatever type of firearm the respective student plans to carry.

 

[lloveless]

Might try Mas Ayoob's course.
ll

 

[sidheshooter]

I shot my last class (all repeat/advanced students at the school) a couple of months back with a 4" K-Frame. Came in near the top, to boot. I did get my butt kicked on one string that required very fast shooting with one mandatory reload, but hey, it evened back out for me at 75 feet.

Take classes with both. Unless you're really a revolver person, in which case, just take the classes with them.

(Come to think of it, I took top shot at LFI one year in the mid 90s-still have the target signed by Mas-also using a different 4" K-frame. No problem keeping up with a field of auto users then, either. Maybe I'm on to something with the 4" K-Frame: IIRC, those are the only two classes I've shot with wheelies that big. Hmmmm...)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you're more comfortable with a revolver and would rather carry that there's no reason to buy a semi-auto just to take a class. Most, if not all classes will teach you how to be the best with what you carry, even revolvers. Of course be sure by asking them before you register for the class. I carry nothing but revolvers and refuse to change just because that's what other people carry. I'm very good with a revolver and I trust my handgun. Trust is very important...

 

[Dr_B]

I've had students in an NRA personal protection outside the home class with revolvers. Revolvers have some advantages when firing from cover.

 

[MedWheeler]

I haven't taken such a class since 1992. Back then, revolvers were still welcome.. I had signed up for it intending to bring my Taurus M66, the only "service-sized" gun I owned, but it was stolen in a burglary weeks before the class. I showed up with a .38 snub instead; the instructor let me shoot the course with his vintage Colt Police Positive.

 

[Sam1911]

I know that one of our Staff here (BullfrogKen) did just that a year or two back at a Tom Givens class. (If I recall correctly.)

He had a fine time and got a lot out of the training, but it was indeed difficult to manage ammo and keep up with all the reloads at the pace of a serious training class when the rest of the class was shooting autos.

This is something you need to discuss with whatever trainer you'll be working with.

Another good idea is to Google "Andy Stanford Snubby Summit." Lots of ideas for training.

 

[627PCFan]

Dont let the semi guys get to you. I shot a simulated steel match back in Feb with my 627 with moon clips. We were all 1st time shooters in a match, and I beat the semi guys on points and time for 2 runs. As they became familiar it was harder to keep up.

I would ask your class teacher if the class is able to accomodate your choice and pick another class if it isnt.

 

[David E]

Take plenty of speed loaders and use a loading block so you're not the guy everyone is waiting on.

 

[bigtubby]

Bring a good book to read while there working on clearing all the different malfunctions!!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Always carry what feels right for you whether on the street, or at a class, no matter what the popular trend is.

A friend of mine is always talking about how many rounds his Beretta 92FS holds. Then he misses the freakin target on the first shot at 10 yards. I try not to smirk, walk up and put 5 shots in the ten ring at the same distance in under 5 seconds with my Ruger SP101.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I recently took a Defensive Shooting class from Rudy Waldinger at DFT. Rudy is outstanding with a revolver and has real life experience in defensive shooting

About half the class was shooting revolvers and they didn't have any problems keeping up. It was a high speed CQB class, so strings of fire weren't very long, but it was up to the shooters to keep their guns loaded (it was a hot range. I should likely add that they were using M-625 revolvers and moon clips.

I'd also recommend plenty of loaders and loading plates/blocks...because you don't want to be "that guy" holding up the class. I think the revolver shooters brought enough loaded loaders to last until the lunch break

 

[1911Tuner]

Whether the course of fire is designed for the revolver shooter is a different matter.

This.

Many, if not most of the "Defensive" handgun courses these days are more geared toward tactical training...with the assumption that the student will become involved in a running gun fight instead of taking a purely defensive role. I'm sure there's a reason behind this, though I'm not exactly sure what it is.

 

[moxie]

It's fun! Pure and simple. These courses are not so much "defensive" as "tactical" or "advanced tactical." Lots of running, rolling, etc. Knee and elbow pads. Autos are the norm. Not better, just another form of fun. I view these courses as both/and, rather than either/or. Take both kinds of classes. Then there are the combined pistol/rifle courses. Lots of fun there too.

BTW, I'd bet few of those bringing Model 24s and 625s to these classes carry them concealed. Be interesting to do the drills with a 442 or LCR. Don't get me wrong, I love my 625, but can't imagine carrying it concealed. I know some do.

 

[Bobmar]

Revolvers

Contact Grant Cunningham, He will send you in the right direction. Bob

 

[1911Tuner]

It's fun! Pure and simple.

And that's exactly my point. All that running and jumping and rolling has about as much to do with using a handgun for self defense as fencing has to do with street fighting with a knife.

They mostly teach the students to stay in the fight instead of getting out of one...which is both tactically and legally unsound.

It reminds me of a story that I heard about Charles Askins' comments after observing his first IDPA/USPSA-type action match.

"Looks like a lotta fun. Those boys are shooters for sure...but if those had been real gunfights, there ain't a damn one of'em would be alive."

 

[BrotherFrankie]

all that running and jumping and rolling is laughable and why us old disabled guys dont bother with defensive type carnival reality show type classes..

sad really that as most older guys have time for a good class but i cant see myself rolling with my cane..lol or jumping off my moving motorcycle while firing a semi..

(joke here folks but you get my drift.. be blessed but be safe)

 

[Sam1911]

all that running and jumping and rolling is laughable and why us old disabled guys dont bother with defensive type carnival reality show type classes.

I've not seen much jumping and rolling in any defensive shooting classes or training I've observed or taken. I've seen a bit of quick movement, especially shooting while moving "off the X" and while retreating to some point of cover. But that just makes sense, and/or reflects what you'll probably hope to do instinctively.

The much ballyhooed assertions of running, jumping, rolling, and other acrobatics seem to be a function of some folks' (deliberate or not) tendency to conflate USPSA or 3-gun competition forms (which can be somewhat athletic) with defensive training, which is just misinformed.

Of course, if you get really serious about defensive training and look at the things guys like Craig Douglas (SouthNarc) are teaching and practicing, you might be right that there's a level of physicality involved which will be daunting to a person of limited mobility and stamina and durability. But that's probably simply a splash of cold water reality about what violent encounters are in the real world.

 

[340PD]

At my last renewal I used my 625JM to qualify.

 

[David E]

I've shot IPSC matches since 1982 , participating in over 1000 matches at this point. I don't recall a single time I was required to roll, jump, skip, hop or anything else alleged by folks here that have never shot a single match.

Charlie Askins, who many say should've been arrested for murder at various times for his "gunfights", made the all too typical mistake that IPSC was about tactics. It's not and never has been.

Massad Ayoob has written about several folks that were IPSC shooters involved in real gunfights. Knowing that the bad guys weren't paper, tactics were used and in all of the incidents, the competitor involved commented that the shooting portion of their encounter was easier than anything they'd been required to do at a match.

I've taken classes from Farnam, Ayoob, Cirillo and a few more. No diving, rolling, etc, required at any of them.

 

[1911Tuner]

Charlie Askins, who many say should've been arrested for murder at various times for his "gunfights", made the all too typical mistake that IPSC was about tactics

Probably...on both counts...but the fact stands that: "A man who's had a tiger by the tail knows five or six more things about tigers than one who hasn't." -Will Rogers-

If a man who's killed more people than malaria says: "Uh...son, if ya do that in a real fight, yer gonna git kilt."

I tend to listen...closely.

And just for the record, nobody said that IDPA included the run and jump stuff. I said that too many of these so-called defensive gunfightin' classes do it...and not enough time is spent on the ugly points of lethal confrontations.

 

[David E]

I recall reading Askins telling of his back shooting 3 guys in the river....

I do recall seeing several YouTube videos by the same guys where "instructors" would yell "contact!" which would provoke the idiot student to perform a "combat roll" (loaded gun in hand) before engaging the target(s)

I say "idiot students" because only an idiot would pay for that kind of "instruction."

 

[David E]

And just for the record, nobody said that IDPA included the run and jump stuff.

I never mentioned IDPA, and neither did you in Post #20, where you made a general inference.