A Single Action Six Gun for a carry gun??

Might as well add my opinion too. I carry a single action almost every day on the farm. It is a reliable firearm and a .45 or 44-40 is a potent round against almost anything I may encounter. When I go into town or the city, I carry something that holds more rounds and is quicker to reload. I have used SA revolvers for twenty five years and am more than capable of using one in a defensive role. But, God forbid, if I ever have to defend myself or my family, I want more than 5-6 rounds in a SA. I think it's amusing that a lot of folk that I have seen advocating for carrying a SA seem to believe they can't miss in a bad situation and that someone that carries a semi auto will only "spray and pray". You can miss with your "cowboy" gun too you know, while the guy with the Glock might not. Most lawmen, outlaws, cowboys and just about everyone else 140 years ago armed themselves with the most modern firearms they could afford. Most still do. I could carry a SA revolver for self defense, I could also carry a .22. Either would work in most situations. But for me, I would rather have more shots than I need, than need more than I have.;)

"I'll bet you could almost get that fancy gun out of that fancy holster before some fast gentleman with an old fashioned sixgun blew a hole in you."- John Wayne Big Jake.
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"This aint Dodge city, and you aint Bill Hickok."-Tom Selleck, Quigley Down Under.
 
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hartcreek said:
With many of us it does not matter what we carry as we are equally as lethal with any firearm.
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Doesn't say very much for your skills.

Same thing as saying that it really wouldn't matter what you drove in the Daytona 500, the latest race car or a Model T, because you would be equally competitive with either.

In other words, you'll be bringing up the a** end no matter what you drive.

There are actually reasons why people who have a good chance of needing a handgun to defend their life (police and military) don't carry SA revolvers.
 
Doesn't say very much for your skills.
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I don't think that comment fair or nice...

on this forum, I can assume we are all enthusiasts... so if someone says they are proficient with all forms, I'm going to assume that they practice with all... probably much more than Joe average who only has one gun...

I'm not bragging ( so please don't take it that way ) but I out shot 3/4 of the last CCW class ( I was renewing, most were 1st timers ) shooting a 100 year old top break spur trigger "single action revolver" & 3/4 of the class was using compact autos... point being, we, on this forum, are enthusiasts, not the "average Joe public" we shoot more, understand the function, & carry an interest in every aspect of shooting

I'm betting there are guys on here that put many, many 1000 more rounds down the pipe of their favorite, than either Joe average, or "the bag guys"... to assume that the single action shooter is at a disadvantage over the sideways holding semi auto carrying bad guy, probably isn't a bet I'd take...

I say carry what ever you are most comfortable / proficient with...

as a side note, literally 3/4 of my last CCW class had malfunctions with their compact autos ( probably limp wristing, or the stress of taking the test ) but how is that stress any less than they would encounter in a life & death situation... I'd go as far as to say, they would have "all" been better off with a double action revolver than their autos... at least at their proficiency level
 
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Roaddog and others just because you do not have the skill set to carry a single action does not mean that others do not have it. With many of us it does not matter what we carry as we are equally as lethal with any firearm.
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Well hart creek I have a single action revolver and started shooting back in 1968 with single action revolvers. My first revolver was a single action. I am pretty good with a single action. Comments like yours is why this thread has drifted off the subject. That is the reason for my first comment. This is not a thread on someones skill with a firearm.
 
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So, who here does carry one for defense, why did you choose it over more modern designs?
And how do you go about it?
Do you have special training, specific to the sixgun?
If so, what was it and where did you go to acquire it?
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My last response to this thread. The original poster asked the questions above. The responses should of addressed those questions. As the thread continue it drifted off those questions. My first response did not address the questions above either. The original post was directed at shooters that carry single action revolvers for self defense. That is where the responses should address.
roaddog28
 
You will maintain a better grip on a dbl action than a single action during fire. Could be important in a bad situation.
 
My phone has a coily cord and is mounted to the wall. When I leave home it stays at home. I like it that way. So there.
 
"This aint Dodge city, and you aint Bill Hickok."-Tom Selleck, Quigley Down Under. Haha I know for a fact I'm not, Ranger Danger. You just worry about yourself El Pistolero. I never chime in on these because some people fail to realize the question wasn't. .. is a single action the best defensive weapon in the World? No just who carries one. I think a tank beats a glock but I don't feel the need to tell you about it.
 
I would like a 3" Birdshead, 327Fed in a single 6. Ruger never made it but I'd be happy to carry it concealed. As for reloading, I don't normally carry a reload. If it gets that bad you're screwed. Should have taken the m16.
 
I think it can make sense with the SASS'rs out there, people who shoot there single actions a great deal and can hit under stress.

It takes a lot though... but if you're quick they really aren't much slower than a double action revolver. Now reloads are typically slower than a DA gun... but hopefully these guys carry a backup. I know some can reload there Colt single action army quicker than I can load my Glock, but I think under stress a reload with a single action, gated cylinder revolver is just not going to be something you want to do in the middle of a 21st century gunfight.

So, if one is (very) skilled with a single action, I think they can be very effective even today but you'd better have a plan "B" if those six .357's or .45 Colts don't do the job! :)
 
Too much drama. Plan A is to shoot from cover and reload from cover. If in the open, 6 shots better be enough, so make them count.
 
W i t h p r a c t i c e ! ! !

Again, like I said... WITH PRACTICE a single action sixgun can be very effective for the defense of one's person in the year 2014.

However, I've a hard time believing most when they say they are soooo good at reloading the single action. It is just so slow to everything else out there. Thus, while it might be great for the first six shots... you can see where this is going.

I STRONGLY recommend a good BUG. Or two!
 
SA also take a long unloading process, 1 at a time. Better hope 6 is enough, probably should be, but if not......
 
Whatever you shoot the best!
Yes the obvious drawbacks are there but it all boils down tomy first statement.
It's not about being cool or trendy. That first shot really counts the most!
Lots of arguements why not to carry one but there's plenty to say "Yes" too!
I personally carry a Model 36 Chief. Not the best but it's the best for me and many, many others too!
Your carry gun is a very personal thing. Hopefully you put lot of thought into it and are confident with it.
 
SA also take a long unloading process, 1 at a time. Better hope 6 is enough, probably should be, but if not......
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I believe that's true and a good point, but spent rounds of defensive grade ammo in a DA don't necessarily fall out together.
 
To answer gwilkers questions, I do carry a SA when I am dressed that I can conceal one. I prefer a shoulder rig under a jacket or IWB with a loose untucked shirt. I carry a Ruger LCP or SR22 in the pocket at other times. I've not had any formal training at all. I have been shooting SA for 45 of my 54 years though. If I'm ever faced with a true self defense situation I HOPE I have a SA on me. I can put 7 or 8 rounds where they need to be quicker than with any semi auto I own. I can shoot 19 rounds faster with my XDm I expect ,But a 9mm round ain't a hand grenade or a horseshoe so close don't amount to much. I wonder how many here other than LEO's or military have been in a fire fight. I haven't. I don't know if I could reload anything. If the 7 or 8 rounds I carry loaded ain't enough, I don't have enough folks on my side of the fuss and I hope the BG slips and breaks his neck on the pile I'll leave as I'm running away.
 
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