Revolver or auto

[tango3065]

My friend had a serious ? after he shot one of my handguns today. He is going to buy his first handgun, this will be for hd and shtf only, he lives alone and he is very good with handguns because he has to shoot every new one I get . Anyhow he ask what would be the best for him a auto or a revolver and what brand. I told him I would go with a auto like a cz75 like im buying this week. So do you guys think I steered him in the right direction.

 

[tbeb]

mastinson,
I assume "hd" stands for home defense. What is "shtf"? Has he shot revolvers and semi-auto's? Does he have a preference? What is his budget?

 

[ksnecktieman]

Is he going to get a ccw? Does he want it for home defens only? Is he going to shoot very much?
For at home defense only, size is not important, and firepower is supreme consideration, cheap and good is the browning high power clones, like the FEG, under 250$ and high capacity 9mm.
For ccw, if he is not shooting a lot, and is not highly committed, a keltec P3AT is a good choice. Light, small, easily concealed, (a good chance he will carry it often) and a simple manual of arms. Point and click is about as simple as it can get

 

[tango3065]

this will be for hd and shtf only

hd=home defence shtf = ???? hits the fan, no ccl just home use he prefers a auto but he still kinda scared the auto will fail to be reliable.

 

[mmay1]

If reliability is concern #1 and home defense is the only intended use, I would go with a full-size CZ or a Baby Eagle in .45 in a handgun. But whatever he gets he needs to shoot it a lot to make sure it is reliable, as every manufacturer seems to produce a weapon from time to time that is not, and to make sure he is comfortable with that particularbweapon if it has to be used for self defense. My first choice for home defense would actually be something chambered in 12 gauge, either a double barrel or pump.

 

[BlkHawk73]

If reliability is concern #1 and home defense is the only intended use, I would go with a...

...revolver. Not likely one will ever fail to eject or stovepipe. It should come down to what model within his bidget fits him the best. Any reputable makers shouldn't give any problems. Any gun can malf. Just be sure to buy quaility to lessen the probs encountered with the cheap (price and quality) models.

 

[tango3065]

He's leaning towards a bersa 380 or 9mm but im not to fond of them, I have never owned one or even held one but for the price its hard to believe its a good reliable tool. Please feel free to change my mind.

 

[Standing Wolf]

All my main home defense and carry guns are revolvers. I have a hunch I'm probably a few years behind the times, but they're what work for me.

 

[JoeWang]

Gentlemen, the 18" bbl. 12 ga. pump in the $299 Remington 870 Express or Mossberg 500 Persuader with a pistol grip installed is a great home defense option.

It is much safer than a double-drywall penetrating 9/357/40/45 handgun for home defense. It doesn't require much aim.

 

[ksnecktieman]

There is a better way to end a "situation" at home than the display or firing of a pistol. Rack the slide on an 870, and most problems are solved. IMHO, the only reason to have a pistol is to delay someone long enough that you can access your shotgun.

 

[Ala Dan]

Primary home D' should be a 12 gague shotgun, for those
that live in or near urban area's.

1st handgun is very subjective; based on an individuals
taste? But in my way of thinking, it should be a revolver
with a barrel no less than 4", or greater than 6" in length.
Throw out any suggestions for the .22LR caliber as a HD
weapon! Caliber of choice should be at least a .38 Special,
with the .357 magnum being even better. Practice with the
inexpensive .38 Special target load's; and stoked it with 125
grain JHP .357 magnum's for serious HD application's.

If a self-loader is in order, there are a lot of good ones on the
market? MY caliber of choice for a HD self-loader will always
be the .45 ACP. With that said, I load up a couple magazines
with Federal's 230 grain JHP "Hydra-Shok's".

As to make and model, that really depends on how much cash
you are willing to spend? In both circumstances, Ruger makes
good, quality, less expensive firearms; and towards the top
end, you will find Colt. Somewhere in between, one can
usually compromise with a good Smith & Wesson.

*FootNote- Manufactuer's listed make both, revolvers
and semi-auto's.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[MikeJ]

I am a firm believer in revolvers for home defense for the great majority of people. My reasons for this are that they are reliable regardless of shooting position or grip. It is one thing to have a nice firm hold on an auto at the range while you are punching paper but I imagine that it is quite a different story in a real combat situation while your knees, hands and everything else is shaking. I know many people much prefer the auto over the revolver and many are probably quite competent with it but for someone that is not going to train with it extensively I just think the revolver makes more sense. Shoot safely, Mike

 

[10-Ring]

Pump shotgun for primary HD. IF you need a handgun to serve while you're getting to your primary, the wheelgun is the most simple & most reliable way to go

 

[tbeb]

A nice used .357 magnum revolver with a 4" barrel is a good choice. Some good ones are S&W Model 13 (blue & fixed sights), S&W Model 65 (stainless & fixed sights), S&W Model 19 (blue & adjustable rear sight), S&W Model 66 (stainless & adjustable rear sight), Ruger Security Six (blue or stainless & adjustable rear sight), Ruger Service Six (blue or stainless, square grip, fixed sights), and Ruger Speed Six (blue or stainless, round grip, fixed sights).

With a .357 magnum revolver you can fire .38 special non+P ammo, .38 special +P ammo, medium velocity .357 magnum ammo, and full power .357 magnum ammo. You can use bullets that weigh from 95 grains to 180 grains. If I had to pick one from the above list it probably would be the Model 66.

 

[Shooter973]

Revolver or Auto?

It would be hard to go wrong with a good high quailty 357 mag revolver. It will do any job ask of it and be 100% reliable from the get go. Plus with the revolver your ability to custom tailor the loads to the purpose is there with every trigger pull. You can't shoot light loads and heavy loads out of the auto with out a certain amount of adjustment. With a revolver just put in the ammo and go. Light loads and different bullet shapes might choke an auto but not the revolver,

 

[Majic]

The two of you take a trip to the gun store and then see what floats his boat. Allow him to shoot a few revolvers if he hasn't already. It's really a personal choice.

 

[zahc]

If reliability is concern #1 and home defense is the only intended use, I would go with a...

Shotgun.


As for handguns, revolvers could disappear tomorrrow and I wouldn't care I don't like them.

 

[Majic]

As for handguns, revolvers could disappear tomorrrow and I wouldn't care I don't like them.

Now Zahc, others may say the same about pistols, but where will that get us? If we don't all stand together, one day none of us may be shooting anything. Just hope that the day don't come that you will have to turn to the ex-revolver shooters to support you and have them say that to you.

 

[Black Snowman]

Home defense I prefer a long arm, and definately for SHTF. For that role I have a Bushmaster M17S bullpup. A shotgun serves the purpose well too and it doesn't get much more reliable than a pump shotgun. I don't know who the origional source was but I agree with "A handgun is just to get you back to your rifle, which you shouldn't have left in the first place."

 

[SavannahSteve]

For home defense, any pump action or semi-automatic shotgun, including anything down to a .410 beats any handgun. All of my carry guns are semi-autos, but if I had to choose one handgun for home defense, it would be a 7 or 8 shot .357 revolver with a 4-in barrel.

 

[Border]

For HD and defense in general: Revolver. .357, maybe a 686. Everyone THINKS they're cool as all that until the SHTF then few if any can reliably predict how they will handle it and simultated training still does not replicate emotionally a real life scenario. I llike semi-autos too but with maximum adrenaline pumping through your veins would you bet your life you remembered to flick the safety off, etc? Well you are! Revolver. Semi-autos are so popular because the cool guy in the movies always has one and the old, fat, partner has the snubbie.

 

[Sharpie1]

Have your friend visit this site for assistance in choosing a proper personal defense handgun.

There are specific articles for both revolvers, semi-autos as well as proper ammo selection.

Take note, the articles on this site only address handgun selection. This will change soon.

He will get some great info here! I know, because I wrote it!!

TD

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

For an auto, I'd recommend a Beretta...but I bet most of you knew I'd say that... If he's super sensitive that it may jam, go with a revolver. Depending on what he wants to spend, he could pick up a nice three inch Smith and Wesson. But you could still get a great gun for less with the Ruger GP100. The Ruger would be my first choice.

www.ruger.com

 

[WT]

Revolver in .38 special or .357 magnum loaded with .38's. 4 inch bbl.

 

[zahc]

Now Zahc, others may say the same about pistols, but where will that get us? If we don't all stand together, one day none of us may be shooting anything. Just hope that the day don't come that you will have to turn to the ex-revolver shooters to support you and have them say that to you.

*is horrified*


You got the wrong idea dude, I would never not defend revolvers like that. In that way, I do support revolvers, machine guns, pellet guns, ugly guns, pretty guns, cheap guns and expensive guns, and anything else that goes bang.

I was just saying if say hypothetically revolvers were to vanish, it wouldn't bother me personally since I hate them. It would bother me that revolver fans were screwed though.

I hate when hunters are like, "ban the ugly gun, all I need is my deer gun"

shotgunners don't care about handgun bans etc.