revolver vs. pistol

Agree with you whole heartedly, tallball. Had plenty of stoppages with a bottom feeder; never with a revolver. My CCW is a revolver.

Don
 
After seeing firsthand countless stovepipes and jams over the past 3 decades with semiautomatics, both during qualifications and off duty on personal time, with a number of high quality brands, I simply cannot trust semiautomatics 100%. Bad magazines, dirty guns, ammo issues, improper lubrication (wrong viscosity in cold weather and limp wristing were the culprits. Yes, "tap and rack" can be utilized to clear the weapon, but it's simply not as quick as pulling the trigger again on a revolver. During my lifetime I have had ONE revolver jam (loose extractor rod, fixed with a dab of locktite)... but with semiautomatics I have observed, experienced literally hundreds. Most could be cleared, some required gunsmithing. If a semi seriously malfunctions/ breaks (beyond clearing a jam, replacing a magazine), it, like a revolver with a serious malfunction, will be out of the game until it gets fixed. No advantage for the semiautomatic in that aspect. Another point to consider; FBI data indicates the majority of LEO shootouts are at VERY close range, under 3 yards. Non LEO and off duty / retired LEO's need to remember, even if you try to avoid it, many bad situations (muggings, assaults, car jackings), are at point blank range, often during a physical altercation, with multiple attackers. If you suddenly find yourself pinned up against a wall or vehicle, or on the ground during an attack, your assailant(s), may be younger, stronger, bigger, better trained (think UFC), and armed with a gun, blunt instrument or knife. Not a good place to be, especially since these attacks often happen quickly with little or no warning. Many semiautomatics will NOT fire if the muzzle is pressed against a hard object, as they will be out of battery. Those that will fire most likely will not fire a second time as the slides operation will be impeded by clothing / pressure, etc. With a REVOLVER, you can jam it in your attackers ribs and start pulling the trigger until he ceases to attack you, something to consider when you chose a sidearm! Even empty, the steel revolver is a FAR better club than a plastic frame pistol. Compare the sharp edges and heft of a steel 686 or GP-100 to that of a plastic framed Glock 19 or S&W M&P 9mm... which would you rather have as a club if it stopped working or ran dry?? Beretta M9 and Colt style 1911's aside, as they WOULD BE good clubs, but the plastic frame pistols appear to be the most popular, hence my comparisons. Kel Tec or mini Glock VS. S&W 36 or 640? I know what I would prefer to be swinging if my life depended upon it and it wouldn't be PLASTIC.
Remember, the best way to win a gunfight is to avoid any confrontation to begin with. Ego is your real enemy. Retreat if possible. Off duty (on duty I am forced by policy to carry a semiautomatic pistol), I prefer a high quality revolver with multiple speed strips / speedloaders. There are some damn GOOD semiautomatics out there, I own several myself. I just cannot trust them as much as a well maintained revolver. Just my opinion. Carry what you will, but train with it. If you prefer pistols, TRAIN to tap and rack... FAST. S&W 686 is a fine choice! Remember, the added weight... it doesn't matter if it's not comfortable, as long as it's COMFORTING. Be safe.
 
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I’ve witnessed two revolver jams.
Once, my friend was shooting his Ruger Security Six. He was using a just purchased factory 357 mag load, and a squib pushed the bullet half into the forcing cone...the revolver was locked up until a rod could be found to push the bullet back into the cylinder.
The other time, a shooter next to me had a Ruger LCR, and the fourth bullet pulled forward from recoil until it protruded enough to stop the cylinder from rotating.

So revolver jams happen. Doesn’t stop me from using revolvers.
 
What would you want to carry for SD, a 357 in magnum revolver(6 or 7 shot) or a Glock 19 you can sub any pistol & any 357 in magnum for this discussion.
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My first handgun over 30 years ago was a Smith 686 357 and I have owned quite a few 357s over the years but when it comes to SD carry guns I'll take my Shield 9mm/45 over anything 357 MAG especially the lightweight 357s. I so sometimes still carry a 642 in 38 Special.

Years ago I did carry a Smith 66 2.5" for short time. The ridiculous muzzle blast from the 357s is something that is not present with the semi-autos or 38 revolvers. I can hit more accurately with the semi-autos in fast fire. As to reliability none of my semi-auto Sigs , Smiths , Walthers , Springfields or Ruger ever had any reliability issue.
 
amd6547 said:
I’ve witnessed two revolver jams.
Once, my friend was shooting his Ruger Security Six. He was using a just purchased factory 357 mag load, and a squib pushed the bullet half into the forcing cone...the revolver was locked up until a rod could be found to push the bullet back into the cylinder.
The other time, a shooter next to me had a Ruger LCR, and the fourth bullet pulled forward from recoil until it protruded enough to stop the cylinder from rotating.

So revolver jams happen. Doesn’t stop me from using revolvers.
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If you shoot autos or revolvers enough, youll get to experience many, if not most of their less than stellar moments.

Youll also see pretty quick, that the autos are usually right back in business, with a quick TRB. The revolvers, are generally DRT.

Regardless, if you maintain your stuff, and use ammo of a reasonable quality, the chance of a stoppage with either is pretty low.


I have a bunch of both. Shot the crap out of both. Ive carried both. These days, a Glock 17 and 26 as a pair, make the most sense to me.

Still like my revolvers though, even the old and feeble ones. :D
 
Back to the original question: I prefer to have the ability to slow or stop an attacker with a well placed shot over needing to have multiple hits on target. I realize there's a potential of multiple bad guys, but feel the stopping power of the .357 can help compensate for the lack of rounds.
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Legend has it that when Wild Bill Hickok was asked why he carried a pair of .36 caliber 1851 Navy Colts instead of the more powerful .44 Army Colt revolvers, his answer was "I don't need to kill them, I just need to make them sit down and stop shooting".
I would choose a pistol that I can shoot well over one that blows the bad guy away. People are not grizzly bears or feral hogs that apparently ignore pain when wounded.
 
Drugs, mental instability, other factors can see a person ignore getting shot till the body finally gives up entirely.
 
So revolver jams happen. Doesn’t stop me from using revolvers
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Get a tiny piece of schmutz under the extractor star, and you are screwed.

Most auto pistol jams can be cleared without even knowing what the problem was that caused it, day or night, with a tap-rack, but any problem with a revo requires evaluation and proper ministrations.
 
Rick B,


To preclude having a "piece of schmutz" under
the extractor star, having a high primer to
irregular case rims, do a spin check after
loading.

In a reload with a clean gun to start with,
the chances of the "schmutz" showing up
are nil.

I've had too many jams with autos such
as double feeds, smokestacks to know that
rack, slam and bam or whatever its called
just doesn't work very well.

I must say my experience with the Beretta
92FS I've never had a stoppage of any kind.
But I still prefer revolvers.
 
All the shooting I do is on the clock, so the only time for anything like a pre-test, to determine if the gun is going to work, is during the initial loading of the gun.
Any other gun manipulations, from reloading, to malfunction clearance, is going to be done while the clock is ticking.

If it's a two-way range, any functional issues will have to be addressed with lead flying, and a large proportion of such events take place in low- or no-light, and just determining that there is a problem isn't the goal, it's rectifying the problem.

My example was to illustrate how a revolver can be put completely out of action by a single piece of dirt, and it would be very difficult to rectify it quickly or easily under ideal conditions.

Most auto pistol issues, other than some broken parts, can be rectified without even having to analyze the problem; reloading the gun will usually fix it.
 
RickB said:
All the shooting I do is on the clock, so the only time for anything like a pre-test, to determine if the gun is going to work, is during the initial loading of the gun.
Any other gun manipulations, from reloading, to malfunction clearance, is going to be done while the clock is ticking.

If it's a two-way range, any functional issues will have to be addressed with lead flying, and a large proportion of such events take place in low- or no-light, and just determining that there is a problem isn't the goal, it's rectifying the problem.

My example was to illustrate how a revolver can be put completely out of action by a single piece of dirt, and it would be very difficult to rectify it quickly or easily under ideal conditions.

Most auto pistol issues, other than some broken parts, can be rectified without even having to analyze the problem; reloading the gun will usually fix it.
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Agreed, a single issue can put any gun inoperable. Including but not limited to, revolvers and semi-auto pistols. Most issues can be resolved quickly, sometimes catastrophe happens. Let us not ignore either because what can happen lest we just give up on everything.
 
Rick B,

I think it's a mistake to talk about
on the clock and competitions.

Realistically, one reload is the most you'll ever need
to do and if you do need a third or fourth reload,
the fight is probably lost. And you're the loser.

And that goes for revolver or auto, especially
auto with today's preponderance of 15 and 18
shot models.
 
What would you want to carry for SD, a 357 in magnum revolver(6 or 7 shot) or a Glock 19
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I prefer revolvers over automatics as a general preference for how they look, feel and shoot. Based on the specific question, for a self defense situation I would choose a Glock 19 over a revolver loaded with .357 Magnum ammo.
 
The older I get the more I prefer revolvers over semi's.

A 5 shot .38 special Taurus, Ruger or Smith will do the trick.
 
I pocket carry a 642 revolver. Bought an LC9, I shoot it slightly better than the 642. I can draw the 642 from my pocket, can't draw the LC9. Put my hand around the handle of the LC9 and can't get it out of my pocket. The fact that I can shoot it faster than the 642 is a moot point if I can't get it into action.
If I'm gonna use a holster, might as well carry the lightweight Commander or S&W 19.
 
I like both and if I had the money I would have both. Years back I went to go buy a snub .38 but they had a Baby Eagle in 9mm for a pretty good deal. I’d like to find a H&R vest gun in 38 S&W. My Baby Eagle is nice but it’s close to the size of a 1911 and quite hefty. I almost never carry though. No permits required here but I live 15 minutes from another state, I’m either home or in a different state usually.
 
I will limit my response to the calibers described in the OP.

In my case, the answer is both. Not at the same time, but if I am hiking where I may run into bear (yes, I know-bear spray), I prefer a .357. When I don’t expect to run into large 4-legged potential aggressors, I like the higher capacity of the 9mm pistol.
 
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