Old Age and Revolvers

I like the mechanical feel of a revolver and I like the fact that I don’t have to chase brass. I’m not keen on only 6 shots, but for recreation it’s not a big deal. My inherently frugal nature likes the fact that I can enjoy less shots fired, for a longer time at the range on a given day, compared to a semi-auto.

But I generally use autoloaders for carry, bedside duty -guns I might have to employ for serious purposes.

I like a revolver in the woods/field.
 
Kleanbore said:
This isn't about any of the usual things.

I am old. When I was a kid, I was interested in...
  • The single action Colts of the Western stars
  • My grandfather's .32 Smith and Regulation Police revolver, which I have today
  • Jack Webb's Colt Cobra, in an old Dragnet episode
  • Harry Gibbs' (Texas Bruce of St Louis television, a real cowboy) DA .38
  • All of the guns in my old Shooter's Bible and Gun Digest First Edition books--most of the center fire handguns were revolvers in those days
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  • I've always liked revolvers, but until the last few years, have only wanted double action models, and only S&W. Now that I've got a decent pile of them, I'm starting to look at something in the Cowboy mode, like a SAA, or God help me, a black powder something or other from the Civil War era.
 
The first gun I ever shot was a relative's 1911. The first gun I ever wanted was a neighbor's S&W 19 in nickel. She was a sheriff's deputy and I really liked that gun. I've owned a couple of 1911's, but for almost 40 years, I haven't owned a single one. They are totally off my radar at this point. I have been tempted a couple of times to grab one in a deal to flip it, but so far, I've passed on them. An S&W N or L frame, without a lock is hard for me to pass up. I carry my 6960 most of the time, and one of my Taurus PT111 G2's at others.
 
My first handgun was a TC Contender. Then came a 6" Ruger original auto 22 LR. A good number of years later, came my first revolver. A brand new DW 357 Max IHMSA special.

Yes I have some black bottom feeders, and I do shoot one of them regularly in a standard trip to the range.

In truth I value my hobby usage (all at the range) over any defensive consideration.

For "just shooting", the TC Contender (with a mid range 357 or a mouse fat load out of one of several different barrels) and a 3" LCRx in 38 SP are my favorites. And when it comes to my more demanding hobby use, I do not think any of my black bottom feeders have much chance to knock down a 150 meter turkey, much less a 200 meter ram.
 
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EDCs are a CZ 75 PCR Compact or an S&W 640 .38 spl depending on what the day demands for concealment. The 640 is fitted with Crimson Trace Lasergrips which I believe are almost a neccessity for an EDC, (Crimson trace doesn't make a lasergrip for the CZ PCR) The 640 is loaded with Buffalo Bore 158 Gr. soft lead semi wadcutter hollowpoints at a claimed 850 fps from a 1 7/8" barrel. (they are gaschecked)
My competition revolver is a 1954 S&W K38 with which, I beat all but two of the bottom feeder shooters in my club's PPC competition. :fire:
 
Kleanbore said:
This isn't about any of the usual things.

I am old. When I was a kid, I was interested in...
  • The single action Colts of the Western stars
  • My grandfather's .32 Smith and Regulation Police revolver, which I have today
  • Jack Webb's Colt Cobra, in an old Dragnet episode
  • Harry Gibbs' (Texas Bruce of St Louis television, a real cowboy) DA .38
  • All of the guns in my old Shooter's Bible and Gun Digest First Edition books--most of the center fire handguns were revolvers in those days
When I reached adulthood, I wanted....
Click to expand...


Guns are like uniforms -- they go with certain identities. You could call them stereotypes, but I'm not claiming that having or carrying a certain kind of gun makes a person stereotypical.
 
GEM said:
I like revolvers and will shoot them for fun. Classes and competition convince me that if I can carry on my belt a semi is a better EDC choice.
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I think that, barring particular physical limitations, most people who undertake training and study self defense (against humans) will come to the same conclusion regarding EDC, but many will prefer revolvers for recreational shooting..
 
Another old age thing is recoil.

I was at the range the other day with a RUGER Speed Six with a 3 inch barrel that is owned by a friend and my RUGER Security Six with a 4 inch barrel. The Speed 6 was ported and I wanted to compare the two very similar guns to see if I should port the 4 inch.
Well, the anwser is no. The ports did not make enough of a difference and the recoil was very strong.

I shot both with WINCHESER 110 grain jhp and the REMINGTON 125 grain sjhp .357 magnum ammo and HATED IT. The 110 grain was unpleasant and the 125 grain verged on painful.
I used to shoot these loads all the time. The 110 grain .357 magnum ammo of various manufacture were my issued duty ammo when I joined the INS in he 1990's.
So I will only shoot .38 Special in my medium size .357 revolvers. I shoot them for fun as range guns and I can load .38 Special +P ammo if I need them for social purposes. With premium ammo they are effective enough.

If I need to shoot .357, I have S&W L frames and RUGER GP-100 for that purpose.

I much prefer a semi-auto for self defense and generally shoot them better, but I like mid-size revolvers for fun shooting.

Jim
 
Got to shoot six rounds with the Highway Patrolman at the range today after my little sister finished her second range trip with a Ruger LCP II 22Lr Lite Rack.

Been far too long since it got dirty. Sure was fun though.
 
Over the past year I've sold off a bunch of stuff downsizing/simplifying things. And it just so happens the remaining handguns happen to be revolvers.
There is no arguing to the logic of semi-auto superiority for self-defense as stated here. But one should know thyself, and as my senior citizenship continues, I've found my comfort, confidence, and competence reside in a couple SP-101 revolvers for EDC/SD duty and a variety of 22LR revolvers just for fun.
 
I like shooting both revolvers and semi-autos. For defense I like revolvers as I feel there is a little more certainty of that next round firing and won't have to do the tap and rack (or tap, rack, drop mag, rack until the jam frees, insert mag, and rack again) dance in a SD situation. Sure, the semi has more rounds but I chance that I won't need that many as I am not LEO and generally avoid the bad part of town.
 
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I find I'd rather shoot 22LR out of a revolver than fiddling with loading 22LR into the magazine of semi-auto pistol. I can have a good old time filling my shirt pocket with a couple handfuls of 22LR and my S&W M17 or my Colt Frontier Scout.

Smith & Wesson Model 17 22LR.JPG

Colt 22LR.jpg
 
I got my first revolver with I was 16. I'll be 65 this year. My first one was a black powder 1851 Colt replica. It shot really well though.
I bought my first modern revolver when I was 22, it was Model 28 S&W and the first rounds I shot out of it were those high powered Remington .357 Mag, 158gr in the green box. Holy crap. I thought I made a mistake buying the gun. But after I started reloading for it, it wasn't to bad.
Now I consider it marginal and almost to small for hunting. I prefer my model 57 for that.

Funny part is I didn't buy my first semi auto until 15 years ago. And you guys are right, the majority of semi-autos are just tools to use.

The only one of my semi-autos that are safe from re-sale is my Q5. I'll never part with that thing. None of my S&W revolvers will ever be sold.
They are like a fine classic car, they will just get more desirable with age.

The semi-autos? They are just a Chevy truck, made to be used.
 
I like both revolvers and semiautomatics.
Like @Riomouse911 my first handgun was a Taurus 66 357mag 6", but mine was blued.

I currently have 46% revolvers, 39% semiautomatics, and 15% others (derringers & single shots). They all have there own purposes.
Semiautomatics have a capacity advantage.
Revolvers have an advantage that they are less finicky (if the cartridge fits in the hole it will probably go bang).

I will carry both revolvers and semiautomatics. I normally don't carry a derringer by itself but the Bond Arms with 410 shot shells is a great backup.

I will say there is something about picking up a Smith and Wesson double action and bringing it up or cocking the hammer that just feels right:)
 
tightgroup tiger said:
Yeah, just to spray them all over the target.
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Two days ago I was firing my Single Six 4.6" barrel with the factory adjustable sights, and due to my vision I was spraying 3" groups of 30 shots at only 10 yards. My Buckmark Camper with red dot sprays 1" 30 shot groups at the same distance. Sucks to have middle aged eyes.
 
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Don’t laugh but my first hand gun was a RG 22 short only which I still have. I am 81 and I still like revolvers and TC single shot contenders. I just bought a cricket 22 single shot bolt action hand gun and I have more fun with that plus I get a lot of looks at the range. With the price of ammo it is fun to shoot and cheap also
 
aaaaa said:
I chance that I won't need that many as I am not LEO and generally avoid the bad part of town.
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LEOs may need more because when the shooting stops thwy may still have to pursue. The part of town should not be a factor.

In addition to capacity, there is the issue of rapidity of controlled shooting. Not everyone can shoot DA like McGovern or Miculek.
 
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