Revolver vs. Auto for Carry

[Dr Detroit]

I had posted the other day about my a Taurus 45ACP that uses full moon clips having cylinder binding problems. Twice back to Taurus and still the same problem. This whole issue started over a decision I made regarding which gun to purchase for carry - 45 ACP Auto or Revolver.

I had spent a lot of time drooling over a new Kimber 45ACP 3" CDP. A friend of mine who knows a lot more about guns than I do found the new Taurus Tracker 45ACP in 2" snubbie. He called me and told me he bought it when he saw it. He said that it was the perfect carry gun. He convinced me that 45ACP was the best personal protection caliber (he had first hand experience in Vietnam) and that a revolver is almost full proof. In other words its not supposed to jam like an auto might just when you really need it to save your life or someone elses. So I bought one too. His works great. Not one problem. Mine on the other hand has had cylinder bind problems since the first time I fired it.

As it turned out I think my original choice of self protection until I was convinced otherwise - that Kimber 3" CDP - would have been a much better choice. My full size Kimber 45 ACP has never jammed to date at the range.

Anyone else have any comments about revolver vs. auto for a carry gun? I think I could use some new advice... Maybe its really S&W revolver vs. Taurus revolver!

 

[1badmagnum]

are you shure your clips are straight?
I would chose a compact 1911 for ccw,or a revolver without moonclips.
moonclips seem to give alot of people headaches.
I would like the taurus in 41 magnum and 2 inch barrel for ccw though.

 

[sm]

First off, Welcome to THR.

Going to repeat my criteria for carry.
Gun must fit the shooter in a platform that allows quick accurate hits with an effective caliber. Ammo and platform must always work.

Try various guns, revo and semi, and various calibers.Your going to carry it, so do this yourself. Rent guns at the range, ask friends and relatives...etc.

Using a timer, or a buddy with a stopwatch do this and you see what works for you. .

Fold a pc of typing paper in half, then fold again (quartered). Set target at 5 yards. I prefer one to draw form holster (some do low ready--do the same for each test).

At the signal draw and fire 5 rounds, record time, group size, keep and compare.

You will see what platform and caliber does best for you.

As an aside, for me the 5" 1911 conceals just as easy as an 4". I have used my gunsmiths' 4" but his is alloy and steel, lighter. IMO the reliability in the 1911 is not as good in the 3 and 3.5", My opinion only, that the design works best in the longer bbl.

Personally , I don't give a hoot about 'tactical', what some magazine , what some armchair wannabe's think. Its my butt so I'm going to carry what I know I can do best with. Get what works for you, get training, a proper holster and belt, and practice, practice practice. Too many people have old model 10's and worn holsters and practice, and are better armed. I'd rather have that person watching my six, than someone whom never shoots, but has all the whizbang tactical doohickey's.

See I got a friend that can shoot and reload faster with his old model 19 than many with a 1911. He consistently rings the steels at 50 -75 yds when he plays that game. Within 7yds, he is a blurr.

Sorry, but I take this a bit serious.

 

[V-fib]

When I decided to get a CCW I chose a revolver because of ease of use and reliability. My Ruger SP101 3" .357 is built very tuff and is reasonably priced. It has never jammed or given me any problems since I purchased it. It's also important to have a gun you are confident in and are willing to practice with.

 

[chaim]

Is your Tracker titanium or steel? I don't think Taurus has the titanium down yet, they really do seem to have trouble with them an order of magnitude higher than with their steel or aluminum guns.

If it is titanium I would suggest trading it on a steel framed Tracker if you are still willing to consider it. If you are completely turned off by Taurus that is too bad, but understandable given your first may be a lemon. A sad situation, many people have bought the titanium revolvers or polymer autos as their first Taurus handguns and these are materials Taurus hasn't perfected their use of and they've had a lot of trouble, and unfortunately a lot of people have been competely soured on Taurus due to those experiences- losing out on some really nice steel and aluminium revolvers and autos.

If you aren't willing to try another Taurus and you don't mind spending the money a 1911 is a great gun, though the smallest versions tend to be more troublesome than the larger framed models. If you need a small CCW gun get the 4" barrel on the full-sized frame instead of the 3 or 3 1/2" barrel on the shortened frame.

 

[charleym3]

I bought a 3" 625. I carry it every day and put 50 or so rounds through it every week. I carry 1 extra moon clip in my pocket. I have absolute faith in that platform. I saw another at the last gun show and almost snapped it up even though I didn't have the money for it. It simply works for me.
I've had Glocks, 1911s, and Berettas that jammed on me at the least opportune times. For that reason I have moved to revolvers for "Serious Social Purposes" and for IDPA since I believe in competing with the same gun that I carry. When I get to the range, all I do is change the ammunition in the gun and I'm ready to roll.
As for the Taurus, I have limited experience. I have a Model 94 in 22lr. It runs fine though the accuracy is not all that I had hoped for and it shaves lead. Not surprising for an inexpensive 22. For dispatching rabbits at harvest time and training purposes it's just fine.

 

[Albert Shear]

Second that Charley! I carry 625 3", 4" and 610 4". All use full moon clips and I have never had a problem that was gun related. Some clips were cheap and bent easily. Thrown away asap! For the 45acp I use Wilson Combat fmc's. If it is not the clips then the gun has to defective.

 

[stans]

Comfort is also important in a carry gun, I got a lesson in this just yesterday. I used to carry a S&W 640 in a IWB holster, no problems. About a year ago, I started carrying a S&W 439. Well, yesterday I decided to carry my 640. It was comfortable while standing and sitting, except in my vehicle. I used to drive a sedan with a bench seat, now I drive a small SUV with bucket seats. I found the side bolsters on the bucket seats press on the butt of the 640 and forces the cylinder to dig into my side. This was never a problem with the 439 due to its flat profile. Something to think about!

I also agree that 1911's with barrels shorter than 4 inches can be reliability impaired. Many are not, but if you happen to get one that jams, it will do you no good. Generally speaking, the slide and barrel are not the parts that are hard to conceal, it is the grip area that tends to stick out and show itself. Perhaps the best 1911 for concealment would be a Officers ACP size frame combined with a Commander slide?

 

[Mannlicher]

Personally, I think that either revolver or semi auto work well for concealed carry. I use both.

Some lesser priced handguns, both wheel guns and semi's are less than perfect when they leave the factory. That is one 'price' the consumer pays when buying 'cheap'

In this day and age, even buying a high end weapon is not always going to mean reliablity out of the box. That having been said, I would not carry any handgun that had not digested at least 200 rounds of carry ammo, without a malfunction

I carry a Taurus 85CH, that is totally reliable. I have had malfunctions with brand new Kimbers.

 

[TonyB]

When choosing a carry gun some have said it will be a gun that's "shot a little but carried alot." BS....I want to shoot it alot!!If I'm going to be in the situation where I feel I need to take someone's life,I want to know 1)the gun's going to work 2)I'm going to hit the threat and nothing else.
So my advice,for waht it's worth, a carry gun should be 100% reliable(or as close as a machine can get) and you need to know how to shoot it.
Also practice what if senarios w/ a malfunction and learn to clear the gun and reload as fast as you can.....
After all it's your life..(and it's wicked fun too!!!)
Having said all that I've been carrying for 3 weeks so I'll probably have even more to say on the subject in 2 few years

 

[TallPine]

Well, if you're going to carry a revolver, why not get one chambered in a caliber originally designed to work in a revolver?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I normally carry a pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 60 .357 magnum revolver in an I.W.B. holster, but there are times when it's more convenient to carry a Walther PPK .380 A.C.P.

Personally, I have more faith in revolvers than semi-automatics, and I've been partial to the .357 magnum cartridge for quite a few years.

The main thing is what works best for you?

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Check into what is happening with your revolver/moonclips. Moonclips are the choice with competition revolver shooters who put at least 1000 rounds down range each month.

Of course, most use a Smith and Wesson.

I have shot thousands of rounds from my converted 686+ and my PC 627 with NO such problems. I like them so much that my M66 is destined for conversion. I even had a moonclip someone stepped on, bent it a bit and couldn't then tell which one had been bent.

Your problem is NOT normal.

Guy B. Meredith

 

[TechBrute]

As it turned out I think my original choice of self protection until I was convinced otherwise - that Kimber 3" CDP - would have been a much better choice. My full size Kimber 45 ACP has never jammed to date at the range.

You can't compare the 3" to the 5" guns. The 3" guns are more troublesome BY FAR!! The lightweight slide on the 3" guns cycles so fast that it often encounters feeding problems from less than perfect mags. The 4" has the same problem, but to a much lesser degree.

 

[Tamara]

Second (or third, or whatever) the notion that bent clips are your problem. I used to have some el-cheapo half-moons that tied up my 5" 625 on a regular basis.

Look into getting a de-mooning tool to avoid bending clips.

(In re: 1911s. I think 1911s are fine CCW guns, it's just that the 3" super-compacts tend to be buggier than Maine in June.)

 

[10-Ring]

I spent the better part of a year trying to find something to upgrade from my old model 60. After getting a few guns (some bigger, some smaller) I have always ended up w/ the 60. Maybe it's just time to grow up & understand that there is a place for revolvers in my collecction.

 

[happy old sailor]

of all this good advice, i like TallPines remark the best. if that don't make sense, i don't know what does.

earlier there is posted a picture of the Tarus snubby .41 mag.
this is what i now carry for a wheel gun. way more power, etc, than a 45acp and not that bad to shoot. it is my favorite packer.
if my fav was a mdl 10, that is what i would carry. it is a very personal thing.

however, when going into indian territory, i carry a G19 loaded with 20 corbons. bg's may come in droves. creekbank fishing, a KT32. some ocassions a .22lr mini, not to be naked.

most of us have a boodle of guns for hunting, target, plinking, or just fun and bumming around. any of these could be used for
carry albiet not the best choice. .44 SBH as an example.

i am comfortable with what i carry as you must be comfortable with what you carry. all are capable of minute of badguy a few
feet away. reliability: there's the kicker. and, your ability to handle it without doubts. get what YOU want. if it is not reliable,
put in the fun box and get another. my .02

 

[Tommy Gunn]

Well, if you're going to carry a revolver, why not get one chambered in a caliber originally designed to work in a revolver?

Agreed!

Trade in that Taurus for a S&W or Colt revolver chambered in .44 Special or .45 Colt.

If you want .45acp, then go with an auto pistol.

 

[DeltaElite]

Both.
Glock 20 is my primary and a Smith 640 is my 2nd.

 

[CZ 75 BD]

My Taurus wheelgun had lock-up problem when new. 44spl Ti snubby with the integral keyed hammer. It was this lock that was suspect. Factory repaired at n/c in about 4 weeks, but a PITA. Lingering thoughts about the possibility of the same defect showing up at an inopportune moment
Still believe that revolver is the most reliable for carry.

 

[1badmagnum]

the advantage of revolvers is if you get a bad round just squeeze the trigger again.
the autos have the advantage of more rounds.
one of each would be good.