Semiauto vs. revolver for home defense - Interesting day at the range, and a question

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gunsrfun1

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May 31, 2004
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Hello – I had an interesting experience at the range yesterday, and as a result, I would like some opinions from THR.

To set the stage for my question: I currently keep a J-frame revolver at home for my home defense gun. I live in a decent neighborhood with low crime, so under the circumstances, it fits the bill.

I chose a revolver at home for the following reasons:
1) It’s repeatable and reliable: If a round fails to go off, I simply pull the trigger again to chamber a new round.
2) It’s low maintenance: It can sit in its assigned place for 10 or 15 years, and I still have confidence that it will work when needed.
3) There’s nothing to think about in a stressful situation (is it loaded, is a round already chambered, etc.) Just point and shoot.
4) The heavier DA trigger pull provides some insurance against an accidental discharge while both under stress and possibly half asleep, depending on the situation.
5) A J-frame fits well in its assigned place.

All my other guns are semiautos (EDC, competition, etc.) I do have a K-frame and L-frame, but I use them only for range toys.

Now here is the rub and the source of my question:

I routinely cycle through my defensive weapons at least once a year, to ensure both functionality and familiarity. Yesterday I went to the range to shoot my J-frame, and when I picked it up for the first time, I was confused on how to hold it. My muscle memory is used to the semi-auto hold (both thumbs forward on frame, right thumb over left thumb, etc.) That of course doesn’t work well with a revolver, so I had to think for a minute and adjust my hold.

That got me to thinking and wondering: In a stressful home situation, when reaching for my revolver, it might take me a few seconds to get the right grip on it, delaying any action I might want to take. Not good, and a source of concern to me.

Now my question: Do you think I should go “all in” on semiautos for my defensive purposes, including home, so that I have one grip to use for everything instinctively? I’d save the revolvers for range toys, but otherwise I would be using the same handgun grip for EDC, competition, and home use. That enables my muscle memory to be consistent and avoids any possible confusion in a stressful situation.

I’m not considering any type of rifle or shotgun in this question, so no need to recommend them. It’s strictly between semiauto and revolver in the home. I have another semiauto I can put into my home defense rotation, so this decision won't cost me anything either way.

Any thoughts one way or the other? I realize there is no "right" answer; just looking for some perspectives to help me make a decision.

Thanks
 
gunsrfun1 said:
I currently keep a J-frame revolver at home for my home defense gun.

3) There’s nothing to think about in a stressful situation (is it loaded, is a round already chambered, etc.) Just point and shoot.
Click to expand...

gunsrfun1 said:
Yesterday I went to the range to shoot my J-frame, and when I picked it up for the first time, I was confused on how to hold it. My muscle memory is used to the semi-auto hold (both thumbs forward on frame, right thumb over left thumb, etc.) That of course doesn’t work well with a revolver, so I had to think for a minute and adjust my hold.
Click to expand...
Apparently more thinking required than you thought.

I'd just pick what you like. You may need to spend some more time with the revolver, but if you like the revolver for other reasons, I don't think you'll have a problem operating it when you need it. There are no perfect answers. Everything is a compromise. Choose the one that works best for you.
 
I live in a decent neighborhood with low crime, so under the circumstances, it fits the bill.
Click to expand...
What does this actually mean? In your neighborhood, folks breaking into your house are nice? They will only ask for a cup of tea. Only one guy will come in? In a nice neighborhood, all criminals will be stopped with only one round as compared to bad neighborhood criminals who soak up many rounds?

The point about revolver simplicity is well taken but it is not neighborhood issue. The solution is intense practice with the chosen gun. Either works if you put in the time. The revolver has the well known limited number of opponents, what if you miss, etc. limitations. Rotation is a bad idea - the go for gun, should be standardized as not to lead to stress confusion.
 
I personally wouldn't. A modern auto will hold 2-3x the amount of ammunition, and have a rail on which to mount a light- this may be a serious game changer, based on the fact that darkness covers the planet about 50% of the time, with a disproportionate frequency of crime happening during these periods of darkness. . Also, it will be inherently more acurate. Modern autos like Glock, S&W M&P, and similar pistols are boringly reliable. How "decent" an area is or has been becomes totally irrelevant at that moment when that "outlier" incident happens. My $ says the LE folks who patrol the decent area carry modern autos to use in the unlikely event that decency suddenly takes a vacation, and those autos likely have a mounted light.
 
I would like to return to the idea of a 'decent' neighborhood. Here's a classic decent neighborhood (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...me-invasion-murders-10-years-later/483863001/)

We lived in a decent neighborhood and the guy across the street strangled his wife because of a pending divorce. FL-NC is on the money with gun types. A modern semi is a better fighting gun than a revolver. I shoot revolvers in matches - and wouldn't be defenseless with one but why not be at reasonable better starting point?
 
GEM said:
I would like to return to the idea of a 'decent' neighborhood. Here's a classic decent neighborhood (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...me-invasion-murders-10-years-later/483863001/)
Click to expand...
This one is local to me - Byrd and Melanie Billings, five men in "ninja" garb, broke in, shot the two parents, execution style, and took a safe. There were 9 children in the house at the time of the break in who were unharmed.

Murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
Concur with @GEM here, and one several points.

First off, "neighborhood" is complicated. Ok, the couple blocks around one's dwelling are what is usually meant, but, often, the grocery store is not in that radius. Neither the Post Office, the Tax office nor the DMV. The car mechanic shop is likely not, too. Yet, a number of those places are necessary to visit (and, gee, no you can't even CHL in the Post Office parking lot).

I lived in a tow of only 30K population, it had "bad areas" but, as the town was scarce more than 20 square miles, there was no avoiding those "bad areas." Further, the "bad people" were not chained to those "bad areas" but roamed around at their nefarious tasks.

Further, while range time is a general good, but it's not a specific "good." Life is not a known-distance "square" range. That's a hard reality in life. It's also why so many advise to got get actual training for self defense. Mindset comes from training, and it's necessary for when you have to go to the Post Office armed only with e Uniball ink pen and your eBay package (or a fistfull of c-notes for the M.O. you need to complete that GB purchase).
 
Can you accurately hit a target at 25yds with your J-Frame? How about head shots at 21ft where an attacker might be holding your loved one at gun or knife point?

I can't do either with J-Frames I've owned in the past and dumped them altogether. I believe in regular practice with a defensive firearm. Whether that be the night stand gun or ccw gun (if they differ). J-Frames are not fun to shoot.

While I have a holstered Glock 19 as a nightstand gun, my EDC stays holstered during the night and is kept handy in my bedroom.
The argument of the heavier revolver trigger for being 1/2 awake doesn't hold water when you keep your semi-autos holstered 24/7/365. Finger off the trigger should be ingrained into your muscle memory. The holster protects the trigger of a semi-auto like a Glock, M&P, etc.

There was another feller on here that mentioned he unloads his semi-autos every time he comes home. Don't do that!!!
Leave your semi-autos loaded, chambered, and holstered. Take the holstered loaded gun off your belt at night and then put the loaded holstered pistol back on your belt in the morning.
 
What you carry or choose to keep to defend your home in an emergency is less important than being fluent in its use.
Revolvers are pretty tolerant of neglect, but your skills with it are not!
Gotta practice man!
 
Been talking about this with some LEO friends. Basically, the good neighborhood is a myth nowadays as an absolute for gun choice. An example given is one part of Tom Givens' (who has taught many and quite a few gun fight survivors) newsletter:
https://rangemaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-08_RFTS-Newsletter.pdf Your neighborhood may have a lower chance but when it starts a nice gun and nice people attacking you? Nope.

Basically, the J frame (as repeated in a zillion threads) is a good pocket gun for NPE or dress circumstances, understanding its limitations, needs practice, and 3,3,3 is not guaranteed. The odds say you will never shoot, so why load the gun? The probability folks don't mention that.

I've trained with the J and shot matches with it. Not going to be my night time gun. It's a pocket gun for circumstance.
 
Good points Hartkopf, and that was my thinking as well. Also, all good comments from the rest of you.

Sounds like the general consensus is that the semiauto is the better way to go, which is how I was leaning anyway, based on my experience. I just wanted to get some other opinions in case I was missing something obvious.

So it looks like I'll be parking the J-frame for awhile.

Thanks again to all.
 
In my opinion the best policy when it comes to selecting a self defense and home defense handgun is based upon the premise that familiarity leads to competence. My EDC and HD gun are one and the same, a semiautomatic with 15+1. It is easy to rationalize that 5 to 7 rounds will see you through a hostile encounter, but I avoid that because I know from experience that when facing or under assault all prior assumptions are meaningless. Is 6 rounds enough if you have to face off against 3 people? Will every trigger pull result in a hit on target? What if you have to shoot your way out of a situation? A well maintained semi is as reliable as a revolver, Revolvers have their own set of problems as semi autos do. If i get a jam I can clear it near the same time as the revolver fellow is getting past a dud.
 
gunsrfun1 said:
My muscle memory is used to the semi-auto hold (both thumbs forward on frame, right thumb over left thumb, etc.) That of course doesn’t work well with a revolver, so I had to think for a minute and adjust my hold.
Click to expand...

That works quite well for me with a revolver. I use the exact same grip on both revolver and semi-auto. Both thumbs forward. I find the consistency allows me to go from one to the other without any problems or adjustments.
 
alfsauve said:
That works quite well for me with a revolver. I use the exact same grip on both revolver and semi-auto. Both thumbs forward. I find the consistency allows me to go from one to the other without any problems or adjustments.
Click to expand...

With a J-frame and the tip of your thumb directly next to barrel cylinder Gap???
I think you would do that only once.
 
drobs said:
With a J-frame and the tip of your thumb directly next to barrel cylinder Gap???
I think you would do that only once.
Click to expand...
How long are your thumbs ?
Neither of my thumbs come close to the barrel cylinder gap ... my existing thumb would have to be an additional 1 3/4 inches longer to reach the barrel cylinder gap ... I just measured .
Post a picture of you gripping a J-frame ... I got to see this !
Gary
 
gwpercle said:
How long are your thumbs ?
Neither of my thumbs come close to the barrel cylinder gap ... my existing thumb would have to be an additional 1 3/4 inches longer to reach the barrel cylinder gap ... I just measured .
Post a picture of you gripping a J-frame ... I got to see this !
Gary
Click to expand...

Good luck with that. One minute slip of a sweaty hand is a trip to the emergency room.
 
I simply shoot semi-autos better than a DA revolver fired DA. Much better. And having more rounds is never a negative.

I don't have an issue with a Glock or other striker fired gun with no safety if it is carried in a suitable holster. I do not feel comfortable with one as a bedside gun with a loaded chamber. For this I want a manual safety.

I still have 3 Glocks and I like them. But my go-to pistols now are either Sigs or Smith M&P's equipped with a manual safety. My bedside gun is a Smith M&P 45 with a 14 round magazine and an attached light. I also have a Sig M17, M18, and P365 all with manual safeties. The 365 is my carry gun.

I've owned and shot 1911's with the same style safety all my life so it is natural for me to operate the safety.

If I live long enough there is the real possibility that I may reach the point where I don't have the strength or dexterity to load the magazines or operate the slide on a semi-auto. A revolver makes more sense for that. I do have a 3" Smith 65. I don't shoot it as much as the others, but don't plan to sell it either.

If you prefer revolvers and have L and K frame guns there is no downside to using them as your HD guns. That's what I'd do. They are almost always easier to shoot accurately. I'd use the J frame for carry.
 
Same two "bad guys" either way...
Two "bad guys" decide to do a home invasion in a "decent neighborhood with low crime"
Two "bad guys" decide to do a home invasion in a "bad neighborhood with higher crime"

Location is not going to factor on how difficult it will be to incapacitate these two "bad guys".
Same principle applies to self defense.
 
GEM said:
I would like to return to the idea of a 'decent' neighborhood. Here's a classic decent neighborhood (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...me-invasion-murders-10-years-later/483863001/)

We lived in a decent neighborhood and the guy across the street strangled his wife because of a pending divorce. FL-NC is on the money with gun types.
Click to expand...

Indeed, nice neighborhood's are a misleading statement when it comes to crime.

I live in a wonderful neighborhood. It is mostly pilots, medical folks, and retirees. Checking crime data, we don't have a reported crime in our neighborhood for the last few years. There are no junk cars (my 2007 hunting truck is probably one of the oldest vehicles on the street, here). All the cars have their hubcaps and nobody's car is up on blocks in the driveway. Most of the residents don't do their own yard work except the nice couple on the corner who are master gardeners and who host these afternoon gardening parties. Shortly after moving in to a 1.5 year old house, the lot across the street wasn't even finished being built yet when the nice adulterous police detective who lives on the next street over murdered his wife. I thought having a cop as a neighbor was a good thing. Then, when the cops self investigated and let the matter slide, including the Texas Rangers and specifically the DA at the time, it took a reporter (Donna Fielder) to get the investigation going again given all of the obviously incriminating evidence. Sometimes in nice neighborhoods, you just have to look a little harder for the crime. When the case went to trial, it was a slam dunk and the jury only took a few hours to reach a guilty verdict.

He almost got away with murder | Texas District & County Attorneys Association

Even without a seven-year delay between when Bobby Lozano killed his wife, Viki, and when he was finally brought to justice, this case promised to be a fight. Not only was he a longtime officer with…
www.tdcaa.com

Ex-Denton police detective found guilty in wife's slaying

Robert "Bobby" Lozano murdered his wife, Viki, with his service pistol July 6, 2002, a jury decided Friday afternoon after five hours of deliberation.
www.wfaa.com www.wfaa.com





"Nice neighborhood" is a facade, nothing more. A nice neighborhood quickly becomes not nice the moment bad people enter it. Often times, "nice neighborhood" just means bad things happen behind closed doors. Heaven's Gate was a in a very nice neighborhood.

---------------

Agreeing with others, familiarity with your firearm, be it a revolver or semi is very important. If your proficiency is down to the point where you don't remember how to grip a gun, you have a very serious defensive shortcoming. You may wish to go back and take some basic shooting classes and then maybe some basic self defense shooting classes.
 
If I can be labeled anything when it comes to handguns, I am incurably a “Revolver Guy,” but I don’t defend my home, self, or family with revolvers. I did carry revolvers off and on for many years, and keep them as “nightstand guns,” but being physically capable of managing semiautos, I will no longer employ revolvers for defense. It’s just too much assumption of liability in the consideration of the application.

But what is blatantly obvious in the case of the OP is the lack of currency to support necessary proficiency with their defensive firearm. There is little-to-no substantial evidence in the argument that a person should only use and carry ONE firearm type, as it is rather obvious humans have the ability to sustain proficiency of multiple types. I can roller skate, roller blade, ride a skateboard, ride a bike, ride a horse, ride a motorcycle, snow ski, water ski, surf, snowboard, and ice skate - snowboarding doesn’t make me worse at riding a bike… but there is significant evidence that sustaining proficiency in anything - anything at all - requires currency of practice. It’s quite obvious then, regular, structured practice with any firearm to be deployed in defense is necessary.
 
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