A gun for long service: Auto vs. Revolver?
- Thread starter Racingsnake
- Start date
I am not much to a autoloader guy. Only owned one which was a Ruger Mark I. Very durable. I have owned revolvers since 1971. All kinds from single to single/double actions. I feel the revolver brand that would last longer before need any repair would be Ruger. I have a 1985 vintage Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch. This revolver has seen many and many 100 or more rounds sessions at the range. Has shot anything from a mild target 38s to full house 357s magnums. Today the revolver has no issues. Lockup is tight, timing perfect. Very little frame cutting. I know a Ruger Security Six that is a rental at the range. It has see thousands of rounds without a problem I keep want to buy the gun but the range owner does not want to sell it . I venture to say he has made some money renting it.
Most of my friend have Glocks, Sigs or Bettas and also various 1911s. They swear by them but also they do spend money fixing them.
Conclusion, I feel that the revolver is best for long term durability. Because of the track of my Ruger Police Service Six, I have just bought a brand new Ruger GP100 4 inch. I will past these down to my son so he can pass them down to my two grand daughters.
Thats my take,
roaddog
PS, here is my well wore Ruger Police Service Six
Most of my friend have Glocks, Sigs or Bettas and also various 1911s. They swear by them but also they do spend money fixing them.
Conclusion, I feel that the revolver is best for long term durability. Because of the track of my Ruger Police Service Six, I have just bought a brand new Ruger GP100 4 inch. I will past these down to my son so he can pass them down to my two grand daughters.
Thats my take,
roaddog
PS, here is my well wore Ruger Police Service Six
Blondie.357
New member
No gun is durable enough for me, except a good rim fire, like the Mark III.
For the amount I shoot, I would wear out even a ruger black hawk in a year or so.
For the amount I shoot, I would wear out even a ruger black hawk in a year or so.
A quality modern semi-auto is as reliable and durable and durable as a quality modern revolver. Both should last many thousands of rounds before you need any work done to them.
There are way too many variables to determine which type of gun would outlast the other....type of ammo, shooting styles, climate, storage conditions, maintenance, etc.
Choosing a quality revolver vs. a quality semi-auto should really be based on factors such as 1) ease of use, 2) concealability, 3) safety system(s), 4) capacity, 5) recoil, 6) ergonomics, 7) caliber perfered, and let's not forget 8) look and feel fo the gun.
There are way too many variables to determine which type of gun would outlast the other....type of ammo, shooting styles, climate, storage conditions, maintenance, etc.
Choosing a quality revolver vs. a quality semi-auto should really be based on factors such as 1) ease of use, 2) concealability, 3) safety system(s), 4) capacity, 5) recoil, 6) ergonomics, 7) caliber perfered, and let's not forget 8) look and feel fo the gun.
Well Blondie, just how many rounds do you put down range in a year anyway? Do you have any comprehension of how much it would take to really wear out a Ruger Blackhawk.
I think a Contender in .22 Long Rifle might be a good choice if simple longevity is the case. Wouldn't have much utility outside of small game hunting and range work but they sure are fun.
I did wear out a bolt stop on a Ruger .22 Gov. Model somewhere prior to the 10,000 round mark once. Peened it pretty bad. They just sent me a new one which was fine.
I think a Contender in .22 Long Rifle might be a good choice if simple longevity is the case. Wouldn't have much utility outside of small game hunting and range work but they sure are fun.
I did wear out a bolt stop on a Ruger .22 Gov. Model somewhere prior to the 10,000 round mark once. Peened it pretty bad. They just sent me a new one which was fine.
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One problem with revolvers, depending on the make and the type of ammunition used, is frame stretch and the B/C gap. I recall Jan Libourel writing that he had an S&W M-19 reduced to 38 Special use only due to frame stretch and too large a B/C gap. The Dan Wesson desing allows you to readjust the B/C gap on your own. Also what frame material? I am a Steel and Walnut man, AFAIK aluminum/"plastic"/titanium frames are not used by serious target shooters.
I have one revolver and three semi-autos. Very high end guns and beautifully made. The Semi-autos I have are well maintained and function ALMOST flawlessly. Once in a great while they do malfunction.
I am a range shooter only and do not carry. The semi-autos are much more fun to shoot and I love playing with after market options for my 1911. There is nothing like a finely tuned 1911 with a 3lb. trigger pull to get your juices going. Fast shooting, accurate and just plain fun!
Truth be told, however, if my life depended upon a gun...it would be my revolver (.357 S&W 680). No jams, no FTFs, FTEs or jams...Reliability cannot be compared between the revolvers and semi-autos.
I am a range shooter only and do not carry. The semi-autos are much more fun to shoot and I love playing with after market options for my 1911. There is nothing like a finely tuned 1911 with a 3lb. trigger pull to get your juices going. Fast shooting, accurate and just plain fun!
Truth be told, however, if my life depended upon a gun...it would be my revolver (.357 S&W 680). No jams, no FTFs, FTEs or jams...Reliability cannot be compared between the revolvers and semi-autos.
cougar gt-e
New member
There are lots of the new plastic guns that have 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 and more rounds with minimal maintenance aside from cleaning and lube.
Revolvers have a long history of successful rugged use too.
Hard to point to any quality pistol or revolver and say one not reliable.
Revolvers have a long history of successful rugged use too.
Hard to point to any quality pistol or revolver and say one not reliable.