Single Action Revolvers for Self Defense?

Arik said:
I bet anyone of them would have taken a modern revolver or semi auto had they had a choice.
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Wasn't it Wyatt Earp who proclaimed the Savage .32 Auto the best for gunfighting, etc., after he saw one in his later life? Ballistics and stopping power were not well understood then, and I believe he was impressed by the number of cartridges in the magazine, and speed of reloading.
 
I think that the notion of SA for SD is kinda cool........until you fire that sixth round.I guess that if you're in a situation that requires more than six,it's really not going to matter too much if you have a SA or DA revolver-you'd be way better off with an automatic with spare mags.
 
RV4driver said:
It ain't cowboy action, and it's not 3-gun, and it's not bulls-eye competition, it's for all the marbles, one chance to prevail. Second place gets buried.
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Quoted for truth. You mention that shooting single action guns is fun. Great for you. You aren't taking the topic seriously enough. Carrying a gun isn't about novelty or being unique. You can do that at the range. You have the lofty responsibility of protecting yourself and potentially others.

It would quickly go from being "fun" to "not fun" when you run your gun empty and you're sitting around for 30 seconds trying to load one or two bullets into the gun while you watch some scum bag kill someone.

This drives me absolutely crazy. Responsible carry is not a fashion statement, it's not the time to assert your individuality. If you can run a single action revolver, there are a LOT of other guns you can run too that make way more sense.
 
I don't know how General Patton is being cited as a good comparison when compared to a civilian in the MODERN AGE who is conceal carrying or open carrying a handgun to protect him or herself from a violent act. General Patton was in a warzone. People are not in a warzone. Let's stop being silly, this is why we can't have nice things.
 
Faulkner said:
The chief deputy would would generally reject all SAA's and 1911's and when the deputies would whine and moan he'd always tell them, "nostalgia will get you killed."
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Would he reject them out of hand or would he at least let them try to qualify with it first?

There are two qualities anything used for self-defense must have. These are not negotiable:
First, the gun must be reliable. If it doesn't work, it's useless.
Second, you must be able to hit the target with some speed. If you can't hit the target quickly, then you can't stop the threat effectively. We can debate what "quickly" means, but you get the point. There is no debate about what hitting the target means.

If you're chosen tool meets those two factors, by all means use it. Otherwise you're just fooling yourself.
 
Fanning an SA revolver is a good way to beat it to death, maybe a Ruger SA could survive more of it but those stop notches and internal mechanisms will eventually get beat up. Those guys who do it for show have specially worked over guns.

I would guess more people who carry an SA for defense are from the South or West, I don't think many people in the Northeast part of the US will choose a larger SA revolver for carry, besides an NAA. The SA seems like a part of the culture or heritage of certain parts of the country, and more people from these areas probably grew up using them.

I wouldn't want to have to rely on cocking a hammer in the all-thumbs adrenaline surge of full "fight or flight" mode that is armed combat, to have to cock the hammer and then actually try to hit a threat. If I'm getting my face kicked in or I'm half out of it from being hit from behind I don't want to have to pull out a thumb buster and then try to stop the attack with it. I want something I can instinctively get out and use. For the same reason I don't carry any SA auto that requires a safety to be clicked off. The last thing I need to do is have my thumb searching for a little switch, but my muscle memory isn't trained for it. If you were the kinda guy born with a 1911 (or SA revolver)in your hand I say it's your choice, go for it.

I'll never forget the story of the guy who's Taurus Gaucho broke under fire.......that's pretty much a nightmare come true right there.
 
I was speaking with my firearms instructor, Josey Wales, and he said the 1st 6 shots must connect with the intended target. I asked about carrying multiple SAA's. He said nah, just get a Sig 229 in 40 S&W with a 14 round magazine.

I have used a USFA and Colt SAA's as a bed side gun but never carried SAA's except when hunting.

I grew up using Single Actions. When I carried as a LEO it was a 4" Colt Python. Today it would be my SIG 229 and if a revolver it would be a 4" 686.

Sure there are folks who can shoot a SAA well but it's shortcomings in combat were noted by the US Army and after the DA in 38 Special failed a combat replacement study in the early 1900's led to the 1911. I have carried 1911's.

Would I ever carry a SAA centerfire? Nope, sold them all.

Would I judge someone who carried one? Nope, what you carry is your personal choice.

And I wouldn't use my horse as a patrol car either.
 
gen3guy said:
I'm not sure if this topic has ever come up on this forum. It probably has on some of the Ruger and Colt forums. I'd like to hear what people think about this. I the world of high capacity, reliable, and accurate auto pistols and the finest DA revolvers ever made, does anybody out there carry a SA revolver? I do on occasion, depending on the circumstances. The disadvantages are obvious but I also believe they can be formidable weapons in the hands of those who take the time to practice with them. Don't get me wrong. My Smith & Wesson DA revolvers are among my most cherished possessions. However, I shoot my SA revolvers more because they're reliable, safe, rugged, and FUN! Therefore I tend to want to carry them also.

Go ahead. Let me have it!
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For some reason, I just reread the OP and realize you were not asking if I carried a SA revolver for EDC, just if I would ever carry a SA revolver. Heck yeah, I occasionally take one for a hike. Usually one of my 45 caliber ones and often with the 45 ACP cylinder in it. They carry fairly easily in a good holster and belt, easy to get out and shooting. Lot's of fun.

And they also reaffirm my faith in my S&W revolvers, every time I carry them.

Kevin
 
The first handgun I ever owned was a Ruger Super Blackhawk that I saved up and my Dad bought for me a the ripe old age of 14. Throughout my life I've owned SA revolvers whenever finances allowed me to and have a great fondness for them. Anyone who grew up with John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Matt Dillon, etc., can't help but have an attraction to them and Winchester lever actions.

BUT...In my whole adult life I've never carried a SA revolver as a defensive weapon. Even as a small town cop during Frontier Days I carried a 6" S&W model 25 in a western rig, with a speed loader in each vest pocket and not many people probably noticed the difference.

In my gun safe right now are 7 SA revolvers, two matched pairs of Ruger New Vaqueros in .45 Colt and .357, a pair of Uberti Open-tops in .44 Special, and a Taylor's Uberti S&W Schofield in .45 Colt that I haven't paired yet. All of these guns are reliable and accurate, and I shoot pretty well with all of them with full house loads. But when I strap on my CC gun every morning all of those stay in the safe. I'll either be carrying my S&W 3" 65 or a Glock 17.

Aside from sport shooting and those that use a revolver as a primary hunting gun, handguns are made for self-defense and the purchase of one should reflect that if a person can only afford one handgun. Dependable, name brand, used DA revolvers can be bought for about the same money as a good SA revolver these days and unless the only handgun a person owns is a SA family heirloom I can see no reason for a person to buy a SA revolver BEFORE he owns a good DA revolver or semi-auto for self defense.

Don't get me wrong...if I had a loaded SA revolver in my hand and someone started shooting at me I'm gonna shoot it empty before I take the time to run for another gun. But I'd never intentionally carry a SA revolver for self defense any more than I'd ride a horse to the grocery store....there's a better, more efficient tool for the job.

Rob
 
stantheman86 said:
I'll never forget the story of the guy who's Taurus Gaucho broke under fire.......that's pretty much a nightmare come true right there.
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My guess is that under the stress, with the adrenalin pumping, he forgot to cock the gun and when he pulled the trigger nothing happened, so he pulled harder and harder until the trigger broke. Sort of like inexperienced drivers trying to stop a car on a slippery road- mash brake pedal, insufficient result, mash harder....harder....HARDER....BANG!
 
Exactly why I do NOT like SA revolvers for self defense:)

Personal preference is everything......lots of people hate trigger shoes too but some of my revolvers have them, they are for range use but I have carried my Speed Six that has a shoe on it, a mortal sin to some people lol Most people these days don't even know what a trigger shoe is.

I work with people (Corrections) who prior to the academy had never fired a DA revolver and would probably never think to buy or carry one for defense, while to me using a DA revolver is ingrained in my muscle memory.
 
Self defense is basic. How you choose to do it is up to you. I shoot semi and sass, and enjoy both very much. Granted that a semi will have more ammo in the clip, and thus allow you to have more time on target. And a SA will only hold 6, but the idea is to hit what you are aiming at. Looking at many videos where people use semi's , there are a lot of missed shots, so what good is that. But using a SA you will train your self to make each one count.
Ever been to a SASS club and see how fast and on point people are? It will forever change your mind about SA Revolvers. And it don't matter if your firearm shoot's a 38-40-45, the idea is to stop an attack.
Thank you,
Henry
 
66 shooter said:
You betcha...a Ruger New Vaquero, birdshead stainless in 45 ACP in a high ride Mernickle holster, reloads for it in a .45 ACP McCormick mag. Have toted concealed this way for years now and it has served me well.
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I have been thinking myself about that exact same set up. When I was younger, I could handle a single action pretty well but that was then and this is now, as they say. Mernickle makes some nice leather and I have several (the HiRide with the anti-tipout flap works great when I carry my full size Beretta 90-Two. It's amazing that holster (a PF6 i think) makes it so easy to conceal.
 
firebreather;138529423 But I'd never intentionally carry a SA revolver for self defense any more than I'd ride a horse to the grocery store....there's a better said:
In a past life there was a beer joint that had curb service 3 or 4 miles from the house and the liquor store was about a 100 yds. from the beer joint. We could get curb service and drink beer but the liquor store didn't have curb service so one had to hold the horses while the other went inside to purchase. We never needed groceries. :D Larry
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If someone were shooting at me from 50 yards away, and I didn't have any way to retreat safely, I'd rather return fire with my Ruger Old Army than with most of the pocket pistols out there. It's mighty accurate and throws a big slug.
Beyond that, I can't imagine a scenario where it would be high on the list of defensive options. From what I've read of the old gunfighters, they carried multiple revolvers, sometimes as many as four.
 
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