You can trust the revolver guy...

[Jsg81]

I finally got around to taking the class for my CCW today and was not shocked that I was the only person shooting a revolver. After I shot with my group I was asked to help the instructor with the next group as it had some new shooters two of which I knew. Both ladies I knew past and after the class the instructor made the comment you can almost always trust the revolver guy because they most likely know what they are doing with a gun. I was surprised by this statement.

Has anyone else been told anything like this or was I just in the right class to get a bit of an ego boost?

 

[BobWright]

Ha! Reminds me of an experience at the range many years ago. A petite, and very handsome and shapely young blond showed up at the range one day. She was shooting a Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP, and shooting quite well, I might add.

She suffered a stoppage, a partial double feed, and couldn't clear her pistol. Politely she approached me as I was shooting, passing five or six more men on the firing line. She asked me if I could help her. I did go to her aid, and was able to clear the pistol in short order.

As she thanked me, I asked her why she passed so many others to enlist my help.

"Because you looked like you knew what you were doing," was her reply.

Bob Wright

 

[Iggy]

If you was shootin' a revolver, she probably figgered was old enough not to hit on her if she got within 5 yards.

Believe me, I know that of which I speak.

 

[DMK]

Occasionally, I see people shooting revolvers at my range that do not look like they know what they are doing and that I would not trust.

Usually it's some sort of big bore loudenboomer.

 

[Jim K]

In the revolver game, it seems all too common for the greenest newbie to buy the biggest, heaviest, loudest gun on the market. People who have never fired any handgun want to start with .44 Magnum, .454, or even .500 S&W. The predicable result is that they fire two rounds, swear off shooting, and take up needlepoint.

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

A lot of folks you see at ranges these days are very fast... but not particularly accurate.

After a few times, and then inspecting targets my revolver suddenly attracted a lot of attention.

Slow but sure I say.

 

[ACP]

I think because many newer shooters are drawn to the semiauto-heavy merchandising of gunmakers - and the "tactical" advertising of gunmakers and gun magazines -- people like me who grew up with revolvers are likely seen as more experienced and intelligent when it comes to firearms.

Not necessarily true, but that may be the case.

I will say I've taken all-revolvers classes (snubs) and general handgun classes that had a lot of semiautos and a few revolvers and I couldn't tell a difference in the maturity level, intelligence or accuracy of the different shooters.

 

[rcmodel]

It varies.

I joined the local city owned subterranean basement indoor pistol range a few years ago.

My first visit, I took a Model 41 S&W, a .45 Colt SAA, and a .44 Spl S&W 1950 Target.

After shooting the first target, everyone there wanted to look at my guns, etc.

The 20 something Range Safety Natzi ask me if he could shoot the Colt SAA, as he had never seen a real one before!
Sure!

I loaded it with 5 rounds, he picked it up, and proceeded point it straight up while cocking it with his finger on the trigger, then 'throwing lead' like Roy Rogers.

The Negligent Discharge .255 grain 900 FPS Keith hit the concrete web in the ceiling 4' over and in front of us, and splattered us all with lead and concrete dust.

After which he declared my Colt SAA to have an 'Unsafe Hair Trigger', and ask me to leave the range!!

I Never went back again!!

rc

 

[The Alaskan]

Ha! Reminds me of an experience at the range many years ago. A petite, and very handsome and shapely young blond showed up at the range one day. She was shooting a Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP, and shooting quite well, I might add.

She suffered a stoppage, a partial double feed, and couldn't clear her pistol. Politely she approached me as I was shooting, passing five or six more men on the firing line. She asked me if I could help her. I did go to her aid, and was able to clear the pistol in short order.

As she thanked me, I asked her why she passed so many others to enlist my help.

"Because you looked like you knew what you were doing," was her reply.

Bob Wright

Chicks dig confidence.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she intentionally jammed the gun, just for an excuse to flirt with you. Err, that's my fantasy, at least.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I'm usually the guy shooting revolvers at my club. Sometimes somebody will come over and want to see what I'm shooting. Happens more often if I'm shooting Black Powder.

Oh, I have Semi-Autos too, but most of them are at least 50 years old.

The nice thing about being a revolver guy is at gunshows I walk right past all the guys clustered around all the latest Sem-Autos and I usually have the nice old revolver displays all to myself.

 

[bannockburn]

Never have drew that kind of attention when shooting revolvers at the range but I did have the CCW instructor remark that I was "old school" when I showed what I would be using to qualify with; my Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP. I guess he was expecting everyone would be using Glocks or something similar.

 

[Old Fuff]

I usually have the nice old revolver displays all to myself.

Not if I happen to attend the same show.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I've not had this experience as I typically shoot alone in the woods. But I do get looks of surprise when I ask to look at a revolver and express that revolvers are far and away my favorite.

They expect someone in my age bracket to be into semiautos pretty exclusively. Not so.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Howdy

I'm usually the guy shooting revolvers at my club. Sometimes somebody will come over and want to see what I'm shooting. Happens more often if I'm shooting Black Powder.

Oh, I have Semi-Autos too, but most of them are at least 50 years old.

The nice thing about being a revolver guy is at gunshows I walk right past all the guys clustered around all the latest Sem-Autos and I usually have the nice old revolver displays all to myself.

Just curious, how is the accuracy on a black-powder revolver compared to say a recent full-size S&W? And how does the trigger pull compare?

 

[gotboostvr]

Took my ccw class with a 681-2 compete with magna's and a Tyler T-grip. After putting a few cylinder fulls into one nice group the instructor started having me shoot into the playing card sized silhouette in the top left of the target. After keeping them all in the paint at 10yrds he declared me "good to go" and advised I take up teaching!
At 27 I was the youngest guy in the class and have an open invite to come shoot with the instructor whenever I want.

 

[walnut1704]

In the revolver game, it seems all too common for the greenest newbie to buy the biggest, heaviest, loudest gun on the market. People who have never fired any handgun want to start with .44 Magnum, .454, or even .500 S&W. The predicable result is that they fire two rounds, swear off shooting, and take up needlepoint.

Jim

We had two young (<30) guys show up a couple of times, each of which had a Magnum Research BFR. One was .45-70 and the other was a .500 I think. They were loud. Really loud. There was only a shelf for each position on the pistol range, no barriers. Crowded public range where you had about four feet of open space and a shelf, but other than that it was shoulder to shoulder.

The problem was they'd line up on the 7 yard range! They pretty much had it to themselves pretty quick because it was neither tolerable nor safe to be standing to their side. The inexperienced shooters learned quickly about standing away, and the experienced guys were gone before they fired a shot.

They both had such a flinch they were crazy wild, but seemed to enjoy themselves. They didn't shoot for long at least. The second time I saw them I complained to the RO. There was an obvious flaw in their rule of "No rifles on the pistol range, no pistols on the rifle range".

Next time they showed up they were told to stay off the pistol range, they got banned to the shortest rifle range of 50 yards. We watched as we saw impacts 2 feet over the target, two feet under. They hit a couple of targets that weren't theirs. Then they got banned from the rifle range over concerns they'd clear the berm.

Nobody was sad to see them go.

 

[Kaeto]

When I went for my CPL class I was going really old school. Not only was I the only one shooting a revolver. I was shooting a .455 Webley! (granted it was shaved to accept .45 acp on moon clips that I hand load to Webley pressures.)

 

[gotboostvr]

Kateo, I really like those old 45acp webleys. Would love to find one for myself!

 

[Kaeto]

Here you go if you want to pay the price. I got very lucky with mine and got it for $250.00
Also remember you would have to handload all lead projectiles at Webley pressures as the standard .45 acp pressure is the proof load for a Webley.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Revolvers/BI.aspx?Keywords=.45+acp&mfg=1000297

 

[Old Fuff]

Just curious, how is the accuracy on a black-powder revolver compared to say a recent full-size S&W? And how does the trigger pull compare?

Accuracy varies because some are slanted toward best cosmetics/finish, and intended more for display then shooting - although they can be fired.

But in the hands of a competent shooter, combined with either a tune-up, or "competition grade" in the first place, they will interlock holes at 50 yards. Understand that revolvers that can do this are usually not inexpensive. The best shooter at (sometimes) a modest cost is Ruger's now discontinued "Old Army" model.

Out of the box, S&W revolvers are usually way ahead, but C&B revolvers can be tuned to offer identical trigger pulls.

 

[Tallball]

"Everyone" says you "have to" carry at least a small 9mm. If someone carries a revolver instead, it is probably due to a combination of experience and being able to think for themselves.

I qualified with my Makarov because I didn't think you were allowed to use revolvers (they had just recently changed the rules). There were a couple of guys with revolvers. "Older" guys (my age). Of course they got some of the highest scores. I could have given them better competition with my favorite 357 or 44.

She can ask me next time. My shooting partner is almost always my daughter and/or FiL, so the young lady would be safe from my charms either way.

 

[ljnowell]

We had two young (<30) guys show up a couple of times, each of which had a Magnum Research BFR. One was .45-70 and the other was a .500 I think. They were loud. Really loud. There was only a shelf for each position on the pistol range, no barriers. Crowded public range where you had about four feet of open space and a shelf, but other than that it was shoulder to shoulder.



The problem was they'd line up on the 7 yard range! They pretty much had it to themselves pretty quick because it was neither tolerable nor safe to be standing to their side. The inexperienced shooters learned quickly about standing away, and the experienced guys were gone before they fired a shot.



They both had such a flinch they were crazy wild, but seemed to enjoy themselves. They didn't shoot for long at least. The second time I saw them I complained to the RO. There was an obvious flaw in their rule of "No rifles on the pistol range, no pistols on the rifle range".



Next time they showed up they were told to stay off the pistol range, they got banned to the shortest rifle range of 50 yards. We watched as we saw impacts 2 feet over the target, two feet under. They hit a couple of targets that weren't theirs. Then they got banned from the rifle range over concerns they'd clear the berm.



Nobody was sad to see them go.

That's the best thing you can do. Instead of trying to help them shoot, offer advice, or something like that, just get rid of them.

There are plenty of gun owners, we don't need any more to help our cause, right?

 

[Rodentman]

I have taken the qualifying test 3 times, the initial one in 2004, then at 5 year intervals since. I always used my Police Service Six as it was the oldest gun I own (1976) and in beautiful condition, as I bought it new.

I may go to the older 14-3 or 29-2 with light loads, but it will be a revolver and an older model. It's great fun.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Just curious, how is the accuracy on a black-powder revolver compared to say a recent full-size S&W? And how does the trigger pull compare?

Howdy

You may not have quite understood what I was saying when I said 'Happens more often if I am shooting Black Powder'. I seldom shoot Cap & Ball revolvers any more. Instead I am usually shooting cartridge guns with the cartridges loaded with Black Powder, pretty much the same way it was done before cartridges started being loaded with Smokeless powder.

The revolvers I shoot most often with Black Powder are a pair of mismatched 2nd Gen Colt Single Action Armies. The top one was made in the mid 1970s, the bottom one was made in 1968. So these are modern firearms, made with modern steels, but they are almost the same as their counterparts that were made in the late 19th Century. They have been slicked up a bit, both have triggers that break right about at 2 1/2 pounds. These Colts are chambered for the 45 Colt cartridge and I load the round with a case full of FFg Black Powder and a 250 grain 'Big Lube' bullet specifically designed to carry a great deal of BP compatible bullet lube. They are superbly accurate, the short barreled one is the more accurate of the two.





I have a 1st Gen Bisley Colt chambered for 38-40. It was made around 1909 if I recall correctly. I have done nothing to this one to slick it up or lighten the hammer. It too is superbly accurate, despite the fact that the trigger pull is pretty stiff.





I have a few other 19th Century revolvers that I like to shoot with Black Powder, but these two are my favorites. The top one is a Smith & Wesson New Model Number Three, chambered for the 44 Russian cartridge. It was made in 1882 and refinished at the factory in 1965. This model was extremely popular with target shooters of the late 19th Century, and records were set with it that still stand today. They were very, very accurate.

The bottom pistol is a Merwin Hulbert Pocket Army, made sometime between 1881 and 1883. I had to have a bit of work done to it to make it shootable again. It is chambered for the 44-40 cartridge, which is considerably more powerful than the 44 Russian. It is a very distinctive pistol, and it is great fun to shoot with Black Powder. I would not dream of firing either of these revolvers with cartridges loaded with Smokeless powder.

 

[DNS]

Revolvers make you a better shooter.

22lr revolvers make you a darn good shooter.