Half As Many Love Revolvers...
- Thread starter munk
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Mmm, when I was young and foolish, I thought semi autos were the be-all and end-all of handgunning. Then I grew up (shortly after I shot my first revolver).
I still think the semiauto is best for those who go looking for trouble -- soldiers and policemen. They might be where their butt is in the breeze, and they don't GET to retreat.
For me, as a civilian, give me a wheelgun any day.
As said before, they have more class. Must be the steel and wood/bone/ivory thing. Sure, 1911s, P35s, Lugers, are all nice, but heck when you get down to it, their grips are small and flat. There's just so much more you can do to get fancy grips for a revo. Couple that with the deep, deep blue of the older revos, the color case hardened ones, mmm, mmm, good.
Plus, I happen to shoot revos better, and I like magnums.
I think there'll always be a market for revolvers, at least until we aren't using chemical propellant-based firearms.
I do own a lot more revolvers than semiautos.
I still think the semiauto is best for those who go looking for trouble -- soldiers and policemen. They might be where their butt is in the breeze, and they don't GET to retreat.
For me, as a civilian, give me a wheelgun any day.
As said before, they have more class. Must be the steel and wood/bone/ivory thing. Sure, 1911s, P35s, Lugers, are all nice, but heck when you get down to it, their grips are small and flat. There's just so much more you can do to get fancy grips for a revo. Couple that with the deep, deep blue of the older revos, the color case hardened ones, mmm, mmm, good.
Plus, I happen to shoot revos better, and I like magnums.
I think there'll always be a market for revolvers, at least until we aren't using chemical propellant-based firearms.
I do own a lot more revolvers than semiautos.
13.45
Member
i own and shoot both types- and my interests move back & forth between the two- but i'll always have a revolver or two on hand. so long as ammo is available, i believe there will be a place for the revolver 
Oracle
Member
I like, use, and carry both. I prefer a j-frame revolver for it's concealability, it's ease of carry, and the fact that the round it chambers is much less marginal than similarly concealable autos of comparable price. I can slip one into a pocket and carry it all day long without worries of it not being concealed or it becoming uncomfortable as the day wears on. I prefer a full-size semiauto pistol for it's shootability, and it's much increased capacity over any revolver (the more rounds the gun holds, the less likely I am going to have to take the gun out of immediate service to reload it). I like and carry both, many times at the same time. But I prefer each for their strengths and the uses that take advantage of their strengths.
Mr. Tettnanger
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Revolvers for me! I was really turned off to the semi-auto after my first handgun purchase, a Davis .380, that Mr. gunshop jackof* informed me that it was the most reliable, accurate, easily concealable, powerful, and his only reccomendation for a newbie like me to purchase! Bastard! Anyway, I find that revolvers just feel right, and are reliable. The only"stinker" was a Taurus 905, or 605 .357 that the trigger froze and the cylinder locked up on the 53 round. Sent it back, they fixed with no information as to what was wrong, or fixed. I put 100 more rounds thru and promptly traded off for a S&W 642. So revolvers are my bag, Baby. Although, I am really tempted to buy a Makarov. The more I read and hear, the more that I am tempted to purchase.
Mr. Tettnanger
Mr. Tettnanger
Peter M. Eick
Member
The last few years it has been all revolvers because as I get older I am starting to hate picking up the brass even with a good brass catcher!
I would think that the average member of this forum has so many handguns that they rarely if ever get to shoot them all. Though most of us are shooters, many of us are also accumulators and/or collectors. I shoot revolvers better. I also buy revolvers to put in my safe, take them out and fondle them, and post pictures of them on internet forums. I'm very passionate about my revolvers....especially the S&W brand. Look at this picture of one of my K22s. I don't know about you guys but my pulse quickens when looking at one of these. Semi autos just don't have the same effect on me.
Randy
Randy
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Vern Humphrey
Member
They don't make 'em like they used to.
I like older revolvers -- right now, my project is to make a pair of magna-style grips for my Colt New Service. No one seems to make grips for these older guns, and with a real still load, the service grips are a pain in the knuckle.
I like older revolvers -- right now, my project is to make a pair of magna-style grips for my Colt New Service. No one seems to make grips for these older guns, and with a real still load, the service grips are a pain in the knuckle.
OK, taking these in order:
1. Do you like Revolvers better than Semi-Auto's?
I see the semi-auto as more of a fighting (capacity/reload speed)/competition (personal choice here) /concealment (thinner, easier to conceal spare ammo) pistol for my use and 7K flawless rounds through my 1911 45 has done nothing but justify this. I don't keep unreliable handguns for very long; they either get fixed or get gone. I had a chromed-out S&W 586 that I couldn't get rid of fast enough because of internal jamming and primer flow with magnum-level rounds.
I see the revolver as more of a field/fun/hiking pistol and there's nothing like a good double-action trigger stroke on a medium frame revolver. I became pretty good shooting DA revolvers fast a decade ago. That's where I really learned to appreciate S&W trigger pulls even though the action wasn't as strong.
As far as absolute reliability, the 3 times I've had a pistol completely locked-up (as in go to a gunsmith to clear it) was all revolvers..... They are mechanical items that can fail and IMO have more small/delicate parts that have to work just right than most autos. I would trust either type for defense shooting, but revolvers don't have this magical pass for 100% reliability no matter how often the mantra is repeated.
2. Do think the time will come when there will be, in effect, no revolvers for self defense?
(and only those models for hunting, competition, or Cowboy action shooting commercially viable)
Not in the near future & probably not in the far future. Too much usefulness and simplicity of operation especially for those unwilling/unable to shoot thousands of practice rounds a year. Semis are more of an experts weapon IMO.
3. Which do you own more of, Revolvers or Semis?
Semis, but I actually own very few handguns. Only 1 serious revolver (M13 S&W).
1. Do you like Revolvers better than Semi-Auto's?
I see the semi-auto as more of a fighting (capacity/reload speed)/competition (personal choice here) /concealment (thinner, easier to conceal spare ammo) pistol for my use and 7K flawless rounds through my 1911 45 has done nothing but justify this. I don't keep unreliable handguns for very long; they either get fixed or get gone. I had a chromed-out S&W 586 that I couldn't get rid of fast enough because of internal jamming and primer flow with magnum-level rounds.
I see the revolver as more of a field/fun/hiking pistol and there's nothing like a good double-action trigger stroke on a medium frame revolver. I became pretty good shooting DA revolvers fast a decade ago. That's where I really learned to appreciate S&W trigger pulls even though the action wasn't as strong.
As far as absolute reliability, the 3 times I've had a pistol completely locked-up (as in go to a gunsmith to clear it) was all revolvers..... They are mechanical items that can fail and IMO have more small/delicate parts that have to work just right than most autos. I would trust either type for defense shooting, but revolvers don't have this magical pass for 100% reliability no matter how often the mantra is repeated.
2. Do think the time will come when there will be, in effect, no revolvers for self defense?
(and only those models for hunting, competition, or Cowboy action shooting commercially viable)
Not in the near future & probably not in the far future. Too much usefulness and simplicity of operation especially for those unwilling/unable to shoot thousands of practice rounds a year. Semis are more of an experts weapon IMO.
3. Which do you own more of, Revolvers or Semis?
Semis, but I actually own very few handguns. Only 1 serious revolver (M13 S&W).
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jeff-10
Member
Well I own 5 automatics and 0 revolvers so I guess its clear I like automatics better. Still I have spent most of my time on the revolver board the past few months because I am currently in the market for one.
I have many more Autos than Revolvers due mainly to my life long interest in Colt 1911's (Old Slabsides) and I shoot more rounds of .45acp a year than any other caliber, but when it comes to CCW I carry a Revolver MOST of the time! Why ----
1. In an ammo related FTF situation it takes less time to recover, just squeeze trigger, but with an auto it is rack slide then squeeze trigger. I have practiced this scenario with both and can get 2 - 3 rounds off in the revolver before getting a second shot off in an auto.
2. I get to take my fired brass with me after the confrontation!
3. I do not feel the need as a Civilian in CCW Mode (Self Defense) to carry a High Capacity gun. Self Defense is Key here, not Offense! (Criminal Court & Civil Court issues)
For Offense there is no doubt in my mind Autos rule but I would still carry a Revolver on me somewhere as a backup gun!
I ENJOY BOTH, but there are scenarios where one is better suited to the task at hand than the other!
No, Autos will not totally displace Revolvers in our lifetime!
1. In an ammo related FTF situation it takes less time to recover, just squeeze trigger, but with an auto it is rack slide then squeeze trigger. I have practiced this scenario with both and can get 2 - 3 rounds off in the revolver before getting a second shot off in an auto.
2. I get to take my fired brass with me after the confrontation!
3. I do not feel the need as a Civilian in CCW Mode (Self Defense) to carry a High Capacity gun. Self Defense is Key here, not Offense! (Criminal Court & Civil Court issues)
For Offense there is no doubt in my mind Autos rule but I would still carry a Revolver on me somewhere as a backup gun!
I ENJOY BOTH, but there are scenarios where one is better suited to the task at hand than the other!
No, Autos will not totally displace Revolvers in our lifetime!
Probably 1/3 semiautos and 2/3 wheelguns. I think the revolver will be around for a long, long time--for the same reasons that the DC-3 and the Jeep survive. There is something fundamentally right about one made right and properly maintained.
In spite of many years of 1911s, I lean more towards the wheelgun with the passage of time. I have fired enough rounds through enough guns and witnessed a lot more to the point where I either trust certain combinations or I don't. And even then some work better in my hands than others. I will be the first to admit that I didn't always predict the outcomes very accurately, either.
As it turned out, the Ruger "Six" series DAs have gotten the job done for me for longer than I care to remember, "like a rock". Next year I will have been carrying them on a daily basis for 25 years.I consider K frames in the same class, and J frames do the same thing in a smaller package.
At this point I expect to cull out some more semiautos that don't suit me, and doubt that I will do much more experimentation in that line. On the other hand, I can think of a few more revolvers that still call to me.
In spite of many years of 1911s, I lean more towards the wheelgun with the passage of time. I have fired enough rounds through enough guns and witnessed a lot more to the point where I either trust certain combinations or I don't. And even then some work better in my hands than others. I will be the first to admit that I didn't always predict the outcomes very accurately, either.
As it turned out, the Ruger "Six" series DAs have gotten the job done for me for longer than I care to remember, "like a rock". Next year I will have been carrying them on a daily basis for 25 years.I consider K frames in the same class, and J frames do the same thing in a smaller package.
At this point I expect to cull out some more semiautos that don't suit me, and doubt that I will do much more experimentation in that line. On the other hand, I can think of a few more revolvers that still call to me.
1911User; You said the semi's were more of an expert's gun, and a couple posters made statements in the same vein.
I'm curious about this. (No war between the Clans, Please!) For an individual citizen, not working any job for which a handgun is mandatory, would you consider the Semi's still an expert's gun?
(and there are actually LE specialties where a revolver is better than a semi, imho)
thanks,
munk
I'm curious about this. (No war between the Clans, Please!) For an individual citizen, not working any job for which a handgun is mandatory, would you consider the Semi's still an expert's gun?
(and there are actually LE specialties where a revolver is better than a semi, imho)
thanks,
munk
I consider semis to be more experts guns because of the need to practice failure drills and understand the more complex operation of semis with safeties/slide/mag and other releases in addition to that one bullet in the chamber. They can carry more ammo in the weapon, reload quicker, and pistol and spare mags can be carried concealed easier; all things an expert could appreciate. Reloading in low light has your 2 hands coming together to insert a new mag; more intuitive/quicker than a speedloader in the dark IMO. Try carrying several speedloaders concealed, in comfort, it isn't easy.
My failure drills work like this and I do them pretty much automatically. If you pull the trigger on a semi and it goes click instead of bang, it's time for failure drill stage 1. A common first response is to hit the bottom of the mag to reseat (if it's loose) then rack the slide and try again. If it still doesn't fire, start stage 2: lock the slide back and strip the mag from the pistol. Cycle the slide several times then insert a new mag and cycle once more. Fire! This can be done very quickly with practice, but it takes practice especially in a low light situation. There is a real tendancy to want to look at the pistol for awhile before doing anything. That habit must be broken by quickly doing failure drills.
My failure drills work like this and I do them pretty much automatically. If you pull the trigger on a semi and it goes click instead of bang, it's time for failure drill stage 1. A common first response is to hit the bottom of the mag to reseat (if it's loose) then rack the slide and try again. If it still doesn't fire, start stage 2: lock the slide back and strip the mag from the pistol. Cycle the slide several times then insert a new mag and cycle once more. Fire! This can be done very quickly with practice, but it takes practice especially in a low light situation. There is a real tendancy to want to look at the pistol for awhile before doing anything. That habit must be broken by quickly doing failure drills.
You know, I handload for my revolvers- always have. And in the wide variety of loads for different purposes and time of season out of doors, there is much knowledge and experience that many Semi auto shooters do not have. Yes, I'm sure semi auto shooters handload, particularly the ones in HR forum. But by large, in the general public, I think most shooters buy ammo for their weapons and I'd wager more do for semi autos than revolvers. One of the advantages of a wheel gun is adjusting the many power levels. As the market for revolvers becomes more specialized, it would not surprise me if this became more pronounced.
munk
munk
Munk,
I don't understand the "expert civilian" question but it sounds like a setup of some kind. I'm using the term expert to refer to an experience/skill level only, not civilian vs. police. vs. military. What are you refering to?
I don't understand the "expert civilian" question but it sounds like a setup of some kind. I'm using the term expert to refer to an experience/skill level only, not civilian vs. police. vs. military. What are you refering to?
juneau803
Member
Revolvers are my bag......mainly for defensive reliability.
I got my first wheelgun when I was fourteen, a Ruger Bearcat .22
Presently we own more revolvers than semi's.
My wife's arsenal:
Colt Diamondback .38 spl 4"
Colt Diamondback .22 4"
Kimber 1911 Target .22
Browning Buckmark .22
Mine:
Colt Python .357 4"
Colt Magnum Carry .357 2"
S&W mod 29 .44 mag 6"
Yes, my wife has more handguns than me.........aint it great?
My next two handgun purchases will be: (for me)
Colt Diamondback 38 spl. 2 1/2"
S&W mod 19 4"
I got my first wheelgun when I was fourteen, a Ruger Bearcat .22
Presently we own more revolvers than semi's.
My wife's arsenal:
Colt Diamondback .38 spl 4"
Colt Diamondback .22 4"
Kimber 1911 Target .22
Browning Buckmark .22
Mine:
Colt Python .357 4"
Colt Magnum Carry .357 2"
S&W mod 29 .44 mag 6"
Yes, my wife has more handguns than me.........aint it great?
My next two handgun purchases will be: (for me)
Colt Diamondback 38 spl. 2 1/2"
S&W mod 19 4"
armedcitizen
Member
....mindless lemmings following the crowd!
To answer your questions:
Yes
No
Revolvers (currently 6 revolvers, 2 semi's)
antediluvianist
Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2003
- Messages
- 182
A revolver is a zen kind of thing - concentrate, make each shot count. Really good for range and general civilian use. Most civilians don't even carry a sharp stick so a revolver is plenty destructive for ordinary house defense/walking around.
A semiauto is much better for rapid-fire, and there is a place for that. For anticipated situations where multiple opponents using deadly force will or might be required - walking through a neighborhood populated by armed gangs, on LEO duty, in wartime - I see no problem using a semi-auto.
For recreation - oh hell a revolver is more fun, especially SA.
For fondling - a revolver has more curves, FEELS better.
A semiauto is much better for rapid-fire, and there is a place for that. For anticipated situations where multiple opponents using deadly force will or might be required - walking through a neighborhood populated by armed gangs, on LEO duty, in wartime - I see no problem using a semi-auto.
For recreation - oh hell a revolver is more fun, especially SA.
For fondling - a revolver has more curves, FEELS better.
No setup, 1911User. I enjoy hearing other views and learning from these boards, and the High Road is a darned nice place to learn in.
I think many 'expert's prefer the revolver. They and the balance of handgunners probably take the semi auto over the Wheel gun. Certainly an outdoors/forest Officer would seriously consider a revolver.
munk
I think many 'expert's prefer the revolver. They and the balance of handgunners probably take the semi auto over the Wheel gun. Certainly an outdoors/forest Officer would seriously consider a revolver.
munk
Marshall
Member
I like them both. I go back and forth on revolvers and semi-auto's on which ones I have wood for at the moment. I own more revolvers than semi's, that says something, I think?
I only own revolvers as of yet. I like them better than auto's. without getting into revo versus auto debate I can say I just like them better, from a shooting,handling and defensive nature. I am 29 , not a LEO officer but in my life I feel better armed ccw ing a snub nose .357 mag loaded with such than some .380 auto jammer.
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