To wheel gun only or not to wheel gun only

[Archaic Weapon]

May be a good time to point out that I am a single action shooter, even with double action. More accurate. I only shoot double when my barrel is all but pressing against something.

The push to double action shoot everything is one of the reasons that I believe has helped me up the revolver. People believing that shooting faster trumps hitting better have shifted focus on some aspects of the designs.

 

[David E]

People believing that shooting faster trumps hitting better have shifted focus on some aspects of the designs.

No disrespect, but people that think one must choose between shooting faster or hitting better need more practice.

I have always advocated shooting faster while maintaining accuracy.

It does not have to be "either/or"

 

[Archaic Weapon]

Doesn't have to be, often is.

 

[David E]

Doesn't have to be, often is.

As long as you recognize that a choice is being made not to combine speed with accuracy.

 

[X-Rap]

No but there are different levels of accuracy and speed. Do I need to hit a 8' plate or index card or do I need to hit a golf ball.
In a dark alley I'll be happy with the plate, if I'm in the mountains and hungry for grouse I want the golf ball. As for speed, if I am to slow in the dark alley I might be dead, to slow on the grouse and I'm only hungry.
Now what if there are two or more in the alley? Do I shoot each one once? twice? three times?
With the grouse once is enough and if there are more than one I can take my time because they are generally stupid.
In a nutshell that's my answer to the OP, throw in the statistics Kleenbore posted and the answer is simple and now, six pages in to say that single action is the way?? I give up and will watch this one croak.

 

[David E]

The OP related to carrying a gun for defensive purposes, not about hitting a grouse that's patient enough to allow you all the time you need to make the shot.

 

[Archaic Weapon]

Still know what I would use...whats to hand, preferably a revolver.

 

[David E]

Still know what I would use...whats to hand, preferably a revolver.

And, unless they were less than arms kength away, you'd fire it single action in a defensive scenario?

 

[Archaic Weapon]

In self defense? I would put the barrel in their face, gut, or knee and squeeze, real polite like, if they where within arms length, and I didn't have a blade handy. Any other time, yes, I shoot single action, and I qualified for pistol carry for my job shooting that way. I don't like how hard it is to use a double action, and how it affects accuracy. I will use it, up close, if I have multiple attackers, and no time to cock the hammer, i.e. usually the placement of hammers on double actions are not advantageous for this, I will use the double action.

 

[Archaic Weapon]

Just because I shoot single action does not mean that I shoot slow. IT does, perhaps, mean that I shoot slower.

 

[David E]

Oh my gosh.........you're serious.....

I hope everything works out exactly like you think it will.

 

[Archaic Weapon]

Hope everything works out the way you think it does.

 

[David E]

I have no expectations how things will work out.

That's why I practice such basic things like DA shooting from 1-100 yds. Also, I do multiple targets while moving in low light, etc.

I shoot semi-autos in SA, TDA, DAO and striker fired, as I like to be well rounded.

Shooting a DA revolver only in SA is like owning an ice cream store with 31 flavors and always choosing vanilla.

 

[Archaic Weapon]

I prefer sorbet. I also own and shoot SA, DA, Striker, Auto SA, Auto DA/SA, and Cap Lock SA.

 

[Ed Ames]

Most DA revolvers can be shot accurately in DA mode. It's a skill and requires practice though.

The first revolver I used was a single action, and for awhile I shot all revolvers SA. Then I decided to make a conscious choice to shoot DA revolvers DA until it felt natural. It took practice. I still need practice...but I can shoot DA accurately, and faster than most people can shoot SA. If I can do it, pretty much anyone can.

I think everyone who owns a DA revolver oems it to themselves to learn to shoot DA well.

 

[Archaic Weapon]

I and other that I know shoot DA revolvers because they come in calibers or have features that SA do not, to be honest. Or they have a better feel than what all else is available. I'm not saying it's not possible, or that I could not do better. The fact remains that I am not currently that good with DA, and I do not feel that that is a bad thing.

I shoot single handed, and my instructor for my job qualification kept telling me that I was shooting too fast. I almost didn't pass my exam because I had too many kill shots. Didn't know the gun from Adam, made it a pain in the butt. Odd industry.

 

[Ed Ames]

I'm pretty sure I can get a SA revolver in any caliber I can get a DA.

I shoot DA revolvers because they can be discharged simply by pulling the trigger, no cocking required.

And yes, range qualifications are usually done at unrealistically low speed. "Rapid fire" in that context allows seconds per shot. No reason you couldn't shoot SA or even treat the gun as a single-shot and load each cartridge before firing it, but that's done to make the qualification range easier to oversee, not because it is good enough for combat.

 

[Archaic Weapon]

I think that it had more to do with desperately needing to fill contracts. I don't like to play with guns. If it was going to be my only chance to fire one unless I was in a real gunfight, I wasn't about to treat it as anything less. I shot it double for the first 18 shots, then finished out my 50 in single action, to insure more accurate hits. A fair piece of mine, particularly in double action, went in nice hand sized groups in one lung or the other, which got me several frowns. Got made fun of for shooting single handed.

Had a girl in my class, that shot Glocks and "thug-guns""all the time". Was the most confident shooter going up to the line. She shoot two handed, wrong eye closed, from the chest. She missed 2/3's of her shots, and the ones she hit sawed cleanly across the neck of the target.

Cannot always get them in a model that feels half decent or handles well, DA over SA.

 

[X-Rap]

[QUOTE Glocks and "thug-guns"][/QUOTE]

And I thought there was only one brand of "thug" gun, there are more?:banghead:

 

[Archaic Weapon]

According to her and her man-thing.

 

[X-Rap]

Care to fill us in on the makes and models so we'll all know? Wouldn't want folks to think I was thug.

 

[Archaic Weapon]

That was the makes and models! HAHA!

Seriously, that was all she knew, and she thought we would all just know what she was talking about. I shot on the far side of the line from her. It was far enough away that I could see her target jump when she shot the target mounts and the hanging cable.

 

[tarosean]

Reread up on it. The use of a revolver represented a very notable problem in it.

Dont need to read up on it. They took on a trained criminal with a mini 14 whom had the upper advantage. Even with that they hit the suspect multiple times.. It was the calibers that proved infective 38sp & 9mm.

Call me stupid or whatever, I own semi's and revolvers in big bores but Im not taking on someone with a Mini-14, AR, etc. with them.

 

[David E]

The fact remains that I am not currently that good with DA,

Something you could correct if you wanted to.

and I do not feel that that is a bad thing.

At the range, it doesn't matter. In a defensive situation, it could matter very much.

I shoot single handed,

Why? Do you have a disability? If not, shooting one handed is a good skill to have, but so is shooting two handed.

I almost didn't pass my exam because I had too many kill shots.

What, you're supposed to intentionally make "wounding" hits?!
Odd CoF

 

[Archaic Weapon]

Yes, in point of fact. You are supposed to do the minimum amount possible so that there isn't any bad P.R. for the company hiring you. Hit them in places they are most likely to survive, but don't miss, because that looks bad on the company, and could injure bystanders.