Should I get a semi-auto or a revolver as my first SD gun?

T

truth_seeker

New member
Hi,

Well I'm making another topic on what to choose, because it seems I haven't made up my mind too well yet. I've heard some good suggestions on my other topic though.

So far my choice is a .38 or .357 magnum revolver, because a wheel barrel gun just seems so cool for me.

However the .357 might be hard for me to meet the low muzzle flip requirements.

My standards for choosing a gun are low muzzle flip, moderate fps, accuracy, hammer rather than striker, and physical features like low bore axis, decocker, and slimmer grip.

My choices so far are the PX4 Storm 45, SW 4506, PT Taurus, Glock 30 or 21C.

My budget limit is $620, and it's the reason why I'm going to wait on the HK P7 so I can get more money on a great condition and complete HK in box and papers. It's an older gun after all.

I am open to 1911s. I am attracted to its better average accuracy than the glock, the possibly low bore axis(though Glock has got it beat of course, but it's good enough), and the slimmer grip since most of them are single stack magazines.

I am wary of the PX4 Storm, especially it's accuracy I saw side by side with a glock shooter, but the groups aren't too much different, and that is just one video. Anyway, I think it might get some decent customer service should something go wrong. I hope the changeable backstraps would come in slimmer backstraps one day, but maybe it's not meant for a firearm like that.

Thank you, I hope I get some good selections here and I would love to purchase one soon and have my mind made up finally.
 
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Pick what you like best and shoot the best with, and go from there.

If youre going to go the revolver route, learn to shoot it DAO, and forget its got a hammer that can be cocked. Better yet, buy a DAO gun, and dont look back. J&G Sales has decent S&W 357mag police trade ins for around $230+ that are very good deals. They may show surface wear, but are otherwise in great cheap, and great shooters. www.jgsales.com

I'd also stay away from the snubbies, and especially the light weight snubbies. They are not a beginners gun, and even seasoned shooters have troubles with them. They need steady practice to stay on top of them, and with realistic ammo, they are not pleasant to shoot, so many dont practice enough.
 
You should buy, shoot and carry or conceal --- the gun you shoot the best.

What fits my hands may not fit yours .....so what should you do ...don't know.. ( go to a range that rents guns / and shoot some of them ) ...

In my case ( what do I shoot the best - 1911's / so its what I carry most of the time) - and I have a few of them (in 9mm, .40S&W and .45 acp). For me, a 1911, has to be a 5" gun ....I just don't like the 3", 3 1/2" ...4" or 4 1/4" might be ok ...but I like the 5" better. I carry a Wilson Combat, CQB, 5", 1911 in .45 acp most of the time.

Do I like revolvers - sure --- and older S&W's are what I like ( based on triggers mostly ) but a good S&W like a model 19 or 66 in 4" in .357 mag is a very good gun ( and I have a few of them ).

Do I like DA/SA type semi-autos ...not really ...and the only one I can tolerate is the Sig. A Sig 226 full sized, double stack - is too wide, and too heavy to carry - but it'll sit in a bedroom dresser drawer just fine ( so a Sig 226 in .40S&W fits that bill ) ......or a Sig 239, single stack, nice and slim and light ...and again in .40S&W it works real well too. I do carry the Sig 239 in .40S&W once in a while.
 
I learned to shoot with an old model 10 followed by a chief special. Most the latter. Baptism by fire. Believe it made it easier for me to shoot everything else later in life.
 
However the .357 might be hard for me to meet the low muzzle flip requirements.
Click to expand...

Find a nice used .357 S&W with a 4" barrel. If the muzzle flip is too much, shot .38s out of it. Problem solved.
 
I agree that you need to buy what suits you best. Shoot all that you can and, if you can't shoot them, hold them and dry fire them (ask the clerk first).

Everything else being equal, I recommend a revolver for a first handgun. Reasons:

1. You can learn to shoot both double action and single action. DA for closer distances and SA for longer distances.

2. More versatile loads available, especially in a .357 magnum. If the muzzle fip is too much with a hot load, go with a less powerful .357 load (Speer Gold Dots, maybe) or even move down to .38 spl +P in your magnum.

I think the SW K-frames (19, 13, 65, 66) are a great size. Substantial enough to keep shooting enjoyable but not so heavy they strain your back if you carry it.

BTW, you don't mention what your purpose is. Home defense, carry?

As far as 1911s, your $620 budget limits choices to various Philippine guns, Springfield GI, or STI Spartan ($628 last I saw). The STI is assembled in the Philippines using a cast frame and forged slide and assembled to STI specs using STI internal parts. They are a heck of a good gun for that money.
 
I'm biased...I own twice as many revolvers as pistols. I think its hard to beat a S&W K frame for a DA trigger. I own more K frames that I like to admit;) They just fit most people well. They are natural pointers and are truly really the quintessential KISS handgun. Also a 4" K frame loaded with +P 158gr LSWCHP's has been stopping bad guys very effectively for 40+ years.

Also +1 on the DAO revolver recommendation. I only ever practice with my revolvers DA.

That being said I love S&W third gen pistols...especially the 4506. They are just tough, reliable and accurate workhorses.
 
how much practice/training will you do?

do you want a gun that will sit in your bedside table? do you want a gun that you will carry with you everyday?

more importantly, how much practice/training are you willing to put in? if the answer is "not much", then i recommend a revolver for simplicity's sake...just pickup, point, squeeeeeeeeze, BANG

if you plan on practicing a decent amount, then i would recommend a semi-auto (increased round count). through QUALITY practice/training, you will learn how to clear a jam and swap mags.

just my 2 cents. i'm no expert, and i didn't stay at a holiday inn express last night either
 
What is your gun handling experience? Are you a machine kind of guy?

If the answers are minimal and no, a revolver would be a better choice. Sure you get less shots than a auto, but the operation is easy, point and pull the trigger. A safety isn't needed due to the strong trigger pull in double action. ( PD guns realy should be used in DA because single action presents such a light short trigger pull increasing the chance of a unintended firing under stress. ) No one brings this up but, if you can't get to your gun and a friendly non shooter is able gain access, they will be able to "operate" the gun with no instructions.

If the answers are yes rifle and yes, perhaps a auto would be OK. The down side is the added complexity of operation and miss feed issues. A non gun person isn't likely to be able to operate the gun without instruction, install the clip , pull the slide ( but if the slide is locked back you must push the little lever to unlock it ) , move the safety to fire and. . .bang , oops, wow that is a light trigger. However, if a bad guy gets ahold of your auto and the safety is on / nothing in the chamber, he might not be able to make it fire giving you time to get away.

As for what to get. The SW J frame comes in many styles from a stupid light 340PD airlight .375 to a all steel 640 .375. If recoil is a issue the all steel J is the way to go. Shooting .357 out of a 340 is stupid ( I made it to 2 and I'm not recoil sensititive ) , .38s are bearable.

Ruger SP101 is similar to a all Steel J and slightly more weight.

LCR now comes in steel frame .357, this might not be so bad shooting .38. LCR .38 has a pretty hard kick but bearable.

What I've found with my .38 LCR is that when I squeeze the trigger the gun torques upward because the grip is too short front to back. Another 1/2" would do the trick.
 
I would vote revolver...I got into guns with semi's, have had Glocks, Sigs, Rugers, S&W's, but my favorite gun is now a S&W 357...with 38;s it shoots with almost no recoil and as accurate as could be..with 357's it shoots with a ton of recoil but accurate as could be...its so much nicer than a polymer gun, hold it in your hand and it fits like second skin...I love the look of an all steel gun, when its clean it looks awesome...plus learn to shoot a revolver well, well thats a cool thing...anyone with any sort of a clue will respect that...amo is readily available, reasonable priced, and cheap to reload...and they can be had for a good price if you shop around..
 
Go with the revolver...

especially if new to sidearms.

Use the .38Spl, for practice, then upgrade to the .357MAg.

the .38Spl target loads will assist in getting proper grips, sighting & firing and be easier on budget.

A 4" .357 will be the minimum to carry and if interested to deer hunt with.

Just practice as much as possible.
 
Which Type for CCW -- Revolver or Semi-Auto

I always advise the same consideration when selecting a weapon for concealed carry:

Would you wear it while walking, bicycling, working in the yard, on the hottest day of the year in your area.

If you are going to carry a weapon, I'd like to think you plan practicing enough with it so that you could handle either type.

If its not for concealed carry: 12 or 20 gauge shotgun is a simple and effective Self Defence option.
 
Can't beat a 38 SPL SW revolver with quality SD rounds for a general purpose gun.

Question - what do you shoot and train with? Buying from descriptions isn't really that useful.

My opinion - worth what you paid for it - is that an SW 38 revolver and/or a Glock 19 with training and practice does the job for most of the real incidents.

It has to be a 357 or a 45 or a 1911 or a Thermoblaster 2468 is all just fun chat on the Internet.

Certainly other quality semis in 9mm will work. Ruger revolvers work. Note what I'm leaving off.
 
My standards for choosing a gun are low muzzle flip, moderate fps, accuracy, hammer rather than striker, and physical features like low bore axis, decocker, and slimmer grip.
Click to expand...

Sig Sauer P239 or P225.

SigSauer pistols meet all of your listed requirements, with the exception perhaps of the lower bore axis (compared to some other firearms, mostly striker fired models).
 
Saw someone suggested J-Frame. Not the easiest gun to shoot and takes a good amount of practice to get efficient with it and since you talked about muzzle flip then I would leave any snub nose revolver out.

I have a snub M638 and although its super easy to carry Its not as easy to shoot as my Glock 26, XD subcompact or P238.

Revolvers are fantastic guns but I wouldn't leave out proven semi-auto performers like the Glock or XD and with either one you can change mags from the same caliber in the different sized models. I have mentioned I have both in service and sub-compact size with 100% reliability and I really like that fact that the G26 can use 10/15/17/:eek:33 round mags from Glock. ;)

I've always been a 1911 / XD person and the G26 and G19 both point naturally for me while the G17 does not. Seems the more compact/service and sub-compact Glocks don't have the same grip angle as the larger models do with the exception of the SF series.
 
I'd highly recommend a medium frame revolver chambered in 357mag. A very versatile tool offering accurate single action shots for target shooting or rapid double action defensive use. Throw in a large array of ammunition to suit just about any need, 38special loads for target, 38+p for defense, various weight 357 for hunting, snake shot for the trail, etc. Top of that list would be a Ruger GP100 in stainless steel, Rudimentary, Rugged, and Reliable.
 
I'd choose the gun that you are most likely to have with you. That is, a gun that's easy to carry is going to more likely be with you when you need it, than a "better" gun that's left at home because it's too big, heavy, etc. I wouldn't choose a DA revolver as a defense gun, but I'd be a lot more likely to have a j-frame with me when I need a gun, than to have a full-sized 1911 (the gun I'd really want).
 
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