Why I like Revolvers Over Modern Autos

[TestPilot]

So, you judge self-loaders as bad because some of them jams?

I had a problem with one revolver: I could not hit right becuase the factory installed the barrel wrong. So, should I reject revolvers now?

 

[RX-79G]

I've seen my fair share of unreliable S&W revolvers in my day. Lock work binding or just not connecting. And I've seen auto brands that are near perfect in their functioning.

Taurus is always there to remind us that both revolvers and autos can be unreliable, right from the factory!

 

[Mike J]

Personally I own 4 semi-autos & 1 revolver. I do like the revolver but usually the only place it gets carried is in the woods. There is only one auto I have had issues with (a Kel Tec) & it is fine now.

If it were me & I knew the STI worked well with Wilson mags I would probably just carry it with Wilson mags & roll on. The XDs I would contact Springfield Armory about & let them take care of it.

 

[SFsc616171]

Here is the dichotomy.

I like revolvers, for all the 2000 reasons that have been posted, in the last years. I own SandW Model 15's. Therre is no other, IMHO.

I do own semi-automatics. They are neither of any pistols designed, or put forward as new designs, since the "End of The Cold War". They are Browning Hi-Powers. I have put over 2000 rounds in the MKII, with the original-at-time-of-pre-owned-on-the-shelf-in-LGS. I have new mags, and a new recoil spring, that have been fitted. I have a brand-new-from-factory, lovely digi-camo MKIII, which I have put at least a 1000 rounds through.

They both operate well, and would serve well, as to which I choose "for today".

 

[Combat Engineer]

"Anyone else preferring their revolvers over semiautos because of the issues they've had with their autos?" [MagnumDweeb]

Beretta M9, jammed some with hot ammo (despite installing a heavy duty spring). Sold it.

Walther P99, feels great in the hand, super ergonomics, jammed a lot with hot ammo. Sold it.

Springfield Armory 1911, micro 3" barrel, at 200 rds extractor broke, factory sent me a new extractor, then it started jamming...sent 1911 back, factory did a lot of work on it, added a lot of upgrades (that I didn't ask for), works fine now.

Then... a 45ACP S&W SW99, wouldn't fire, pulled the trigger 5 times, bad cartridge...would not fire...with a revolver you just pull the trigger again and it goes boom. This experience bothered me, could have cost me dearly. Realized it was not the gun's fault but stopped carrying semi-autos. Never had a revolver fail, and I've shot a lot of them.

Nowadays... carry a 45ACP S&W 22-4 or a 45ACP S&W 325 Night Guard, fed with moon-clips so reloads are quick, and a Charter Arms 44 BUG.

 

[tomrkba]

I test my gear frequently. I attend classes and do long range sessions to make sure the guns and magazines are in order. I do not worry if the gun jams since I know how to clear them quickly. Too many jams during testing indicates something needs maintenance or is broken. I do preventative maintenance by swapping magazine springs and keeping the guns on a schedule. It's not difficult; you just have to put in the time and parts.

 

[larryh1108]

I could also try taking a file and shaving down the slide catch to help reduce the issue but I'm not thrilled about that as well. I'm determined not to let this gun beat me and see it as a learning opportunity but still it pisses me off.

Doing this is not allowing a gun to beat you. It's a common solution to a problem with your gun. This was the first thought I had when you were describing your issues. It used to be a part of when guns were hand fitted years ago. Doing something like this will make your gun 100% reliable so I don't understand why you are opposed to doing it. Filing a slide lock is no different than tuning an extractor or ejector to make your gun run perfect for you. It's an easy fix for an aggravating issue.

 

[bikemutt]

I firmly believe in verifying that defense ammo will work with whatever gun is being considered. With revolvers it's "does it hurt?", with semi-autos it's "does it work?".

Once verified, I like them both, but I always trust a revolver a bit more.

My Kahr P9 is presently in carry rotation, it's the closest to a semi-revolver I've come across.

 

[torqem]

Unless u have cover, malfunction clearing= too slow.

You aint a cop, so you won't have buddies to keep the BG from getting a hit on you while you make the gun viable. However, I will take the 1 in 1000 (or much more) odds of problems with an SA auto, over the guaranteed harder to use DA trigger pull of the 6 gun. That having beens said, I do favor a DAO pocket 9, because it's a lot more concealable in my pocket than any .38 snub ever was. That's on top of being more controllable and more powerful.

 

[RBid]

I'm an auto guy, with enough trouble free rounds through my carry pistol to have faith in it. I respect revolvers, too. If I carried a BUG, it wouldbe a J-frame.

/shrug

 

[Tacoma]

Revolver: When you absolutely need it to go BANG every time.

 

[owlhoot]

I prefer a semi-auto for carry, but my house guns are all K frame revolvers. I don't have to worry about magazine springs. My wife doesn't have to remember how to manipulate safeties or clear a jam, and she can load and unload a revolver without difficulty. Revolvers certainly have their place - but so does the semi-auto.

 

[Mousegun]

Then the XDS .45. If I hold the safety grip and release the slide, the gun jams up and a round gets caught up in the chamber funny. But if I press the slide release with the grip safety not engaged it goes into batter fine. But if I accidentally don't release the slide just right the gun doesn't go into full battery.

It is well known by we in the XDS community that you have to rack the slide on that gun with authority, not just release the release.

If you do that, all your problems will be solved with that gun. Have you had the recall done yet?

 

[sgt127]

Autos generally jam during the feeding cycle or the ejection cycle. Those actions are taken care of before the festivities start, and after, with a revolver. For those six rounds, there cannot be be a feeding or ejection problem with a revolver. Case out of spec? You'll know when you load the revolver.

Mechanical parts can break on any mechanical device. The odds of something "breaking" right when you need it are astronomically small with either a semi auto or a revolver.

I'm willing to bet that if you lined up 100 clean good S&W Model 10's, loaded with factory ammo those guns would fire those 600 rounds without a single problem.

I don't think that would happen with 100 1911's lined up with the same rules.

Years ago, we accepted the fact that when you bought a brand new Government Model, you weren't actually buying a gun...you were buying a starter kit. After tinkering, tweaking, adjusting and a trip to one of the big name Smiths, you then had a pretty reliable gun.

 

[handloader357]

Sounds like my post recall XDs. Pre recall the gun had 0 malfunctions. Post recall I can't get more than 4 or 5 rounds in a row to cycle reliably. Also have had 3 light primer strikes since getting it back.

Keep sending it back to them until they get it right. They rammed these things through the so called upgrade process as quick as they could.

 

[Old Fuff]

Years ago, we accepted the fact that when you bought a brand new Government Model, you weren't actually buying a gun...you were buying a starter kit. After tinkering, tweaking, adjusting and a trip to one of the big name Smiths, you then had a pretty reliable gun.

And prior to that time, when Colt was the only commercial manufacturer and for all practical purposes GI hardball was the only ammunition; You could take a new pistol out of the box, load it, and go...

Now we have so many makers (good, bad, and indifferent) that I've lost count, and nobody pays any attention to Uncle Sam's blueprints and material specifications. Some are so (mis)fitted and tight that you can't hand cycle the slide and have it go into battery until at least 200 rounds have gone through it.

So some complain that the pistol isn't reliable...

 

[Ash]

I've many autos but have gravitated to trusting revolvers more. My autos have been perfectly reliable but I have found I prefer the .357 magnum, followed second by .45acp and then third by 9mm.

 

[gym]

I found that 45 caliber Glocks make the best HD guns, but that's not to say that H&K or SIG, or a S&W in 357 is not just as good. Once you fire a few hundred rounds through one, and it functions without problems, it should be good for a very long time. Once or twice a year take it out and fire it and clean it, then put it back by the bed.
I have 2 there, the odds that they both won't work, are almost non existent. Then it's the 12 gauge.
Look anything can fail, you can pick up a revolver and the cylinder can fall off. But if you have 2 or even 3 guns that you have tested, within reach, it's easy enough to grab 2 and if one should fail, just go to plan B

 

[Ash]

In the end, it is the perception of the owner that counts. If a revolver and a Glock are equally reliable but the owner feels more comfortable with the revolver (for me, the revolver is safer than the Glock out of a holster), then the revolver is the best choice. Autos are generally just as reliable - I have more autos than revolvers and they have been stellar in the reliability department - and so given the ownership of a good, reliable, durable firearm, that which brings peace and confidence to the owner is most important.

My hard-duty, drag-it-through-the-mud-lterally-while-crawling-through-the-swamp-or-dense-undergrowth, choice has for the last few years been a Ruger Police Service Six. I trust it more than my Colt Trooper V or my Springfield P9 in .45acp. I say trust it more because I find I carry it more. I trust that P9 completely and carry it often, but when I find myself going to the worst of the worst places the furthest from civilization, I gravitate to that Ruger.

It might be because the Ruger is stainless and less likely to get messed up cosmetically. It might be that it was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police revolver with the ugly Century import stamp. Regardless of cosmetics, I find it makes me confident enough to embark into the unknown wilds confident in my ability to take care of myself.

If the OP's preference has turned now to the revolver, then all power to him.

 

[Old Fuff]

I might add that Bill Ruger designed his D.A. revolvers so they could be taken apart for cleaning by ordinary people. Even the stock screw was coin-slotted, and you'll find a pin under the stocks to pin the mainspring in place on the strut. Be careful not to lose it. If your revolver really has been dunked in mud and goo just break it down into modules, wash them out, and reassemble. It will work fine until you get a chance to do a better job.

 

[tomrkba]

I really appreciate the Ruger design after troubleshooting a reassembly problem (should be documented here). The problem was the assembly pin on the trigger module was not fully engaging the slot. I now feel very comfortable messing with the design after inspecting, disassembling, and reassembling it up to the point where it was broken. It is a very nice design and the team that made it put quite a bit of effort into it.

 

[BSA1]

The best, most expensive semi-automatic in the world is only as good as it's magazine.

Why anyone accepts the reasoning that malfunctions are normal and to be expected in a semi-auto that you may have to use for self defense is way beyond me.

 

[Dr45ACP]

I have carried a Smith 42 Centennial air weight in my right front pants pocket for years and the only problem was the front sight tended to eat a hole in my jeans until I got a pocket holster for it. Little beast epitomizes "carry a lot and shoot a little" because it is NOT fun to shoot. Grip safety does for my palm what the front sight did for my pants pocket.

 

[gym]

http://gundata.org/blog/post/5-best-home-defense-handguns/, You can also get an idea what these folks think on about ant subject having to do with many of the topics we discuss

 

[tomrkba]

Colt 1911

One of the oldest and most recognized handguns in the world is the Colt 1911. This pistol has seen action as a military sidearm in multiple wars dating back to the First World War all the way up to Vietnam Era and is still commonly used by government branches such as the FBI. The Taurus PT1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol comes with an 8 round steel single-column magazine, and has been heralded by gun enthusiasts as a favorite choice right out of the box.
Suggested Retail Price: $599.00

Please, please, please tell me where I can pick up a new Colt 1911 for $599 plus tax! Oh, they really meant the PT1911 :banghead:

I highly doubt the veracity of that article. It reads more like a list of guns they needed to move that week to make room for a new shipment.