Why would you carry Revolver over Semi-Auto?

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I can't add much to the replies already given but, I do like this one from C.R.Sam real well.......

"Kinda figured autoloader for offence and wheel for defence."


:)


(Now if we can teach him to spell offense and defense we'll be good to go.) :neener:
 
Well you asked, so here are my thoughts...

Sometimes I think we all get a little too "tactical" for our own good. Maybe its the gun rags we all read, who knows....

I view a pistol as nothing more than a means of personal DEFENSE - not OFFENSE. For offense I'd make other choices. For defense, I want a firearm that is reliable, of sufficient caliber to do some stopping, and concealable within reason, for one purpose only - to get me out of a very bad situation quickly. Yes, that means to create distance enough to run away - if possible. Bad things happen in gun fights, people die or are maimed for life. Very few folks hit by a bullet have a full 100% recovery. Most languish through life in a great deal of pain and are unable to enjoy life to the fullest. Also, most gunfights are over after only a few rounds are expended at distances under 10 feet.

Given that reasoning, I base my choice of a carry weapon on what sort of threats I might reasonably encounter. I think when you really take an honest assessment of your situation, a good revolver with grips that fit your hand and a good action job, will handle most situations the ordinary American citizen might encounter quite adequately.

See all the reasons above, but here are some of mine...

A revolver is more reliable. If it fails to fire, pull the trigger again, a natural response under stress. No need for Tap, Rack, Bang drills.

A j frame in 38, 357, or a small revolver in 44spl, etc. are plenty powerful for personal defense.

A j frame can be fired from within a pocket - hand on the gun without drawing attention - the best way to enter a gun fight.

The cylinder of a revolver causes the grip to be slightly elevated off the body, making grasping it under stress a bit faster than a small auto.

The revolver is easier to maintain on a daily basis - no magazine springs to take a set, fewer issues with lubrication, easy to make safe, easy to load and unload during the day, simpler ammo requirements, etc.

If you take the time to make a transition, you will be surprised how fast and accurate a good revolver can be.

All the Best, Paladin7
 
Preacherman and Paladin 7 are on the mark ... I've carried autoloaders on duty for years, starting with the 1911A1, transitioning to the M9 Beretta, having opportunity to use the M11 (military nomenclature for the SIG 228) ... it's funny, often when I go out now (if I'm not going far from home), I wear or pocket my S & W 637 Airweight ... Concealability is a big factor for some of us wheelgun-packers, I'm sure, but ease of use under stress and reliability remain the key factors, of course. But hey, we're all playing the odds -- what're the chances anyone of us will need more than 5 or 6 rounds in a defensive scenario?
 
To paraphrase my hero, Harry Callahan, who said when asked why he carried such a big gun, "Because I like to hit what I aim at."
I like SIG's and really enjoy Kimbers, but only a big Smith has that confidence inspiring, built in radar-lock.
Steve
 
Try a .45 out of a 1917 revolver vs a 1911 auto and tell me which is 'easier to shoot.'

PS. Using stock sights from the year of mfg.

:p

I don't own a hard hitting stainless auto that's lightwieght and powerful... but I do own a revolver like that. Makes for an excellent backpacking gun.

Reloads a lot slower than a 1911 or BHP, but my Colt Magnum Carry is plenty powerful.
 
Reliability, in spades. Versatility. Ergonomics with the right stocks.

6/5 shots generally suffice. Without a little skill, discipline, and mindset, a beltfed, crew served weapon may not be enough...

Would still be OK carrying one as an LEO. For military (FMJ) would try very hard to have a .45 ACP, and it's always to have a long gun nearby.

T'would be nice to see a fraction of the attention lavished on "guns and bullets" devoted to mindset and martial training. After all, these are just iron and plastic bullet launchers...
 
Airpower -
why would you pick 5 or 6rd of a gun that's difficult to shoot vs. 10 or 15rd of semiauto that's easy to aim and fire?
Click to expand...
The above appears to be a misperception on your part (though it may be based on your experience) based the responses to the thread. Also, here's "What do you shoot best? Autos or Revolvers?" poll running in this forum in which 62% of the respondents indicated they shoot revolvers as well or better than bottom-feeders.
 
I carry a semi-auto most of the time, but sometimes a Taurus 85UL.

The reason I sometimes carry the revolver is because it flops around a little less in my front pocket. This is only an issue if I'm planning to do a lot of walking. Otherwise, I choose the PM9 for the extra couple rounds and the more powerful round.

I have much more experience shooting autos and shoot them much better than revolvers. Autos point much better for me. Revolvers usually seem to naturally point very high and I have to aim downward which is awkward.

I like the reliability of revolvers and there are times when I choose to carry one, but I'm much more confident using a semi-auto. YMMV.
 
Others have challenged parts of the facts "assumed" in your question -- i.e., the ease of shooting/aiming a revolver vs. a semi-auto... I should point out that your 5/6 rounds is off-base too.

If you are talking about 10 to 15 rounds -- like a compact auto size -- you could have a wheel gun with 7 or even 8 rounds of .357 Magnum. I don't think 7 or 8 Magnums is any less firepower than 10 rounds of 9mm, unless you are just spraying lead all over the place.
 
99% of the time I have a 1911 IWB. Often times I also have a j-frame in an ankle hoslter. I am currently breaking-in a P3AT for pocket carry after deciding the j-frame is too uncomfortable there.

My wife has a model 60LS that she shoots well. She does not trust self-loaders, but has not found a comfortable way to carry her j-frame. Consequently, she does not carry often.

When I brought my P3AT home, she thought it was something she could carry comfortably. She shot it for the first time last night and had an FTE on her fourth round. She shot some more, but that one FTE soured her on the kel-tec. She does not want to deal with malfunctions at all.

I explained to her that, with only 75 rounds through it before yesterday, the little pistol was not yet broken-in. She didn't care. She wants perfection in her carry piece. I can't argue with that. She said she'd shoot it more, but it would have to go a long time without a failure before she'd consider carrying it.

For her, reliability is they key.
 
Primarily speed. A 2" to 4" small to medium frame revolver can be very fast from the holster to first shots close up where most shootings take place.
 
I've talked to a few old experienced FBI agents who were in some real scuffles, and they all carry snubnose .357 magnums. I think it's the fact that most of the time you need to use it in self defense, a snub nose is able to easily cover that range, and it works even better in a fight or scuffle because you barely need to pull it out and aim to get a good shoot off quickly. No slide to get caught up on clothing either.
 
A J-frame or equivalent is what former Sheriff Jim Wilson (of Shooting Times) calls an "anytime gun"; it can be dropped into a pocket and carried even when a full-size gun isn't practical.

Here in Alabama, the climate makes a full-size gun impractical. A small handgun that one can carry in a pocket is very attractive. The chance of fabric causing an auto to jam is a real problem, though, so a small revo is favored. An enclosed or shrouded hammer is best. I carry a Model 49 Bodyguard for these reasons. Come winter, coats are worn, but then a CCW carrier will need to retrain if he wants to carry a full-size weaon.
 
I like the el cheapo Model 85 Taurus I bought around 1990. Stainless and small. Mega heavy DA trigger pull, and nice and crisp SA pull. It is small, light enough, and much more reliable than my PPK, 230, Mustang, etc. Five shots are fine for me. Even my 296 is too big and bulky, though remarkably light. I like a certain amount of weight to absrob recoil. I think the SP101 357 mags are super little revolers to handle heavy loads with comfort. I like my 686 with 7 rds also. I am looking to find a Taurus 8-shot 357 with a 3in barrel one of these days. They only make them in 4in, I beleive. Revolvers are easy to own and use.
 
I got tired of the tiny Semiautos, and opted for the S&W 642. But then I found the S&W trigger to be unbearable, so I got a Glock 642.
 
I rely on revolvers because of the simplicity of action vs auto. I own two revolvers (S&W and Ruger) and their actions are the same, pull the hammer back and shoot single-action or just pull the trigger for double-action. I can ignore these guns for months, and I can pick one up and instantly know how to operate it. I can pick up some other mfg.'s revolver and instantly know how to operate it. Can't say the same for autos. For someone who's not particularly into pistols, the revolver offers a simple easy to understand and operate mechanism that works reliably.
 
Wanted to add this:

I'm small, older, and have hearing problems. My first clue I'm in trouble may be when I'm half-conscious on the ground.

If I'm half-conscious, ALL my most basic training was done with a DA revolver. That stuff is written on my brain cells with indelible ink.
 
The only time I carry a revolver over an autoloader is when I'm hunting. Big bullets shot deliberately from a rest well above the action; this is where I believe the revolver has a huge advantage over the autoloader. I don't believe revolvers are more reliable than autoloaders. I believe that revolvers can be more reliable than a specific autoloader, but that's true with anything. I don't believe any particular platform is easiest to shoot if you don't practice with the method and often.
 
I considered it a compliment when a friend said my glock was "revolver simple" to use.

I like speed loaders but speed strips are really easy to conceal and even a few loose rounds in the pocket sound like a pocket full of change.
 
I like mine because
No misfire procedures, just pull the trigger again
No safety to fumble with
No brass to get in yur collar
 
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