Modern combat revolver?

[cluttonfred]

Are there any circumstances where the simplicity of operation of a revolver, particularly a DAO revolver, might actually make it better choice as a combat sidearm than an autopistol?

Now that the Ruger LCR has shown that polymers can be applied to revolvers, too, I wonder if there is any room for the revolver in the 21st century military world?

For example, I can certainly imagine a role for a 9mm or 5.7x28mm (6 shots?) LCR using moon clips as a light, safe, always-ready last-ditch sidearm.

Thoughts...?

 

[Sam1911]

Most likely not. Or very limited.

Moon clips are pretty fragile and are not a compact way to carry much ammo. A bent moon clip will keep your gun from working.

Autoloader magazines are very durable (by comparison) and can hold 3 times the ammo without a reload.

I doubt there will ever be a return to wheel-guns for "serious" use. But those of us who love 'em will keep the concept alive.

-Sam

 

[Cosmoline]

It would only make sense if the military dropped the 9x19 and adopted the .44 Mag or something.

 

[Sam1911]

It would only make sense if the military dropped the 9x19 and adopted the .44 Mag or something.

Hey, I LOVE the .44, but can you come up with the train of decisions that would lead to the military making such a choice?

I think I agree with you, though. It would have to be due to a shift in ammo type away from something that worked well in an autoloader.

-Sam

 

[funkychinaman]

I agree, it would only make sense for the big boys, like .357 or .44 Mag.

 

[1911Tuner]

Military? Other than for embassy gaurds and such...not likely.

As a personal sidearm?

Not a thing wrong with a good revolver. Like the ol' man said: If ya can't get it done with six...ya probably can't do it."

 

[funkychinaman]

Can officers still purchase their own sidearms? If so, are there restrictions? Remember, Patton had his .357 and his SAA as late as 1945.

 

[18DAI]

Up until the mid nineties, some embassy guards, and state department personnell, were carrying 2.5 and 4" model 19-7 revolvers, loaded with 110 grain 38+P+.

Some of those folks were US Marines. The ones I've spoken with felt they were well armed and several told me they would have no problem carrying that combination today.

As of last year, there were still several NIS investigators carrying model 19 revolvers with 4" barrels

Unless you have to storm beaches, a revolver will serve you well in the majority of circumstances you might find yourself in........unless you go looking for angry hoardes to engage.....IMO.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I have my doubts for military applications. I love revolvers, but if I am going to war against multiple, heavily armed assailants, I want to have an auto-loading rifle and pistol on me. It is just a matter of how much lead you can hurl in a short amount of time.

Six/five shots are plenty for general self defense or hunting in a non-war zone. But I believe you would be under-gunned on a modern battlefield filled with select-fire rifles and belt-fed machine guns.

 

[GunTech]

If you are using a handgun on the modern battlefield, you are already in serious trouble.

Revolvers are still a good choice for beginning CCW, as they have a simpler manual of arms than autos Some people are just not mechanically inclined. You can also shoot a shrouded revolver from inside a coat pocket, which I don't recommend with an auto.

 

[KBintheSLC]

If you are using a handgun on the modern battlefield, you are already in serious trouble.

Ain't that the truth...

 

[DougDubya]

An M-16 backed by a polymer, eight shot-cylinder .357 Magnum revolver (the M&P TR-8 and LCR's love child) would be a pretty good battlefield loadout.

I've also thought that ejectable cylinders would make more sense than moon clips in terms of durability. Of course, on a proper belt, your moon clips should be in good, hard-shelled carriers so they WON'T get bent.

 

[sheephearder]

While a revolver is what is next to my bed at night an auto is more durable and has more fire power than a revolver and is a better choice for battle field conditions. For civilian CC the revolver makes a lot of senses. JMHO : Bill

 

[RedAlert]

Wouldn't a revolver face greater problems from sand getting in clogging up the works? I think the cylinder to frame gaps allow more entrance paths that those found on a semi-auto.

 

[Slamfire]

Are there any circumstances where the simplicity of operation of a revolver, particularly a DAO revolver, might actually make it better choice as a combat sidearm than an autopistol?

If you are going to parachute drop into the middle of a bunch of zoombies, well heck yes, the Auto pistol is the way to go.

I think for the average person, a revolver is a better self defense weapon. Less flippers and levers, stone cold reliable. Simple operation.

If I was anticipating problems, I would not be carrying a handgun anyway. I would be carrying my M1a.

 

[sidheshooter]

Are there any circumstances where the simplicity of operation of a revolver, particularly a DAO revolver, might actually make it better choice as a combat sidearm than an autopistol?

As has been mentioned many times before in many places; people that don't train a lot, or don't fuss with maintenance a lot, or just flat-out *like* wheelies.

I train as much as I can, but I'm definitely one for the second two categories.

 

[Kor]

The late, great Bill Jordan, USBP Asst. Chief Inspector and author of No Second Place Winner, served as a USMC Major in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Word is that he was employed as a specialist in clearing Japanese pillboxes and bunkers...and word is also that, instead of the ubiquitous M1911 .45ACP pistol, Maj. Jordan used a pair of "cumshawed" WWI-era M1917 .45ACP revolvers for his work.

Over in the ETO, British Army tank crewmen were issued Enfield .38 revolvers with de-spurred, DAO hammers for carry and emergency self-defense use inside the cramped quarters of their tanks; similarly, Russian tankers found that the thin barrels of their Nagant revolvers could be stuck out of gun-slits and fired at German soldiers from within their tanks more readily than Tokarev pistols.

Later, in VietNam, an experimental S&W .44Mag revolver was developed to fire an "internally-silenced" round for use by the "tunnel rat" units who did similar work searching and clearing NVA tunnels and underground fortifications.

So, there is some historical precedent for using a handgun without a reciprocating slide, that does not auto-eject hot spent cases, in EXTREMELY tight quarters.

 

[mbt2001]

Fast, accurate shooting ends gun fights not the particular launcher in question.

 

[L-Frame]

That's absolutely true in the civilian world but in the military world the launcher could make a lot of difference. I prefer revolvers over semi-autos personally, for self defense as a civilian but if I had to go into combat I'd take a 9mm with as many rounds as possible.

I'm not talking about some specialized jobs like tunnel rats, bunker busters, etc. I'm talking about a foot soldier who may be in a drawn out firefight where moving and shooting, using suppressing fire to aid others in moving is possible or probable. Yes, the handgun in combat is not used often, but if it is needed, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that multiple magazines from a high capacity 9mm would be necessary. A 50 round gunfight as a civilian is nearly unheard of and when it does happen, usually irresponsible. A 50 round gunfight in a military situation isn't unusual at all.

Civilian- 2-3 rounds, 3-7 yards is still the average
Military- ??????????????????????

 

[ugaarguy]

The French GIGN have used revolvers. This includes four Performance Center 586-4 samples made to their specs. I've read, but have no credible citation, that they still use the Manurhin MR73 as well.

 

[LoneStarWings]

I can never miss an opportunity to show my favorite revolver:

 

[RSVP2RIP]

Where's the bipod go?

 

[Walkalong]

It goes in place of the light


That said, those of us with old eyes can appreciate red dot sights on revolvers like youngsters cannot, nor need to.

 

[L-Frame]

"they still use the Manurhin MR73 as well."

I'd love to get my hands on an MR-73!!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Perhaps the Dardick gun would be a contender. For those who don't remember it, the Dardick had a cylinder with three triangular slices cut out (think of a pie cut into six slices, and every other slice removed.) It used a cartridge called a "tround" -- basically a .38 Special round inserted into a triangular aluminium extrusion. It had two side-by side magazines. it held, if I recall, 20 rounds in its two magazines.

As the cylinder rotated, a tround was fed into the empty chamber above the magazine. When that chamber was fired, the next rotation ejected the spent tround.

The Dardick gun is still used in oil well applications, where is is used to shatter rock formations.