Sad realization: semi auto vs revolver

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

greyhound

Member
Joined
May 17, 2003
Messages
1,665
Location
Birmingham, AL
So I was at the range Saturday putting a few hundred rounds through my 4" S&W 64 .38 Special (which I love) and my Ruger P97 DC .45 (which I tolerate).

The hard facts at the end of the day (and the GF noticed the same) is that I am much more accurate shooting the tolerated semi-auto than the loved revolver, very much so. This is like the third range session to end with the same conclusion.

I've shot them both the about the same, it just seems like I am better with the semi. My only excuse I can come up with is that I was shooting Winclean through the S&W and regular WWB in the Ruger so maybe it affects the accuracy?

Dang, I love the Smith for the whole American tradition of the revolver vs. the modern plastic pistol thing, but I have to admit, if I am to trust my life to a firearm, I want it to be the one I am best with.

I guess I am a revolver guy trapped in a semi-auto body!:)
 
Maybe your revo just doesnt fit you. Try some different grips.

Besides if you have fun shooting your revolver then who cares. 99% of your firearms life will be punching paper having fun with only a very remote chance of ever using a firearm in anger. Based on that you can always keep a reliable, tolerable semi auto around that you are confident in to act as your HD/PD gun and spend the rest of your money on the fun revolvers.

Stay in practice with the HD/PD gun but sometimes shooting is just fun with certain guns, even those that you don't necessarily shoot that well or are not necessarily the greatest uber tactical big bore NavysealforcerecondeltaromperroomSWAT special. Heck I have a blast with my Walther PP and let me tell you the double action trigger on that bad boy is rated in tons not pounds. :D

Oh, by the way I love my P97DC and if your experiance mirrors mine at all it is a good gun to trust your life too.

Chris
 
Continental Arms, of course!:D

If you were there that day, I was the one telling the GF to leave space in her woodshop (gotta love that:D ) for a reloading press....
 
If you are like most of us, you haven't even scratched the surface of what your guns are capable of. If you can shoot to the potential of your guns, you are in a very select, elite group. So, keep working and practicing and your accuracy with both guns will improve. Both guns should be capable of good accuracy and at some point you might shoot your revolver just as well or better than you do your autoloader. The important thing is that you are having fun. I am sure your accuracy with either one of them is plenty good enough for defensive purposes right now.
 
Remember now that after the first shot with your Ruger you are then using a single action trigger unless you decock after every shot. The M64 is double action shooting with the long trigger pull for each shot unless you are cocking the revolver each time. That attributes to a lot of the differences.
Now if your Ruger was a DAO model then it would probably be a different story.
 
I just think it's harder to shoot a double action trigger fast and accurate. I look up to guys like Jerry Mikulik (sp) and am amazed at what they can do with their wheelguns. I like both revolvers and semi autos too, but spend more time with the autos for the most part. I do like a smooth light double action revolver too!!
 
Majic has a lot of the difference nailed down. Just like me...can't hit very well with my .38 revolver shooting DA mode, but when I have the Vaquero .357 or my 1911-A1 in my hands...Look out.
 
I agree with Majic too. The SA auto trigger control is LOTS easier to use for most people.

I would add that when the effort is put forth to learn to shoot a DA revolver it will exponentially increase your handgun shooting abilities across the board. You will be able to pick up just about anything and punch the X-ring out.
 
I know quit a few guys who grew up in the shooting sports with a revolver shooting double action only and they really never made the transition to a single action pistol. It's not uncommon to find revolver guys who don't shoot a 1911 as accurately as they shoot their wheelgun. ICORE is full of such folks.

Of course, the opposite is true for people who prefer a single action pistol and haven't spent a lot of time with a wheel gun. Shooting a double action revolver is a dying art. Folks who shoot them fast and accurately are getting hrader to find.
 
My experience with auto pistols is very limited but I did shoot pretty good with my Grandfathers 10mm Glock. I practice as much as I can with my DA revolver so I am fairly good at it. I have shot some auto's that I couldn't hit anything with. I think a lot of it is how well the gun fits you. I shoot my 45 revolver a LOT better than my 38.
 
Greyhound,
Have you tried another revolver? It's possible, although normally unlikely, that you have a lemon of a Smith in the accuracy department.

The suggestion of using different ammo and different grips are good ones, but so is a different wheelgun - or even another model 64 if you can try one.

-Robert
 
Revolvers-especially Smiths-sometimes suffer from timing problems.
Does yours "splash lead" sideways between the cylinder and the forcing cone? That could affect the accuracy.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I've tried other revolvers and it seems to be the same (and I don't think I have a dud S&W, my accuracy's not that bad, just not as good as with the Ruger.)

I found the same when I shot a Ruger .357 and a SA 1911 in the same session: much better with the semi.

I really think its the "feel" of the weapon.

I dunno, I am sure many more "experiments" should ensue!:D
 
Question: Are you shooting your revolver(s) in single-action, double-action or both trigger modes? There are some tricks and techniques to shooting revolvers (and for that matter, pistols) using the double-action system.

The next thing is grips. Apparently the shape on automatics - or at least certain ones - feel better in your hand, and that can be important.

Last but not least, are you shooting particularly heavy loads. Going to mid-range 148 grain .38 wadcutters in a .38 Special or .357 Magnum can work wonders while you're learning/training to shoot a cylinder-gun.

In any case, good luck.
 
Shoot the revolver for fun. What does it matter if you're not driving tacks?
 
Greyhound;

I'm going to look at this from the other side. I'm familiar with the Ruger P-series triggers. Perhaps the kindest thing I can say is that I've never met one that didn't need help.

If you are shooting the pistol better than the revolver, but love the revolver, my suggestion is to try another pistol. IMHO, most of the better one's made these days will have superior triggers to the P-97. Try a Para LDA, try a Kimber, SIG, H&K, Kahr T9, Browning High Power, Springfield Mil-Spec, or Colt.

If you ask real nice, someone might let you try something like; a first series Kimber with the Videki speed trigger, Wilson Combat, Brown, or Novak.

You'll not only learn about trigger feel, you'll experience different grips, grip angles & grip shapes. Try just about anything you can get your hands on. Well maybe not Lorcin's or broomhandle Mauser knock-offs, but you get the idea.

You might be amazed at how well you actually can shoot a semi by loving the Smith & looking askance at the Ruger. Don't get me wrong, the Ruger P-series is tough as nails & reliable as a bucket of rocks. But target quality shooters? Probably not.

900F
 
Interesting. I find it the opposite for me. Maybe it is because I grew up on Colt relovers and the whole auto thing was just a 90's fad to me.

I shoot revolvers much better then my auto's. Particularly big N frame 38/44's and 5-screw S&W's. My best accuracy gun is surprisingly my 38/44 outdoorsman from about 1950 and right now the second best in my hands is my Registered Magnum from 1939. These guns beat out my sig 210's and custom 1911's on nearly every day.

I think a lot of it has to do with what you really learned on and for over 10 years all I had to shoot was a little colt diamondback. When you shoot one gun a lot, and I mean a real lot, you tend to get quite good at it. Now that I am more affluent and have many different revolvers and pistols, no one gun gets that type of shooting anymore, so I am mediocre on most of them and tend to shoot revolvers the best because of the memory.


Just my thoughts on the topic.
 
Guns are like cats. They adopt you. The one you like the looks of is rarely the one you shoot the best. Shoot the auto and polish the Smith, alot.:D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
  • Poll
revolver vs semi auto,
2 3
Replies
61
Views
4K
Boats
B
aaaaa
Semi-auto vs revolver vs derringer--all else equal
2
Replies
26
Views
634
jdc1244
jdc1244
A
  • Locked
Barrel length measurement: Revolver vs Semi Auto
Replies
7
Views
4K
jmr40
jmr40
2
  • Locked
revolver or semi auto
Replies
16
Views
2K
BlindJustice
B
F
  • Locked
Revolvers & Semi's -
Replies
10
Views
640
Manco
M
Back
Top