Having shot alot of both I can answer with "it depends", on the firearm of course. You have to ask yourself, do you have equal experience with both? A study I read says that a person with equal or no experience will always shoot a revolver more accurately than an auto. A person who has shot a revolver or an auto frequently and not had any experience with the other, will shoot better with the firearm they are used to shooting. I have been challenged before on this study, and unfortunately cannot find it, but it was in one of the more popular gun mags. I believe it to be correct, because in my experience with friends and people I have helped get in to shooting this is always the case. I love my revolvers, but a good HK, 1911, or Glock, preforms just as well in my hands for close range (under 50yds). After 50yds I have to say a revolver cannot be beat. Just my .02
Are you a better shot with a Semi-auto or a Revolver?
- Thread starter dmxx99
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inSight-NEO
New member
I agree.
This goes back to the first quote as it "depends" on the firearm (might I add, the individual firing the weapon). For instance, my wife never shot a weapon in her life until a few months ago. At the range, we rented a DAO .38 Special and a Sig DA/SA 9mm (P239). After about 45 minutes of shooting, she shot consistently better with the 9mm. This probably had quite a bit to do with the lighter trigger pull of the Sig (mainly shot in "SA mode") vs. the DAO pull of the revolver.
Now later on, we bought her a Sig DAK P239, as she was considering a purchase of a snubnose revolver for CC; I told her that I believed the DAK would be "closest" in matching the DAO style revolver vs. the SA/DA Sig we previously shot. Thus, in shooting both weapons, she would not have to deal with SA and could concentrate on her DA pull(s) only.
Anyway, after shooting the DAK, along with my P220 .45 ACP (SA/DA), she actually shot better with the .45 ACP. Not only did she shoot this better than the DAK Sig, but she was hitting tighter groups than with any weapon she had fired up to that day. Maybe, again, this was due to the lighter trigger pull when shooting in SA mode. Im still trying to figure out why she was shooting better with the .45 ACP vs. the SA/DA P239 (9mm) she originally shot before. Who knows....
Regardless, she is more of a semi-auto girl for now and has, to a degree, proven to be an exception to the rule when it comes to revolvers vs. semi-autos for the beginner (at least in terms of accuracy).
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inSight-NEO
New member
I too sometimes shoot better with a revolver, well, beyond 30 yards anyway. But, I do not use a revolver for HD, so I tend to think of these as "fun guns" vs. "combat guns." Again, this is only due to my particular needs.
Besides, while I do love the .357 Magnum (particularly when firing Federal 125g. HP), I just cant manage to retain the necessary follow-up shots (accuracy + speed) when compared to .45 ACP. To me, this is of major concern for HD, not to mention the reloading speed of the semi-auto vs. the revolver (unless extensive practice is involved). But, this is another topic entirely.
The .357 Mag would make for a great "back-up," however.
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goodspeed(TPF)
New member
Doesn't matter. All the same.
jglsprings
New member
I can shoot my big frame revolvers and my 1911s equally as well.
Where it starts to fall apart is the sub compact autos and the snubbies. It just takes more practice and concentration for my CCW guns.
Where it starts to fall apart is the sub compact autos and the snubbies. It just takes more practice and concentration for my CCW guns.
I put semi. I find my Kimber Compact to be easy to shoot accurately. I shoot revolvers DA as I view range time as practice. I really only target shoot at ranges of say 25yds with 22's. I do believe target shooting from a rest with a long barreled revolver, shooting SA would be the most accurate. But I shoot defensively and fast shooting, center mass is what I go for.
Revolver
I shoot my revolvers much better than my semi-autos. Probably because I grew up shooting the revolvers.
I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about single action vs double action shooting.
I haven't had a chance to do any competitive shooting, and usually shoot both types of gun single action only. I guess I need to broaden my horizons.
I shoot my revolvers much better than my semi-autos. Probably because I grew up shooting the revolvers.
I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about single action vs double action shooting.
I haven't had a chance to do any competitive shooting, and usually shoot both types of gun single action only. I guess I need to broaden my horizons.What you ran into is the classic revolver lock up movement situation.
When the cylinder of a revolver moves to line up another round with the barrel,there is mass in that movement that comes to a sudden stop.
Add to this you are pulling back and essentially moving the barrel of the gun down as you pull that trigger towards you and that movement also creates error in your shot.
Also,if the revolver being used has a heavy trigger pull that can also make the shot harder to make.
Semi auto guns usually are easier to maintain a good shot with from fifteen yards and under simply because all the motion happens in a front to back and up and down motion.
Your wrist strength is naturally made to control movements like this.
The circular motion of a revolver cylinder added to that up and down motion creates a barrel that wants to point everywhere.
This is why shooters that practice and get really great at shooting revolvers double action get all of my respect.
It is darn hard to shoot a revolver accurately double action at distances beyond fifteen yards and if you can master that-you are a really skilled shooter,in my opinion.
When the cylinder of a revolver moves to line up another round with the barrel,there is mass in that movement that comes to a sudden stop.
Add to this you are pulling back and essentially moving the barrel of the gun down as you pull that trigger towards you and that movement also creates error in your shot.
Also,if the revolver being used has a heavy trigger pull that can also make the shot harder to make.
Semi auto guns usually are easier to maintain a good shot with from fifteen yards and under simply because all the motion happens in a front to back and up and down motion.
Your wrist strength is naturally made to control movements like this.
The circular motion of a revolver cylinder added to that up and down motion creates a barrel that wants to point everywhere.
This is why shooters that practice and get really great at shooting revolvers double action get all of my respect.
It is darn hard to shoot a revolver accurately double action at distances beyond fifteen yards and if you can master that-you are a really skilled shooter,in my opinion.
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DiscoRacing
New member
shootin two S&W .40 autos...and one .38special relovler.. not my own... do better with the revolver thats not my own.
dalegribble
New member
more important then the inherent accuracy of the gun are the ergonomics of the gun. there are just some guns will be more accurate simply because they feel more accurate in your hand. they fit your hand better, point more naturaly and as a result they hit where you point more easily.
the 2 types of guns that fit me the best and as a result i shoot the best are single action cowboy style revolvers and 1911 style semi auto pistols. i shoot the SAA colt style revolver remarably well even with the crude notch sights. i also shoot the colt style 1911 semi auto very well even with the small sights of the GI model. i attribute my accuracy with these guns more to the beautiful balance and the natural pointability than my shooting skills. i'm sure that with more training and practice i could learn to shoot other types and styles of guns as accuratly but ......why bother?
the 2 types of guns that fit me the best and as a result i shoot the best are single action cowboy style revolvers and 1911 style semi auto pistols. i shoot the SAA colt style revolver remarably well even with the crude notch sights. i also shoot the colt style 1911 semi auto very well even with the small sights of the GI model. i attribute my accuracy with these guns more to the beautiful balance and the natural pointability than my shooting skills. i'm sure that with more training and practice i could learn to shoot other types and styles of guns as accuratly but ......why bother?
TheNatureBoy
New member
I'm not a fan of revolvers but I admit to being a better shot with them.
I voted revolver. I shoot with three different clubs and consistently finish higher in the rankings in revolver matches. I'm especially more competitive with revolvers when two hand holds are permitted. I'm a little weak in events where we're limited to using one hand. Not sure why, getting old maybe.
Sigma 40 Blaster
New member
I am way faster and more accurate with a semi-auto because that's what I primarily shoot.
I am much more accurate with a revolver in SA but nowhere near as fast. But I do not carry revolvers as primary guns so I don't shoot them much.
I am much more accurate with a revolver in SA but nowhere near as fast. But I do not carry revolvers as primary guns so I don't shoot them much.
I was terrible shooting a semiauto but practice makes perfect. I have more than 1/2 dozen revolvers and I shoot them exclusively double action. I've gotten pretty accurate shooting them, with the only limitation being my aging eyes. Recently, I began shooting my wife's Smith & Wesson Model 41. I was terrible at first, I just couldn't get used to the gun's ultralight single action trigger. But, I've rapidly improved. I'm still not shooting the gun quite so accurately as I shoot my 617, but the difference is narrowing. I just picked up a S & W 1911 and fired it for the first time over the weekend. I was pleasantly surprised with my accuracy. The Novak sights on the 1911 are easier for me to see than either the ramp or the Patridge sights on my revolvers. At 10 yards, I shot mostly 9s and 10s. That's not exactly bullseye shooting, I know, but I don't think it's too shabby for the very first time out with the gun. I suspect that, with time, my accuracy with the gun will increase, maybe to the point where I can honestly say I shoot revolvers and semiautos equally well.