Is it easier for beginners to learn on revolvers than semi-autos?

[9mmepiphany]

Gun weight has very little to do with most flinching.

While new shooters may flinch with their shots following a surprise from the blast and recoil of their first shots though a gun, this isn't what usually causes more seasoned shooters to flinch.

Most flinching is related to anticipating the alignment of the sights on the target and poor trigger management

 

[Ed Ames]

I used to be very adamant that the best gun to teach a new shooter was a target grade .22 pistol. The reasons are obvious... It is the least likely to induce flinching (especially if you single-load primer-only rounds at first), most likely to show bad technique, and it provides very direct feedback to the new shooter about how well they are doing. If their group is bigger than a dime, you know the fault is 100% in their shooting, not the gun's lack of precision. Several models are easy to single load e.g. the Buckmark...leave the magazine in, thumb a round into place, drop the bolt, fire, and repeat.

I have eased up on that position somewhat because I've come to realize that most people don't really want to shoot accurately. They get bored shooting for group size, and can't really apply themselves. I grant that for more action-oriented people you are better off with large dynamic targets of some sort and at that point the advantage of the high precision target pistol is moot. At that point anything that won't cause bad habits is on the table.

As for revolvers, the only new shooters who really benefit from them today are...for lack of a better term I'll say "hipsters"... people who like to adopt styles that were popular before they were born because image is more important to them than function. If having a revolver helps them have fun, that's going to help them learn so I'm all for it.

 

[subierex]

I'd think caliber would matter more (ie. 22lr vs 45acp).

 

[Buck13]

No, I'm saying that having to concentrate on moving a trigger through an arc distracts the mind of a new shooter enough to off-set anticipating the breaking of the shot.

Not reduce flinch, avoid it all together.

I've had several clients who couldn't keep from flinching the trigger as their sights were perfectly aligned on the target. Have them stroke through a DA trigger and the flinch goes away. The longer stroke forces them to let the shot go off, rather than making the shot go off.

I've seen this myself. On a good day, I can shoot more accurately in SA. On an average day, not so much.

 

[Warp]

What are you trying to teach?

If you're teaching safety and precision shooting, then a revolver is fine. If your emphasis is self-defense, then shooting a revolver double-action is more difficult than shooting a single-action automatic.

Unless you forget, under stress particularly, to disengage the safety of that single action automatic. Or forget to decock it and end up unsafe. Pretty big catch there

 

[SWG]

I learned on a cheap H&R .22 shooting snakes and turtles while fishing in farm ponds in OKLA.
The snakes were black and had fangs. You learn to shoot fast and hit it when they are coming up
the bank after you! Now I'd rather shoot a Govt. .45.

 

[Deanimator]

Is it "easier"? No. Accuracy with a D/A trigger takes a LOT of work and practice.

Is it SAFER? Absolutely. One of the hardest things for beginning shooters using mechanical repeating firearms is remembering to COMPLETELY clear the firearm, and in the right ORDER. They have to not just remove the magazine, they have to clear the chamber... and in THAT order. In addition, some semi-autos, Glocks in particular, require you to pull the trigger in order to field strip them. Remove the magazine, but don't clear the chamber and you're going to have a negligent discharge. Hence Glock's redesign of their pistol boxes to remove the post in the center which automatically pulled the trigger. I have one of each.

In a modern D/A revolver, either the chambers in the cylinder are loaded or they aren't. There's no place else to check, and it only takes one action to do so.

Is a D/A revolver a good choice for a first handgun? Probably, at least if the shooter is willing to put in the effort required.

Is a semi-auto pistol a good choice for a first handgun? Probably, if the shooter is willing to adhere to basic safety protocols specific to autoloaders.

The first skill required of a shooter is the ability to not shoot oneself or anyone or anything else they don't intend to shoot.

My first handgun was a Series 70 Colt. Of course that wasn't the first time I'd handled or fired a handgun, having spent considerable time shooting Smith & Wesson Model 41s in college.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I learned on a Beretta 92FS compact, I never had to worry about brass hitting me and the gun was super sweet to shoot. It depends on the gun....

Laura

 

[Shaq]

Revolvers are both easier and safer for beginners.

 

[Ledhead686]

She's a lefty so maybe the brass is more of a concern for lefties than right handed people anyway.

I've been a rightie all my life: I write, box, grab, shoot a handgun, etc., you name it, I do it with my right hand -- all, that is, except when it comes to shooting a rifle or shotgun; and I didn't find that out until I enlisted in the military in '75.

Going though basic and AIT at Leonard Wood we "southpaws" were issued brass-deflectors; a clip-on device attached just below the receiver in order to deflect the outgoing hot brass from hopping down the right side of your collar and causing you to react -- with weapon in hand -- in a manner that just may be dangerous/fatal to shooters to the immediate right or left of you. It was either that or we had to keep the top button of our fatigues snapped in order to prevent expended brass from slipping down our shirts and raising God knows what kind of havoc among the trainees in our midst.

 

[HoosierQ]

My ex-wife far preferred shooting my revolver than my semi-auto. She was not a weak woman but she disliked the reciprocating slide and didn't like it. She didn't realized that it did that until I showed it to her in slow motion manually. She was afraid the thing was going to come off and hit her in the face. Had no fear of the revolver.

 

[Jonesy814]

I think its easier to learn on a revolver and also that shooting a revolver in double action will make you a better shooter over all.

 

[luffy100]

My ex-wife far preferred shooting my revolver than my semi-auto. She was not a weak woman but she disliked the reciprocating slide and didn't like it. She didn't realized that it did that until I showed it to her in slow motion manually. She was afraid the thing was going to come off and hit her in the face. Had no fear of the revolver.

lol

 

[luffy100]

Shooting s semi auto is much easier speaking from my personal experience. i liked that i didn't have to reload after every 6 shot.

 

[valnar]

Not sure about learning to shoot, but it's certainly easier to show a mechanical neophyte how to clean a revolver vs field stripping & cleaning a semi-auto.

 

[Ledhead686]

Shooting s semi auto is much easier speaking from my personal experience. i liked that i didn't have to reload after every 6 shot.

Sure, especially when shooting a revolver double action. You don't worry about that slight rotation of the cylinder so much when squeezing the trigger. That's why I prefer to shoot a double action with the hammer cocked; better accuracy for sure. None of this one-handed, d/a pull with a .44 mag Dirty Harry nonsense (while munching on a hot dog yet) for me; no sirree, Bob. But hey, that's Tinsel Town crapola for ya; myth that can put your life in real danger if and when it comes down to the real thing.

 

[Ledhead686]

I vote for for learning on DA revolver. Learning a DA trigger pull is a bit harder than that of a DA a SA or striker fired semi auto. Once you've learned that everything else is comparatively easy.

This is also supportive of my belief that a 4" 357 revolver is the best all around handgun made.

Yup; though not near as knowledgeable as most here on the specifics, I agree: a 4" .357 -- as opposed to a snubby or 6" target gun -- is the best all 'round firearm for defensive purposes <edit>

 

[4v50 Gary]

I prefer to train newcomers on the DA revolver first. Let them master the more difficult trigger.

 

[Ledhead686]

I prefer to train newcomers on the DA revolver first. Let them master the more difficult trigger.

Agreed -- let them get used to the difficulty of managing what's considered to be the more "antiquated" of handguns before they move on to the more modern 20th/21st century do-it-alls.

 

[Varminterror]

I prefer to train newcomers on the DA revolver first. Let them master the more difficult trigger.

That's why I taught my son to ride a Unicycle first... That way, learning to ride a bicycle later on would be much easier...

 

[9mmepiphany]

If your post has been edited or removed, take it as a reminder to stay on track in regards to the OP

 

[AlexanderA]

It comes down to ergonomics. I find double-action revolvers difficult to shoot, mainly because of the shape of the grip and the trigger pull. I don't have this problem with automatics, or with single-action revolvers.

 

[Ledhead686]

I find double-action revolvers difficult to shoot, mainly because of the shape of the grip and the trigger pull.

Good point; and I'm surprised no one's mentioned this previously: the shape, and/or girth of the grip, on revolvers doesn't seem to feel as "user-friendly" or natural as the grips on semi-autos (at least to me anyway). As a rule, the latter are flatter, whereas the former are fatter.

 

[Mauser lover]

I like teaching with a da revolver. Especially if I load about half the cylinder and show why they aren't hitting due to flinch, etc. If the teacher has an easier time teaching, it just might mean that the student has an easier time learning.

I have no problem with one handed double action, as long as one's hand is large enough, it works just fine.

Something about hand loading just makes revolvers more enjoyable too... More practice means more competence.

All this from someone who carries a bottom feeder...

 

[Tcruse]

We need to understand where the average new user is attempting to gain. Most are wanting to know enough and have enough skill to pass a required "qualification" and to be safe in the use of a self defense weapon. So, the faster we can get them to that point the more likely they are to "like" the experience and want more training.
In the past few years, I have taken a few classes, a few contests, a few leagues and visit a range multiple times every month. I find that shooting 9mm and .45ACP semi-automatic pistols to be comfortable and enjoyable enough to return for more practice and training.
Having, fired revolvers, both large and small I find uncomfortable for me and uncomfortable to be near other shooters that use revolvers. I remember one night where a person with a SW 500 shooting two rows down and having debris hitting me, mostly dust and unburned powder. I remember multiple times where people in the next lane shooting .50AE, 10mm and others with no distraction of any kind. I have been bothered by small revolvers near me also, namely 38 special.
Now, I also find the "grip" style and balance point of a revolver just wrong.