In defense of my Single Action choice......

[Panzerschwein]

IMHO, the single-action revolver is JUST FINE for self defense. With someone fast on the hammer, they can be fired nearly as fast as a double action revolver and with great accuracy. Now of course, reloads are very slow, but for the first 5-6 rounds anyone who is well practiced and who can place rounds on target is a man to be feared. I've yet to read of a single self defense shooting where 5-6 shots of well placed .357 magnum or .45 Colt ammunition wouldn't have done the job. If I were to carry a single action revolver as primary, I'd want a backup gun simply due to the firepower issue, but it's probably not needed in most realistic defensive scenarios.

It's a great choice if you are good with it, and Bob, it sounds like you are most certainly good with it!!

 

[swopjan]

Hell, if we get open carry in this state, I'll load my cap and ball '58 remmy reproduction for open carry. Tote what you want.

You can do that now, assuming you're referring to Texas. Traditional black powder isn't considered a firearm. A lot of the open carry advocacy groups do walks and many of them pack loaded BP pistols in holsters.

 

[garyhan]

I have a Uberti repro of the SAA, along with my Webley's. Both among the greats.

gary

 

[Panzerschwein]

I've a Colt's revolving belt pistol of naval caliber and would carry it in a pinch. A .36 round ball put many a man six feet under.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

You don't have anything to defend. The only clear, indisputable advantage a double-action really has is faster reloading. All the other "this vs. that's" are debatable.

 

[Old Fuff]

The core issue here is not the supposed qualifications (or lack of them) that makes a Single Action style revolver suitable or not for a self-defense handgun.

It's the right of a person to be able to make their own choice, or hold an opinion on the subject; without being picked on by total strangers who think differently.

When this happens the implication is that the "other persons" views are somehow superior, when no particular evidence is offered in support.

Personally a Single Action revolver is not the ideal when (or if) other options are available for personal defense. They are however very suitable and even superior in other roles.

But this is an opinion and nothing more, and if anyone else disagrees they have every right to do so. Nowhere is it written that I climbed a mountain and brought back a tablet.

 

[WestKentucky]

Single vs double, metal vs plastic, Colonel Potter vs Henry Blake, ACDC vs Metallica, Clint Black vs Garth Brooks, and my personal favorite Maryann vs Ginger. Each one of these choices has plenty room for argument. I don't give a rip what another man chooses. I'm split on sa and da, I'm all metal with both guns and rock music, I very much prefer Colonel Potter (and Trapper John McIntyre) I'm a brooks over black kinda fella, and if I can't have both I'm definately taking Ginger. Now, what were we talking about...

 

[Lucky Derby]

A gun shop commando once told me that I wouldn't be safe walking around Westminster CO with a DA .44 SPL, six shot revolver. He said I wouldn't be safe with anything less than a 15+ shot .40 and at least two spare mags.
He doesn't make my choices any more than internet commandos make yours. Carry that SA if that's what you are comfortable with.
Here in the US, it is unlikely that any of us will NEED to use a gun. If we do, chances are pretty good that just about any functional gun will do the job.
If I lived in Iraq, I might feel differently, but I don't.
BTW I know a SWAT commander who as recently as the 1990s carried a Colt SAA .45 on raids. Of course it was back up to an MP5.

 

[MCgunner]

You can do that now, assuming you're referring to Texas. Traditional black powder isn't considered a firearm. A lot of the open carry advocacy groups do walks and many of them pack loaded BP pistols in holsters.

Yeah, and get arrested and have to make bail and retain a lawyer and wait 6 months to a year before having it thrown out and be out lots of money in the process.

I'll let YOU be the ghinea pig. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse for me, but an LEO can be breathing methane and I can't do squat about it. "Tell it to the judge" is the refrain. Meanwhile, you're cuffed and stuffed.

 

[Reloadron]

In defense of my Single Action choice......

The only person you have to defend your choice to is you! Matters not in the least what others think or have to say. Your gun and your choice. God, I love this country.

Ron

 

[oldbear]

That's the reason I've chosen the Single Action.

Bob Wright

Mr. Wright, all of your reasons are very valid. If they work for you GREAT, but not everyone is willing to take the time or effort to become a qualified single action shooter.

My only question/comment about using a single action revolver for self defense is, what happens in the rare event that you have to reload?

Oh what the hell, carry and shoot what works best for you.

 

[huntsman]

I support Bob's right to choose. A Blackhawk(.45) and BSS(12G) are important pieces to my SD plan as well as hunting tools.

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

"The Bob doth protests too much!' (please pardon the hijacking of a line from a not-half-bad author). OP, I'm not sure if you're using your note to differentiate your post from the much more common and droll 'look what I bought!' posts, a type which I am quite guilty of writing. Or there is some context missing? Perhaps you are defending your revolver choice as a defensive weapon? Or as a concealed carry weapon? Or having the worlds best 'knockdown power'?!
Either way, it's all good.
B

 

[zb338]

You don't have to defend the choice of a single action revolver. You paid
for it with your own money and it ain't nobody's business but yours. I
have every sort of pistol and I like single action Rugers and the like. I
shoot them quite a bit and if someone doesn't like it they can lump it.

Zeke

 

[BobWright]

B!ngoFuelUSN wrote:

"The Bob doth protests too much!' (please pardon the hijacking of a line from a not-half-bad author). OP, I'm not sure if you're using your note to differentiate your post from the much more common and droll 'look what I bought!' posts, a type which I am quite guilty of writing. Or there is some context missing? Perhaps you are defending your revolver choice as a defensive weapon? Or as a concealed carry weapon? Or having the worlds best 'knockdown power'?!
Either way, it's all good.
B

My post was in response to the thread regarding the introduction of a new Webley Revolver. I had prefaced my post with:

"As far as I'm concerned, why?"

Further posts noted that my choice of handguns was the Single Action revolver, a rather concescending remark. Hence, my response in a new thread.

Bob Wright

 

[ZVP]

Things just worked out that I bought only Single Action Revolvers always. Had a few small semi Autos and carried a 45ACP for a decade or so but always went back to a S/A.
Now I am tryingto learn D/A shooting with a Model 36 and 10HB and it's really hard learning! I WILL do it butmost likely never up to the comfort and familiarisation I have with a S/A.
All that's been said above is true andthe S/A is a VERY viable fighting gun!
A guy may hit you with a pray and spray Glock but almost always the S/A guy will score a good hit!
JMHO,
BPDave

 

[Nom de Forum]

B!ngoFuelUSN wrote:


My post was in response to the thread regarding the introduction of a new Webley Revolver. I had prefaced my post with:

"As far as I'm concerned, why?"

Further posts noted that my choice of handguns was the Single Action revolver, a rather concescending remark. Hence, my response in a new thread.

Bob Wright

Could you please explain just what was the remark that was "condescending" about your choice of using Single Action Revolvers? I looked over the posts of that thread and I don't see anything that "chides", is "condescending", or in anyway denigrates Single Action Revolvers or the people who use them. In the thread on Webleys could you have misconstrued a statement of comparison that mentioned Single Action Revolvers?

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

B!ngoFuelUSN wrote:


My post was in response to the thread regarding the introduction of a new Webley Revolver. I had prefaced my post with:

"As far as I'm concerned, why?"

Further posts noted that my choice of handguns was the Single Action revolver, a rather concescending remark. Hence, my response in a new thread.

Bob Wright

Sorry, I was just having some fun. I did understand the background of your post, but I hadn't used a Bill Shakespeare quote in a post or email all day. So I just had to meet quota.
Congrats on the revolver.
B

 

[MCgunner]

My only question/comment about using a single action revolver for self defense is, what happens in the rare event that you have to reload?

Mmmm, you go for your back up aka NY reload? Just a guess.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Just say,,,

If it's good enough for Sylvester Stallone,,,



'Nuff said?

Aarond

.

 

[That Chimichanga Dude]

I don't buy into this notion that you should have to defend your choice of firearm.

 

[45_auto]

A guy may hit you with a pray and spray Glock but almost always the S/A guy will score a good hit!

Do you have ANY references (real life - cowboy movies don't count) to back up your claim?

My personal experience has been that single action shooters take longer to get off a shot but miss just as much then take longer to reload than the DA and semi shooters.

 

[CraigC]

My personal experience has been that single action shooters take longer to get off a shot but miss just as much then take longer to reload than the DA and semi shooters.

Judging others by yourself again???

 

[Old Fuff]

My personal experience has been that single action shooters take longer to get off a shot but miss just as much then take longer to reload than the DA and semi shooters.

I don't have any of those problems, 'cuz I only have to shoot once and then reholster....

 

[buntline]

I dearly love my 44 mag super Blackhawk, but avoid it as a defense weapon, simply because right after I holster it, my pants fall down around my ankles. I have to either give up the pistol or the ice cream after supper, and the jury is still out.......Joe