Why I Love Revolvers

[ray1970]

Just want to babble a little bit about why I love revolvers and why I would take a revolver over a semi-auto just about any day of the week.

The revolver is a "self contained" piece and does not rely on removable pieces (i.e, magazines) to function correctly. If you have a revolver and ammunition you are good to go. If you find yourself with an auto-loader with no magazine or defective or damaged magazines, you most likely have a single-shot handgun.

Revolvers, while prone to mechanical failures like anything else ( thank you Taurus for teaching me that lesson in the 1980's ), are less prone to "operator error" than semi-autos. You can limp-wrist a revolver all day long and it will still function properly. You will never inadvertently forget to disengage a manual safety device either (although plenty of practice eliminates this in most cases with an auto pistol) or worry about a round failing to chamber properly.

Once you have mastered the double-action revolver trigger pull, just about anything else you shoot is going to be much easier to manage.

I also find the fact that revolvers still require a good deal of hand fitting during assembly reassuring. Knowing that a revolver is not as easily mass produced gives me a greater sense of pride in owning one.

Once again, these are just some of my personal opinions and reasons why I find revolvers appealing and why I will continue to embrace and enjoy them no matter what technology brings to the table.

Others thoughts and opinions may vary. Have a wonderful day!

 

[Quattroclick]

I concur. I hate doing the "chicken dance" finding and picking up my brass. I hate clearing jams while trying to maintain safe shooting practice. I am not really thrilled with plastic on guns either.

I hate extractors flying off of guns and having to crawl around on wet ground trying to find it without success. That was my latest autoloader adventure with a gun I thought could be a good carry piece. Problem solved as I found a really nice like new speed six.

 

[J Miller]

Ray,

I'm not sure I'd concur with this but I agree with most of it.

There is one thing though, if you limp wrist some revolvers you'll end up with divot in your forehead that matches the front sight. I've shot a few of those.

Quattroclick,
"Chicken dance" LOL that's funny. I've owned lots of .45 Autos (all 1911s) and I know that dance well. Haven't done it in years as I sold my last one just over 10 years ago.


The one thing is, every gun design has it's week points. Even the Rugers. Shush, don't tell anybody,they might get their panties in a bunch.

Joe

 

[Snake45]

I enjoy my DA revolvers and my semiautos equally. Hard to say which I like more. :?

I try to keep my hand in with both types. Never know when that skill's gonna come in handy. :wink:

 

[don44]

I love revolvers too.... wish I could shoot them more than I do.

 

[RUT]

>>I enjoy my DA revolvers and my semiautos equally<<

Yup, same on this end. :)

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I ain't got any of them 'semi-' things. I want a whole gun in my hand. :D :D

...Jimbo

 

[Snake45]

I ain't got any of them 'semi-' things. I want a whole gun in my hand. :D :D

...Jimbo

Well, YOU come on here and tell how much you like your FULL-auto pistols. :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

And see if you can work "New Model" in there somewhere, too. Been too quiet here today. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[roaddog28]

Its revolvers for me. I own nine revolvers and four semi-autos. I think that pretty much tells a person what I like.
Howard

 

[SAJohn]

Another big semi-auto difficulty is the narrow reloading range for a given bullet weight/ recoil spring.

I don't believe I have ever fired a 50 round box of .45 acp outdoors and returned home with 50 pieces of brass.

John

 

[78CJ5]

I do like my revolvers! But I practice with both.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

What is that drill you have to do for a jam? Rack, Slap, Whack, Oh Cr#*p. :D :D

...Jimbo

 

[Glupy]

I enjoy my DA revolvers and my semiautos equally. Hard to say which I like more. :?

I read these posts and pondered a response.

I decided that I would choose a Security Six revolver if I had to live with only one gun. I love the Sigs and they are sure accurate after the first shot. And the 14 rounds of 40 S&W gives me a real sense of comfort. But the Security Six beats them all.

Dave

 

[JHRosier]

I took second place at the local "tactical" match this morning with this:

It points like my finger and always hits exactly where it point it.
Most everyone else was shooting bottom feeders but I didn't feel at a disadvantage.
BTW, I also have a couple of Security-Sixes and a GP100 that work just as well. I just felt like using the seven shooter for a change.

Jack

 

[deac45]

I favors revolvers, also. My lone semi is a MKII so I don't have to worry about picking up the brass unless the range rules require it. In that case there is usually a broom and shovel handy.

deac45

 

[Ale-8(1)]

My favoritest gun to shoot is an OM .45 Blackhawk.

I suppose if I could only keep one it might be my 4" Security Six.

But I surely do love me some 1911.

Decisions . . .

;)

 

[Chief_10Beers]

I like my SAs, DA and both my Semi-Autos but if I was FORCED only to have one, it would be my OM SBH. I'll give my Mini a Honorable mention :lol: :lol: ...........................................

 

[Hugh]

I have more than one revolver and two semi-automatics. Like Glupy said though, I have a 4" blue Security Six .357. That was my only hand gun for many years. The 4" Six is the one I would choose if I had to choose only one.

 

[eagle55]

SA Rugers are what floats my boat these days. After a near 40 year hiatus without owning a revolver, just a 9mm Ruger semi auto which I barely shot I am back with my BH 45 Colt which is a real joy to own!

 

[Snake45]

What is that drill you have to do for a jam? Rack, Slap, Whack, Oh Cr#*p. :D :D

...Jimbo

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

If you train for it, Jimbo, it's no more complicated than bangin' a 2-3 shift on a Muncie M20 tranny with Hurst linkage. :wink:

 

[Stoots]

I enjoy my DA revolvers and my semiautos equally. Hard to say which I like more. :?

I try to keep my hand in with both types. Never know when that skill's gonna come in handy. :wink:

Agree.

They're just different tools, both have pros and cons.

JMHO

:D

 

[SamV]

I took second place at the local "tactical" match this morning with this:

It points like my finger and always hits exactly where it point it.
Most everyone else was shooting bottom feeders but I didn't feel at a disadvantage.
BTW, I also have a couple of Security-Sixes and a GP100 that work just as well. I just felt like using the seven shooter for a change.

Jack

Hey how old is that Smith? I don't see a lock.

 

[GhosT]

ray1970,

Cool post.
Although I do own both revolvers and semi-autos........
Totally respect yer choice.

Owning one style of gun reminds me of an old saying....
"Beware the man that only owns one gun.....he will shoot it well!"
That could easily apply to one gun design!

 

[maxpress]

What else can you shoot the lightest bullet weight for caliber at just fast enough to clear the end of the barrel clear up to the heaviest bullet weight for caliber at 1200-1400fps and snake shot and still have the action cycle flawlessly?
I have my autos but they are limited to what power range they will shoot and still cycle the slide right.

If TSHTF it would be a question of which revolvers to grab.

 

[resident]

I've owned a dozen or more auto-pistols, all but two of them major brands. (I had a Star in .380 I wish I still had, and a Japanese Type 92, which I also wish I still had.)
EVERY ONE of those auto pistols, sooner or later, jammed or mis-fed/smokestacked. That complaint even includes the genuine WW-2 1911A1 Colt with gov't issue ball ammo, the S&W Mod 39, and the Ruger P97 and standard .22's (both of them).

I've owned two dozen or more revolvers of many makes, most of them commercial US models, a few of them foreign military models.
Only ONE malfunction in 40 years, a S&W that fired all it's cartridges...but failed to open due to an un-screwed cylinder/ejector rod/pin. I'm not sure that can be called a malfunction in the regular sense, as it did not fail to deliver all it's bullets, it only complicated (in a simple way) the reloading.

If you really really REALLY depend on a handgun for your life's protection in a short-duration fire-fight.... the REVOLVER is the most reliable, durable, and simple answer. It's what is under my wife's car seat (a common S&W Mod 10 with +P ammo)

(Makes me re-think why I'm carrying a Ruger P-97 in my car instead of my S&W Mod 66 or one of my Ruger revolvers.)

Oh, yeah...now I remember.... I don't want my car broken into and one of my GOOD guns stolen...so I keep an autopistol in my car. :roll:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Snake45]

If you really really REALLY depend on a handgun for your life's protection in a short-duration fire-fight.... the REVOLVER is the most reliable, durable, and simple answer.

That's really the key, isn't it? :wink:

Fortunately, most of them are. Most of them.... :?

 

[ray1970]

Just to clarify.... I never said I had anything against auto-loaders, just said that I really love my revolvers. I have owned and still own many very nice 1911's, Sigs, and Glocks. Most of them have been 100% reliable when fed the proper ammunition and when I do my part.

 

[bennettfam]

Revolver failure drill: "squeeze again"

 

[Elfego El Gato]

A terrible picture of a beautiful gun:

That's my S&W Model 15-3, which was my uncle's service pistol during thirty years with the NYPD (until he switched to a Glock for his last two or three years, prior to retirement). When he gave it to me, it was beat to Hell, so I sent it to S&W and had them do a full restoration of the gun. It is now, quite simply, the smoothest-shooting firearm I have come across in my life. And, that's not faint praise; I promise you, the trigger is better than the one on my custom Dan Wesson 1911!

Revolvers are great. But, as has been said, there's room in my heart for both revolvers and semi-autos. They each have their virtues and I enjoy shooting both!

 

[crystal river charlie]

I'm getting old. In my old age I find I long for the guns of my youth.

Revolvers and 1911's were the handguns of my youth.

I know them and I trust them. Especially revolvers.

Charlie