A question has been swirling through my mind lately.

As I stated I have been researching mainly semiautos and recently turned on to revolvers.

Lets say I have an encounter with two BG..and need to fire out all 6 shots in the revolver.

My question is how quickly can you reload the revolver in the middle of a stiuation (Or how do you guys go about reloading a revolver quickly) vs. a semiauto is fast to reload by changing the magazine?

Is this one of the week spots using a revolver?

(Sorry for asking questions that possibly be asked before) I appreciate any input. Thanks

A question has been swirling through my mind lately.

As I stated I have been researching mainly semiautos and recently turned on to revolvers.

Lets say I have an encounter with two BG..and need to fire out all 6 shots in the revolver.

My question is how quickly can you reload the revolver in the middle of a stiuation (Or how do you guys go about reloading a revolver quickly) vs. a semiauto is fast to reload by changing the magazine?

Is this one of the week spots using a revolver?

(Sorry for asking questions that possibly be asked before) I appreciate any input. Thanks

If you have ever attended a practical shooting competition, you would know that semiauto shooters can effect a reload very fast: say, two seconds between the last shot from the first magazine and the first shot from the second magazine.

Revolver shooters can be fast too, if they use speedloaders. Last shot to new first shot, say 3 to 4 seconds. It's all a matter of practice.

Level one, You speed in reloading depends on what you have and how much you practice reloading.I personaly can reload a revolver faster than I can reload a semiauto. on my 45 I use moon clips that is super fast when you reload. With a speedloader it is a little slower. If you practice a-lot you can reload as fast as any one.

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M.J.Hanna

The only question in this scenario is where they will bury you. If you are in a gunfight with two opponents and fail to neutralize the threat before expending six shots, they will have already killed you. Civilains don't typically get in long range firefights with multiple targets, about 99.999% os these type of encounters are at ranges of five yards or less. The fight will typically be decided in the first or second shot.... yours or his. Even if the other person has no gun, if he charges you that means you will only have about one second to stop him or he will grab the gun. Again, first or second shot needs to be on target.

No. It is an area that requires the correct equipment and practice.

As stated above, clip loading a revolver is as fast as magazine loading a semi-auto. I watch it done at a match while I hold the timer every month. Speeloaders are a little slower, say 3 to 4 sec. (I shoot IDPA/SSR)

Also as noted above, you seriously need to take a good defensive pistol course, and then come practice with us in IDPA.
We had a new shooter with a revolver at last Saturday's match, and he took 5 times as long to shoot because he (1) had no tactical training or equipment and (2) was reloading with loose rounds from his pocket. His holster was so bad I had him start with the gun in hand. I think he will be back with a new holster and a set of speedloaders. IDPA isn't a substitute for training, but it is good practice and also sometimes a reality check on your equipment and tactics.

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Science plus Art

Couldn't agree more!! Great statement of the facts!!

This is the second time or so you guys have mentioned taking a defensive class/training. I am taking a NRA training class that last for 3 hours.

Does this not count as a defensive class? THanks.

This is the second time or so you guys have mentioned taking a defensive class/training. I am taking a NRA training class that last for 3 hours.

Does this not count as a defensive class? THanks.[/QUOTE]


The NRA class will focus mainly on gun saftey and target shooting, and is not a "fighting class".

Glad you asked. As an NRA instructor, I appreciate your invitation to express an opinion.

The short pistol course is called "First Steps" and intended to get a person to the point they understand basic safety, can hold correctly, load and unload one specific pistol, and can hit a paper plate at 5 yards with no time limit. It is a short version of the NRA Basic Pistol Course, which covers different types of handguns and involves a little more range time. Neither of these is a defensive pistol course.

The first NRA defensive course is "Personal Protection Inside the Home" which covers basic laws on defense, shooting at different distances, and firing multiple shots center of mass. It starts with the gun in hand and loaded, and does not cover drawing from concealment, tactical reloads, moving and shooting, etc. It minimally preapres someone to defend their home from invasion.

The next course is NRA "Personal Protection Outside the Home" with the previous course first required. This second course is 18 hours, with about half of that on the range. It covers drawing from a holster or purse, using low cover, barricade shooting, point shooting, moving to cover, basic tactics, and so on.
I semi-joking call "Personal Protection Outside the Home" the "How to Shoot IDPA Course."

I think the above courses taken in sequence are the MINIMUM training for anyone who carries a concealed handgun. At this point, the shooter has learned the basics, and is prepared to benefit from advanced tactical training if they wish, or to participate confidently in the simulated stress of IDPA, and perhaps survive an armed encounter.

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Science plus Art

Just remember-practice doesn't make perfect.
Perfect practice makes perfect.

Also remember: under extreme stress, you do NOT rise to your peak level of performance, you drop to your lowest level of baseline training.

+100

Adding to what the others have correctly pointed out, no it isn't.

You are just getting started with handguns and have a long way to go. As you grow in your training and skills, please consider IDPA type competitions as a next step. This is SO IMPORTANT!

Most good "plinkers" get their tail kicked real bad when they start competing . . . and THIS IS GOOD, for it is a real reality check that helps one move to the next level. You'll quickly learn what equipment works, now to economize your mechanics fast, how to shoot acceptably well at speed and how to handle a mild case of the jitters!

The results will be a better YOU!

T.

PS: You'll also learn two other things competing:

1. You will soon become smoother, faster and much better with your skills than the typical gang banger would be!

2. Sometimes though . . . the worst shooter around will get REAL LUCKY on occasion!

Speedy reloading of a revolver is certainly possible after many years of practice. Watch the videos of Jerry Miculek who fired 6 accurate rounds, reloaded, then fired 6 more accurate shots ---- in under 3 seconds! But remember he HIT his targets 12 times and the first one would probably stopped the threat.

As a PO with almost 30 years experience-5 years as a firearms instructor- I say this; an EXPERIENCED revolver shooter can be just as threatening in a gunfight as someone with a pistol.
Experience, training,practice , and mindset win gunfights.
Check this clip of World Champion revolver shooter Jerry Miculek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXSfbrAKLFY

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I'm not Fonda Hanoi Jane!

This may be of interest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVWwOahGf8

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+ Restore the Republic +

I've shot hundreds of competitions with pistols and revolvers.

One of my favorite memories was winning the pot at a steel match's "Special Match." About 30-35 shooters competed. I won with a revolver against some mighty fine shooters . . . all using high capacity autoloaders.

RULES:
1. 18 steel plates or poppers, spread in a 60 degree angle in front of the line, from various distances between 10-35 yards.

2. ALL GUNS STARTED UNLOADED, IN A PISTOL BOX

3. First one to drop all EIGHTEEN targets won the pot.

4. ONE MANDITORY RELOAD (as to not favor the Glock 17 shooters using 33 round extended magazines.

I came to the line with a S&W M25-2 revolver in .45ACP that uses moon clips . . . and thus I'd have to load, then reload two times UNLESS I missed even once . . . and if I did, I'd have to reload again.



Thus, I'd have to be real fast, real accurate and real smooth. However, I shoot this gun better and faster than my competition 1911 anyway so I looked forward to the challenge . . . as well as possibly waxing the auto guys who normally don't face wheelgunners due to various classifications.

I won the match by nearly two seconds! Better . . . I got to rag the guys mercilessly for a few months! Part of the fun of competitions is the fellowship!

Frankly, most deadly handgun fights last less than three seconds. Neither guy is gonna stand still and allow the other guy to shoot him. Gun games are nothing like a real, mortal confrontation. However, the games can surely make us far better handgunners who eventually develop skills at a higher level that greatly increase our chances of survival against those who don't compete and get smooth and fast!

There's an old saying, "Beware of the old man with a revolver . . . he probably knows how to use it!"

Thanks for the caring advice from all of you. Everyone had to start at the beginning somewhere. Some other gun forums where I lurk a lot of the older more experienced guys really tear into the new guys. It makes it uncomfortable to ask questions.

I don't see that here. I appreciate it. Well my NRA course won't take place until Feb. 5th. I have to leave for a few weeks. I'm excited to start the journey.

Okay this is going to be real newbie question. I see that your sets of 6 bullets are all linked together with say a wire type mechanism.

So is that all you have to do is drop all 6 in at once into the revolver instead of putting each bullet in one at a time?

LevelOne, those are called moon clips. Those do hold the six rounds together and the whole assembly gets inserted and ejected together.

I have constantly beaten an experienced shooter with his SIG in IDPA using a model ten and speedloaders. He can reload a bit faster, but when time and accuracy are combined as with IDPA, I beat him. But not by much, however.

So, you pays yur money and takes your choice.

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HiCap

Level One, allow me to make a minor terminology correction.

What you refer to as "bullets" are properly called cartridges. Some people also call them rounds, which is an old term from when most firearms were loaded with round lead balls. Still, the terms round and cartridge are interchangable.

The bullet is only the projectile. The cartridge is composed of the bullet, case, powder, and primer.

One reason the FBI went to auto's was after two agent's were found shot to death behind a car trying to reload their revolvers.

Ironically it's also one of the few times that a registered select fire weapon was used in a crime.

However for most, the basic rule for a gunfight is: three seconds, three shots, within three meters.

Thank's fellas! Not only have you enlightened Levelone, you have surely helped me and others gain some good info that will be needed to be safe, educated gun owners/carriers. Thank's Again!!!

Thank you. I knew my terminology had to be off somewhere along the lines.

Naaah LevelOne, no problem with your terminology . . . for you are hungry and you are learning! We're so glad you are here, asking great questions!

The one's we all worry about are those ignorant politicians and citizens who use the wrong descriptions of things such as:

Assault weapon - An "offensive" term (no matter how it is used by the press) to inaccurately describe semi-auto rifles legally owned by civilians as if they were MILITARY rifles. Ummm . . . military weapons can fire as machineguns and submachine guns. Our civilian weapons cannot. No, our civilan weapons were NEVER designed for assault purposes, just for self defense!

"Rifles with high capacity CLIPS" - My revolver shown above uses thin clips to snap the cartridges into, but modern rifles and pistols use MAGAZINES, not clips! A magazine fully encloses the loaded ammunition.

Here's a great video by an ignorant national politician, as she tries to push a law that would ban stuff she's clueless about. It would be funny, if she wasn't so damned ignorant on firearms! She's just an ignorant pawn, albeit a dangerous one!

Here, she's "written" a bill banning "barrel shrouds" and "high-capacity clips" . . . but knows nothing about things she wrote a bill on:

Stupid, Ignorant Anti-Gun Politician!


Again LevelOne, THANK YOU for seeking to understand firearms better. Only through learning about things can we prevent ignorance from ruling our lives! Glad you are here!

Tom

Many people can draw a second gun faster than they can reload, depending on where the second gun is.

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Formerly Model520Fan