Revolver or Auto: Which Do You Shoot Better?

[WrongHanded]

Thanks for all the replies!

I know I haven't been terribly active on this thread, but is seems we have over 100 votes. Semi-autos are taking a back seat to revolvers on this one. Everyone is different of course, and I'm not making any judgements about inherent accuracy, ease of use, or anything else. I intentionally left the criteria rather broad because we all practice defensive shooting however we see fit.

I will say that despite seriously working on my shooting abilities with semi-autos (Glocks mostly, though there have been others) for probably 2 years now (if not longer, time flies doesn't it!) after only a relatively short break from weekly practice, it's become clear that revolvers are just easier for me to shoot well. A double action 4" .357 magnum revolver points more naturally, and is far easier for me to control than the .357 Sig and 10mm Glocks I've been working with. I'm not sure that is all due to the extra weight soaking up recoil, though some of it likely is.

I think it's also the shape of the grip and the forward balance. Whilst the weight and length of the trigger pull do reduce speed somewhat, I know where I'm at with it better than a lighter shorter trigger, which ultimately seems to improve accuracy. I can't say the draw is any faster from under a closed cover garment, such as a t-shirt. But it does seem to be a little faster from an open fronted cover garment such as a jacket or button up/down shirt. Possibly because the gun can be scooped up into the hand, rather than having the web of the hand contact the beavertail first to for a good repeatable grip.

Perhaps ultimately it's because revolvers are what I first learned to shoot.

 

[Old Dog]

Semi-autos are taking a back seat to revolvers on this one.

I admit I'm a little surprised by this. On some other forums, I suspect the results may be reverse.

I think it's a function of the demographics of this forum -- perhaps many more "older" folks...

 

[Rexster]

Generally, I will shoot revolvers better, especially if they have some amount of heft, and bit of forward balance. The snubbier the barrel, the more effort is required to shoot it well. A heavy-contour barrel is best. I can shoot some specific auto-loaders about as well, but it takes far more live-fire training for me to do so, and the skill is more perishable. The auto-loader that does this, better than the others, is a full-sized, all-steel 1911, preferably with a trigger guard and front strap sculpted to allow the weapon to sit a bit lower, in my hand. Regardless, however, a revolver, that fits me well, is more “stress-proof” than any auto.

Part of the overall equation is that I put so very much effort into learning long-stroke double-action shooting, during my police cadet and early peace officering days. My first handgun, acquired at age 21, in late 1982 or early 1983, was a 1911, but by late 1983 I was required to train with a DA revolver, and from March 1984, to March 1985, the only handgun I could carry, for any defensive purpose, on or off the clock, was a DA revolver. I patrolled the streets of Houston, Texas, which was a wild and wooly place, in the early and mid-Eighties, when the “oil boom” was still in effect, in spite of the rest of the USA being in a really bad recession.

I worked really hard, to build skill with Glocks, and I have carried them into harm’s way, but while I have managed tolerable “good enough” performance, I doubt that I will ever shoot a Glock as well as a 1911, or a good revolver.

I have done good work with “classic” SIG pistols, but the high bore axis, and something about the grip shape, made them bad for my hands, when arthritis started becoming a factor, at age fifty. I returned to Glock duty pistols, at age 54, though 9mm, rather than the .40 that had been mandated, for a number of years.

There may be some auto-loader, out there, that will be a better weapon, for me, but I have yet to find it. Now living on a retiree’s pension, I am not likely to experiment, much, anymore, with new auto-loading pistol systems, unless compelled by arthritis or other disability.

 

[Obturation]

Revolvers . no doubt .
I'm not as fast with a 6 gun but I can hit very consistently and maybe just a tad slower then with an auto.

Why?
Well... I think it's the barrel profile in front of me, I can point it like a finger and hit a target without sights pretty well. If I add the benefit of sights I can make a respectable group out near 50 yards. Semis don't point like that for me.

 

[Palladan44]

If only we could put 6 cowboys from 1880s w/ Colt Peacemakers vs.
6 gangsters from 1930s armed w/ 1911s and see who comes out on top.....

 

[Autodidactic]

Forgetting about size, weight, capacity, speed of reloading etc. When it comes to your typical defensive shooting drills (whatever they may be), do you shoot revolvers or semi-autos better?

If you've noticed a significant difference between the two, what do you chalk it up to? Time shooting, something inherent about the design, something else entirely?

Personally, after significant time and effort spent learning to shoots semi-autos better, I still find I'm more accurate (whether at speed or not) with revolvers. I'm not entirely sure why.

For carry size, definitely semi autos. Without a doubt a sub compact semi auto in my opinion is easier to shoot and learn than let’s say a .38 snubbie. This may reverse though when we get to full size revolvers versus semi autos.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Equally poor in both IMO.......

 

[Autodidactic]

Thanks for all the replies!

I know I haven't been terribly active on this thread, but is seems we have over 100 votes. Semi-autos are taking a back seat to revolvers on this one. Everyone is different of course, and I'm not making any judgements about inherent accuracy, ease of use, or anything else. I intentionally left the criteria rather broad because we all practice defensive shooting however we see fit.

I will say that despite seriously working on my shooting abilities with semi-autos (Glocks mostly, though there have been others) for probably 2 years now (if not longer, time flies doesn't it!) after only a relatively short break from weekly practice, it's become clear that revolvers are just easier for me to shoot well. A double action 4" .357 magnum revolver points more naturally, and is far easier for me to control than the .357 Sig and 10mm Glocks I've been working with. I'm not sure that is all due to the extra weight soaking up recoil, though some of it likely is.

I think it's also the shape of the grip and the forward balance. Whilst the weight and length of the trigger pull do reduce speed somewhat, I know where I'm at with it better than a lighter shorter trigger, which ultimately seems to improve accuracy. I can't say the draw is any faster from under a closed cover garment, such as a t-shirt. But it does seem to be a little faster from an open fronted cover garment such as a jacket or button up/down shirt. Possibly because the gun can be scooped up into the hand, rather than having the web of the hand contact the beavertail first to for a good repeatable grip.

Perhaps ultimately it's because revolvers are what I first learned to shoot.

What about Snubbies versus small autos? I think most find it’s the opposite when one gets to small handguns

 

[WrongHanded]

What about Snubbies versus small autos? I think most find it’s the opposite when one gets to small handguns

Interesting thought. I think you should start a poll on that.

 

[SwampWolf]

For me, the handgun having the best trigger pull is generally the one I can shoot most accurately-which isn't to say that things like sights, recoil, handling properties, etc., don't play significant roles.

 

[weregunner]

I came up on revolvers that are .38 Special and are either Taurus or Rugers.

 

[Hal]

D/A revolver.
No doubt about it.

 

[JoeHenry]

If it comes down to shooting accurate and fast I’ll take a Smith & Wesson revolver every time. It’s the long double action that works for me. Shot NRA action pistol for ten years with a S&W 686, maybe that is the reason. Now, if I have the time for that slow squeeze on a 1911………

 

[WheelGunMan]

I took the time early on to learn how to shoot a snub nosed revolver accurately..that has paid great dividends on any gun I shoot be it revolver or semi automatic pistol.

 

[trackskippy]

Learning to shoot a DA revolver, DAO, will make everyone a better shooter, and that's across the board, not just handguns.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Of my upper end guns, I shoot both pretty well and really have no preference. I would shoot best with the one I have the most practice with at that range trip. I shoot my 686 probably the best if I really have to scrutinize compared to my Q5 SF Pro. But it's really close.
These are my upper end guns not my cheap blasters.