Why do/did you choose a revolver as your EDC over a semiauto?

[Styx]

I'm curious to hear why some members choose to EDC a revolver over a semiautos when a semiautos has more capacity, faster reloads, and a shorter/lighter trigger?

[Not a semiautos vs relovers thread. Just a thread for those who chose to carry a revolver over a semiauto to give their reasoning w/o any push back.]

 

[Tallinar]

I acknowledge that some of this is irrational, and I’ll be in a peculiar minority here, but regardless of how much I understand about the inter-workings of various types of automatics and their safeties, I am not comfortable with my sidearm having its hammer or striker spring cocked/partially-cocked, with tension already stored and ready to strike a primer while the gun is at “rest” in my holster. Doesn’t matter how much I read about all the redundant safety features, etc. Doesn’t matter if it’s a 1911 in condition one or a Glock. It’s the thought of spring tension — consequential tension — already sitting there stored and ready to be released toward a chambered round that makes me uneasy.

Only type of automatics that doesn’t give me this apprehension are DA/SA automatics like the Beretta 92FS. However, these pose another issue to me, which is the amount of intellectual trust I am placing in the mechanicals when I use the decocker. It just makes me uneasy.

Revolvers can be loaded and unloaded, and sit in a holster without ever having to put the gun into any sort of cocked status. Transfer bars and hammer blocks give that much more assurance.

I used to carry a Glock 19 in condition three. Shot the gun well. Had good confidence in the Glock safety. Couldn’t bring myself to carry it with a round in the chamber. Replaced it with a Sig P365XL with manual safety, thinking that extra safety would make me more at ease. Not really. The same apprehensions remain. Can’t bring myself to be comfortable with it. Still gets carried in condition three when I carry it.

Revolvers don’t give me this silly mental conundrum.

 

[UncleEd]

No matter the design of the auto, the potential for malfunctions
or lapses in safety is always greater than the revolver.

 

[retDAC]

Revolvers can go loaded for long periods of time w/o the potential problem(s) of continuous spring tension in loaded magazines and possibly cocked hammers/strikers.

 

[BWS]

My revolvers have a much broader window for ammo.... really no comparison in this category. Can have "bulldozer" .44 loads to go hunting with,and swap out to target loads that my grandchildren can shoot.

Revolvers are easier for me on certain visual/tactile safety items. I don't carry anymore but,if I did it would be a 3" 357.

Whatever works for "you" won't get much argument from "me".

 

[CajunBass]

I carried a revolver for many years, mostly because I simply liked revolvers better, but as I got older, I had to admit that semi's were a better choice FOR ME. I still like revolvers better, but they're reserved for range use these days.

 

[StrawHat]

I carry a revolver because that is what I have learned for the last 5+ decades. I am not comfortable with self loaders. With a revolver, I know them inside and out, they give me a warm, fuzzy feeling when on my hip. Self loaders are foreign to me. Not at all familiar with the way they work.

Faster reloads? It depends on how you train. I use moon clips and toss them in with my left hand. My grip on the revolver stays consistent while reloading and shooting.

Higher capacity, sure, that goes in the favor of the self loader. But realistically, that is not as useful as it sounds.

Kevin

 

[Tallball]

I'm curious to hear why some members choose to EDC a revolver over a semiautos when a semiautos has more capacity, faster reloads, and a shorter/lighter trigger?

[Not a semiautos vs relovers thread. Just a thread for those who chose to carry a revolver over a semiauto to give their reasoning w/o any push back.]

I don't care very much about capacity or reloads. Where I live it's easy to get mugged, but I have yet to hear a gunfight. Not even a single shot.

I prefer the triggers of my favorite revolvers to those of most semiautos.

I shoot revolvers better, am more comfortable with them, and have practiced with them much more.

Semiautos are okay and I carry one sometimes, but prefer a revolver when possible.

 

[Mark 40]

Overall I'm more comfortable with a revolver. Practical, simple, reliable. You could pick apart those three points, but that's been my experience and how I relate to revolvers. Revolvers are a better fit for me.

 

[kje54]

Whichever happens to be in reach at the moment.............

 

[Styx]

...

 

[Mark_Mark]

Carry both; Revolver for tight spaces like my car, were I have to jam the barrel up on the door or seat, or I need a big Boy .460 or .44 for fishing in Big Foot county. Semi for shopping at Costco or Downtown.

 

[WisBorn]

Comfort
Reliable
Safe
Effective

I like both, but have carried a revolver much more.
The only advantage in my opinion that a semiautomatic has is capacity.

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

I carry my wheelguns as my edc cause i trust them to go bang when i need them to. Your never gonna have any failure to feed or failure to eject. Its what ive carried for over 15 years and revolvers are what i am comfortable with. I do occasionally carry my 1911 as primary but even then ill have one of my snubbies as backup. I also will use my Italian 25acp in a ankle holster or pocket holster as a back up on occasion. Depends on where im goin and what i plan on doin. But i allways have a wheelgun on me somewhere. Even setting around the house i carry my 22mag mini revolver. I dont even own any high capacity plastic fantastic semi autos. There just not for me. I beleave one should carry, use and pratice with what works for each individual.

 

[jar]

Experience.

I grew up shooting revolvers and I'm as comfortable or more comfortable with revolvers than pistols.

By the way very few of the pistols I do own have magazine capacities greater than ten rounds anyway and with those pistols I also have ten rounds magazines and quite often carry with the ten rounder rather than the higher capacity ones. The last couple times I had to shoot some type of qualifier I chose my Colt Detective Special rather than one of my pistols.

 

[mcb]

Muscle memory. I carry a handgun that is as similar to what I am shooting in competition as possible. Why abandon all that extra training and muscle memory.

 

[dweis]

Common revolver problems: https://revolverguy.com/revolver-malfunctions-and-stoppages/

They can be as problematic as semis.

 

[Styx]

Common revolver problems: https://revolverguy.com/revolver-malfunctions-and-stoppages/

They can be as problematic as semis.

They actually aren't "common" problems, but they are very uncommon problems that may occur. They are no where near as common as the plethora of problems semiautos may have. Plus that list consists of problems from broken or worn parts and components which typically take tens of thousands of rounds to get to that point of needing replacement. When discussing possible common malfunctions that may occur with in spec handguns, revolvers are less likely to malfunction as they aren't magazine, ammo, reciprocating slide, and grip dependent.

Like I said in the OP, this isn't a semiauto vs revolver thread. It's just for those who choose to EDC a revolver to express their reasoning for doing so.

 

[the Black Spot]

No matter the design of the auto, the potential for malfunctions
or lapses in safety is always greater than the revolver.

Nailed it

 

[UncleEd]

Common revolver problems: https://revolverguy.com/revolver-malfunctions-and-stoppages/

They can be as problematic as semis.

BUT DON'T OVEFRLOOK the summation of this article:

"With just a little effort, you can ensure that your revolver demonstrates
a level of reliability that would make most autopistols jealous."

 

[alfsauve]

I’ve vacillated. Revolver for when I’m in “field” because Im more concerned with 4 legged animals then two. Plus concealment isn’t as big an issue. But for “everyday” I’ve been mostly a semi-auto guy because of their slim profile, though I’ve been packing a S&W 32 for jogging and am looking at a more modern replacement.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I used to carry a revolver because that was all that I had.
Now, I have other options... .

 

[12Bravo20]

I'm with others that carry both. There are times, depending on I am dressed, that a small frame 38 snub nose or micro 380/9mm just conceals better than any of my compact to full size pistols. I'm skinny but can still conceal a 1911, Glock G21, and G17 when I want to.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

While it remains on my CCW permit, I've rarely carried my Glock since I shattered my left arm in 2015.

That was when I learned to appreciate how much easier it is to manage a revolver when one hand is out of action.

 

[Dave T]

My first love has always been single action revolvers but I spent most of my adult life carrying semi autos. Colt 1911s when I was an LEO and Colts then Glocks when I ran my firearms training business. All were chambered for the 45 ACP cartridge.

Disability, primarily arthritis in my hands and shoulders, prevents me from completing the 'manual of arms' with a semi-auto. I can load, clear and inspect for function a revolver with ease.

And by the way, My Colt 1911s (Government Models, Commanders, and Officer's ACPs) and Glocks (41, 21s, 30s, and 36s) were all boringly reliable. Were I able I would still carry one of them.

Dave