Learning the basics -- semi auto or revolver?

[WeThree]

I'm considering getting some private handgun instruction. After a couple of years of buying guns, and enjoying shooting them, I've come to the conclusion that I'm a terrible shot.

I've already located someone from a local indoor range who will provide it for... $50-60/hr I think he said. My question is, is there a preference towards semi autos or revolvers for training purposes?

My ulterior motive for asking this question is that I don't own a revolver, but I'd like to buy one... so if the answer is "revolver", any suggestions?

Thanks again, as always...

 

[tc300mag1]

Whatever you're most comfortable with

 

[P95Carry]

hahaha! Opinion time!! And it WILL vary.

I tho am in favor of initial training being best with revo .... and of course initially a light cal .. even .22 because recoil stays out of the equation. True, a Ruger MkII or 22/45 is a good starter for anyone but I am of the opinion that single action ''one shot at a time'' is way to go. Even something like Single Six ... S/A only.

Get proficient at stance, hold, trigger action ... sighting .... with a single shot at a time S/A from revo .... it'll cover most bases. You can then progress to D/A and more rapid fire.

After all that THEN, IMO ... upgrade to auto's ... once basics are all in place.

 

[Baba Louie]

I like revolvers for teaching newbies. No back and forth (they call that reciprocating don't they?) slide action as a main reason. Racking slide can be difficult for weaker types also.
Most of my revolvers have target type adjustable sights, most of my semi-auto's don't.
Don't have to mess with loading magazines.
Loading, unloading, safety feature (brain), sight alignment... all basics.
Then, Load, breathe, 1/2 exhale, focus on the front sight and squeeze. One at a time. Go slow.
Thumb cock for Single Action. Sweet. Once thats down, transition into double action trigger pull while maintaining sight alignment.
Repeat as required.
4" barrel minimum for starters, next the 6" which helps instill some more confidence with accuracy... well at least sight radius distance.
.22 lr single six for real beginners. Cock it, shoot it. K.I.S.S.
Then .38's in a .357 or .38's in a .38; once thats not new anymore, hitch up the belt and do the magnum thing.
Then I switch to a .45 Colt or .44 special, maybe followed by the .44 magnum loads if newbie is feeling saucy, then back down to the .38/.357.

3 yds. 5 yds. 7 yds. 10 yds. S/A, D/A
Use an empty chamber to check for flinch now and then.
Strong hand, weak hand
Isocoles, Weaver (modified), one hand stance.
Lean into it.
Relax.
Enjoy.
Smile.

Once everyone has basics down (again, talking newbie here), switch to a .22 semi, explaining differences in operation.

YMMV

 

[RUT]

Both, naturally.

 

[Ankeny]

Use whatever you are familiar with and comfortable with. Better yet, learn the mechanics of both then make a choice based on what works for you.

If there is a local IDPA or IPSC club you could probably get a newbie handgun orientation class for free. If you are paying $50.00 - $60.00 bucks an hour for instruction on developing proper shooting technique make sure the instructor knows what he/she is talking about. For that kind of money you could probably get a few trips to the range out of a local Master or Grandmaster shooter.

 

[Dienekes]

Revolver. "Safer", simpler, more user-friendly, and frankly, all that 99% of us really need. Also a better teaching tool.

Ideal would be a matched pair of S&Ws--a M18 in .22 LR and a M15/M19 in .38/.357 cal, all 4" and set up identically.

Variations in size would be a GP-100 4" 357, or a M60 3" FL .38 Spl. There are still quite a few decent police trade-ins around as well, and they get the job done nicely.

FWIW I trained quite a few people over the years, and it worked best for me. I did it for a lot less money than that, too!

For that kind of money maybe you ought to check out the cost of a Guniste course and go first class...

 

[sm]

Revolver
Preferably a blue one with wood grips. Like a model 18 in 22lr and then the model 10 in 38spl.

"Ressponsible firearms ownership" ...I also instill the "basics" like, "soul" "craftsmanship"...you gonna start someone out right - by golly do it right.

 

[HSMITH]

Revolver. Learn to shoot, then decide what type of equipment you need.

 

[RevolverMan]

Revolver.
Too many kids I work with have no firearms knowledge outside of the issued duty weapon, a Glock 22. That is unfortunate.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Revolver. Easy to catch yourself making mistakes like flinching and easy to correct with a revolver.

 

[gyp_c2]

...single shot...rifle...trigger control and basic safety...
in handguns...357 with 38s to start

For the simple reason that no 22 reacts the way a handgun that has recoil acts...Use good eye and ear protection and find a pistol to start with that fits your hand. If you already shoot, there is is no reason to buy things over and over. If you have a pistol you like, use that. It's you that's getting the training, not the gun...Learn the basics no matter what you have and work on them over and over...safety first or the rest won't matter...

Ignore any of the above you wish...just anothe .05 worth...

 

[Ala Dan]

This poll should have been divided into category A;
and category B, or entitled "Choose Your Weapon
And Training".

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Moparmike]

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT START WITH A 10MM FOR YOUR FIRST HANDGUN!!!


Nevermind how I know...

 

[Ankeny]

I agree the Gunsite 250 class would be a good class for learning basic gunhandling skills in a "self defense" related environment. If you show up at Gunsite with a wheelgun be prepared to find yourself in the minority. When they divide the class up you will hopefully be squadded with other wheelgunners and shooters of similar ability.

 

[Amish_Bill]

I'd say a revolver. There are several tricks you can do on a revolver to help a student learn that are difficult or impossible with an auto.

I'd suggest a 4 inch .357 for this. Start with light .38 wadcutter loads and work up from there.

For diagnosing flinch and training to ignore it, you can mix & match empty cylnders (or ones with expended brass), primed brass (for noise), and any mix of heavy or light .38 and.357 ammo.

Once you have a handle on flinch, then you can go for whatever gun tickles your fancy.

Note - be sure to clean the cylinder well when you start moving back & forth between .38 and .357.

 

[Abominable No-Man]

Dare to be different........

I voted for semiauto. Revolvers are good, too, but I learned to shoot with a DA/SA automatic 9mm. Granted, I had a very good and experienced teacher who is very knowledgeable about guns (my dad......), but overall I think that learning on the semiauto was easier than the revolver (which dad also taught me, but after I started with the semiauto).

A semiauto is what I started teaching my wife and what I will teach my oldest boy with.

Funny thing, tho- dad started me out on a semi-auto 9mm and a bolt-action .303 Enfield. Something is kind of backwards there from what I have heard otherwise.

Oh well, I turned out just fine........

ANM

 

[sgb]

.22lr double action revolver followed by a .38 spec double action revolver and then on to a 9mm single action auto.

 

[JohnBT]

I can't decide. Okay, I pick DA.

DA is good - open the cylinder and it's safe. Of course, it will fire again if you pull the trigger before you open the cylinder.

SA is good - you must cock the hammer between shots. Of course, it is sort of hard for a newbie to tell if there's a live round left in it when you're shooting or unloading.

Autoloader - too easy to drop the mag and leave a round in the chamber. Too complicated for a lot of newbies.

 

[355sigfan]

Well depends on what you plan on doing. If you want to start carring a semi auto it would be foolish to start learning on a different weapon system. If you like revolvers and plan on carring one too then start with one. Revolver training is different than semi auto training. Its more difficult to shoot da revolvers due to the long hard da pull. Its also harder to speed load and tactical load them. Their pro's are they are forgiving when it comes to maintence and ammo selection. They are also easier to show people the basic operation of the firearm. Semi autos are easier to shoot generally, are easier to speed load and tac load. Recoil less for any given power level and are easier to conceal. They are a bit more complicated and you have to learn some basic malfunction drills. I am not saying the revolver is more reliable but with a revolver the malfunction drill is to pull the trigger again. WIth the semi auto there is a bit more too it. Both are about equally reliable assuming your talking quality weapons.

I would either pick up a quality 9mm auto or a quality 357 mag revolver. You can shoot 38's in the mag until your ready for the hotter stuff.
Pat

 

[notbubba]

I voted revolver because you don't have one and you want one.

My suggestion is a S&W 686 plus with a four inch barrel.

 

[cratz2]

I can certainly see the benefit of training with a revolver or a basic (Glock, SIG etc...) semi auto as that leaves off a couple things to train on and worry about.

Having said that, if you have a gun that you are generally comfortable with, I'd train with that rather than acquire a new gun just for training purposes. I think something like a 9mm Glock or 38 (or 357 shooting 38s) Smith would be ideal training weapons but my actual suggestion is to bring what you carry (or plan to carry).

 

[Sean Smith]

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT START WITH A 10MM FOR YOUR FIRST HANDGUN!!!

I believe even the 10mm fans around here said you shouldn't have done that when they heard you did that.

Can you say, recoil, blast & expensive factory ammo?

But if it makes you feel any better, I got a small woman with no gun experience shooting 10mm just fine in about 15 minutes.

 

[dairycreek]

Depends on what the training entails!

My question is, is there a preference towards semi autos or revolvers for training purposes

If the training is for the purpose of learning the correct stance, sighting, grip, and those kind of fundamentals, there should be really no difference between an auto and a revo. If you are talking about the manual of arms for a particular gun then the difference is obvious. Good shooting

 

[strambo]

If a person has a specific type of gun they plan on carrying or using as a primary defensive gun then they should train with that gun/type. However, if they don't then I'm gonna break the mold and say auto is best to learn on, preferably a SA auto. If the question was best gun for a beginner, then maybe a revolver, but for basic training an Auto.

Why?

1) A SA auto is the most complex type of handgun (and it aint that complex )by being exposed to it early, in a controlled training environment, they will learn it safely and properly and the manual of arms for all other types are a lot easier after that.

2) Great trigger, easier to hit stuff with, as opposed to mastering the DA or DA/SA transition.

3) It will teach them good habits for all other pistols and rifles as well. they will know to pull back slides (bolts, actions etc...) and check chambers, not a manipulation you can learn on a revolver. Sure we vets know it's the same concept with a cylinder, but newbies don't seem to get that hence all the mag disconnects (well, S&W, Browning and now Ruger) and (but I took the magazine out so I thought it was unloaded!) stuff.

-again this is assuming the shooter has no clear preference/experience and doesn't have a defensive gun of their own yet to learn on.