Revolver vs Semi Auto

[Bman505]

I know some people just prefer a revolver over the semi auto. I know I did. That is until I shot a semi auto pistol. Then I never went back.

[MrReady]

I like both. I think the revovler is a good first gun even though I brought a semi-auto first. They are easy to clean and use. Also very reliable.

[Bman505]

I think you hit it on the nose, Reliable!

[rtuck77]

my mother wants a snub nose and I agree for that very reason,and so that my sister will be able to use it if she needed to,with her she dont like guns but will use one if she needed to and a small revolver would be the kind to have

[Colt 45]

I never had a use for a semi-auto for just about 30 years, although I did own a Colt Series 70. I had gotten it from a friend, now deceased. I was revolver all the way. That is, until this year when I took my concealed carry class. I used a Glock 19 for that class, and I was sold. I'm not giving up my revolvers though, there's plenty of room for both!

Max

[Big Mike .45acp]

I am a semi auto guy myself. The only revolver I own is a .44 Super RedHawk. I only use it occasionaly for deer hunting.

[Descreet38]

When I need to carry a backup or dressed so I need a pocket type I still carry my grandfathers 1967 S&W .38 Chiefs Spcl 2"

I am a firm believer that as long as the round is placed correctly a .22 will suffice. That's why it is still the preferred caliber for assassins.

I would almost bet that.38 and .45 are pretty close to having ended more lives than all the other calibers put together.

[Bman505]

No argument there. I have heard that before, that assassins use a .22 Cal as there choice of caliber.

[Mdbullet]

My very first pistol was a S&W Model 19 with a 2 1/2" BBL. That was an excllent pistol and very accutrate, But also very heavy. I did however carry that for many years. My first semi auto was a S&W 669. I hated that gun, I think I kept it for about a month and got rid of it, Since the old days I have owned a few different revolvers but none that I have kept, I seem to love the auto's now a days. But for old times sake I would not mind finding another Model 19 Smith again one day. Be Safe, Dave

[Colt 45]

My first double action revolver was a Smith & Wesson model 19. It was a great gun, but in my youth I wound up either trading or selling it. I really can't remember. After that, I picked up a very nice Smith & Wesson model 27 with the heavy "N" frame. I had it until a month ago. I had promised it to my son, and I gave it to him as a graduation gift (college). I miss it, but I know he will have as much fun with it as I did, maybe more.

Max

My very first pistol was a S&W Model 19 with a 2 1/2" BBL. That was an excllent pistol and very accutrate, But also very heavy. I did however carry that for many years. My first semi auto was a S&W 669. I hated that gun, I think I kept it for about a month and got rid of it, Since the old days I have owned a few different revolvers but none that I have kept, I seem to love the auto's now a days. But for old times sake I would not mind finding another Model 19 Smith again one day. Be Safe, Dave

[Scooter]

Both styles of firearms hold there niche. I wouldn't give up my Smith 686 in .357 or my Smith M&P 45. I carry both depending on the situation and what I'm wearing. The beauty of a wheel gun is that the only safety is between your ears (your brain) and that when you point it and squeeze that trigger it will fire. Whereas the autos are great because of their higher capacity and ease of reload.

But as always, the best firearm is the one that works for you.

[nvguncarrier]

revolver versa auto an age old question that im sure started the day they were invented,, like most gun lovers i have been shooting guns since i was old enough to handle it without shooting myself in the foot,, my dad had a 22 revolver with a 4" barrell,, did i like it yes,, but as i got old enough to buy my own and back then i only had to be 18,,i bought a 22 ruger mark II ,, i now own no revolvers and own 6 different semi-autos ranging from 22, 380, 9mm and 40 cal,, as you can see i like semi autos the best,, my two biggest reasons are simple,, larger round capacity,, and easier trigger pull..

[PPK]

Both styles of firearms hold there niche. I wouldn't give up my Smith 686 in .357 or my Smith M&P 45. I carry both depending on the situation and what I'm wearing. The beauty of a wheel gun is that the only safety is between your ears (your brain) and that when you point it and squeeze that trigger it will fire. Whereas the autos are great because of their higher capacity and ease of reload.

But as always, the best firearm is the one that works for you.

Most of the time when you squeeze the trigger it will fire. I have a Ruger SP101 that my girlfriend borrowed for a training class. She'd bought 10 boxes of Remington .38 special. In one box, 5 shells were out of spec. and the cylinder refused to rotate because of the Ruger's tight tolerances. That was a 1% failure rate due to ammunition. We opened every box and checked them after that. That ended her shooting problems in the class.

[Scooter]

Most of the time when you squeeze the trigger it will fire. I have a Ruger SP101 that my girlfriend borrowed for a training class. She'd bought 10 boxes of Remington .38 special. In one box, 5 shells were out of spec. and the cylinder refused to rotate because of the Ruger's tight tolerances. That was a 1% failure rate due to ammunition. We opened every box and checked them after that. That ended her shooting problems in the class.

Ammo problems excluded, for the most part it willfire. Of course, no gun will fire perfect every time, but less malfunctions occur with revolvers. I don't have proof to back that up beyond my own experience, but with less parts involved in the operation, I would tend to believe less room for malfunction.

Don't get me wrong, I love my autos as well, but still won't give up my revolvers for anything.

[PPK]

I agree. I love the little Ruger. And my S&W .22 revolver is probably my favorite plinking gun. Don't remember what I did with the bad .38 shells but after following one of the links posted (I believe it was Desreet38's) I probably could have run the shells through a crimping die and they would have been OK. Learn something new everyday.

[Jkwas]

I have both and use both. I prefer a revolver but the practicality of the Semi Auto wins out many times. For me, Semi auto's are very easy to shoot accurately, whereas revolvers require more attention to trigger control, especially when shooting DA. For me, shooting revolvers makes me a better Semi Auto shooter. Revolvers are also more practical if you reload as it makes brass recovery easier.

[Descreet38]

Revolver - the "Original Point and Click"

[Sam]

I used to be a firm revolver guy, and ate the 'reliability' line.
After having to carry a revolver around in the field for 3 years, I changed my mind.

They are really unsupportable by the user in the field, no matter the mode of carry. A K frame Smith, Ruger Speed/Security or GP100 that has been dunked a couple times a day is not reliable and stripping it in the field for cleaning requires tools and a clean secure environment.
I haven't pitched my revolvers, love them and 2 have saved my butt, but I know their limitations now and carry an auto exclusively in the field.

Sam

[sinclair]

Revolvers do not suffer from "bullet set-back", a phenomena peculiar to magazine and clip feed actions. It is a potentially dangerous situation involving the bullet seating deeper during the course of feeding into the chamber. The worst case is a feed jam where the spring action drives the bullet deep when it fails to feed properly and the spring action is stopped by the bullet length, which usually becomes shorter as a result of absorbing the energy to stop the bolt. I have seen many shooters think nothing of clearing the jammed round and putting it back into another magazine and cycling it again. A good rule of thumb is that if the bullet has been set-back a tenth of an inch or more, you can safely assume that the round would fire above the SAAMI maximum pressure for that round.

Revolvers do not suffer the phenomena of "slam-fires", where an automatic action can potentially fire a round before it is in battery. Interesting to me is that some sub-guns (those that fire from an open bolt, with fixed firing pins) seem to be designed for this and handle the situation well. Other guns do not.

Revolvers are more reliable for a simple reason. Fewer moving parts (during the firing stress) means less friction and wear. A good revolver should outlast any automatic in terms of rounds fired.

[Sam]

Auto's don't suffer from jumping crimp and tying up the cylinder, don't fire a couple rounds through your revolver, do a partial reload and go back to it.
Empty the thing because every time it survives a recoil cycle teh bullet loosens.
Matter of fact, some rovolvers are even marked in warning against it.


Auto's are loose enough to tolerate more foreign matter in the action and still function, they can be cleaned without a long tedious service process, by amateurs generally without tools.

There is a reason why no military organization issues revolvers for general service and that reason is not based on keeping a more reliable weapon out of service. Any more it really has to do with politics and State Dept. ignorance and discrimination.

I have no axe to grind in the issue and happen to shoot revolvers better than I do my auto's but for general issue, I'll take the auto.

BTW 1/10th of an inch setback is too much to tolerate

[XDSUBCOMPACT9]

i was told to get a revolver for my first but eveytime i had one in my hand i couldnt stand it.. i like my semi's..

[Bman505]

When I qualified for my CCW, I qualified in both .45 Auto and .45 Revolver. I was at 100% with the auto and 80% with the revolver. I just do like like to shoot them as well as I do the auto.

[Sam]

I love the things, shoot them better than auto, socassionally carry them one but know they aren't near as reliable as most are lead to believe.

[Colt 45]

There really is no universal answer to the "revolver vs. auto" debate. Each person has to decide what is best for them. It makes for an interesting discussion but there is no concrete "right" answer. Most of us won't encounter the extremely harsh conditions that would impede the reliability of either. Just my humble opinion.

Max

[NMDawg]

My first handgun and my second (first one stolen) was a Ruger Single Six and I liked them both. Lots of fun and the .22 magnum makes lots of noise. Actually got my first Ruger back (the stolen one). It took about 25 years but I got it back. Wished it could talk. But I like the 1911 style auto which is what I carry (Kimber .45 Tactical Ultra II).

[Bman505]

My first handgun and my second (first one stolen) was a Ruger Single Six and I liked them both. Lots of fun and the .22 magnum makes lots of noise. Actually got my first Ruger back (the stolen one). It took about 25 years but I got it back. Wished it could talk. But I like the 1911 style auto which is what I carry (Kimber .45 Tactical Ultra II).



pictures pictures of the Kimber!

[NMDawg]

Here you go Bman505,

57

[Grampa]

The first handgun I owned was a Charter Arms snubbie in .38 special. It was surprisingly accurate given it's size, even killed a rattle snake with a head shot once at about 7 yards. As there was no CC back then, I carried it openly pretty much wherever I went. I have since graduated to better jobs and a higher level of income allowing a greater variety of firearms. Still, I seem to keep an even balance of revolvers and semi-autos, not intentionally, it just seems to work out that way. Each has a purpose and a place. However, for carry, I prefer my Kimber ProCarry ll or my newly acquired Springfield EMP. For the woods now, that is a different story. Then I like my Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt or Redhawk in 44 mag. Just personal preference, mind you.

[Bman505]

Here you go Bman505,

57

Very beautiful! Is that army green on the grip? I love it.