Revolver for Home Defense?

[heavyshooter]

My wife hates semi-automatic firearms. (It's a long story; she had a bad experience with a Beretta Tomcat. We don't like to talk about it. ) She took to revolvers right away. There is no safety for her to worry about and she can see the gun going through its shooting cycle. Because of this she wants to use a revolver for home defense. I am happy that she initiated this decision on her own (I did not have to talk her into it). And, after shooting it, she volunteered to take ownership of my Ruger SP101. (No I did not get a vote. ) I like the idea of her having a reliable firearm that is ready to go when she needs it. But it only holds 5 rounds. Yes, she does have a speed loader in the drawer right next to it, but she is not exactly…um…"speedy" with it. And if you tell me to have her practice her revolver reloads regularly, I am going to guess that you are not married. I am just happy that she chose a firearm of any sort.

Now I am a fan of revolvers for home defense, I have an S&W 15-6 on my side of the bed. But it is there so I can fend off an intruder while I make my way to the pump action. I lean toward a having a minimum of 10 rounds between reloads.

So put me at ease ladies and gentlemen. How many of you use a revolver as your sole means of home defense?

Heavy

 

[wgaynor]

My bedside gun is the Taurus .44 Magnum Tracker. I don't have a speed loader for it, but keep extra rounds beside it. While it is not my sole means of defense, i would not feel undergunned if someone was kicking down my door.

That being said, weapons are tools. Each one is made for a specific job. If your wife is proficient with it, then she has a leg up on most people.

 

[Tommygunn]

I have a couple of handguns for home defense; one is a Colt Official Police in .38SP. This has the typical 4" barrel and is the quintessential "police issue" revolver of many police depts throughout the twentieth century, along with similar Smith & Wessons with equivalent characteristics. It works fine. I would use a good hollowpoint round.

 

[hso]

You realize that there were millions of people that used revolvers because semiautos were considered unreliable until recently so there's not reason a revolver isn't completely appropriate for HD.

Also, it is more important to be good with a reliable platform of the individual's choosing than merely adequate or even bad with a platform of someone else's choosing.

There are very very few real HD situations that ever require a reload, even when using a revolver.

I would hope your wife enjoys shooting her revolver and that she practices with it often and that your doors and windows are secure against forced entry.

 

[doc2rn]

I use my favorite Colt Diamondback loaded with blue or silver glazer safety slugs. I dont feel undergunned in the slightest.

 

[mnrivrat]

I grew up with revolvers . While I have a 1911 and a Taurus 24/7 in 45 auto, the gun I carry is a revolver, and the bedside gun is a 5 shot revolver in 44 Spl.

I see no reason to worry about only having 5 shots for defense. The terrorist gangs generaly pick on Bruce Willis. I think I can end the fight in 5 rounds.

 

[Tomcat47]

After many different guns over the years, including a Tomcat .32 and other various Autos my wife adopted of all my guns a RG 38....
(Did She Get Bit by the Tomcat Slide Too?.... )

I kinda like my old RG, but it has a not so great trigger, kinda clunky, it is very accurate...anyway...on to the story..

She decided that Autos were just not simple! To much to screw with! Just likes to keep things simple!

So I just bought her one of these this past week!

Taurus 85 Ultralight!

And I feel certain that with near a 99.9% probability as stated by HSO there will be no need for all 5 shots contained in the cylinder.

(But if So she knows where the 608 .357 is....)
(And the Winchester 1300....)

 

[heavyshooter]

After many different guns over the years, including a Tomcat .32 and other various Autos my wife adopted of all my guns a RG 38.... (Did She Get Bit by the Tomcat Slide Too?.... )

She decided that Autos were just not simple! To much to screw with! Just likes to keep things simple!

Tomcat47, Our wives were separated at birth. They had the exact same experience. She hates the need to rack slides and deal with safety levers. She said that it is to complicated and she is wise enough to know that she will not remember all of these nuances in an emergency. To complicate matters, the frame of the Tomcat cracked after less than 50 rounds. I was unaware of it at the time. It caused the weapon to jam a lot! So she, legitimately, lost all confidence in the weapon. And then she got a really bad slide bite. All of this happened on her first day firing a weapon. Then she paid close attention to me as I fired my SP101 and she said, "I want that one. I can see everything happening when you shoot it." That was all I needed to hear. She fired it and was quite competent.

 

[RaceM]

It ain't the number of rounds you have, it's what you do with 'em. My wheelguns are mostly backup for the 12 GA, but I wouldn't hesitate to use one in an HD scenario if it was the closest thing to hand.

 

[toivo]

Since it's for home and not carry, I would go for something that holds six, like a Smith & Wesson K-frame. You can get security company trade-ins (Model 10 or Model 64) from J&G in the $200-$250 range.

 

[Kendal Black]

I don't have a problem with it. Of course, if she becomes concerned that a revolver might not be adequate, a well proven answer is a spare revolver Or two. Or sometimes more... Sorry if this answer causes you added expense.

Something I am looking at with some interest is the revolving carbine. Sam Colt invented it, but Alfa Proj and Taurus are trying to revive it. This may be the best greeting of all, for 3 A.M. guests with backwards hats.

 

[El Mariachi]

So what's the consensus here then.....d/a? Or s/a?.....

 

[splithoof]

Jim Cirillo, who after seventeen armed confrontations against robbers while serving in in NYPD's stakeout squad, makes a great case for revolvers. He used revolvers for most of his gunfights, and clearly explains that proper tactics, bullet placement, and bullet selection are key to survival. He published two books before he passed away, and every serious student of armed confrontation should read them.

 

[toivo]

So what's the consensus here then.....d/a? Or s/a?.....

Absolutely d/a. Point and pull.

 

[ATBackPackin]

I actually prefer that my wife use a revolver from HD. I'm not confident that she could clear a jam in a stressful situation. Working on it, but she doesn't share my enthusiasm for firearms.

If you are that worried about the round count, buy her another revolver for a NY reload.

Shawn

 

[MikeNice]

I have two revolvers that I use for home defense. I have one with five shots, a Taurus 85b3. My wife has quick access to a Heritage Rough Rider loaded with six .22WMR. I feel confident that together we could handle most intruder issues. Of course, I also have a Ruger 10/22 with two thirty round clips in the closet.

If you are worried about the number of rounds look in to a bigger hand gun. There are .38spls out there that hold seven or eight rounds. Taurus even makes a six shot snub nose.

 

[El Mariachi]

I have two revolvers that I use for home defense. I have one with five shots, a Taurus 85b3. My wife has quick access to a Heritage Rough Rider loaded with six .22WMR. I feel confident that together we could handle most intruder issues. Of course, I also have a Ruger 10/22 with two thirty round clips in the closet.

Not too sure if you've heard but Hornady has just come out with a 'Critical Defense' .22WMR round that has some extra punch to it. Could be a good thing to look into........



http://www.hornady.com/store/22-WMR-45gr-Critical-Defense/

 

[ugaarguy]

So put me at ease ladies and gentlemen. How many of you use a revolver as your sole means of home defense?

Best way I can put your mind at ease regarding round count is to quote one of our moderator's response to concern of round count using a double barrel shotgun for HD:

I also don't give the two-shot capacity limit much concern. Most criminal invasion teams aren't exactly made up of well-disciplined and highly motivated people, and they probably couldn't define "Unit Cohesion" if their lives depended on it. If one of their homies is lying on the floor, clutching at his guts...squirming and puking and screaming for mommy...the others are very likely to create a door where there isn't one in order to make their escape.

1911Tuner http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7342659&postcount=24

 

[kingcheese]

i keep all my guns locked up, if i need to check something out i grab a side by side 12ga, if i need it now, i go for a nagant revolver, i know its not exactly a good defense gun, but its easy enough to load and get to, i guess i figure if i need more then 7 bullets to stop one or two people... i was screwed from the get go

 

[MikeNice]

Mariachi, I've been looking for the similar Gold Dot round. Niether round seems to be available regularly. So, I've loaded up with Winchester Dynapoints.

They aren't the best for expansion. I have noticed something interesting with them. When shooting through multiple jugs of water (or other medium) they tend to tumble. In milk jugs it isn't as pronounced. In more elastic jugs they can leave a hole big enough to stick my pointer finger in. Usually I can get my finger in to a point mid way between the first and second knuckle.

If I can't get expansion I will take tumbling.

 

[bikerdoc]

My wife grew up around revolvers, some time about 20 years ago she had brief period of auto curiosity, didnt like em and retured to revolvers, today she is pushing 60 and still a great shot with a wheel gun.

I dont see a problem. She has a liking for a good weapon. just go shooting together and practice.

 

[harmon rabb]

Can she shoot the SP101 well? If so, be happy she chose a reliable weapon chambered in an adequate caliber and stop worrying.

I personally prefer semi-autos for home defense (if I'm not going to use my 12ga), mainly because I shoot them a little better, but I wouldn't feel inadequately armed with a revolver on the nightstand.

In fact, my wife keeps my SP101 on her nightstand, so join the wife/SP101 club She's still not really comfortable with a semi-auto, and letting her choose on her own she prefers a revolver, so that was that.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I bought a SP101 right after they first came out in .357. For over a decade, it was my bedroom gun. I had other choices, but felt well enough armed to tackle anything that might reasonably come into my home at night armed with a 5 shot revolver...I'll bet this little tidbit will really upset the "tactical, be prepared for it all crowd"...She's been loaded with the same Federal 125 gr. JHP since I bought the gun. Matter of fact, I bought those bullets in 1990. I am also fully confident the will all go bang if ever called on.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I know it's a common gun forum mass fantacy, that one night you will be invaded by either drug crazed maniacs armed with full auto weapons or even Russian spetznetz troops. Truth is; it ain't gonna happen. The run of the mill criminal is a low life coward, who at the first sign of armed resistance is leaving at a high rate of speed.

I live in the northern suburbs of Washington D.C., and crime is not unknown here. Of my half dozen handguns, five are revolvers, one of which is on my bedside table. My only auto pistol is a .22 target pistol. Yes, there's a speed strip of another half dozen rounds of .38 special laying there with it, but I doubt I'll need it, and I'm not going to worry over it.

If a good revolver will not stop you're home invasion, then you either really cheesed off a local drug lord, and you're in Mexico, or you are having a nightmare about the zombi invasion.

A revolver is fine, as is a double barrel coach gun.

Carl.

 

[chicharrones]

My wife hates semi-automatic firearms. (It's a long story; she had a bad experience with a Beretta Tomcat. We don't like to talk about it. )

Tomcats can turn people off from auto loaders quite easily. Little blowback guns seem to need a really stiff hold (locked wrist, etc.) from the shooter to function decentlly. Plus, not having an extractor . . .

I'm kinda in the same boat as you and am rethinking the "go-to" home defense hand gun for the wife. Right now, it is my trusty ol' GP100 but it is so muzzle heavy with its 6" barrel and it only holds 6 rounds.

I was thinking a locked breech/recoil operated, poly framed, hi-capacity 9mm. However, I'm interested in 8-shot .357 mag revolvers with 4" barrels due to the point-and-shoot simplicity and the pull-the-trigger-again in case of the unlikely misfire. I can still put .38 Specials in it for her, but the 8-shot revolvers are still heavy and can be expensive.

More thinking to do on my part.