Kreyzhorse
New member
Both are machines and while they are both very reliable, neither is immune to failure.
Revolvers versus Semi-autos
- Thread starter Rogervzv
- Start date
I was always a revolver guy up until about 15 years ago. A fellow was a witness in a drug trial and was stopped at a traffic light. Another fellow came up and put 15 rounds through the windshield and killed him.
I don't anticipate being in that situation anytime soon but I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather have more rounds at my disposal with a quicker possibility of reloading than I can have with a revolver.
Be it revolver or semi-auto I think that keeping the weapon maintained , cleaned and lubed is important to insure dependable function. I've had a revolver bind up with powder granules behind the ejection plate. Only happened once but once is all it takes if the omelet hits the fan.
I don't anticipate being in that situation anytime soon but I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather have more rounds at my disposal with a quicker possibility of reloading than I can have with a revolver.
Be it revolver or semi-auto I think that keeping the weapon maintained , cleaned and lubed is important to insure dependable function. I've had a revolver bind up with powder granules behind the ejection plate. Only happened once but once is all it takes if the omelet hits the fan.
I like revolvers for their brain dead operation. To bring my 686 into the fight I merely have to grab it and pull the trigger. No racking slides, fumbling with safety's, failure to feed, failure to eject. Its point and click.
I like the idea of having BOTH. A high cap autoloader as primary, and a 5-6 shot small frame CANNON revolver.
I like the idea of having BOTH. A high cap autoloader as primary, and a 5-6 shot small frame CANNON revolver.
I have just about an equal quantity of both ....maybe 20 of each ...
Revolvers were the first hand guns I loved ....S&W model 27's and 29's ...( and today, I have the priveledge of owning a variety of S&W revolvers that I really like shooting ). My all time favorite caliber in revolvers is the .357 mag.....and model 19's, 27's, 28's, 66's and 686's ...in 2", 4" and 6" ...they're all great guns ...
But like you, when I was in the service ...the 1911 was still king...and over time I really learned to love it as well / especially some of the newer refined models on the market today ...from Wilson Combat and Ed Brown...and I will always have a few 1911's chambered in 9mm and .45acp. Today's well made 1911's are very reliable .../but the key is to keep them clean and well lubed if you expect them to run reliably.
I don't think your buddies argument about Glocks - has proved that semi-autos are now reliable ....makes much sense, although Glock has developed a design, that even if abused, it will still run. There are some things to like about Glocks / and some things to hate in my opinion...but that's another discussion.
I can't call myself a "shooter" or "collector" ....unless I have a quantity of revolvers and semi-autos..../ they can both have problems / they are equally reliable ..
Revolvers were the first hand guns I loved ....S&W model 27's and 29's ...( and today, I have the priveledge of owning a variety of S&W revolvers that I really like shooting ). My all time favorite caliber in revolvers is the .357 mag.....and model 19's, 27's, 28's, 66's and 686's ...in 2", 4" and 6" ...they're all great guns ...
But like you, when I was in the service ...the 1911 was still king...and over time I really learned to love it as well / especially some of the newer refined models on the market today ...from Wilson Combat and Ed Brown...and I will always have a few 1911's chambered in 9mm and .45acp. Today's well made 1911's are very reliable .../but the key is to keep them clean and well lubed if you expect them to run reliably.
I don't think your buddies argument about Glocks - has proved that semi-autos are now reliable ....makes much sense, although Glock has developed a design, that even if abused, it will still run. There are some things to like about Glocks / and some things to hate in my opinion...but that's another discussion.
I can't call myself a "shooter" or "collector" ....unless I have a quantity of revolvers and semi-autos..../ they can both have problems / they are equally reliable ..
Yep.
I vote revolver though.
Why?
They don't stovepipe when you fire them in a trench-coat pocket & they don't leave brass lying about for someone like this:
http://images-partners-tbn.google.c...2574/Abby_Sciuto_of_NCIS_by_RedSpider2008.jpg
to play with at the crime scene.
Revolver can be made ready for use without cycling the ammo or the hammer/striker.
This precludes messing with the hammer or decocker when getting it loaded and into DA mode (if it's a DA). It precludes a mistake between slide going to battery and putting the safety (if any) on (SA).
Revolver also won't see bullet setback due to ordinary handling such as can occur when chambering and re-chambering the same carry round as the gun is repeatedly emptied and made ready (if you do that).
I'm willing to load my revolvers while in the house.
I am very wary of loading my semi-autos in the house. Should I chamber a round I make darn sure to point the pistol at a large, full water barrel - just in case. (In 20+ years of pistol ownership I have yet to chamber a live round in a semi-auto while in the house. )
"Stuff" happens the more you mess with it.
This precludes messing with the hammer or decocker when getting it loaded and into DA mode (if it's a DA). It precludes a mistake between slide going to battery and putting the safety (if any) on (SA).
Revolver also won't see bullet setback due to ordinary handling such as can occur when chambering and re-chambering the same carry round as the gun is repeatedly emptied and made ready (if you do that).
I'm willing to load my revolvers while in the house.
I am very wary of loading my semi-autos in the house. Should I chamber a round I make darn sure to point the pistol at a large, full water barrel - just in case. (In 20+ years of pistol ownership I have yet to chamber a live round in a semi-auto while in the house. )
"Stuff" happens the more you mess with it.
I'm a revolver kinda guy, always have been and always will be. Revolvers are easy to maintain, simple to use, (just point and shoot) and I believe that the .357 Magnum cartage is the end all be all in handgun cartages. For home or personal S/D six (6) rounds should be enough.
Now if I were to required to go into a military combat situation I would opt for a quality auto loader. For reasons others have written about.
Now if I were to required to go into a military combat situation I would opt for a quality auto loader. For reasons others have written about.
What was true in 1911, is still true today:
“…The Board therefore recommendsthat the Colt Caliber .45 Automatic Pistol of the design submitted to the Board for test be adopted for use by foot and mounted troops in the Military service in consequence of its marked superiority to the present service revolvers and to any other known pistol, of its extreme reliability and endurance and of its fulfillment of all essential military requirements…”
“…The Board therefore recommendsthat the Colt Caliber .45 Automatic Pistol of the design submitted to the Board for test be adopted for use by foot and mounted troops in the Military service in consequence of its marked superiority to the present service revolvers and to any other known pistol, of its extreme reliability and endurance and of its fulfillment of all essential military requirements…”
danber9546
New member
Why not both?
Why not own (and carry) both? I own and carry both on a regular basis. Like others have said- they're both machines and can fail. That's why cops carry a backup. So, if you get in a gunfight and your main gun "quits on you" without warning, what do you do if you're only carrying one weapon? That's not being paranoid, that's just being prepared. I also carry extra ammo for everything I carry, ergo: "Be Prepared".
My motto: Be prepared for the worst,hope for the best.
Why not own (and carry) both? I own and carry both on a regular basis. Like others have said- they're both machines and can fail. That's why cops carry a backup. So, if you get in a gunfight and your main gun "quits on you" without warning, what do you do if you're only carrying one weapon? That's not being paranoid, that's just being prepared. I also carry extra ammo for everything I carry, ergo: "Be Prepared".
My motto: Be prepared for the worst,hope for the best.
Single Six
New member
While I've never experienced it, I understand that empty casings can get caught under the extractor star of a DA revolver, causing major problems. Nevertheless, I carry a DA revolver while off-duty, after toting my Ruger P-90 in that capacity for several years...mainly because of it's reliability, and also for sentimental reasons: I carried a DA wheelie in my early days of LE. Both wheel guns and autos have their respective strengths and weaknesses. Neither format can cover all of the bases; I suggest you pick whichever suits you best and then concentrate on training, taking advantage of your choice's strengths while working with and around it's weaknesses. 
Here is my take. Long ago everyone I worked with carried a PPk or Bersa or S&W 36. The PPk always had issues. I have owned a PPk, PPks, P230, P232, plus many snubbies. Always ended up with a 38spl or 357 snubbie. A few years ago we went away from revolvers all together. I started carrying a G33 so I could shoot the same ammo as my service weapon. No problems until today. I had many FTF with my auto, because of an extended mag I purchased. Easy enough, don't carry the extended mag and have no worries. The gun has always worked before the extended mag. Well I keep thinking about buying another 5 shot snubbie, either 642 or an LCR. Those FTF caused scars on my psych. Say what you want, a revolver equals peace of mind!
At the range I've heard the younger semi-auto generation refer to revolvers as "Old guy guns". That's fine. I'll take that (while muttering "ouch" under my breath).
Revolvers are generally very adequate firearms for civilians who will seldom see gangs or rarely have to deal with more than 3 thugs. For most law-abiding citizens, that's the majority of us.
To those who say the semiauto can put more fire downrange faster than a revolver, I will point out that this may be true only for average shooters. The auto can deliver more rounds in a few seconds, but those first 5-8 rounds can be fired faster by a revolver. Look up Jerry Miculek's 12 rounds in 2.99 seconds. Or Ed McGivern's 6-shots in 9/20ths of a second!
Not undergunned
The revolver today is still the same or similar to your grandfather's gun. The ammunition is much more effective however (e.g. .38 Special +P). The use of the revolver does require more attention to marksmanship and proper technique than do many semi-autos. Yet, as difficult as it may be to shoot a DA revolver well, it seems to work just fine in the hands of many civilians during self-defense shootings.
I've talked to officers about revolvers being used by elderly women who have almost never fired a gun, by young wives defending their children and even a few teens and pre-teen children using revolvers defensively. Many of these ended fatally for the BG and in all but one case ended up causing an immediate end to their aggression. Under stress, the simplicity of their "point and click" interface helps a great deal.
The revolver isn't dead. Not yet.
There are advantages to the semi-auto platforms that give it an obvious leg-up for carry and defense. But they have numerous points of failure - magazines, feed ramps, bullet-setback, FTE, limp-wristing, out-of-battery conditions etc. Revolvers are simply less likely to experience failures when firing.
Revolvers can and do pack a lot of power into a small package. Large revolvers can pack enough punch to bring down bear or punch through automotive parts easily. This gives some revolvers a big edge over autos.
S&W Model 657 - aka "Night Sun"
If you live in an area infested with gang vermin and gang violence is a very real thing in the areas you frequent, a semi-auto may very well be your better choice. But only if you can shoot it well, there's no sense in hoping one out of your 15 rounds hits the mark. Remember that speed is fine, but accuracy is final.
As for me, revolvers are my favorites and still quite often a CCW companion. However, in higher risk areas I may switch to a favorite semi-auto for the ability to reload faster if the need arises.
Revolvers are generally very adequate firearms for civilians who will seldom see gangs or rarely have to deal with more than 3 thugs. For most law-abiding citizens, that's the majority of us.
To those who say the semiauto can put more fire downrange faster than a revolver, I will point out that this may be true only for average shooters. The auto can deliver more rounds in a few seconds, but those first 5-8 rounds can be fired faster by a revolver. Look up Jerry Miculek's 12 rounds in 2.99 seconds. Or Ed McGivern's 6-shots in 9/20ths of a second!
Not undergunned
The revolver today is still the same or similar to your grandfather's gun. The ammunition is much more effective however (e.g. .38 Special +P). The use of the revolver does require more attention to marksmanship and proper technique than do many semi-autos. Yet, as difficult as it may be to shoot a DA revolver well, it seems to work just fine in the hands of many civilians during self-defense shootings.
I've talked to officers about revolvers being used by elderly women who have almost never fired a gun, by young wives defending their children and even a few teens and pre-teen children using revolvers defensively. Many of these ended fatally for the BG and in all but one case ended up causing an immediate end to their aggression. Under stress, the simplicity of their "point and click" interface helps a great deal.
The revolver isn't dead. Not yet.
There are advantages to the semi-auto platforms that give it an obvious leg-up for carry and defense. But they have numerous points of failure - magazines, feed ramps, bullet-setback, FTE, limp-wristing, out-of-battery conditions etc. Revolvers are simply less likely to experience failures when firing.
Revolvers can and do pack a lot of power into a small package. Large revolvers can pack enough punch to bring down bear or punch through automotive parts easily. This gives some revolvers a big edge over autos.
S&W Model 657 - aka "Night Sun"
If you live in an area infested with gang vermin and gang violence is a very real thing in the areas you frequent, a semi-auto may very well be your better choice. But only if you can shoot it well, there's no sense in hoping one out of your 15 rounds hits the mark. Remember that speed is fine, but accuracy is final.
As for me, revolvers are my favorites and still quite often a CCW companion. However, in higher risk areas I may switch to a favorite semi-auto for the ability to reload faster if the need arises.
BillCA great post. "Old guy guns..." ouch, that one hurts.
I grew up on automatics, primarily the Colt 45 1911. After Army service, while I still like and own the 1911, the simplicity of the revolver just plain appeals to me. Easy to shoot, difficult to shoot well double action, easy to field strip and clean, never jams, this all just carries a fascination.
Most civilians (heck, probably even most cops) are never going to need to shoot at more than one bad guy at a time. More important to shoot a few times and shoot well. Revolvers are great for this.
When a bad guy comes in the house, you know that if you grab your revolver that it is going to do the job for you if you have practiced with it and maintained it.
I grew up on automatics, primarily the Colt 45 1911. After Army service, while I still like and own the 1911, the simplicity of the revolver just plain appeals to me. Easy to shoot, difficult to shoot well double action, easy to field strip and clean, never jams, this all just carries a fascination.
Most civilians (heck, probably even most cops) are never going to need to shoot at more than one bad guy at a time. More important to shoot a few times and shoot well. Revolvers are great for this.
When a bad guy comes in the house, you know that if you grab your revolver that it is going to do the job for you if you have practiced with it and maintained it.
Revolvers and semis both have their pros and cons - capacity vs simplicity vs size vs .....
With proper maintenance and good quality ammo, a quality semi can be just as reliable as a quality revolver. The key is to have the firearm fit the user.
When the firearm fits the user, I think the semi has the advantage (except for Jerry Miculek).
I personally carry a semi. Yes, it requires a little more from me than a revolver but that is the price I have to pay for the added capacity/size.
With proper maintenance and good quality ammo, a quality semi can be just as reliable as a quality revolver. The key is to have the firearm fit the user.
When the firearm fits the user, I think the semi has the advantage (except for Jerry Miculek).
I personally carry a semi. Yes, it requires a little more from me than a revolver but that is the price I have to pay for the added capacity/size.
jcsturgeon
New member
Revolvers aren't "Old Guy Guns" (though, it's a funny moniker now that you mention it) but they do seem mostly obsolete.
Sure, revolvers can be fun, but my Beretta holds 15 rounds of 9mm, a Glock 17 holds 17 rounds, a Glock 22 holds 15 .40 caliber cartridges (or 17 with a special mag), the M&P series of pistols are high cap, Springfield XD, etc. etc.
Why would someone looking for a serious LE, SD or HD gun want a revolver? With between 5-8 cartridges, IMO it just doesn't make sense any more as a serious option for protection. Revolvers aren't fool proof, they can get out of time, things can go wrong, people shooting modern semi autos have reported thousands of rounds being fired successfully, with no cleaning , before a jam occurs.
To me, asking Revolvers or Semi Autos is like asking "horse or car?", "Light bulbs or candles" or "toilet paper or pine cones?"
It's just a no brainer.
Sure, revolvers can be fun, but my Beretta holds 15 rounds of 9mm, a Glock 17 holds 17 rounds, a Glock 22 holds 15 .40 caliber cartridges (or 17 with a special mag), the M&P series of pistols are high cap, Springfield XD, etc. etc.
Why would someone looking for a serious LE, SD or HD gun want a revolver? With between 5-8 cartridges, IMO it just doesn't make sense any more as a serious option for protection. Revolvers aren't fool proof, they can get out of time, things can go wrong, people shooting modern semi autos have reported thousands of rounds being fired successfully, with no cleaning , before a jam occurs.
To me, asking Revolvers or Semi Autos is like asking "horse or car?", "Light bulbs or candles" or "toilet paper or pine cones?"
It's just a no brainer.
Single Six
New member
JCSturgeon: I respectfully disagree. Granted, most any quality semi auto will usually work fine when you need it to. My Ruger P-90 is a prime example of this. Conversely, in my capacity as a full time LEO, I am required to carry a department-issued Sig P220ST. This gun, and the P220 I was issued prior to it, have both suffered function-critical parts breakage while in use on the range. As a result, I am forced to stake my life on a gun I absolutely do not trust. On the other hand, early in my career, I was issued a DA revolver...which NEVER failed to function as it should. Sure, wheel guns don't hold as much ammo as an auto, and they're slower to reload, but it's hard to beat that reliability factor. To me, "six for sure" beats the heck out of a high dollar Sig that has proven to me [twice] that it may or may not work.