Problems going from semi-autos to revolver?

[chickenfried]

hey guys,
Did any of you that got started with semi-autos have problems shooting your first revolver? My groups with my S&W 586 shooting SA with standard .38's, are about three times the size of my 1911 and CZ groups. I got some Hogue monogrips, that improved things a little. Got any tips to share with me?

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Weaver stance, keep your strong hand firm but not tight, support the load with the weak hand. Squeeze that long DA stroke.

At the range, pointed down range - load 2 or three chambers and lock it up. Squeeze DA all the way around. Watch your barrel for movement on the dry fires. Enjoy the surprise on the live ones.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Revolvers have a completely different rythm and tempo, and their triggers are more demanding.

The main thing is to remember that you've got a revolver in your hand, and that whatever muscle memory you've got from your autoloader doesn't apply!

 

[Standing Wolf]

Revolvers tend to have magazine release buttons hidden in the weirdest places.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

 

[Cortland]

My opinion is that revolvers aren't necessarily more difficult to shoot than semi-autos, only that deficiencies in your trigger control will be amplified with a revolver.

And dry fire! If you practice double action dry fires and keep those sights aligned for the entirety of the trigger pull and thereafter, you're set.

 

[DHart]

I've been shooting 1911's almost exclusively for several years and when I recently starting doing a lot of DA revolver shooting I had some significant re-training to do on trigger control. The DA pulls are so much longer and heavier than a 4 or 3.5# 1911 trigger pull that the tendency is to move the gun all over the place while shooting double action. Yes, LOTS of dry firing with intent to keep the sights aligned with the target through the entire trigger pull and hammer fall is essential to achieving accurate double action shooting and makes a huge difference in mastering control.

 

[Rickstir]

I carry my 92FS ready to go. One in the pipe, no safety. My Taurus 650 CIA comes standard the same way.

I have found no difference in drawing and firing. Grip, stance, point, shoot. I will admit that 90 % of time I am training at what others call the average distance for self-defense shooting - 7 yards. I can plink but that is not what the snubby is for. My muscle training is the same, pull the DA trigger. I really don't notice much difference between the two triggers as I am concentrating on my point and stance and moving after the shot. I am probably not as prepared as some, and more prepared than others. I just know I can get it out and get a round where I want it in an acceptable time if my situational awareness is cooking.

 

[B36]

No problem

The reason 'no problem' is dry fire. I dry fire 6 days a week. Roll thru a variety of actions each week.

 

[chickenfried]

Okay guys I'll get to practicing. I have been dry firing but I'll try and do more. I bought 500 rounds of .38 when I grabbed this gun. If I still don't like it after I'm done, it's going on the waivers list. Hear that 586, you better treat me right.

 

[10-Ring]

Yeah, the best thing is to dedicate the time & effort it will take to learn the DA trigger. Once you do, you'll realize that your DA/SA shooting w/ your semi autos have improved too...WOW! an excuse to go shooting!

 

[ExMachina]

Biggest difference I notice (other than the obvious mechanics of feeding and discharging the gun) is the greater muzzle flip you get from the (generally) higher bore axis of the wheel gun.

 

[NMshooter]

Put about a hundred or so rounds of .357 through your revolver, then try a few magazines of .45 through the 1911 immediately afterward.

It is a whole different world.

 

[Boats]

I hear you! My biggest difficulty transitioning between my autos and my revolver is that I have to shoot the revolver last or I wind up regretting I brought the autos to the range.

To me autos are like a well known meal I have had too many times. Picking up the brass is like having to do the dishes. The revolver, and I plan on getting more, is like a dessert I never get tired of and never have to clean-up after (brass-wise that is, because the only thing I don't like about revolvers is cleaning six chambers rather than one).

 

[car541]

You can try this:

Put a penny on top of the barrel rib (or frame if its an old skinny barrel).
practice dry firing double action until you can do six dry fires consistantly wthout the penny falling off. Your dry firing should be one consistant pull straight through with NO staging of the trigger just before discharge (if you get in habit of staging, you will initially be more accurate, but in the long run, you will be slowed down by this habit)

Then go back to the range. bring a friend and have them load 2, 3 or 4 rounds and the remainder empty cases in random order. Spin the cylinder to mix up the order od dummies abd live rounds. Next, fire the full cylinder double action, paying special attention to the sight picture in the cases where the hammer falls on an empty cylinder. Keep this up until you have no perceptable flinch or movement during firing.(it wont be one range session)


Then shoot the weapon fully loaded. At this point you will begin to understand why some folks have never gone to an automatic.

 

[HSMITH]

Focus on the revolver, it will teach you to shoot. You have no choice but to learn trigger control with a revolver.

 

[shep854]

I find that when I go from one to the other at the range, I have to slow down at first to adjust to the different grip angles of autos and revos.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I gave up. Caved in to the dark side and divested myself of revolvers entirely. No matter what revolver I shot, I tended to shoot patterns instead of groups. Went to a 1911 and a CZ-83. Groups are much smaller. Life is good. I still admire revolvers as a piece of engineering but I can't see myself getting another one anytime soon.

ZM

 

[Desert Dog]

All people are different. I had a heck of a time going from a revolver to a semi-auto... I couldn't even print on paper at 7 yards the first couple of magazines of .45 out of my P90...

Learning to squeeze the trigger is the first goal of learning to shoot a revolver...

Good luck...

 

[joab]

I had the same problem as Desert dog.
I didn't get an auto, other than a belly gun, until many years into shooting. I had a difficult time wit the transition.
The hold is different, the felt recoil is different and in a different place and the trigger pull is different. Same thing goes for going to SA revolvers.

In my case it was that I let the differences overwhelm me and tried to make the autos bend to my will and peform like revolvers.

They refused so I gave up and let them tell me what to do.