Semi autos vs revolvers for carrying
- Thread starter CMichael
- Start date
For me, a semi-auto for sure. Generally speaking they're thinner and lighter than revolvers of equivalent firepower and they offer superior ammo capacity. Defenders of the revolver may argue that most defensive shooting incidents don't require so many as 5 or 6 shots... but has anyone ever lost a gun fight because they had too much ammo? There's also the reliability aspect, but if you know what you're doing and get a good semi-auto, it will in practice be as reliable as any revolver out there. And I've had a couple revolvers that were just as unreliable as even the lowest orders of semi-autos.
dalegribble
New member
if you are comparing semi autos to revolvers with no other criteria listed then you have to choose semi autos. semi autos range in caliber from the 22 to the 45. they are pretty flat and most have higher capacity than revolvers.
truley concealable revolvers are all concentrated around the snub nose revolver in 22, 38 and 357. not much else is available in revolvers that are truely concealable.
while the sheer number of semi auto is huge and growing everyday, not all of these firearms as reliable as a cc weapon should be. revolvers on the other hand are easier to understand, easier to use and often more reliable. for many people that is worth sacraficing a few rounds of ammo.
truley concealable revolvers are all concentrated around the snub nose revolver in 22, 38 and 357. not much else is available in revolvers that are truely concealable.
while the sheer number of semi auto is huge and growing everyday, not all of these firearms as reliable as a cc weapon should be. revolvers on the other hand are easier to understand, easier to use and often more reliable. for many people that is worth sacraficing a few rounds of ammo.
I won't choose one over the other without more criteria.
The OP stated "for carrying".
That leaves a lot of reasoning undefined.
CCW, OC, or either?
Urban defense, woods carry, hunting, or mowing the lawn?
I've no problem carrying either, or both, depending on what I'm doing, and where I'm going.
Daryl
The OP stated "for carrying".
That leaves a lot of reasoning undefined.
CCW, OC, or either?
Urban defense, woods carry, hunting, or mowing the lawn?
I've no problem carrying either, or both, depending on what I'm doing, and where I'm going.
Daryl
orionengnr
New member
I carry a semi auto ~90% of the time.
I enjoy shooting and carrying a revolver, but my favorites are 4" N-frames. I shoot them regularly because I reload. I carry them occasionally because I live in Texas, and I because I am 5'9" and weigh 152#.
I have owned at least six J-frames, three or four K-frames, and at least three L-frames. All but one or two K-frames are long gone.
I enjoy shooting and carrying a revolver, but my favorites are 4" N-frames. I shoot them regularly because I reload. I carry them occasionally because I live in Texas, and I because I am 5'9" and weigh 152#.
I have owned at least six J-frames, three or four K-frames, and at least three L-frames. All but one or two K-frames are long gone.
When my life is on the line I want the most reliable thing in my hand possible, my vote goes to revolvers. For shooting at paper and steel plates I prefer semi-autos, less reloading and lighter trigger, those for me do not offset the fact that is is much more prone to failure. How many times have you had a FTF or FTE at the range with a semi-auto compared to the amount of times you were attacked by a group of armed thugs needing 10-20 rounds to eliminate the threat. I know the first one has happened to all of us and the second one is unlikely to happen to 90% of civilians on this board, note I said civilians.
357 Python
New member
I voted revolver because that is what I started with. Don't discount the revolver one bit. Yes the semi-auto may have more rounds in the magazine but are those rounds better than the rounds in a revolver? There used to be a time when you made every shot count and the revolver develops this philosophy. I have seen and talked to people who had semi-auto that claimed they didn't have to be as accurate since they had more rounds to get the job done. Granted it wasn't many they are out there. As far as police amd the military changing remember change for the sake of change may not always be good. Because someone else buys the newest whatever then am I reduced by not having the same thing? If someone jumped off a bridge followed by four more would you say that was a good idea? Jumping certainly changed their lives. Don't get me wrong I also carry a semi-auto off duty from time to time and my issued duty weapon is a semi-auto but I don't consider them any better than my revolvers. Nor do I consider my revolvers better than my semi-autos. They are tools and you have to master those tools to be effective and responsible. Those who believe they have more rounds to get the job done rarely realized that they were responsible for each round fired. There are many here on this forum and others that can take either one and be just as effective with them.
To me more rounds in the gun means accuracy goes down. same reason that all army's except the US still issued bolt action rifles in WW2 as a main combat weapon. More rounds means more firepower on target, one of the main reasons the army switched from the m14 to m16. If I had the choice between my old cold S.A.A. and a 1911 I would take my S.A.A. Just like I would take a m14 or even a m1 garand into combat rather an m16 or ak.
orionengnr
New member
The relevant question is:
"How many times have you had a FTF or FTE at the range with your carry ammo in your semi-auto?"
I have at least a half-dozen semis that score a "never" on that scale. For practical purposes, that means 200 rounds of carry ammo without a malfunction. That is why they are carry guns.
Those that were unable to achieve this (cough cough Kel-Tec x 4) were sold with full disclosure.
I am currently working on adding two more to that list.
Correlation does not equal causation.
If I open carried I'd go full sized semi, but I conceal carry in my pants pocket, so that leaves me with a Ruger LCP .380, or a S&W Airweight 638 Bodyguard .38 +P. I like the revolver better. Both are great pocket gun's but I shoot the revolver better especially at 7+ yards, and it has a more powerful round than a .380.
For me I get tipped toward revolvers for several reasons, but most of them are more pragmatic than 'they are more reliable... la la la'. First, you can load and unload and check for loaded anywhere and don't need a suitable backstop while doing so, unlike a semi. Second, the manual of arms is as simple as it comes. Third, I just like them more - which is probably the best reason to either carry one or the other if you really think about it.
I voted revolver 'cause it works best for me.
1. It costs too much to test a premium SD load in an automatic. 200 rounds without a malfunction through any magazine I want to use means a MINIMUM 400 rounds just for reliability checks. One hiccup and I'd have to start over. With a revolver, I only have to test 5 (J-frame) for POI.
2. Normal maintenance replacement items such as recoil springs change the feed characteristics of an auto. Do I have to test my premium SD ammo again when the spring is near its replacement age? That's at least another 400 rounds of expensive ammo used as a hole punch. Do I test every time I change a recoil spring?
3. My personal favorite SD ammo, Remington 158gr LSWCHP +P, doesn't fit in any of my autos.
4. My autos are service-pistol size and I don't consider them to be small enough for carry. Others carry a full-size 1911 daily, but I won't.
5. A revolver can't be pushed out of battery if pressed into an attacker.
Are we having fun yet?
1. It costs too much to test a premium SD load in an automatic. 200 rounds without a malfunction through any magazine I want to use means a MINIMUM 400 rounds just for reliability checks. One hiccup and I'd have to start over. With a revolver, I only have to test 5 (J-frame) for POI.
2. Normal maintenance replacement items such as recoil springs change the feed characteristics of an auto. Do I have to test my premium SD ammo again when the spring is near its replacement age? That's at least another 400 rounds of expensive ammo used as a hole punch. Do I test every time I change a recoil spring?
3. My personal favorite SD ammo, Remington 158gr LSWCHP +P, doesn't fit in any of my autos.
4. My autos are service-pistol size and I don't consider them to be small enough for carry. Others carry a full-size 1911 daily, but I won't.
5. A revolver can't be pushed out of battery if pressed into an attacker.
CMichael said:
Are we having fun yet?
One of the rifles we issued to our soldiers in the early 20th Century was the Krag-Jorgensen. Some folks were concerned that soldiers would spray-and-pray with these new, rapid-fire bolt-action rifles, so it had a lever on the left side of the receiver that cut off feeding from the magazine, converting it to a single-shot.
Now people gripe about only having six shots. Go figure.