HABU
Member
I carry a 1911. I am looking at buying my first wheelgun soon. My new interest in revolvers causes me to wonder which is more popular amongst THR's for personal defense, an auto or a revolver, and why?
do you pack a revolver or auto?
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blades67
Member
I'd guess more autos are carried because they tend to be slimmer, faster to reload and have greater capacity than revolvers.
tomkatz
Member
I sometimes carry an automatic, but I had to vote revolver as I do carry a wheelgun more often. I like the reliability. I have been shooting wheelguns ever since I was a kid so they just seem like second nature to me......tom
MikeB
Member
I started carrying with a 1911 too. It was a Commander. Somehow I ended up with a Kahr K40 - a good carry piece but anyway. Now I carry a S&W 640 in .357. Of course there were others as well, and sometimes I do carry a Mak, or a S&W Bodyguard, or the Kahr or a Kimber Ultra carry, but I now carry the wheelgun probably 90% of the time. And of course when it's impractical to carry anything larger I almost always have a NAA .22 magnum in my pocket.
DMK
Member
98% of the time a 1911, either a Govt. model or usually my CCO. Once in a while I carry my CZ-75 and very rarely my PP or CZ-70 for pocket carry in a jacket(I really need to get something smaller!).
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I voted "automatic"; but actually, I carry both. 
Cuz you can always find a NAA "Mini" .22 magnum with a
1-1/8" barrel somewhere on me!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Cuz you can always find a NAA "Mini" .22 magnum with a
1-1/8" barrel somewhere on me!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
itgoesboom
member
.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
Mostly it is my 940 but often I carry my S&W 13 or a Sistema 1911
I think you will find that like the poll shows so far about 2/3 to 3/4 the people who carry or have a gun for home defense use an auto. Both work if you do your part. I would bet a large portion if not a majority of the revolver voters carry small j frames because they are easy to carry. I bet if you limited the poll to full size weapons the autos would have an even larger margin of voters.
Some carry both. I carry an auto 99% of the time. But on certain uc assignments or other times I need to be very discreat I carry my 442 airweight Smith. Sometimes I carry both at the same time.
People on the revolver side will invariably argue that the revolver is more reliable and accurate.
People on the auto side will argue capacity, concealment, speed of reloads and shootability.
In all reality the reliability factor is not what it once was. I would say that a quality service revolver and a quality service auto are equal in the reliability department. It was not always that way. To be fair their are revolvers now that reload faster than they have in the past with moon clips and that are lighter and more concealable than they have been in the past.
In the end you make the choice carry what you feel comfortable with. Because your the only person whose opinion matters at the end of the debate.
Pat
Some carry both. I carry an auto 99% of the time. But on certain uc assignments or other times I need to be very discreat I carry my 442 airweight Smith. Sometimes I carry both at the same time.
People on the revolver side will invariably argue that the revolver is more reliable and accurate.
People on the auto side will argue capacity, concealment, speed of reloads and shootability.
In all reality the reliability factor is not what it once was. I would say that a quality service revolver and a quality service auto are equal in the reliability department. It was not always that way. To be fair their are revolvers now that reload faster than they have in the past with moon clips and that are lighter and more concealable than they have been in the past.
In the end you make the choice carry what you feel comfortable with. Because your the only person whose opinion matters at the end of the debate.
Pat
Shooter973
Member
Revolver or Auto?
I carry a 45 auto most of the time but on occasion I carry a S&W Model 66 snub, some times both! The S&W lives in a coat pocket of one of my favorite jackets and the 45 just lives next to me all the time. Should have had a vote for both on the poll! 
I carry a 45 auto most of the time but on occasion I carry a S&W Model 66 snub, some times both! The S&W lives in a coat pocket of one of my favorite jackets and the 45 just lives next to me all the time. Should have had a vote for both on the poll!
Hkmp5sd
Member
Both.
I generally rotate through a Glock 17, Glock 27, Colt 1911, S&W 5906, Ruger GP-100, Ruger SP-101 and a S&W 649.
I generally rotate through a Glock 17, Glock 27, Colt 1911, S&W 5906, Ruger GP-100, Ruger SP-101 and a S&W 649.
Ringer
Member
Right now I carry autos only, either 9mm or .45. That may change as I am planning on picking up either a S&W 640 or Ruger SP101 as a possible carry option.
Reasons (for me):
1. I tend to shoot better with them and like the Single Action or LDA type Double Action triggers. In fairness to the revolver, other than my 6" .357 which is too large for carry (but I do shoot it well) I have only tried the lightweight revos which I didn't care for.
2. Comfortable concelability relative to caliber i.e. single stack .45.
3. Ease of reload, but I don't see this as a huge issue.
Reasons (for me):
1. I tend to shoot better with them and like the Single Action or LDA type Double Action triggers. In fairness to the revolver, other than my 6" .357 which is too large for carry (but I do shoot it well) I have only tried the lightweight revos which I didn't care for.
2. Comfortable concelability relative to caliber i.e. single stack .45.
3. Ease of reload, but I don't see this as a huge issue.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I occasionally carry my Walther PPK or Kimber model 1911, the former when I'm facing lengthy periods of time in my dentist's chair, the latter just for variation, but my main carry gun is a pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 60 .357 magnum.
Semi-automatics have come a long way, but they still don't pack .357 magnum punch.
Semi-automatics have come a long way, but they still don't pack .357 magnum punch.
Semi-automatics have come a long way, but they still don't pack .357 magnum punch.
END
Not to be argumentative but thats not quite a correct statment. First off there is the 357 sig. And if you say it only matches one 357 mag load your right. But then we can compare the 10mm to the 357 mag. There are also 45 acp +p loads that rival the 357 mags energy and have more momentium and expand to larger diameters and go just as deep.
Pat
END
Not to be argumentative but thats not quite a correct statment. First off there is the 357 sig. And if you say it only matches one 357 mag load your right. But then we can compare the 10mm to the 357 mag. There are also 45 acp +p loads that rival the 357 mags energy and have more momentium and expand to larger diameters and go just as deep.
Pat
I'm surprised the numbers are as close as they are...
I wonder if the distribution would change if the poll applied ONLY to guns carried on the body.
For a given performance level, an auto tends to be smaller, CERTAINLY slimmer, has higher capacity, and is quicker to reload. AND, fast reloads are a lot easier to carry.
I wonder if the distribution would change if the poll applied ONLY to guns carried on the body.
For a given performance level, an auto tends to be smaller, CERTAINLY slimmer, has higher capacity, and is quicker to reload. AND, fast reloads are a lot easier to carry.
Hardtarget
Member
At first I carried a Colt Diamondback .38. That worked good for me and I could have stuck with it for years. Then along came my birthday...so my wife and sons gave me a S&W DAO .45. I've carried that for several years and that works good for me, too. It is very rare for me to carry both.
Mark.
Mark.
My all-the-time is a S&W 442. When possible, due to clothing, I add a 1911 or a K or N frame Smith.
The lower capacity and slower reloading speed of a swing open revolver I consider a minor issue. For accuracy and speed, a DA revolver can keep up very well with all but the best of the single action autos, and then it is just a hairs-breadth behind.
I believe that a DA revolver, especially one with a shrouded hammer, has an advantage at contact distance or when surrounded by clothing.
The lower capacity and slower reloading speed of a swing open revolver I consider a minor issue. For accuracy and speed, a DA revolver can keep up very well with all but the best of the single action autos, and then it is just a hairs-breadth behind.
I believe that a DA revolver, especially one with a shrouded hammer, has an advantage at contact distance or when surrounded by clothing.
I like the Rev for the reliability.
FWIW, Today I was shooting my Sp101 3†and after 100 rounds of .38 & .357 no jams or misfires. My friend was shooting 2 of his Hi-Point 9mm’s and out of the 150 rounds he and I shot with it we had 5 jams. It was easy to clear the jams and its accurate for a cheap pistol but I just don’t want to take chances with an auto when CCW’ing. It’s situations like this that makes me feel more comfortable with the Revolver.
FWIW, Today I was shooting my Sp101 3†and after 100 rounds of .38 & .357 no jams or misfires. My friend was shooting 2 of his Hi-Point 9mm’s and out of the 150 rounds he and I shot with it we had 5 jams. It was easy to clear the jams and its accurate for a cheap pistol but I just don’t want to take chances with an auto when CCW’ing. It’s situations like this that makes me feel more comfortable with the Revolver.
TonyB
Member
I carry a revolver..SP101 2.25"...but I'm considering a small auto...............just too many to choose from...
Rob96
Member
For the most part I carry my Colt 1991A1. But I do have a Ruger SP-101 that sees use.
Cowboy Preacher
Member
I carry a S&W M10 or M586, both have 4in bbl, on my hip and a S&W M60 in my front pocket. Besides I traded all my autos away too many different callibers. Now ervery thing is a .38SPL or .357 Mag.
Blackcloud6
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