Revolvers vs Semi Autos

[Rancher Will]

From time to time there has been discussions on this site concerning those who choose to carry revolvers or Semi Autos. Although I always carry a revolver, I agree that there are advantages and disadvantages to each type.

Wylie Capp, writing in the 2013 American Rifleman Web Site, makes a point or two that may be of interest to those who don't remember my own comments about why I use the custom grips on both of my revolvers. For those who have read, or may read Capps' comments, I repeat one more.

I learned years ago the accuracy of any handgun shooter is influenced by a number of factors. One factor that I, and many others know, is that the grips of the handgun often influences the point of impact of the bullet when fired under stress conditions or from a fast draw at point blank range. The fit of the grips also influence aimed fire to some extent.

Although I have rarely fired any Semi Auto for decades, I did carry one for 5 years in the USAF. I know that with both my S&W revolver and and My Ruger Blackhawk will hit point of aim when fired from a fast draw directly from the holster without my looking at the sights, provided that I look directly at the point where I want the bullet to go.

I have also never been able to do this when firing other revolvers that have grips not fitted to my hands. Capp's article does outline beneficial points and may be interesting to many.

I have often thought that the many reports of police, and others, missing stress shots at close range may be for the reason that their handgun grips do not fit them.

 

[Sin6Sec63451022]

Hmmm...interesting theory. Will have to do some experimenting.

 

[CGDustDevil]

I absolutely believe the theory Rancher Will...

My dad never did any 'stress shooting' that I'm aware of, but he did shoot competition a lot. He was an absolute believer in the fact that the grips were the 'soul' of the weapon, and had his own home-made custom grips on every firearm that he took into competition. Not that it's relevant to this particular discussion, but he also was right handed and left-eye dominant. Thus, he shot right handed with his left eye. He was an incredible shot.

Best regards, Pete

 

[contender]

When I started teaching SCUBA diving,,, one of my key points was; "fit & comfort." Well, I also applied this to a firearm when I started teaching that. It carries over to competition & stress shooting. If a firearm fits your hand, and is comfortable,,, it will point more naturally for you. The key to this is a good set of properly fitting grips, to a firearm you feel comfortable carrying AND shooting.
Just yesterday,,, during the staff shooting portion of my Charity Match,,, we had one stage where the targets were pretty close. I never felt like I needed to slow down,, as I could just point comfortably at the target & I scored a lot of "A" zone hits. I posted a time & score with a 6 shot revolver as good and even better than my semi-auto shooting fellow squad members.
Basically,,, the OP makes a very valid point.

 

[phonejack]

My preference is semiauto.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Rancher Will {I have also never been able to do this when firing other revolvers that have grips not fitted to my hands. Capp's article does outline beneficial points and may be interesting to many.

I have often thought that the many reports of police, and others, missing stress shots at close range may be for the reason that their handgun grips do not fit them.}

I totally agree. I also started out with revolvers years ago and learned a lot from that experience, and it's also resulted in the type of semi-auto handguns I guy to be very similar (except for the grip) in action. It's also the reason that I encourage women to start with revolvers, because the grips can always be changed to actually fit them better and make them more comfortably. Grip is the primary factor to initially determine where the bullet is going. Instead of practice your draw, first practice your grip to make sure it's consistent and follows the bone in your forearm. As usual Clapp and Rancher Wills experience is dead on.

 

[7p's]

Well, you have to have a lot of trigger time to hit something of a small nature from the draw without bringing the sights up to chin level - I can look over my sights and keep most rounds within 4 to 6 inches (or less) up to 10 yards firing rapidly with either revolver or pistol regardless of grips.

I'm well aware that many people can shoot the "Zen style" but I'm not one of them unless we are talking 3 foot by 3 foot targets.

Proper fitting and comfortable grips on any handgun is a plus but for me, it's all about sights and now with red dots - everything is a bit better accuracy wise and faster.

 

[Captain America]

I rarely use the sights on my carry gun, I practice from 10-20 feet drawing from my pocket and from a "sighted in" standing position, I shoot two handed, one handed, left handed, right handed, my wife now practices the same way using her carry purse. I only shoot my carry guns beyond 7 yards for fun as there is almost no practical use for training at longer distances with a short barrel .38. After a while the gun just "aims itself" as my wife would say, I think it's a pretty good way to practice what could happen in a stress situation, YMMV.

 

[coach]

I'm sure you've noticed that many of the semi auto makers are supplying different back straps to customize the grip a bit. Seems like they agree with you.

 

[Tom W]

I just traded a RIA .45 for a Colt Police Positive 4th issue .38 special. I can shoot the 1911 models very well, and the RIA was no exception. As I've gotten older I have trouble chasing brass, especially since my last surgery. Not to mention I'm getting tired of heavy recoil. I have no intentions of getting rid of my SRH, but for plinking and such the smaller calibers have become more enjoyable.
At the gun show today I saw very few revolvers for sale. There were several tons of pistols. That said, I carry a Ruger LC9s Pro as my carry weapon, and a Glock 19 the rest of the time. Comfort and fit are important. It doesn't matter how many times you can make a loud noise and miss.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

There is a WWII training film on uTube that shows how to shoot a 1911 from the hip. Look it up pretty easy the way they do it IIRC

At some of our past Rugerfest. I challenged the bottom feeder guys to a little duel against my 3 screw Rugers. Load 5, draw gun from the table ( Most didn't have good holsters, besides I would have had the advantage :D ) and put 5 rounds on steel target. NO MISSES. Well the old 3 screw won 99% of the time.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

.
At the gun show today I saw very few revolvers for sale. There were several tons of pistols. That said, I carry a Ruger LC9s Pro as my carry weapon, and a Glock 19 the rest of the time. Comfort and fit are important. It doesn't matter how many times you can make a loud noise and miss.

Typical of most gunshops in our area. Plenty of pistols, few if any revolvers unless the shop accepts them as trade-ins! This area, revolvers are most likely to be found in pawn shops!

 

[GunnyGene]

Apples and oranges. Revolvers and semi's both have their advantages and disadvantages. We all know what they are, and it goes far beyond grips. :) I have some of both, and made and/or fitted the grips to me if possible.

 

[blackhawknj]

Shotgunners have stressed proper fit for years, just as important for handgunners. I can't fire 38WCs out of a K or N Frame S&W with either the service or target grips, my S&Ws have either Pachmayrs or Herrett's. Bill Jordan designed his grips because he found the S&W grips uncomfortable. I prefer a flat mainspring housing on my 1911s. IMHO the main thing is to practice with a carry piece until you are totally familiar with it.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I shoot CAS with large frame Vaqueros, so a bit of mental stress in the game. I also shoot Wild Bunch, so again, a bit of stress in the game, shooting a 1911. For carry, I usually carry a 3 inch N frame in 44 mag. Why? Because I shoot N frame Smiths better than any other handgun. I can shoot the Vaquero quickly and hit to 50 yards. I can shoot the 1911 quickly and hit to 35 yards and an N frame, I can hit what I'm shooting quickly at 75 yards. I figure I want the gun I have been shooting 40 years and is like a glove on my hand.

 

[jic]

I have had six different semi autos and I keep coming back to a revolver.
I just traded a Ruger lc9s for a Ruger SP101 3'' bbl. 357 cal.
Like I told my friend, I may not be able to hit anything with it, but I can sure
as heck scare the crap out of em.
Actually I can shoot a revolver pretty good and like them better than simi autos

 

[Pistolero]

I own several semi-autos in 9mm and .380 and a few Ruger single actions and double actions. I tend to rely on my old Security Six as primary defense gun because I shoot it very well and it is very reliable. I whittled down some Herrett grips to fit my hands in the early 90s. I sanded off all the deep checkering and tapered the bottoms. I finished them off with Tru-Oil and protect them with a little Johnson's wax. They aren't very purdy but they work very well for me.

 

[CGDustDevil]

Pistolero - That's a dandy looking revolver! Outstanding!

Best regards, Pete

 

[m657]

...

 

[Pistolero]

Pistolero - That's a dandy looking revolver! Outstanding!

Best regards, Pete

Thanks Pete!

Regards,

 

[Rancher Will]

Pistolero's post reminded me about my first experience learning to shoot my first revolver. In 1945 I got a job as a Cowboy on a large Idaho Ranch. I owned a Colt .44-40 cal Peacemaker. Using the sights, I could usually hit what I aimed at. However, some of the older Cowboys that I worked with, could draw and hit very well without aiming. Here is how they taught me.

One of the older men (I was only 15 then) had me smooth draw the colt from the holster (not trying fast draw), and as soon as the colt came up just point it at the target without looking at the sights or even the gun, and fire. I was told not to look at the whole target. Just pick a small spot and concentrate my eyes on that small spot, about the size of a Silver Dollar.

After shooting, doing this draw and shoot process, we checked the grouping of the shots, noting where the group was compared to the target spot where I looked. We did this about a half dozen times to learn a consistent grouping location.

Then we placed adhesive tape on the locations of the grips, side, back, front, etc., where my instructor thought would move the grouping on the target. I don't remember now, after all these years, exactly where we placed the tape or how much tape we placed on the grips. However, we placed the tape to modify how my hand gripped the revolver so that when I made a smooth draw and fired, the bullets came near the target spot.

I remember that after a few taping tries, and shooting a few more groups, I was putting all my shots within and around the target spot from about 25 feet, never looking at the gun or sights as I shot. The old Cowboy that was helping me than used the taped grips as a pattern to carve and sand a new set of grips from wood to replace the hard rubber grips that were originally on the colt.

When I purchased my S&W .44 Model 29 and my Ruger .44 Blackhawk in the 1960's, I ordered a set of stocks from Herretts in Idaho, ordering with an exact outline of my hand for each. I ordered their Jordan Trooper Grips. When the grips arrived I tested them as I remembered from years before on the Idaho Ranch. With just a little sanding to make the final adjustments I was able to get both of my guns, that I still used today, to hit what I look at when I draw and fire.

Proper fit of the revolver grips forces the revolver barrel to become an extension of my arm and finger, the same as if I just pointed a finger at a target without looking at my hand.

 

[Colonialgirl]

On year at the East Coast Gathering, Contender taught me and a coupe of others how to shoot and hit what were aiming at without aiming; With the pistol at waist level and the eye on the target; Took a couple of times and then we got the knack and could make the bottle jump. Should have practiced it this year, but got lazy.

 

[don44]

Pistolero's post reminded me about my first experience learning to shoot my first revolver. In 1945 I got a job as a Cowboy on a large Idaho Ranch. I owned a Colt .44-40 cal Peacemaker. Using the sights, I could usually hit what I aimed at. However, some of the older Cowboys that I worked with, could draw and hit very well without aiming. Here is how they taught me.

One of the older men (I was only 15 then) had me smooth draw the colt from the holster (not trying fast draw), and as soon as the colt came up just point it at the target without looking at the sights or even the gun, and fire. I was told not to look at the whole target. Just pick a small spot and concentrate my eyes on that small spot, about the size of a Silver Dollar.

After shooting, doing this draw and shoot process, we checked the grouping of the shots, noting where the group was compared to the target spot where I looked. We did this about a half dozen times to learn a consistent grouping location.

Then we placed adhesive tape on the locations of the grips, side, back, front, etc., where my instructor thought would move the grouping on the target. I don't remember now, after all these years, exactly where we placed the tape or how much tape we placed on the grips. However, we placed the tape to modify how my hand gripped the revolver so that when I made a smooth draw and fired, the bullets came near the target spot.

I remember that after a few taping tries, and shooting a few more groups, I was putting all my shots within and around the target spot from about 25 feet, never looking at the gun or sights as I shot. The old Cowboy that was helping me than used the taped grips as a pattern to carve and sand a new set of grips from wood to replace the hard rubber grips that were originally on the colt.

When I purchased my S&W .44 Model 29 and my Ruger .44 Blackhawk in the 1960's, I ordered a set of stocks from Herretts in Idaho, ordering with an exact outline of my hand for each. I ordered their Jordan Trooper Grips. When the grips arrived I tested them as I remembered from years before on the Idaho Ranch. With just a little sanding to make the final adjustments I was able to get both of my guns, that I still used today, to hit what I look at when I draw and fire.

Proper fit of the revolver grips forces the revolver barrel to become an extension of my arm and finger, the same as if I just pointed a finger at a target without looking at my hand.

Real good post.... Thanks! :)

 

[Rook]

I carry both and both of them are as light as you can get in their caliber.

Kel-Tec P-3AT .380 1st generation that weighs less than 7-1/2 ounces.

S&W 340PD .357 Mag. that weighs just over 11-1/2 ounces that includes a set of Crimson Trace laser grips.

 

[mistermills357]

Revolvers do work better for me when they have big grips. The difference between a Security Six with small grips and a Speed Six with big grips, was noticeable to me. I loved the Speed Six with big rubber grips and I should have added them to my Security Six.

 

[mistermills357]

I own several semi-autos in 9mm and .380 and a few Ruger single actions and double actions. I tend to rely on my old Security Six as primary defense gun because I shoot it very well and it is very reliable. I whittled down some Herrett grips to fit my hands in the early 90s. I sanded off all the deep checkering and tapered the bottoms. I finished them off with Tru-Oil and protect them with a little Johnson's wax. They aren't very purdy but they work very well for me.

Very nice.