Why would you carry Revolver over Semi-Auto?

[the-ghost]

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.



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.

don't reload much slower with full moon clips vs the old halfers.

 

[Nushif]

I carry one because it presents miles faster.

When thinking of a personal defense weapon, that's out in a heartbeat and makes any bad guy do a double take, a nice old DS or any 5 shot snubbie will probably make ye olde bad guy think twice; because most people (of course not all) who own them shoot them well.
Some random dude pulling out a random autoloader isn't quite as intimidating. At least it wouldn't be to me.

 

[45Frank]

I most of the time carry a .32 H&R mag. in SS. Confidence, I can whip that thing out and hit a baseball at 20-30 feet without aiming or thinking twice. I have several auto's and just can't get the accuracy needed. no matter if you a 15 round clip it you can't hit anything. And you just don't want to shoot 15 rounds and not know what your going to hit. Single action as well.

 

[easyg]

That's just a visual thing, I know, but the revolver has the intimidation factor that few autos can match.

I'm not so sure about that....







They both look plenty intimidating to me.
But think about it....a person pointing a loaded Glock at you only need apply about 5 lbs pressure on that trigger, and BANG!!!



BTW, getting these images was done in a safe manner. No one's finger was on the trigger, no one's hands were on the pistols, and no one was standing behind the camera.

Easy

 

[easyg]

a nice old DS or any 5 shot snubbie will probably make ye olde bad guy think twice; because most people (of course not all) who own them shoot them well.

I totally disagree.
In fact, I think the opposite is true....

I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of revolver owners, especially those who own snubbies, can't shoot them worth crap.
It takes lots of practice to be really good with a snubbie, and most folks just don't spend the time nor the money to practice enough to develop great proficiency with one.
And lots of folks are steered toward revolvers as a first handgun, which means lots of newbies, to shooting, own revolvers.
And then there are those who want a handgun that they can load, place in the night stand or glove compartment, and forget about until they need to shoot something.....but they seldom (if ever) actually shoot the gun for practice.
It's kind of a "in case of emergency, break glass" type of weapon for many folks.

It doesn't help that plenty of gun dealers tell folks that the snub-nose revolver is a "belly gun" and not designed for distance shooting (I've heard this rubbish myself way too often).
This leaves the new buyer with the notion that he really doesn't need to practice much since he's just going to push it in to the target's belly and pull the trigger.


Easy

 

[Nushif]

Alright ... most people I've seen with them can shoot them? *le sheepish*

They both look plenty intimidating to me

That's because you don't have a black revolver. 8)

 

[loneviking]

Why? Lots of reasons:

Actually, revolvers can be much cheaper to learn to shoot well if you practice with wax bullets. I can set 1,000 of these for about $75--cases,primers and wax bullets. You can't cycle these in a brass chucker, but the wheel guns do fine. First rate tool for teaching hip shooting, working the trigger for accuracy and just having fun.

It's easier to get a revolver grip to fit your hand. The front to back dimension of the grip determines where your finger rests on the trigger, and whether your hand is in line with the barrel or twisted around to he side trying to reach the trigger. If your hand isn't lined up right, accuracy can suffer.

One of the big problems with semi-autos' is the mag fits into the grip, which means that changing the front to back dimension is tough. The Glocks and M&P's have different grips that can change this a bit, but not to the extent you can with a revolver. The front to back dimension of the grip determines where your finger rests on the trigger, and whether your hand is in line with the barrel or twisted around to he side trying to reach the trigger.

My opinion is that you can learn to draw and fire a revolver faster than a semi-auto, in part because of the shape of the revolvers grip. I haven't seen anyone beating fast draw revolver records with a semi-auto. If I walk in on a bad situation, I want a weapon that I can draw very fast, and that launches a heavy fast bullet. Give me a .357 and a 158 gr. hollowpoint as an ideal combination.

 

[Strahley]

Not me, I'll take the semi-auto any day of the week

 

[Colton White]

Some people have class...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I carry both(alternately). I am equally well armed with either.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Range 3 yards or less. Iminent danger: GO! GO! GO!!!! Does it really matter? It's the man, not the gun.

 

[easyg]

That's because you don't have a black revolver. 8)

Not quite black, but close enough....



It still doesn't look more intimidating than my Glock.
Maybe it's because the Glock is a .40 while the S&W is a .38 and the Taurus is a 9mm?

 

[wrs840]

I carry two autos when in "civilized" society (full-frame or compact .40 + LCP in pocket), and change them out for my "always when at home" 442 (in my pocket) when I get back to the ranch. If I'm going into the brush, I'll add another revolver on my hip. Different tools for different circumstances.

Les

 

[TheProf]

Most people who carry are looking for the "smallest gun with the biggest caliber" combination. I don't think that there is a semi-auto out there that has the same "small size large bullet" combination as a snub nose .357 magnum. And its not just size...but the rounded shape of the j-frame makes it easier to conceal than a same size semi-auto.

With the snub nose, you have:
1. Super reliability
2. Pocket carry
3. Big caliber (.357) (or .38 HP) in such a small package
4. Easier to grip handles
5. Can fire from inside your jacket pocket
6. Can fire your weapon at contact range with the bag guy. (many semi-auto will be thrown out of battery if you shove the weapon against the bad guy while firing)
7. Rounded shape that tends to break up the tell-tale flat gun printing when CC.

The alternative that I am considering is a Glock 27. (The 10 +1 rounds of .40 with Glock reliability might just be the tipping point for me to switch to a semi auto CCW.)

 

[inSight-NEO]

Its been said before, but I will reiterate that [for me at least] it comes down to:

a) the ability to fire through clothing, against the body, through a bag, etc. Try doing this with a semi-auto and you are asking for trouble.

b) the revolver generally stands up to dirt and grime better than a semi-auto..not always the case, but certainly worth considering.

c) ease of maintenance- I believe the revolver requires much less than the semi-auto.

d) generally speaking, the revolver is less prone to malfunction vs the semi-auto; with the semi-auto, if the gun does not fail, the mags certainly can.

e) ease of use and readiness- point and shoot [easy to understand "manual of arms"]; also, unless you carry the semi-auto with a round in the chamber (along with no safety engaged), the revolver maintains a higher state of "readiness."

You get the general idea. Now, having said all of this, I still prefer to use a semi-auto. But, this is simply due to the fact that my method of carry allows me to feel comfortable with such a decision. In addition, I do enjoy a slightly higher capacity, even if this only averages out to an extra 2 or 3 rounds (based on my current weapon of choice).

However, the only real negatives I can see with the use of a revolver is lack of capacity, relatively heavy in weight and the idea that when a revolver fails, it is either minor or catastrophic...usually, there seems to be no in-between. These were among my considerations for using a semi-auto. However, for my wife, should she ever carry, I would certainly recommend a revolver nonetheless.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I just did some internet surfing, and it appears the Glock 33 with 3.5" barrel generates equal or greater velocity and energy with 125 grain bullets than a comparable load in a 2.5" .357 Mag revolver. Given its smaller size, lower weight, and 9-10 round capacity, a .357 fan might want to give the Glock a go, unless one is hung up on the aesthetics or nature of the revover.l

 

[FoMoGo]

I carry a pair of 1911s in .45 and a pair of revolvers in .44, not usually at the same time however...
I love them all, when I am going into "the badlands" I carry the revolvers.
The primary is a 2.75" .44 magnum, the backup is a 2" .44 special.
I carry reloads for both.
I put as many rounds thru all of them in practice, I can put 6 rounds on target with the .44 mag about as fast as most people can with a .38 or 9mm.
Its not that I am THAT good, most people I have observed at the range just suck.
Why carry the revolver if I think there is a higher chance of a bad encounter?
If it is a contact close encounter, the revolver wont get pushed out of battery if it gets stuffed into someones body.
If I have to fire the special from concealment, I am more likely to get more shots off after that 1st one.
I tend to shoot more accurately with a revolver.
My 1911s have been dead reliable, so reliability isnt a factor... and it is at the same time.
My autos dont jam... but its easier to make them do it.


Jim

 

[jhallrv4]

"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? "

Sorry, pal, you lost me when you assumed a couple of scenarios that aren't at all assumable.

Jeff

 

[Gadget]

The major reason why I prefer a revolver for SD is simple. I worry about the combat focus/adrenaline overload under stress affecting my use of the weapon. The manual of arms is simpler with a wheelgun, push the narrow end towards the target, pull the little curvy thing on the bottom, repeat as needed. A semi had a few more small-muscle actions prior to use. As I get older, I prefer simpler.

 

[jad0110]

There's just no denying the fact that a revolver with a heavy double-action trigger-pull (typically more than 10 lbs) is more difficult to master, and requires more practice and more range time to master, than a lighter semi trigger such as found on a 1911, a Glock, a SA XD, a M&P, etc....

I'll deny it.

It only took me about 200 rounds, firing double action, to shoot DA revolvers better than a whole plethora of autos with light weight triggers. To this day, I can't hit squat with a Glock or XD. Their triggers may be lighter, but personally I equate the feel of their triggers to be about what it might feel like to squeeze a mushy cat turd between your fingers. Not that I've done that, I'm just guessing here .

Assuming one doesn't have arthritis in their finger joints, and they are willing to put in the effort, it really isn't difficult at all IMO. In fact, after seeing so many folks throw up their hands saying "it can't be done", I took it as a challenge. Granted, I'm not certain how much difference the trigger makes for me in that DA S&Ws and Rugers just point more naturally for me than any other platform. So that certainly helps.

And for me, that is why I carry revolvers exclusively these days; everything from a diminutive S&W 642 J Frame to a beefy N Frame Model 28. They work for me, though as always they aren't for everyone. Being able to fire the gun from odd angles with a less than perfect grip is comforting as well. I shoot 1911s nearly as well, and I used to carry one fairly regularly. But mine has gone from being reliable to finicky, so until I address it's problems, it stays in the safe.

My 2 cents.

 

[heron]

I don't carry, but I have a valid preference, due to arthritis, at the base of my thumb.

A little while back, I was getting the itch to have an auto (in centerfire) and I went to the gun shop to check some out. The guy handed me one, and I could not work the slide. I tried a few others, with the same results. The problem is that trying to pinch anything with my thumb is just way too painful, even though it doesn't bother me for the majority of other daily activities. I finally gave up, and as I was leaving, I said, "Well, I've still got my GP100 . . . " -- and I can work it just fine.

 

[inSight-NEO]

Even though I have already piped in on the discussion, I will add one more thing. Whether a revolver or semi-auto, the whole idea is being armed. This is a good thing regardless.

Outside of this, one simply needs to be aware of the positives and negatives regarding each platform. Same goes for choice of caliber. In addition, realize that any weapon can fail....therefore, its always good to have a contingency plan.

 

[easyg]

a) the ability to fire through clothing, against the body, through a bag, etc. Try doing this with a semi-auto and you are asking for trouble.

Sure you can fire through clothing, but when shooting from the pocket with a 2" snub-nose barrel you're not likely to hit your intended target....but you sure as heck might hit an unintended target.
And if you're close enough to the target to push the revolver in to his side, you're also close enough for him to grab the revolver by the cylinder, which will prevent it from firing double-action.

b) the revolver generally stands up to dirt and grime better than a semi-auto..not always the case, but certainly worth considering.

No way!
Revolvers are much easier to foul with dirt and grime than autos.
It takes alot of dirt to stop an auto from working, but it doesn't take much to bind up a revolver's cylinder.

e) ease of use and readiness- point and shoot [easy to understand "manual of arms"]; also, unless you carry the semi-auto with a round in the chamber (along with no safety engaged), the revolver maintains a higher state of "readiness."

A loaded revolver is no more "ready" that a loaded Glock, XD, M&P, Kahr, Sig, HK DA/SA, Beretta DA/SA, Ruger DA/SA, and many other pistols.
Single-action manual safety pistols (like the 1911) are the only ones that require any additional step beyond "point and shoot".

 

[easyg]

It only took me about 200 rounds, firing double action, to shoot DA revolvers better than a whole plethora of autos with light weight triggers. To this day, I can't hit squat with a Glock or XD.

You can accurately shoot a double-action snubbie, but you can't hit squat with a Glock or an XD?
And it only took you 200 rounds to get proficient shooting a double-action revolver?

Hmmmm....

Something just doesn't add up.

 

[inSight-NEO]

Sure you can fire through clothing, but when shooting from the pocket with a 2" snub-nose barrel you're not likely to hit your intended target....but you sure as heck might hit an unintended target.
And if you're close enough to the target to push the revolver in to his side, you're also close enough for him to grab the revolver by the cylinder, which will prevent it from firing double-action.

Both of these statements are reaching just a bit. And, I never mentioned pushing a revolver in to the BGs side. I meant firing the weapon next to yourself...as in body.

I was merely stating the potential benefits.

Revolvers are much easier to foul with dirt and grime than autos.
It takes alot of dirt to stop an auto from working, but it doesn't take much to bind up a revolver's cylinder.

How do you figure? Simply put, I believe you are wrong. Similar to this would be the reliability of pump shotguns vs semi-auto shotguns.

Having said this, I did mention that this statement of mine was not all inclusive. Rather, it was a general statement at best.

A loaded revolver is no more "ready" that a loaded Glock, XD, M&P, Kahr, Sig, HK DA/SA, Beretta DA/SA, Ruger DA/SA, and many other pistols.
Single-action manual safety pistols (like the 1911) are the only ones that require any additional step beyond "point and shoot".

Fair enough. I own an XD and various DA/SA weapons. I know the score here. You are not telling me anything I do not already know. However, my earlier statement was meant for the many that do indeed carry semi-automatics which are safety equipped. This, btw, is not merely the realm of "single action only" weapons. The XD? Yeah...it can be had with a manual safety. The M&P? Again...it can be had with a manual safety. The list goes on.....

Regardless, these weapons require mags...mags can fail. It is something to be aware of.

As I mentioned before, I actually prefer to carry a semi-auto. But, I do so knowing the limitations. If I carried a revolver...it would be the same.