Something unusual at the range

The only guys I've seen with revolvers have been older (60+ at least). A few younger people (men and women) are trying out 642's for CC but I don't think any of them have owned them like I do. A surprising number had big revolvers in the CC class I took but I've never seen them again. I have an 1873 Colt SAA (Uberti) that I shoot some, the only SA revolver I've seen there yet. I'd like to bring in an old cap and ball revolver (not sure if you can use them without black powder which they don't allow at my range, though). between shooting and loading maybe get in 15 rounds! But they are fun compared to boring old semi's.
 
its not unusual at all. every gunstore ive ever gone to pushes semi autos. seriously.

its a profit thing for the store, if you sell a gun that has a 15-20 round magazine, and your can sucker them into buying a 30 dollar box of ammo that only holds 15-20 rounds,,,, you make big money in ammo sales.
 
I see a pretty good mixture of revolvers and semi-autos at my range. There are generally older guys at my range though. I'd guess that most of the guys in my gun club are in their late forties and older. I'm 30 and appreciate a good wheel gun. I usually take my 357 Blackhawk with me on every trip. I showed some interest in a guys cap and ball revolver one time at the range and he was nice enough to load a cylinder and let me shoot it. It was pretty fun and I shot it well. Actually I shot it better than the owner even.
 
Just from informal observation at gun shops and from forum discussions, it appears that the general mood is that more bullets are a good thing, therefore semi's with big magazines are better than 6 shot revolvers. It's all about firepower and I guess that more is better in this day and age. Dirty Harry had to worry about his bullet count, but today's actors apparently have 50 or 100 round mags. I used to think that a fellow should only need one or two rounds, and by then he'd know if he had won or lost. These days I'm not sure that's right. So is it best to spray and pray or to make the first one count? Probably it's the latter, but having 15 more rounds left can't hurt.
 
Many new shooters start on automatics because that's what they've seen in the fictional media, or because someone told them they were defenseless without 15 rounds on tap. They won't even consider revolvers.

Most new shooters come and go, but a small percentage stick around and improve. Sooner or later, they're convinced that they need a good revolver to round out the collection. Most take to it quite quickly and end up being big fans.

I see people of all ages shooting all sorts of things, but the revolver still has its place.
 
I'm not THAT old, but I do so hate to bend over and
pick up brass.:D

I shot an IDPA match once with a Ruger Security Six and a Colt
Commander.

Better times and better accuracy were had from the Ruger.
 
Many new shooters start on automatics because that's what they've seen in the fictional media, or because someone told them they were defenseless without 15 rounds on tap. They won't even consider revolvers.
Click to expand...

I would also add cost to the equation. The days of the cheap S&W, Ruger, and Colt police trade-in revolvers is pretty much over and a quality revolver costs substantially more than a semi-auto of comparable quality and condition (it only makes sense as a revolver is more expensive to make).

While semi-autos definitely outnumber revolvers at the range I frequent, revolvers are not completely absent. Particularly around deer season, you will see .357 and .44 Magnum wheelguns fairly regularly and the odd person with a 4" service-type revolver isn't unheard of either.
 
Revolver VS Semi

I will never get tired of these threads. I also enjoy bear threads seriously I do. If I had to pick one firearm in my home that I would guarantee you will fire when I need it it would be my S&W 642=1.

It mostly won't win a gun fight in the movies I guarantee you that my 642 will go bang when I ask it to.

I am an becoming a Glock and revolver guy because I feel that they are the two most reliable handgun designs that have ever been produced.

If I were ever faced with the terrible choice to only keep one gun it would be without question the 642.

Rant Off, Vermonter
 
I have shot revolvers for over fifty years & semis for only 3. I shoot the semis, carry guns, to stay proficient, but enjoy & shoot the revolvers much better. I always take revolvers to the range with me. I see many more black rifles at the range than anything else. I don't have one, don't want one, but to each his own.:D
 
I love taking my revolvers to the range.

Sometimes I'll even encounter one of those rare and special of individuals... the urban tactifool.

You know the ones...

About 400 pounds, wearing WAY too tight full camo, latest high capacity autoloader, and a target that looks like someone was going after it with a shotgun...

And then comes the advice...

"You should be shooting an autoloader! Revolvers are ancient! You'll be reloading while I'm still shooting!"

That's when target comparison time comes in...

The ONLY reason you'll still be shooting is because you'll still be trying, and failing, to hit the target.

:rolleyes:
 
My philosophy is to shoot as many types, brands and models as you can because if you only shoot one gun exclusively and then you are in a situation with a strange gun you may not be up to the task. On the range it's embarrassing if you don't know how to reload or can't get the safety off but in the dark of the night facing an armed intruder you really need to be proficient with whatever you can lay your hands on.

I understand cost issues and for a long time one gun is all I had but every time I went shooting with somebody I made it a point to swap guns and learned to shoot the other mans gun. It was a good way to get cross trained and gave me a better idea for what I liked or disliked about a gun to guide my next purchase.

This practice of mine convinced me to not get a Glock even though I shoot them just fine, they don't feel right in my hand. It also convinced a few police officers over the years to emulate me to get a magnum revolver for their personal use and more than a few to get and carry 1911's in 45 ACP as duty weapons.
 
REVOLVERS use less area of the target with all of holes in one spot .Not like a AUTO shooting a shotgun pattern :D
 
And then comes the advice...

"You should be shooting an autoloader! Revolvers are ancient! You'll be reloading while I'm still shooting!"
Click to expand...
The worst is when Mr. Suburban Commando decides to shoot a revolver. According to him, the thing is a woefully uncontrollable hand cannon, and should only be used for hunting elephants. He knows they're not as accurate as his tactical auto, so he doesn't really try to shoot them well.

The end result is a great deal of noise and giggling, holes in the ceiling and floor, and an argument because I'm booting him from the line. Some secrets are best kept from Mall Ninja.
 
If I had to choose just one handgun to survive it would be my 4" GP100. Many thousands of .38 and .357 and still shoots like new. Dgang
 
A younggun's point of view

Im 19, and usually have to rent a handgun. But that said I dont always shoot handguns, but when I do, I prefer single action revolvers. They are smooth, feel right, and really reach out there. The only semiautos that I even give a second glance are 1911s and Browning Hi-Powers. Once Im 21, that very day a Bisley Blackhawk will live in my safe.
 
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