Note: This thread is NOT concerning 1911s or ANY single-action semi-automatic handguns, just single-action REVOLVERS!!!

Anyone carry or use single-action REVOLVERS for defensive carry or home defense?



Seems to me that statistically, 5 or 6 rounds has proven to be more than enough in the vast majority of civilian self defense situation. A single-action REVOLVER (not talking about 1911s), especially a modernized one such as the Ruger lineup, has got to be about the most reliable handgun available and they’re chambered in such big and potent rounds such as the .45 Colt and .357 Magnum, with plenty of high-performance modern defense loads available. I’ve found personally the single-action REVOLVER can be thumbed and fired with great speed and accuracy, the trigger pull affords really nice potential.

So what do you all think about it? Seems men such as Elmer Keith was recommending single action REVOLVERS for defense up into modern times. I think with practice they can be effective.

Discuss!

Sometimes I carry my USFA Single Action in .45 Colt. Before I retired, I carried a S&W 696 in .44 Special. The cylinder held 5 rounds. My USFA is loaded with 5 rounds. The only difference is that it takes longer to reload the USFA. If I need more than 5 rounds, maybe I should have brought a rifle with a large capacity magazine.

The only single action I use for defense is the 1911 - yes the one manufactured in Hartford (or West Hartford), Connecticut. It is usually in .45 ACP, but occasionally in 38 Super. It is always in Condition One (and only) when carried. And, it is fed most often from Chip McCormick Power Mags or the Wilson variety. It always has sights you can see and a manageable (5 lb.) trigger.

Guys let’s keep this on single-action revolvers, don’t care if you carry a 1911 or a Hi-Power just whatever, great good for you, you’re not adding anything meaningful to this discussion.

While EK stated if he were restricted to one revolver and factory loads that revolver would be a 45 long Colt SAA with Remington blackpowder loads, he mostly carried a 4” S&W either 44 Special or Magnum.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Beats crying and begging “Please don’t hurt me,” all to heck.

I’ve never carried a S/A but then I’m not a S/A guy. If it was what I had, it would do.

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John 3:16 .

Useing proper technique a person can effectively defend himself with a single action revolver .Most gunfighters I knew in the past who favored the single action revolver were old when I was a kid .My grandad carried one and could use it .He when practicing would generally fire two shots then eject and load never running his gun dry.Of course old colts and clones were set up to do this where the more modern Ruger set up is different with the loading gate safety .Some old timers would take the loading gate completely off a revolver to aid in ejecting /loading speed.Thing is they in general weren’t looking at the situation we have today .The criminal back in the 40s 50s overall weren’t armed with HC semiauto firearms .To day with a single action revolver facing even one or two adversaries armed with semiauto HC you would be at a definite disadvantage even if behind cover as they could pin you with fire and basically walk up on you .Dont get me wrong I’m not saying you couldn’t if you put in the practice to get to be an expert say for instance like many cowboy action shooters but that takes a lot of time and work .In a rural setting I carry a SA revolver quite a bit but I wouldn’t get into a gunfight if I could possibly help it as in I would either retreat or use my long gun to keep the bad guys at distance or put them down. Most old timers I knew carried a long gun especialy if they were going in harms way like raiding a still for instance and they in general took help.Interesting thinking though .A Winchester 94 in 30/30 for instance is set up to use the fire/load technique never running the gun dry also.

NAA Sidewinder 22Mag under my left hand, and a 1911 Commander 45 under my right.
The interesting part is that I'm left handed and very good with the Sidewinder, also always shot right handed and it's my strong hand.

When I lived in the Black Hills, they'd have fast draw competitions every now and then.

Some of those guys were really impressive in terms how fast they could fire 5 rounds with a slicked up SA revolver using the thumb and fingers of the weak hand to fan the hammer with the trigger held back.

But..they were also shoot wax bullets at mouse fart velocities, not an actual self defense load. Consider for a minute that the current .40 S&W lead bullet load with a 200 gr bullet at 1050 fps is essentially identical in terminal ballistics to both the 200 gr .44-40 and .38-40 black powder cartridges in a revolver.

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I have carried a Ruger Blackhawk with .45 Colt loaded to 32,000 psi for self defense, but more for 4 legged critters than 2 legged, and it's still at a disadvantage compared to a DA revolver in .44 Magnum.

I'm very comfortable carrying my New. Model Blackhawk in .45 Colt. Have been shooting them a long time.

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

I often carry a 4 5/8 Ruger SBH in 44 magnum!

I think it's one of the worst ideas I've ever heard in my life

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Retired Career Security Guard

IMO its one of those questions that can be answered only by you. If you like it, feel comfortable and are proficient with it for self defense---Then carry it.
Jim

To my thinking; there are many folks who use a pump shotgun for home defense. Well, working the action on a ruger Blackhawk is no slower than pumping a shotgun. So why not?

Granted it’s not the best choice for all situations, but that’s why so many of us have different firearms for different purposes. I would not feel outgunned, necessarily, carrying a modern large bore single action.

Unless you are one of the countless people on this and other forums who apparently are attacked by hoards of drug-crazed thugs on a regular basis, there's not a reason in the world you can't defend yourself perfectly well with a single-action revolver.

Just stay out of those neighborhoods, which must be extremely small because forums are the only places I hear about them.

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Pisgah

I don't own a single action revolver, but you did get me thinking. I do have a K38 and I do have a blister pack single action kit for a K frame.

Would I carry a converted K38 for self defense? Maybe, but highly doubtful. It would allow me a faster reload, but I don't think I would want the wider hammer and trigger on a combat revolver. While I tend to be more proficient for target shooting in single action, I don't think I would be comfortable in a combat scenario unless it was the only handgun I owned.

Unless I am shooting a PPC or other combat style course, that is the only time I shoot a revolver DA.

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Judge control not gun control!

On rare occasions, I will carry this rig. Don’t feel unarmed. Not my first choice, but I do like it!

Ruger Vaquero Montado

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I carry a single action for defense but mines a lite weight commander 45acp

You would make noise cocking it. A big reason I like a humpback snubbie in a pocket is it can be in-hand and ready without anyone knowing. You would loose that tactical advantage, which I think is huge.

While a single action revolver can be used for self defense, they aren’t a good first choice for most folks.

Long ago, I was enamored of the things.

Of course, in those days I watched a lot of Gunsmoke and Have Gun Will Travel!

I thought that sound would cause fear...a pump shotgun does..

Unless you're into Live Action Role Playing with a gun I can't think of a single reason to carry such an inefficient weapon for self defense.

Thank God I've never had to shoot anyone but I have had to draw a gun in self defense. In the middle of the situation I had more than enough things to keep track of without adding manipulating a SA revolver to the mix. AND had it come to that I wouldn't have wanted to bet my life on remembering to cock the weapon between shots while taking fire.

Self defense is about protecting my life. I don't ever want to be in that situation again but if I am I want the odds to be as heavily in my favor as they can be and that's not a single action revolver

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Retired Career Security Guard

Absolutely no reason not to carry a single action. It will take practice. You'll need to practice controlled pairs with a timer and how to do tactical reloads. But it can be done.

I've done some comparison with my Ruger GP100 and Ruger Blackhawk, both in .357Mag. I'm about a half a second faster with the GP100 if I have both hands available. I don't consider that a significant disadvantage.

The Blackhawk is big though. I would prefer to carry this one:


Probably going to make a lot more noise when the trigger is pressed. If you're in a situation where the very quiet noise of cocking a revolver will get you discovered, it's probably a better idea to remain concealed and not do anything.



Who is the maker of that holster and ammo carrier?

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Freedom isn't free.

If you can use both hands and fan it.... you can get six out rather quickly.
If your fly rod has a salmon hooked up.... one handed has limits.

Circa 1980: The Top Cop in Walla Walla said .... when I asked him who stands guard while we fish..... “ boy, don’t you carry a gun?”
“It’s just a Blackhawk 45 Colt” .... I replied.
“That’ll work”, he said.

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This one stays loaded as a house gun.
Would not be my first choice but would
do if needed.

Well, many others have weighed in on this, a few inappropriately. I'll add my few observations, and count on others to tell me where I am wrong, or worse.

The most proper basis for the decision is the personal ability of the person making the decision. For myself, it is a no-brainer. I am not particularly facile with a SA revolver, although two-handed, it may not make a lot of difference (until I fire that sixth shot, or first click). I am much more accustomed to S&W DA revolvers, and even Colt DA revolvers are better for me than any SA revolver (I own only one, a Ruger 4.625" NMSBH). However, even in this new century, there are folks who play with these old SA revolvers all the time, and there are many who are faster on them on their first, second and several subsequent shots than I am with any DA revolver. Those people, for sure, should make their own decisions without any ignorant input from me. I will say that those old hawglegs can sometimes take a while to reload. Good argument for a backup. Most guns are a good argument for a backup.

Many, many years ago, my father, not a gun person, asked me whether the TV character McCloud, was realistic in carrying a .45 Colt SA revolver while temporarily assigned to a department (NYPD) which normally carried Model 10 DA revolvers. Of course, I explained that there were pros and cons, but that many gun-oriented people would endorse McCloud's choice.

I don't think that things have changed much.

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Formerly Model520Fan

If it can be operated quickly and reliably with one hand under pressure in a chaotic environment, then I guess it would probably be fine if that's all you had, but otherwise it's a no-go. Even so, with so many better choices available it doesn't make much sense to hinder oneself with such an inefficient and outdated weapon.

The bad guys of yesteryear had single actions also - not so much now... iF you are going to carry for protection, be smart about it.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

I have no issues carrying my .41mag Blackhawk when appropriate (hiking-hunting etc.)
It may not be the best choice for defense from two legged predators but is hard to beat for larger threats.
It's accurate, reliable and powerful....I don't feel inadequately armed if it's the only gun on me.

What does it do that a double-action does not?

Mernickle made both the holster and ammo carrier.

Nope. Never even consider it, and I don't commute in a Model T. Both would get the job done (maybe) but have been long made obsolete by improved technology.

Jerry seems to do just fine with a single action—coach gun and lever action too, no extra charge.

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Possum—The other white meat!

Different context than what is being discussed here.

I've said it before and I'll continue to say it as long as the subject is raised...

Gunfight Rule #1: Have a gun.

Note that no particular firearm, cartridge, action type, nor any other details are included alongside this rule.

Folks often use threads such as these to front their masculinity/expertise in order to feed their ego, so unfortunately they will always devolve into a petty argument at some point, regardless of what you're using for self-defense, how modern it is, or how many authorities are currently using it.

Personally, I don't see why a Colt Single Action Army or any derivatives thereof couldn't be used for Home Defense. It doesn't take that long to work the hammer, especially if you train to do so, and there are many folks out there in the Cowboy Action Shooting community who stand as testament to this.
The lesser ammo capacity isn't that much of a big deal either, considering that the SAA and its derivatives are most commonly chambered in powerful cartridges such as .357 Magnum, .44 Special, and .45 Long Colt. There are also heavy duty variations of the SAA such as the Ruger Blackhawk, Magnum Research BFR, and Freedom Arms which come chambered in even more powerful cartridges such as .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, and even .45-70! So what they may lack in capacity, they make up for in terms of raw power.

Folks can (and most assuredly will) conjure up a variety of different scenarios in which a Single Action Army Revolver is insufficient or even a liability, such as the ever popular Urban Legend among the firearms community that your average Surburbian Household is liable to be invaded by a 6 man cell armed with Assault Rifles who isn't the least bit dissuaded by armed resistance, including one or more of their commrades getting shot, but I would challenge them to actually provide evidence of such cases occurring with your average working class man who is neither wealthy nor involved in any form of criminal activity.
Besides, let's face it, six against one is terrible odds no matter how you look at it, so even if such an occurrence was probable, then you're probably dead meat anyway, regardless of what you use for Home Defense, so it's a hopeless scenario to prepare for to begin with.

Bottom line, if you are an ordinary citizen with average income, living in an average home, and aren't involved with the criminal element in any capacity, then the highest risk of Home Invasion you are likely to face is by one desperate crack-head who selected your home at random looking for a quick score of anything he could possibly pawn for his next fix.
I know that many folks seem to be under the impression that your average crack-head is a fearless killer with superhuman strength and endurance who eats a bowl of 9mm Luger for Breakfast without any milk rather than a twitchy, emaciated, malnourished addict who is most-likely suffering from extremely painful withdrawal symptoms, but either way, he's not likely going to respond well to being shot (especially not six times) with a Revolver chambered in .357 Magnum, .44 Special, or .45 Long Colt, let alone one of the more powerful variants chambered in .44 Magnum or higher.
Otherwise, if you're of above average income, living in a fancy house, or are involved with the criminal element in any capacity, then you can most likely afford something with higher capacity, not to mention an alarm system, surveillance equipment, or perhaps even moving into a gated community with guards.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

^^^ My chances of being attacked are near zero, but I carry a gun to defend myself anyway. On the rare chance that it should happen, I want the best tools available, plenty of ammo, and to be able to reload quickly.

Good for you, that's a wise decision.
However, Home Defense and Carry aren't exactly the same. Inside your home, you typically hold the advantage, risk in generally lower, and preparation for Home Defense has much more room for customization than Daily Carry.

Besides, many folks on firearms forums seem to misunderstand this, (especially those who post threads on a regular basis to show off their latest firearms purchase) but firearms can be prohibitively expensive to those who are living on a budget or simply lack the overall means to seek out and purchase an optimal self-defense platform, not to mention train with it in order to become proficient with it.
So presuming that the TC already owns a SAA, lacks the means to replace it, and has already familiarized himself with the operational procedure of said SAA, then it is his optimal choice by default.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Really? So who's right, you or those folks who think that, say, the shucking sound of a pump shotgun being chamber-loaded is a big plus?

Way overthinking, unless you are lying in wait to shoot somebody on the sly...

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Pisgah

Since its 2019, not 1880, no, I don't.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

What with having started out 50 years ago with a Colt SAA in 45 Long Colt...

I'm purty confident in their usage.

I've also carried these for years......never felt under gunned.

Ruger 44 Magnum


Colt SAA 44 Special


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I do . Mostly my paps Ruger but I have carried one of the new Ruger Flattop .44 Spl 5 1/2" in blue . Never worried about needing to reload with the old gun cause it never misses .

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

You ain't Jerry

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Retired Career Security Guard

Another thought that I'd like to add for the sake of the argument of using a SAA for Home Defense.

When you really think about it, is a Single Action Army all that different from a Pump Action Shotgun?

I mean, really...

• Both are Single Action.
• Both typically hold between 5-8 rounds.
• Both can only reload 1 round at a time.
• Both designs date back to the late 1800s.

So why is it that Pump Action Shotguns are still widely acknowledged as being a good choice for Home Defense, yet a Single Action Army isn't?

Granted that 12 Gauge is more powerful than say .45 Long Colt, especially due to the fact that a 12 Gauge Shotshell holds a much larger payload of ammo, but your standard 255gr .45LC still has a strong track record as a man-stopper. In fact, the .45LC was actually designed to be effective against horses as well as men, and at one point in the early 1900s when the US Army was having issues stopping the drugged out Moro Warriors in the Philippines with the standard issue .38 Long Colt revolver, the SAA was pulled out of retirement to help address the issue, and ultimately proved effective enough that the US Army dictated that they wanted their next standard issue sidearm chambered in a .45 calibur bullet, which ultimately resulted in the invention of the .45 ACP cartridge. So yeah, if it worked against the Moro Warriors, then it should be effective against your average crack-head as well.

Just food for thought.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

True.

I still want the best tool available for the job and that's still not a SA revolver

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Retired Career Security Guard

At the age of 14 or 15 I started carrying a Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag for bear just like a few generations of men before me. And I saw a few bear that were put down with them.

I wouldn’t carry one now because I’m not as proficient with one. But I don’t see a problem with it in the hands of one experienced. If a single action is good enough for four legged predators it’s surely good enough for two legged ones.

But of course if you’re not carrying a 10MM semi auto, I guess it’s because you’re not tacticool.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

A handgun provides certain advantages in a home defense scenario that a long gun does not. There are trade-offs when compared with a rifle or shotgun, but many people think it is worth it, myself included. With a single-action revolver, you lose(or at least inhibit) many of the advantages of the handgun without gaining any of the advantages of the long gun.

If one is competent with a SAA it's fine for home defense or in the sticks, trail walking etc....at the 7-11 at 2 a.m. on a Sat night then there are probably better choices. I avoid high risk areas so in general whatever I carry is adequate.

In a word, no. However, I’m not going to say the man who’s practiced in the art of the single action couldn’t do better at self defense than the unpracticed, untrained with his glock 17 with his laser and flashlight attachments.

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Halfway and one more step

None of us are Jerry. None of us will ever be Jerry. In fact, even Jerry is not the fastest when it comes to Cowboy Action Shooting. That's not the point.

The point is that a single action CAN be carried and used for self-defense. Is it the best choice? Who are we to say? If it's the gun an individual is most confident with, it's right for them.

Are hollow point bullets better than full metal jacket? Maybe, but that doesn't mean a FMJ is completely useless.

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Freedom isn't free.

First off, I am a revolver shooter.
Secondly, I shoot all my revolvers single action.
Why? Simple, I'm more accurate single action than double.
My main self defense gun is a Model 66, 2 1/2 inch, and yes, I can shot it
one handed. 6 rounds in 10-12 seconds.

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Super Snooper