Who loves Revolvers?

[Confederate]

I know automatics are getting very reliable these days, but I still notice jammings in high stress situations in news articles and crime documentaries. Just small things in passing, like, "...he pulled the trigger again but the [insert name of firearm] jammed...." Thankfully most times these weapons work fine, but with a revolver, it's just one more thing a person generally doesn't have to worry about. Sure, I saw where some clown grabbed his revolver and it wasn't loaded, but I just never hear about revolvers not working.

Unfortunately, most autos fail during high-stress situations where the hand, wrist and so forth aren't perfectly in place, and there's always a small question mark. (One friend had a well-placed .45 fail to stop someone during the Second World War and he never trusted it again, so many of these things are just emotional quirks, too.)

 

[michael_aos]

 

[1 LT MPC]

Tallpine, I once had a Taurus .44 special that threw more lead sideways than downrange--and it was new out of the box. I had to ream the forcing cone and re-time the gun with less than 50 rounds fired. No problems after that.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I know the issue of reliability is contested, but then I have never heard of anyone feeling the need to shoot 100-200 rounds of a particular ammo through a revolver before trusting it for self defense

Magazines and feeding are an issue with automatics -- so, yes, you shoot them a lot to ensure reliability. But revolvers have reliability issues, too. Hang around these boards long enough and you'll see some horror stories -- broken transfer bars, barrels breaking off, grit getting under the ejector star and tying the gun up, primers backing out with the same results, and so on.

Revolvers may malfunction slightly less often, but most automatic malfunctions can be cleared with a swipe of the hand. When revolvers pack it it, it's all over.

 

[depcon3]

Me, too!!

The first handgun I fired, other than my Uncle Jon's .22 auto, was a S&W Model 19 with .38 wadcutter loads in it. I'll never forget the feeling I got when I saw the groups shrink into the X ring after some practice. The next one I fired was my older Brother-in-law's Colt 1911A1. Since that time, I have bounced around to several different types of handguns for fun and protection at different times but I always come back to the old reliables. I get all weak-kneed and the heart flutters when I wrap my hand around a Smith wheelgun or a 1911 slug chunker. I get a big smile on my face when I hear someone say, "Wow, you don't see too many people carrrying a wheelgun these days." The older I get, the better I like to hear that the things I prefer are not necessarily the popular things.

 

[TallPine]

Magazines and feeding are an issue with automatics -- so, yes, you shoot them a lot to ensure reliability. But revolvers have reliability issues, too. Hang around these boards long enough and you'll see some horror stories -- broken transfer bars, barrels breaking off, grit getting under the ejector star and tying the gun up, primers backing out with the same results, and so on.

Revolvers may malfunction slightly less often, but most automatic malfunctions can be cleared with a swipe of the hand. When revolvers pack it it, it's all over.

So semi-autos have some sort of magic treatment that keeps all the parts from ever breaking...?

Carry whatever you like and are comfortable with

 

[Vern Humphrey]

So semi-autos have some sort of magic treatment that keeps all the parts from ever breaking...?

Nope -- but follow these forums long enough and you'll see that revolvers aren't without their problems. One feature of revolvers is that tiny parts (the hand) must move massive parts (the cylinder.) And that has to be done at considerable speed, in perfect time. Parts stressed like that are more likely to break than, say the extractor of an automatic.

As I said, automatic malfunctions can usually be cleared quickly. When a revolver packs it in, it can't be so quickly put back into action.

 

[420Stainless]

I prefer semi-autos for carry just for the slim profile. However, as I slip into middle age, revolvers are growing on me.

I just picked up a blued security six with 2-3/4" barrel last week. Hope I don't come to regret not reading Old Fuff's advice before the purchase.

 

[Cousin Mike]

Twenty-six years old...

...and I bought my first revolver a little over a month ago. Picked up my second a little over a week ago. I will be picking up a 3rd very soon... As soon as I can afford it.

My next revolver purchase will probably be a Ruger SP 101 in .357 Mag, for a few reasons. I'm enamorated with the .357 Magnum cartridge, and the Ruger SP 101 is small enough to conceal easily, but probably heavy enough that it should be manageable. I like the look of them, and have I never heard anything bad about Ruger revolvers.

My Taurus 608 is an incredible gun. I'll buy more Taurus revolvers in the future, I know that for a fact. I haven't thought about buying auto's recently. I still like my auto's, but I think I'll be on a wheelgun kick for quite some time.

 

[Striker]

Who loves revolvers?

Me, Me, Me!!!!

I echo Marko's and Oleg's thoughts.

On company time I carry the issue auto. On my time, I carry a .357 revolver, most often a Mdl 66 Smith and or a Ruger SP 101 (both with Federal 125 JHPs) with a speedloader reload on the belt and a speed strip reload in the pocket.

Your mileage may vary, but this works for me.

 

[foghornl]

I love revolvers, too...but I am a Single-Action Revolver guy.

Have a "Sheriff's Model" .357 Vaquero (3-1/2" barrel)

50th Year "Flat-Top" .357 Blackhawk

50th Year Single-Six Convertible

my only DA revolver is a Rohm/RG snubby .38Spl 2" barrel.

Dang it, i just GOTTA get a 6" GP-100..or the 3" SP-101

 

[Essex County]

Interesting Thread

I've shot an SP101 in .357 and I think it's a little too much for ME. It's one heck of a rugged and well designed handgun. If I owned one I'd probably shoot .38's through it and that would offer no real advantage over my model 60. AS much as I like it, it would end up as a belt gun, and I already have that covered with my 21/2 66.....Essex

 

[timn]

My little wheelie

When I decided to aquire another revolver I was in a quandry about what caliber I wanted.
Since all I had at the time was .45 semi autos and I reload, I decided to get a .45 acp wheel gun.
I threw up what I thought was a ridiculously low bid on a taurus 455 snubby and won the pistol. When it came in, I figured I just had another semi-useful play toy.
The first trip to the range was a major surprise. The little gun is very accurate, had a decent trigger, and is ton of fun to shoot.
I think it's one of the best handgun purchases that I've made in a long time.
I did a little trigger tuning and spring swapping and have to say it gets as much action as all my semis put together. Even my delicate beautiful flower wife likes to shoot it.
I carry it or have it in the truck most all the time.
Just my opinion. YMMV

I like westerns because nothing ever goes to trial.

 

[Slvr Surfr]

Im with Vern on the reliability of a wheel gun. The second Smith Ive ever owned had a serious malfunction at the range. I fired a full cylinder of mild .38s through it only to have it jam up inside. I could not get the cylinder to spin or release. I took it to the shop I bought it at and luckily the shop owner/shop smith happened to be able to fix it. All it required was a bit of sanding on the tip of the ejector rod where it meets the "breech face". That was all it took to prevent it from working at all. Untill then I assumed that revolvers are pretty much bullet proof.

As far as wheel guns go I prefer Rugers and Smiths for daily use. I have a GP100 that I think is just bullet proof ! My next wheel gun looks like it will be a Sp-101.