Revolver for a duty weapon

[ahpd1992]

So, I picked up a smith & wesson 627 pro and I love shooting it. I have always been a revolver guy, but for various reasons I carried autoloaders (glocks) as a duty weapon. I think 8 rounds of 125gr 357magnum is enough firepower, though not as much as my G35. Im equally competent with both a small edge to the glock only because Ive been shooting them for 20 years. My desire to carry the 627 is because I just love revolvers, its a a decision of the heart. So tell me am I nuts for thinking of replacing the holy grail of sidearms (glock) with a "REVOLVER"!

Thoughts are always appreciated

Tom

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I love revolvers and prefer them over autos. However, like you I carry a Glock as a duty weapon. Before that a 5906. Even though I love revolvers, there is no way I'd take a "step back" and start using one again as a duty weapon. I know more than one guy that has had to use a weapon in the line of duty and found that 6 shots was not enough to "stop the threat". In those cases, there was no time for reloading.

 

[slicksleeve]

I carry a Glock because the department says to do so. A Glock 22 and only a Glock 22. That said, if I were allowed to choose my sidearm, I would gladly take the "step back" as the above poster called it, and carry a .357 magnum Smith and Wesson revolver. There seems to be a problem of people who need, or think they need, 6 practice shots to be able to dial in number 7 to stop the threat.

 

[ahpd1992]

Yea when I was first hired we had to only carry 10mm, so I got a g20, pretty much been carrying a glock in one form or another since. I would have gone w/ a 686 if it was an option, but it wasnt. Fast forward a couple of police chiefs and the authorized weapon list was expanded. I didnt switch because I was I was fine w/ my g35. Then I got the 627 and it brings back that original desire to carry a wheel gun.

I was never comfortable with those who thought a revolver was somehow not on par with an autoloader, but to each his own. I have not decided at this point, but I like hearing all of the different opinions

 

[Drail]

If I had a job that required carrying on duty I would absolutely choose a revolver. I would not load it with 125 gr. ammo. 140 to 158 gr. would be my choice. I could never place as much faith in a Glock (or any other semi auto) as most people do today.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Don't put blind faith in a revolver being fail proof, either....I have an unfired specimen in the gunsmith's shop right now that had something break inside the day after I bought it. I dry fired it a couple of times before heading out to the range to shoo it and something broke.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

I carried a dept issued revolver for may years, I was fast and accurate with it. I "trained" and shot thousands thru it. When we transitioned to a Berreta I never shot those thousands of rounds. I shoot high scores but maybe 10 points less on a 300 point system. If I could I would carry my hard chrome .357 Smith 586 it would be in my holster. I understand your feelings.

 

[earplug]

Our your really better with the wheel gun?

Shooting only in the DA mood?
Wheel guns are real nice. but semi's are easy to shoot for most people.

 

[Drail]

Don't put blind faith in any firearm unless it has been torn down and inspected by a knowledgeable smith. A $2.00 part or a broken spring can stop any gun.

 

[jad0110]

Don't put blind faith in any firearm unless it has been torn down and inspected by a knowledgeable smith. A $2.00 part or a broken spring can stop any gun.

Yup. I've had both revolvers and autos jam up, solid as concrete (binding cylinder on a Taurus 94 and a 9mm Taurus, don't recall the model, the ejector snapped off and tied it up completely). Overall though, I've had significantly better luck with my revolvers. YMMV.

----

On the one hand, you say you are a slightly better shot with your Glock. In that regard, as much as I personally prefer wheel guns (I shoot them better, and am more confident with them), I would suggest sticking with the Glock. On the other hand, there is something to be said for having greater confidence, and if that wheel gun gives you more confidence that might just be more than enough to offset the slight accuracy edge you have with the Glock. Software > hardware and all.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I think the autoloader has some indisputable advantages for LE service, but the fact is that they mostly managed to get by with revolvers for many decades.

 

[TexasBill]

There's a Harris County Deputy who still carries a Colt Python and there are still officers on the Houston Police Department who still tote wheelguns.

Out of all the revolvers I have ever owned, I have had exactly one break a part and it was on a brand-new Colt Python. Parts can break on revolvers. Parts can break on autoloaders, as well. You can accidentally drop the magazine out of many popular automatics; I never heard of anyone accidentally swinging a revolver cylinder in a firefight.

It's comforting to know you're carrying a box of ammo on your duty belt; you can carry about 30 rounds for a revolver with six in the gun, two speed loaders on your belt and a couple more in a pocket. I've know more than a few guys who were pretty darn quick on the reloads. Besides, the OP is talking about an eight-shot revolver - that's M1911 territory and I haven't heard anyone on this forum say that was an inadequate firearm.

There were some pretty famous lawmen who went through some pretty serious firefights with a revolver and not only lived to tell the tale, but took the bad guys either into custody or into the morgue. You may have heard of these gentlemen: Col. Charles Askins and Bill Jordan.

The most natural-pointing firearms I have ever used were revolvers: the Colt Python and the Smith & Wesson MODEL 10 with the four-inch barrel and a Tyler T-grip.

There are advantages and disadvantages to whatever choice you make in a duty weapon. I personally would hate to be required to carry a Glock: Holy Grail or not, Gaston's guns just don't do it for me.

 

[CajunBass]

One big reason I'd rather carry a plastic fantastic wunderweapon is that I really wouldn't care about beating it up getting in and out of a patrol car, going through doors, sitting in chairs, banging against desks, and so on. "It's just a (insert plastic gun here). Who cares?"

I'd hate to beat up a nice revolver.

 

[earlthegoat2]

All else being equal, I think as a duty weapon, one of the standard duty pistols out there would be better. I like revolvers too. I carry one every day with only 5 rounds to boot. That is a defensive weapon though. If you are a uniformed officer then you instantly are a target. The liklihood of being in a high volume firefight is small indeed but since you are wearing that big target on your back in the form of a badge on your chest there is higher liklihood you will be in a shootout and be the target of bad guys.

If you train well you can become very good with your 6 or even 8 shot revolvers. If you train the same you can become that much better with a higher capacity pistol. If it were me and I was forced to choose a duty weapon I would like a Sig as opposed to a Glock, M&P, XD. Feels more like a gun and I shoot better with them.

 

[MrBorland]

for a revolver with six in the gun, two speed loaders on your belt and a couple more in a pocket. I've know more than a few guys who were pretty darn quick on the reloads. Besides, the OP is talking about an eight-shot revolver - that's M1911 territory and I haven't heard anyone on this forum say that was an inadequate firearm.

Agreed, though speedloader options for the 8-shot 627 are pretty much limited to HKS-style, with a twist release. The push-release Safariland-style is a bit faster, IMO. One could cut the cylinder for moonclips, though, if reload speed is an issue.

There were some pretty famous lawmen who went through some pretty serious firefights with a revolver and not only lived to tell the tale, but took the bad guys either into custody or into the morgue. You may have heard of these gentlemen: Col. Charles Askins and Bill Jordan.

Add to that Jelly Bryce and, much more recently, the late Jim Cirillo. Both are well worth reading up on.

 

[yeti]

If I were a Peace Officer around here, and was allowed to, I would carry a .357 Revolver and never loose any sleep over it. Switch the bulk of my failure drills to speed reloads and transisions to the patrol rifle/BUG, and I would be comfortable with it. Would rather carry a 1911, but a wheel gun would work for me.

Of course since LE isn't my profession, what I think I would like to carry is really little reflection as to what I would carry if I wore the star.

 

[easyg]

To each his own, but I wouldn't do it.

You would be trading a 36 oz pistol (loaded weight) that offers you 15+1 rounds for a 44 oz revolver (loaded weight) that only offers you 8 rounds.

Carrying an extra 8 oz. of weight on your side, all day long, for half the capacity just doesn't make sense to me.

Save the revolver for fun at the range and to show off to your shooting buddies.


Here's a trade I would make....
Switch out the Glock 35 for a Glock 23.

 

[ahpd1992]

Good points made by all, I still havent made up my mind. The gun is already cut for moonclips which Im familiar with from a 610 I used to own, they are a fast reload. I have duty leather already so its just about doing it or not. Keep up the debate you all are making very valid points for me to consider

 

[slicksleeve]

Just do it for me because I can't. I would love to have the option to carry that revolver.

 

[Thlax]

Maybe carry a revolver and an auto...?

Don't think I would carry a revolver if I was in LEO, but who knows. Built like a rock tho.

 

[ahpd1992]

Slicksleeve, I feel ya. Im gonna shoot it some more tommorow and probably decide for sure, but I still have time. Its fun thinking about it, although the hardcore tacti-cool types at my PD think revolvers are for when your on horseback in the 1800's. Some of them actually think I would be putting my life in danger carrying "only 8 shots".

 

[Wedge]

I am a bad to mediocre IDPA shooter shooting a Glock 9mm.

Last match I had better times/scores than an Expert revolver shooter. Loaded to SSP capacity, not full magazine capacity. Full capacity (17+1) and I could do a whole stage where he would need 2 reloads.

 

[agtman]

Once upon a time in San Fran ...

"Revolver for a duty weapon?"

Well, revolvers had their place back in the day.

'Course, the effectiveness of the particular wheelgun back then was also user-dependent.

 

[Newton]

I wouldn't allow nostalgia to overrule common sense.

 

[altitude_19]

I have seen numbers for Portland Oregon officers:
They say when the officer is alone, he fired and average of 2.4 shots. When in groups (and presumably given greater window of opportunity to engage a threat) the average rises to 5.9. I'd try finding similar statistics for your Area of Operations before making this call. I love my wheel guns, but only carry them in a civil capacity. Higher threat assessments and military duty bring a semi-auto into my hands.