Why do So Many People Shun Revolvers?

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vitesse9

New member
Most of my friends and family (most of whom have at least some experiences with guns) hate revolvers. Some even give me a good-hearted hard time about owning them. I of course realize that revolvers have their place in one's gun collection because:

1) they are generally more reliable that semi-autos (clearing a "jam" is as easy as pulling the trigger again);
2) many revolver platforms offer much more diverse ammo choices than semis; and
3) revolvers will shoot just about anything because they don't have to feed ammo.

And, there are some applications in which a revolver just flat out beats the pants off of a semi-auto. I'm thinking hunting here . . .

Not to say that semi-autos don't have their advantages as well (I own both kinds) . . .

So, besides a certain level of ignorance, why do so many people bash the venerable wheelgun?
 
In my area there are more revolvers than semi-autos and the gap is increasing. I like and use both. Also, when the snow comes its sure nice to be able to dump brass than try and pick it out of the snow it just melted into. For us its both in the summer and mostly revolvers in the winter.

Even if I didn't like revolvers I would never want to discourage anyone from coming to the range and participating.
 
(clearing a "jam" is as easy as pulling the trigger again);
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Not always. Especially in short barreled guns with hotter loads. The recoil will sometimes act as an inerta activated bullet puller and unseat the bullet just enough to jam the gun, making it completely useless and unjammable

But I'm still in the process of restoring my revolver collection at the expense of my unused autos, because that has happened to me once. I have had many more FTFs with the autos.
 
They certainly have the mentioned advantages, but from a reformed semi-auto snob, the answer to your question is:

1. Capacity. Less face it, they have less capacity, on average. And who doesn't want to be prepared for the worst case scenarios - multiple bogies.

2. The Movies - every really cool dude in the movies, since Dirty Harry days, has used a semi, for the most part (other than in Westerns), either a Desert Eagle, Beretta, 1911, younameit. Incidentally, the movies are also the reason I think why some of us, rightly or wrong, think that we might need a lot of capacity (#1) - after all, our heroes continually find themselves in situations where they need LOTS o'firepower to waste the commies/nazis/zombies/outlaws/inlaws/whatever.
 
When you can buy 100 rounds of 9mm for $10 that never jams, shoots tight groups and kicks less than a revolver load of similar power, I guess reasons 1. through 3. don't seem so convincing.

Autos also eat recoil and muzzle rise, and cock themselves for you.


One could make the opposite argument: Why, with modern autos being so reliable, does anyone bother with revolvers?

The answer to both questions is: Personal preference. Something about revolvers catches your eye, but not everyones. There certainly isn't a clear advantage in shooting a revolver, nor is an auto a fix to every problem. Just like we still have piston engined airplanes, despite the military dumping the last of them 30 years ago.
 
"So, besides a certain level of ignorance, why do so many people bash the venerable wheelgun?"

I think a certain level of ingnorance just about explains it . . . and that more revolvers for the rest of us.
 
I don't shun revolvers, the ones I have fired just didn't feel good in my hands, shape of the grip. However I would like to try the Taurus RagingBull.
 
Let's face the reality. Revolvers are 2 centuries ago technology. I still have several and think that for back ups and hunting they are preferrable. Movies seem to be a large factor as well. It's much cooler to have 15 misses than 1-2 solid hits. Not that the auto or revolver has any real advantage in the accuracy department as a combat weapon. I'm 40 and get asked why I carry a J as a back up instead of a Glock 26 or 27? I tell them I've never been partial to carying a 2X4 aound my ankle. It's partially a generational thing as well.
 
Im not sure that its a matter of people shunning revos, its just a matter of the semi being "sexier" or more attractive to new shooters. I personally like semis better because because I have used them more (USAF cop). Revos are more of a novelty to me, then a working gun. If I had extra cash, I would get a few, however when I have to choose one or 2 guns total, I am always going to have a mid-size auto in a major power caliber.
 
Well, that and what Handy said so well, too. :) But as for the influence of hollywood that I mentioned, that's essentially the same thing as saying "ignorance" as the reason, myself included (formerly), with the caveat of what Handy said indicating some real advantages to semis as well.

WillJr, hey the RagingBull was my first revolver (other than a rossi .38 years back), and you're right on target - the grip is extremely ergonomic, and the padded backstrap helps in absorbing recoil. My second revolver was/is a Taurus in .45 acp - I forget the model - it's got a very comfortable and well-shaped grip also - this was not my experience with factory revo grips in the past - I always thought that the skinny ones were too strangely shaped and too far rearward, and the ones that flared at the bottom were too damn thick and also strangely shaped. So from an ergo standpoint, Taurus===>good.
 
I own my share of both but have 2x as many revolvers. I don't buy the large capacity hype myself. I practice enough where I feel very confident with 5-6 rounds in any non LEO/military situation. Even my semi's are 8 rounders. I just don't feel the need to defend myself from 15 thugs at a time. :rolleyes:

As for 9mm and 45 ACP, they are great rounds but even better in my revolvers! :D
 
Hey, there's a LOT to be said for rimless (semi-auto) rounds in a revolver, because of the moon clip ease of reloads - like my .45acp revolver - reloads are quick as lightning - I saw Jerry Miculek reload a SW625 revolver so fast it was unbelievable.
 
auto rounds from revolvers

Now you'e talking my language. Over the last 15 years I have had and carried as back ups or duty weapons, S&W 940's, Ruger SP's in 9mm. Ruger speed 6's, S&W 625's of course, a couple of S&W 547's,and currently play with a 646 in .40. I've always liked the idea. I'd kind of like to find another 3" 547. Anyone got one for sale?
 
for a lot of "GUN" people its because there not used in movies

I know that sounds stupid, but what made the Glock so popular. It is a good gun but since its the hollywood gun of choice its the one many people want.
I dont like the way they shoot and the weight transfeer from ful mag to empty I just dont like.
Many people want more rounds, and if you have more, more is a good thing,
at least thats what they think.
If I was put in a "bad" position I would rather have one good shot than 10 bad.
Any one thats been around guns for a long time will admit that a wheel gun is much quicker to learn than an auto loader, thats true.
The one thing hardly any one ever works on is whith there auto's is clearing a jam.
Then againg with a wheel gun, you dont have to clear just pull the trigger.
Any one thats says wheels guns are best is wrong as much as auto loaders say that there's its the best. You have to find the best gun for the job.
When I work in the gun store you can bet its an N frame smith in 44 special.
On the street, its a PPKs in 380.
Its not the gun, its where the bullet goes. And if you cant make the bullet go where its needed when you need it. Then you better carry a rocket launcher.
 
Trendiness. Just like there is a deep clevage model on the cover of the magazines, there is an auto on almost every gun magazine.

The only argument I can see for autos is capacity. I am a somewhat less than mediocre shooter, my 8-shot 627 puts me numerically equivalent to 1911s and in the local matches ahead of about 1/3 the auto shooters in scoring no matter the capacity. Friend of mine, Paul Hara, is shooting revolver open class and after only 6 years experience in local meets is in the middle of the top auto shooters who are using full race autos. Dunno if he is currently using the 625 (6-shot) or the 627 (8-shot).

I just don't have the interest in autos, find them boring and will probably be trading in my only auto, a Ruger MK512 for a shotgun. Guess I'd rather just shoot than mess with machinery.
 
If I ever get into hunting, I'll buy a Taurus RagingBull in .44mag with a 8.5in barrel. What can I say, It looks very modern. I can't just buy another Desert Eagle, too expensive for someone living on a fixed income. The well used MarkVII bought for $400.00, I had to sell for apartment goods. I can't complain I got $525.00 for it. I doubt I'll ever come across a deal like that again.
 
When you can buy 100 rounds of 9mm for $10 that never jams, shoots tight groups and kicks less than a revolver load of similar power, I guess reasons 1. through 3. don't seem so convincing.
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Number two and three kinda go hand in hand and will ALWAYS hold true. A 357 magnum wheelgun does NOT care if you feed it 95 gr Hi Vel 38 Spl or 185 gr hunting loads. It WILL cycle. The wheelgun does not rely on the recoil impulse that 99% of semi autos need to function. You don't have to test your prospective carry load for reliability either.

As for 9mms that recoil less, I urge you to try a S&W 547. A 357 sized revo that pushes 40 oz in weight that shoots 9mm (Look ma! no moonclips!).

What auto never jams btw? This weekend my friend had to clear his G19 twice in one stage in a local match.



=We still have quite a few prop driven planes in the military. E-2, C-2, P-3, C-130 etc. etc.===
 
I think for CCW, modern semi-autos are smaller to conceal, easier to carry and just about as reliable as any revolver. Given the choice between the Glock 26 I just traded in and a 5-shot snubby, make it the Glock for a CCW piece, just my preference. It is probably easier to get new shooters into semi-autos and shooting well with them. It is definitely easier to teach the uninitiated how to reload a semi quickly. People just see the revolver as old-school and just plain old. We want new and exciting, it's a natural thing.

*Draw deep breath*

However, the revolver is king of the hill in terms of horsepower. Yeah, sure, you can chamber the Desert Eagle in .50 AE. My hands won't fit around a gun that big. But I can manage an N-frame S&W relatively well, which gives me up to the .44 Magnum. A Freedom Arms revolver gives me up to .475 Linebaugh. Bowen Super Blackhawks Redhawks make even mightier calibers available. Not all of us haul around handguns solely for defensive purposes. A revolver is fun for me, and the bigger calibers make it a better choice for what I want a handgun to potentially do.

Sorry .45 ACP fans, but even the vaunted .45 auto doesn't give me the warm fuzzies where the big fuzzies roam. Not that I anticipate any problems, as every encounter I have ever had with an animal bigger than a squirrel has been the south-end of a north-bounder, but I feel it is the one you don't spot that could prove the handgun's usefulness. The revolver WILL go bang if I need it, won't malfunction due to limpwrist, doesn't need room to cycle the slide and most revolvers point more naturally for me. Plus it is still useful if needed (heaven forbid) against 2-legged predators, which are very, very rare in most of the places I roam around here.

(Hmm, kind of makes the argument for a snubby to CCW, doesn't it? ;) )

FWIW, the Glock 26 got traded in on my 21st birthday present, a nice used 6" S&W 629-1, which I hope to pick up next Wednesday.
 
A lot of good reasons have been posted here and it made for some good reading. I am a big fan of the revolver and though I own a small selection of
semi-autos, its my Model 19 4" .357 I seem to like best.
 
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