Stevie-Ray
New member
Auto, by far.
Are you a better shot with a Semi-auto or a Revolver?
- Thread starter dmxx99
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Chuckusaret
Moderator
Good with both, but tighter shot groups with the auto loaders.
OK....assuming you mean shooting at bulls eyes or something more challenging than a gallon jug, for me, it has to be broken down closer to brands and models. Comparing a S&W model 19 or 66 and a 1911A1, there is no difference. I shoot either very well.
The Model 19 compared to a Python......M19 every time. Had several Pythons and sold them in favor of the M19.
The big Smith N frames work OK for me but I had a Model 1955 in 45acp that was a super shooter! It was real special. What the heck possessed me to sell that one?
Single action revolvers. Plinkers only for this shooter.
1911a1? Any brand, any style any sights.......the scary end is a dangerous place to be. I had an ugly beater of a 1911a1 on an Essex frame without a bit of finish on it. It rattled like a box of rocks but it shot like a dream!
Glocks: I shoot OK but not as well as the 1911. The trigger pull is just too long. My respect for their reliability is profound even though they are built like a toy cap gun inside.
There's just no serious interest in any other autoloaders even though I carry a Ruger LCP and a Keltec P3AT.
Boiling it down......It depends on the particular pistol. Some fit better than others. When you find one that shoots good for YOU, that's a keeper. Don't be foolish and sell it. ARRRRGGGG!.....I wish I had that beater 45 and the 1955 Smith back!
Flash
The Model 19 compared to a Python......M19 every time. Had several Pythons and sold them in favor of the M19.
The big Smith N frames work OK for me but I had a Model 1955 in 45acp that was a super shooter! It was real special. What the heck possessed me to sell that one?
Single action revolvers. Plinkers only for this shooter.
1911a1? Any brand, any style any sights.......the scary end is a dangerous place to be. I had an ugly beater of a 1911a1 on an Essex frame without a bit of finish on it. It rattled like a box of rocks but it shot like a dream!
Glocks: I shoot OK but not as well as the 1911. The trigger pull is just too long. My respect for their reliability is profound even though they are built like a toy cap gun inside.
There's just no serious interest in any other autoloaders even though I carry a Ruger LCP and a Keltec P3AT.
Boiling it down......It depends on the particular pistol. Some fit better than others. When you find one that shoots good for YOU, that's a keeper. Don't be foolish and sell it. ARRRRGGGG!.....I wish I had that beater 45 and the 1955 Smith back!
Flash
Overall the Revolver has the edge. That is using the average model of both types of weapons.
The Revolver has the edge in frame construction, usually has a longer barrel and typically the longer the barrel the better the accuracy and more FPS you'll generate. Revolvers usually come in meaner calibers. So usually the first shot is all you need. If you read accounts of gun fights, especially from the old West, it was not who shot first but who shot best that won. If you can drop your opponent with a first shot then follow ups are not necessary generally negating an Automatic's advantages in round capacity and rounds per minute.
Revolvers are far less likely to malfunction than Automatics. Over all Revolvers are easier to clean, easier to maintain and easier to repair. Far less moving parts means they are likely to last longer. Automatics are susceptable to being damaged. Dropping one is far more likely to incur damage than dropping a revolver. It only takes a minor dent in the slide to freeze up a revolver. Automatic clips may if kept loaded malfunction, the springs failing under the strain. Revolvers have no such worries. The sights tend to be easier to use on a Revolver than an Automatic. There are no cases ejecting to bounce off walls, people or anything else, thus no chance of a hot case winding up bouncing off your face or down the back of your shirt when using a revolver. The tolerances of an automatic are much finer. So variences in ammo, weather, and a host of other conditions can possibly render an automatic into a jam machine. Many Autos are picky about what kind/brand of ammo they like. Generally if you can chamber it a Revoler will reliably shoot it. Might not be the best ammo for that weapon but today and it looks like in the near future availibility of ammo is a major factor in choosing a weapon. The scarcity means shooting your favorite brand is not really an option. Thus potentially leaving you in the situation where the only ammo easily obtained is a type/brand your gun doesn't like.
Autos are only faster for as many clips as you have pre-loaded. If you have only 1 clip and 100 rounds to fire, the revolver is going to spit out those 100 rounds faster as it takes much longer to load a clip than to fill a revolver. I can for example eat up a box of 50 .357 rounds in minutes where it takes me close to 15-30 minutes to do the same using 2 clips and a .40 auto. Clip capacity is also a factor.
In terms of concealed carry automatics have a huge advantage.
I've fired hundreds of revolvers and automatics. Overall I am more accurate with Revolvers not just with first shot but with subsequent shots.
That said these are all generalities. There are a host of factors. One of THE most innaccurate guns I've ever fired was a snub nosed Taurus .357. It wasn't as bad as a .25 auto but then again nothing I've fired came close to being as inaccurate as a .25 auto. Ruger and Colt .45s autos I've fired have been exceptionally accurate. The Ruger was built on a 10mm frame, thus it's kick was almost nothing. The trigger design made rapid fire difficult but who needs it if you hit the target the first time? At least with a round heavy enough to keep it down. I've fired Glocks in many different calibers but the ones I've fired have been too small. No way I could shoot them two handed, just nowhere to put my left hand, attempting to do so generally got me bit by the slide. The small frame exagerated the kick making even a 9 feel like I was shooting something heavier. Fired lots of other types and styles and calibers of automatics. Some good, some horrible some inbetween.
Then there are personal factors. The heavier calibers revolvers usually come in are a bit too much for some people. The military got away from .45s because of the influx of women who often found .45s a bit much, though I've known some women who could group nicely in the bullseye with a .44 mag. So the kick is a factor. The specific gun is a factor. I voted for Revolver but I'd much rather have a Colt .45 auto than a Taurus anything. I'd rather use a .40 Ruger auto than a .38 special. Cost of the weapon is a practical factor many people forget to consider when recomending weapons. Better to shoot a .380 than throw rocks. If .380 is all you can afford it's all you can afford.
People also tend to have an affinity for what they learned to shoot with. So they'll naturally gravitate toward that.
So "better" is a relative term. A generic that can only be a general idea rather than a specific.
The Revolver has the edge in frame construction, usually has a longer barrel and typically the longer the barrel the better the accuracy and more FPS you'll generate. Revolvers usually come in meaner calibers. So usually the first shot is all you need. If you read accounts of gun fights, especially from the old West, it was not who shot first but who shot best that won. If you can drop your opponent with a first shot then follow ups are not necessary generally negating an Automatic's advantages in round capacity and rounds per minute.
Revolvers are far less likely to malfunction than Automatics. Over all Revolvers are easier to clean, easier to maintain and easier to repair. Far less moving parts means they are likely to last longer. Automatics are susceptable to being damaged. Dropping one is far more likely to incur damage than dropping a revolver. It only takes a minor dent in the slide to freeze up a revolver. Automatic clips may if kept loaded malfunction, the springs failing under the strain. Revolvers have no such worries. The sights tend to be easier to use on a Revolver than an Automatic. There are no cases ejecting to bounce off walls, people or anything else, thus no chance of a hot case winding up bouncing off your face or down the back of your shirt when using a revolver. The tolerances of an automatic are much finer. So variences in ammo, weather, and a host of other conditions can possibly render an automatic into a jam machine. Many Autos are picky about what kind/brand of ammo they like. Generally if you can chamber it a Revoler will reliably shoot it. Might not be the best ammo for that weapon but today and it looks like in the near future availibility of ammo is a major factor in choosing a weapon. The scarcity means shooting your favorite brand is not really an option. Thus potentially leaving you in the situation where the only ammo easily obtained is a type/brand your gun doesn't like.
Autos are only faster for as many clips as you have pre-loaded. If you have only 1 clip and 100 rounds to fire, the revolver is going to spit out those 100 rounds faster as it takes much longer to load a clip than to fill a revolver. I can for example eat up a box of 50 .357 rounds in minutes where it takes me close to 15-30 minutes to do the same using 2 clips and a .40 auto. Clip capacity is also a factor.
In terms of concealed carry automatics have a huge advantage.
I've fired hundreds of revolvers and automatics. Overall I am more accurate with Revolvers not just with first shot but with subsequent shots.
That said these are all generalities. There are a host of factors. One of THE most innaccurate guns I've ever fired was a snub nosed Taurus .357. It wasn't as bad as a .25 auto but then again nothing I've fired came close to being as inaccurate as a .25 auto. Ruger and Colt .45s autos I've fired have been exceptionally accurate. The Ruger was built on a 10mm frame, thus it's kick was almost nothing. The trigger design made rapid fire difficult but who needs it if you hit the target the first time? At least with a round heavy enough to keep it down. I've fired Glocks in many different calibers but the ones I've fired have been too small. No way I could shoot them two handed, just nowhere to put my left hand, attempting to do so generally got me bit by the slide. The small frame exagerated the kick making even a 9 feel like I was shooting something heavier. Fired lots of other types and styles and calibers of automatics. Some good, some horrible some inbetween.
Then there are personal factors. The heavier calibers revolvers usually come in are a bit too much for some people. The military got away from .45s because of the influx of women who often found .45s a bit much, though I've known some women who could group nicely in the bullseye with a .44 mag. So the kick is a factor. The specific gun is a factor. I voted for Revolver but I'd much rather have a Colt .45 auto than a Taurus anything. I'd rather use a .40 Ruger auto than a .38 special. Cost of the weapon is a practical factor many people forget to consider when recomending weapons. Better to shoot a .380 than throw rocks. If .380 is all you can afford it's all you can afford.
People also tend to have an affinity for what they learned to shoot with. So they'll naturally gravitate toward that.
So "better" is a relative term. A generic that can only be a general idea rather than a specific.
I've put thousands of rounds downrange with my Vaquero. I'll take it for long range any day. It's murder on bowling pins at 200 yards.
What's amuzing is that I have better luck with cowboy loads at that distance than I do with high pressure loads. The bullet flight time is more like hang time. If I pushed it any farther you could stick your hand out, catch them, and throw 'em back.
It's kinda funny to squeeze the shot and relax before the bullet hits the pin.
I used to compete in World Fast Draw with this hog so I point shoot it rather well. The single action is a natural for me.
I'm trying to get back into a 1911. In fact, one is due in later this week. Hopefully I will be able to duplicate the performance with it. It's going to take a while.
If you really want to get picky, I can out shoot either action with my Encore.
What's amuzing is that I have better luck with cowboy loads at that distance than I do with high pressure loads. The bullet flight time is more like hang time. If I pushed it any farther you could stick your hand out, catch them, and throw 'em back.
It's kinda funny to squeeze the shot and relax before the bullet hits the pin.
I used to compete in World Fast Draw with this hog so I point shoot it rather well. The single action is a natural for me.
I'm trying to get back into a 1911. In fact, one is due in later this week. Hopefully I will be able to duplicate the performance with it. It's going to take a while.
If you really want to get picky, I can out shoot either action with my Encore.
Depends on the gun.
I can't shoot the Ruger Blackhawks very good unless they got larger grips put on (Too small OR..bad shape).
I can't shoot my uncles Glock very well.
Then again, My Ruger Security Six (Aftermarket grips) and My sig I shoot good...All depends on the gun, some feel good, some don't.
I can't shoot the Ruger Blackhawks very good unless they got larger grips put on (Too small OR..bad shape).
I can't shoot my uncles Glock very well.
Then again, My Ruger Security Six (Aftermarket grips) and My sig I shoot good...All depends on the gun, some feel good, some don't.
Powdersmoke
New member
"Better" is kind of open to interpretation, I can get effective hits with either. Generally though unless I'm shooting a finely tuned revolver I'll be quicker with the semi-auto. The exception would be my Kel-Tec P11 where the long heavy DAO trigger makes it about equivalent to a 2" Smith + Wesson revolver in my hands anyway.
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The Great Mahoo
New member
I grew up shooting auto's and cowboy six-guns. Since starting my own collection, I have gotten more into modern revolvers than my father ever was, and now shoot all three as often as time and ammo allows.
I'm the best shot with an auto, since its what I learned on and by far have the most practice in. I'm still handy w/ a sixgun, and getting better w/ a D/A revolver.
I prefer a revolver for carry purposes, but still carry my auto more since I am a better shot with it.
I'm the best shot with an auto, since its what I learned on and by far have the most practice in. I'm still handy w/ a sixgun, and getting better w/ a D/A revolver.
I prefer a revolver for carry purposes, but still carry my auto more since I am a better shot with it.
mikejonestkd
New member
rimfires I tend to do better with auto loaders
Centerfires I do better with revolvers, in slow, bulleye shooting.
point shooting/ SD drills I am about the same with either platform
Centerfires I do better with revolvers, in slow, bulleye shooting.
point shooting/ SD drills I am about the same with either platform
Rapid fire: Auto wins. Glock 17 or 1911 are definitely the winners, especially on moving or turning targets, where I will tend to have clean misses when shooting a revolver, I can't pull through double action while moving the gun.
Deliberate slow fire in double action? Revolvers are the winners. I can knock down 100m steel plates with a 4 inch model 66. A straight back deliberate pull seems to center the gun.
Deliberate slow fire in double action? Revolvers are the winners. I can knock down 100m steel plates with a 4 inch model 66. A straight back deliberate pull seems to center the gun.
I shoot one of my two revolvers (S&W 637 and 686) and my 9mm Browning High Power each week at 5-10 yards. All three have Crimson Trace laser grips, as at my age my whole intent is SD/HD. I am better with either revolver fired double action -- even the snubby -- than I am with my BHP fired single action. And the trigger on the BHP is just fine now, what with at least 5,000 rounds fired (stopped counting years ago). I cannot explain it. I've puzzled on this for years. I'm glad to see from the voting results that I have plenty of company!
Cordially, Jack
Cordially, Jack
stalkingbear
New member
It's a tossup on close range (out to 25 yards) but further than that a good revolver when fired single action will easily take the average semi-auto-say 50 yards out to 100 yards. Having said that, the most accurate handgun by far that I own is a Ruger slabside .22 target pistol-1/2" groups at 50 yards from solid rest with it's 2.5x-8x scope.