I notice now most of us older guys (50+)

[GLShooter]

Maybe they are concerned about misses or multiple targets? Shot to shot does take a tad longer with a big bore. Most guys also don't want to spend the initial $$'s or the cost of ammo much less take the time to learn to handle them. IMHO

Greg

 

[Prosser]

I guess. I know I spent way more time with my carry Detonics at the range then I did with my Seville, maybe.

I spend most of my time loading these things DOWN, trying to get an easy to control, accurate, fast recovery round.

Rounds I have found that do this:
.500JRH 440 grains, at 950 fps. Recoils like a low 44 magnum load, yet will leave a great wound channel, and, penetrates through buffalo.

430 grain .500JRH, at 1350 fps. Bullet deforms like a hollow point or close, and, it doesn't slow much leaving a big, wide, wound channel.

275 grain Speer hollow points, in .475 Linebaugh, about 1560 fps. That's a MINIMUM LOAD FOR THE CALIBER.
It blows up quick to the size of a 2 bore rifle bullet.


Here's an example of the 440 grain bullet, at 950, through a buffalo:

 

[GLShooter]

My only concern would be for SD is would it actually expand at all. Admitted a hole that big is something to contend with. Any bone hit will certainly make a huge impact on energy transfer.

Those buffalo are one tough cookie!!

Greg

 

[hAkron]

Where are you supposed to hang a flashlight on your antiquated revolver?


(just kidding!)

 

[Shienhausser]

I am 26 and am confident that I could put many holes in an offender. The shiny tip of my revolver barrel should be enough but if isn't I have 1500grns. of lead to put into them in short time.

Revolvers take time to master but oh my are they great servants.

 

[Prosser]

Bit of research. Look at WC vs. cal and vel.

 

[Mauser lover]

I am not an old guy (not old enough to buy a handgun in my state, although I shoot both kinds) and I do not like semi autos if a revolver is within sight. However I do like to shoot autos if there are no revolvers around.

 

[Shienhausser]

I adore revolvers.

I appreciate autos for historical value, which is why I like the 1911, makarov, cz52 etc.

I prefer to shoot and carry revolvers, especially the .357 variety. No, I don't shoot .38's from my 686 and have vowed to never do so, if I wanted that I would have bought a .38 revolver. Screw cost, I'll reload.

I'm a little intoxicated and didn't even realize I had already responded to this haha.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Since this thread started I've turned 51. Today I took my second hot piece of brass to the eye from an auto. It got stuck between my glasses and my left eye. Still hurts 10 hours later.

I sold all but one centerfire auto (Glock 29) and one rimfire (Mark II).
Ordered a gentleman's handgun, a 5.5" Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .44 special to complement my S&W 624 and F/A .357.

I think I'll shoot the last couple IHMSA Field Pistol matches with the Blackhawk. No intentions of winning, heck, I'll be happy to reach 20 out of 40, but I think it will be better than a sharp stick in the eye, wait, make that better than a hot piece of brass in the eye.

 

[MyGreenGuns]

Im 29, 3/4 of my pistols are revolvers.

I like revolvers because they are lighter weight. Im a skinny guy and its easier to concealed carry a 1.75" .38SPL than a 4" XD.
The thing that seperates me from 'the old guys' I shoot with is blued finish. I've just bought my first one and feel like I've marred up the finish the first time I cleaned it. I've never cared for it, but felt like trying something new.
I'd been watching Dirty Harry, which made me go to the range and rent some big guns. And after shootin all day, inspired me to buy the judge. Not DH, I know, but the 2 calibre config is kinda cool.

(PIC: top to bottom)
Springfield XD ~ 9mm (32+1)
Taurus Judge 3" ~ .410/45LC (5rd)
S&W 637 ~ .38SPL (5rd)
Cobray Mod R. ~ .22LR (6rd)

 

[zfk55]

I guess my Dad is with you too. He's 70+ and carrys only revolvers. He retired his semi-autos some 10 years ago. They're still here, and they get cleaned once a month with everything else, but they don't get carried.
I have semi-autos but I carry an ITP Ruger SP-101 in .357 mag.

 

[reppans]

Well here's a 50 y.o. that's relatively new to firearms... started out on getting all semis and frankly didn't see the point of a revolver anymore - obsolete in my book.

Then a range officer lent me his breathed-on 1911 Kimber and then SW M10, 6" custom target gun , both with his target/wadcutter reloads. That was it, fell in love with revolvers right there. Better accuracy was only part of it.

Suddenly semi-auto's racking actions felt messy, sloppy, brutal, all-over-the-place where as revolvers felt crisp and precise. It was a "click, click - BANG; click, click - BANG" as opposed to a "BANG - shreeaak, thump, shreeaak; BANG - shreeaak, thump, shreeaak."

Also the classic artistic lines, nostalgia, and overall character of the revolver suddenly appealed to me. I still think my Glock semis are more practical, and are my preferred carry weapon, but I love shooting, staring at, and fondling my revolvers much more.

To analogize it to the motor vehicle world, semi's vs revolvers are like comparing a Honda Fit to a Mini Cooper, or a Kawasaki Ninja to a Ducati.... IMHO, of course, YMMV .

(Love the Dirty Harry > Gay porn flick thing)

 

[Prosser]

My only concern would be for SD is would it actually expand at all. Admitted a hole that big is something to contend with. Any bone hit will certainly make a huge impact on energy transfer.

GLShooter:

This is a dance I go round with some guys on all the time. It generally runs that I figure why not get a REALLY big hole, by using a thin jacketed hollow point.

The guys that hunt a lot with them always come back with,
"It's ALREADY .475", or .510", it doesn't NEED to expand!"

Then they produce a picture like the one I posted above to make their point, or tell stories of shooting buffalo, and, the guys running the ranch saying that their handguns kill like heavy rifles.

There are a few other issues. One is it seems it's hard to get jacketed HP's to shoot as well as the LFN's. Don't care at the ranges I'd be shooting at.

Second is I think the HP's would have to be REALLY heavy, since if they expand so quickly, and so big, they are going to require a lot of kenetic energy to make it through the target. My 275's are a case in point. They blow a very large hole in stuff, but, they don't penetrate 4-6 feet of buffalo, either.
Would not use that bullet on anything but deer and less, and even then,
the damage to meat might become an issue.

Another one I don't really get is some of the boys have been shooting .510" 525 grain LFN's out of the .500 Linebaugh at 1100 fps. They SWEAR these things hit and kill like the Hammer of Thor, far out of
what ballistic logic says they should do. After all, it's only something like a 2" wound channel, right?

 

[gmh1013]

Since this thread started I've turned 51. Today I took my second hot piece of brass to the eye from an auto. It got stuck between my glasses and my left eye. Still hurts 10 hours later.

I sold all but one centerfire auto (Glock 29) and one rimfire (Mark II).
Ordered a gentleman's handgun, a 5.5" Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .44 special to complement my S&W 624 and F/A .357.

I think I'll shoot the last couple IHMSA Field Pistol matches with the Blackhawk. No intentions of winning, heck, I'll be happy to reach 20 out of 40, but I think it will be better than a sharp stick in the eye, wait, make that better than a hot piece of brass in the eye.

OMG This happened to me this past weekend shooting a Sig SP 9mm
and I still have red spot on my right check.
I think I will sell it next gun show and goto revolvers only....I dont need that S**t
Im to old to pick up brass now anyway at almost 54 years old

 

[Magnumite]

Yet we will continue riding a bike or driving a car after an accident.

That happened to me twice, both times shooting bullseye. Once with a centerfire and once with the Ruger Mark II. I still have the autos.

 

[bamacisa]

I like revolvers because you don't loose your fired brass and you don't have to bend over to pick your fired brass.(if you can find it)

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

25 and I have 6 revolvers (3 SA, 2 DA, 1 BP) and 1 auto (a cheap Phoenix I got for $50).

 

[gilgsn]

I'm 44 and I like a single action as much as a Glock or a 1911. Revolvers have more power in a smaller package, but the semi-auto has the advantage when facing more than one opponent. When you read about shootouts, you realize that very few shots hit the target (10 to 20%).

http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/Aveni/OIS.pdf

The above document is full of very interesting figures:
- Most gunfights take place within TWO yards! Rarely more than seven.
Accuracy is a moot point. Power isn't.
- Revolver shooters hit 10% more often. Not much, but it might make all the difference.
I suspect this is because revolver shooters are older, not as excitable.. Age might be a plus here, if the shooter has kept his practice up. I would think that revolver owners are more often than not gun enthusiasts (not all LEOs are).
- Within the study (Metro-Dade 88-94), semi-auto shooters fire on average one more shot (2.5 vs 3.5). No reloads usually take place.
- NYPD: Average of ten shots fired per incident (that's a whole lot more than six!).

(I also have read accounts of upwards of a hundred shots fired from multiple officers at relatively short distances without anyone getting hit..)

Assuming a high average of 30% hits, you might hit four times out of a fifteen round magazine, once or twice, if you're lucky/good out of a five or six shot cylinder. It all depends on how one keeps his cool. I don't think you know how you'll react until it happens to you at least once. I can't imagine anything most frustrating than having a thug shoot you while your trembling hand reloads your revolver.. It is easier to reload a semi-auto while on the move also, and you better not stop moving to reload unless behind heavy cover.

So, if you are good with your big bore revolver and have nerves of steel, you might have a slight advantage over a semi-auto. Bottom line is, carry what you're used to.

I used to own a Glock 17 (which I regret selling!), it NEVER jammed. I have had failures to ignite with revolvers due to slightly off-center primer hits on hard primers (CCI). Both can fail.. I think it important to shoot a lot to iron out the bugs..

If I was a law enforcement officer or carried a gun in a city, I would choose a .45acp semi-auto. A big bore semi-auto will do everything a revolver can, and carry more ammo as far as self defense is concerned. In the countryside, a .45 Colt single action, and a rifle!

See John Taffin's article about "Fighting Sixguns:" http://www.sixguns.com/range/fh1sa1.htm

 

[mdauben]

As an "over 50" shooter, I still think both autos and revolvers have a place in my collection. I admit, as I get older my DA wheelguns seem more "fun" to shoot and I'm seriously considering adding a couple of SA revolvers to my collection before the end of the year. I find it easier to be more deliberate in my shooting with a revolver, and pay more attention to the details of shooting.

I still think the auto is the only choice for SD, though, and sometimes there's still nothing like burning through a couple of hi-cap magazines as fast as I can regain my sight picture.

 

[Mike1234567]

Wow... this is a long-running thread.

I'm 50 years old and I have both. The weaker calibers (9mm & .45 ACP) are semi-auto for defense against 2-legged threats. The heftier calibers (.357 Mag & .44 Mag) are revolvers for defense against big 4-legged threats. One day soon I'll probably replace the .44 with a .500 Mag.

 

[ATLDave]

I'm in my mid-30's, and I like revolvers. I have never owned one, but I'll be picking one up this year (probably a GP100) for my wife, who prefers them because they don't throw hot brass at her. And anything that makes her enjoy shooting is good in my book!

 

[momano]

I'm 56. This summer, my wife and I got our CCL's. My first self-defense pistol was a XD9, a little too big to carry, but perfect for the nightstand. LGS talked my wife into a Smith 642, I bought a P-3AT for EDC. When the P-3AT started having FTE issues, I got converted to wheel-guns. I love the peace-of-mind-reliability of my 442!

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

Hey GreenGuns, how do you like that Cobray?

 

[BYJO4]

I enjoy shooting both revolvers and semi autos. However, I probably shoot my revolvers twice as much as my autos. Since I reload, I definitely like not having to pick up brass when shooting revolvers.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

I told him one good .357 in the right place beats 10 spray and pray 9mm
and the Ruger is built to last 100 years.

I love revolvers, and this may have been address elsewhere...

But these arguments are just tropes. Illogical tropes at that:
* One good 9mm in the right place is every bit as effective in most scenarios
* A glock will survive just as many rounds before it needs rebuilt as most revolvers
* Once the times comes to service the weapon, the Glock will be 1,000 times quicker, easier, and cheaper to rebuilt - and you can do it yourself, at home, with drop in parts, and with no special tools (try that with your vintage Colt).

Revolvers are absolutely wonderful, and the truth does not diminish their many fine attributes... But automatics are progress for an entire bushel of reasons.