Time for Revolver Reality Truth?

Do any of you revolver only advocates realize the Glock, SIG, HK, etc. can actually be fired deliberately and accurately? Just asking.

Dave
 
We went to several gun shops and what does he fall in love with? A Sig P226 in .45.

He's seen all of my S&W revolvers, but didn't even consider buying one for himself.

P220 if it was a .45. That said, I was in the same boat as your son, lets see... about 20 years ago. My dad the standard revolver guy just shook his head when I came home with the brand new HK USP. It took me another 10 years or so before I came around, but now I've got a dozen or so Smith's in the safe and last I checked, not a single polymer framed pistola. Am I ever going to sell my 1911's, Hi Powers, and Sigs? Of course not. But then again, the S&W's aren't going anywhere either. Just keep him shooting, he'll find his way home eventually.
 
Do any of you revolver only advocates realize the Glock, SIG, HK, etc. can actually be fired deliberately and accurately? Just asking.

Dave

Of course they can be fired deliberately and accurately, but it has been my experience when I worked at an indoor pistol range in Southern California that most of the under 30 crowd that would come in fired on silhouette targets at the range minimum distance of 7 yards. Typically the only time any of our wheelguns would come out of the case was when someone wanted to shoot our .44 Magnum to show off the recoil. When we look at where many young people get their shooting influences from it is not disciplined instructors teaching breathing techniques and trigger pull and proper sight picture, it is more often video games and tv where they see shooting a full magazine to get maybe 1 or 2 hits. In the Marines they taught many of the basics and fundamentals of proper disciplined target shooting but in the Army proper disciplined shooting is much less stressed even in infantry units. When sighting in an M4 at 25m what many of us would consider unacceptable grouping for our own firearms is considered good marksmanship to many young soldiers. Maybe I'm ranting a bit here but these are some observations I've made from being both a young person in the military and in the shooting industry as well as having many years of disciplined shooting experience.
 
The reality around here is young guys have almost zero interest in revolvers. They see them as an obsolete weapon platform. There is some interest in J frames as casual carry guns, but if someone is going to wear a belt and holster they are going to carry a semi auto with double the revolvers ammo payload.

That being said you will sometimes find a younger guy who like revolvers. That guy should be cultivated revolver wise but you don't find a guy under 30 who is interested in carrying a K frame concealed very often.

Sad but those are the facts. Young guys view carrying a six shooter about like we view carrying a cap a ball revolver.


Guess I'm the exception to the rule then! I'm 24 and pack a 2.5 " 19-3 almost every day (only substitute it with my trusty CS9 ;) )
 
Always amazes me when the semi-auto 15 shot bunch watch me go down range and set up targets at 50,75 or 100 yards and then start shooting with a long barrel S&W or Dan Wesson then see the look on their faces when I actually hit them...have picked up a few $$ in friendly wager with some of them who want to try it with their plastic and springs guns on a bet. I have actually helped some of them decide to buy a quality revolver and try something other than spray and pray..
 
I agree with #3 and #4.

There seem to be plenty of pinned barrell N Frame guns at local gun shows around here. Typical prices for a 95% shooter grade 1975 - 80 vintage Model 29 is about the same as a new lock model. I don't understand why anyone would want the new one.

Ok guys. I have heard, seen and experienced enough. Is it time to set some truths for our next generation?

1) Please stop telling the younger generation to wait for "P&R" M29 deals. They are rare due to early estate buy-ins, owner/employees early buy-ins, and finally "left overs" in the retail gun case, that are usually over priced for collectors. BTW, they collect powder residue and require frequent clean out.

2) Promote buy now products, even with the lock. Get younger people involved in shooting sports, reloading, etc. New guns are great, regardless of old style "mental attitude."

3) Buying guns is the cheap end of the sport. Shooting and providing ammo is a bigger issue. Practice makes it complete.

4) Invest and resale guns as is. Customizing, like cars, is a huge expense, with little return on investment.

These points are not complete, nor perfect. Just a starting point. So I'm willing to hear from others.





3)
 
It isn't necessarily revolvers that get someone hooked on S&W. I bought my first Smith in a pawn shop in 1978. Was a 39-2. My son was just 6 at the time. I carried that piece for 10 years and during that time he probably put as many rounds thru it as I did. It was a foregone conclusion that someday it would be his. Unfortunately it was stolen in 88. In the meantime the kid grew up. Got a carry permit & a Glock. Why? Because they're indesturctible & pack a lot of fire power. Same reason my carry piece is Taurus PT-145 even though I have 6 Smiths. When I lock up the Taurus in the metal case on my bike, I don't worry about scratching the finish. When I'm packing it on the lawn mower & slinging grass & dust I don't worry about it. Ya can't hurt the damn things. And if ya do - so what. New price is $450. What's a .45 Smith go for new? What I'm saying is it ain't necessarily true that the younger generation doesn't appreciate older stuff particularly revolvers. It may simply be economics. I know that's where my kid's coming from.
 
2) Promote buy now products, even with the lock. Get younger people involved in shooting sports, reloading, etc. New guns are great, regardless of old style "mental attitude."

I agree. I have all three, pre-lock/no MIM, pre-lock/MIM and lock/MIM guns. As far as function goes I see no difference in any of them. If you are a collector you want pre-lock/MIM guns. If you are a shooter you want the current crop of lock/MIM models. Most who are taking up the sport of shooting need to invest in ammo, not guns. This isn't rocket surgery. Jim
 
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i like my "older" S&W revolvers....especially the K frames...well balanced, accurate and reliable
 
I think that it's great that young folks are taken by autos. That means that I and people who ask my advice can get great revolvers at retail for far less than they would normally be worth. Just a couple of years ago, an older gentleman decided, after a break-and-not-enter that he should have a sidearm. We found a nickel 4" 19 for $375!

^I agree with Model520Fan^
I fumbled upon a 686 no dash, 4", orig grips, w/ orig box for $375 about a year ago at a lgs.
 
Hmmm..... 44 years shooting revolvers and I've seen exactly one broken hammer mounted firing pin... Regards 18DAI

Make that same statement about the IL hanging up and you'll get a chorus of "well once is too much so I'll never own one!";)
 
2) Promote buy now products, even with the lock.

On the contrary, I think lock guns should be boycotted until the suits have to admit they made a colossal mistake and start making guns without them.
 
The reality around here is young guys have almost zero interest in revolvers. They see them as an obsolete weapon platform. There is some interest in J frames as casual carry guns, but if someone is going to wear a belt and holster they are going to carry a semi auto with double the revolvers ammo payload.

That being said you will sometimes find a younger guy who like revolvers. That guy should be cultivated revolver wise but you don't find a guy under 30 who is interested in carrying a K frame concealed very often.

Sad but those are the facts. Young guys view carrying a six shooter about like we view carrying a cap a ball revolver.

Being and surorunded by other guys my age that shoot, I think I am one of two that I know that like old smiths. I know for a fact though that I am the only one that will carry an old model 58 ocasionally. Most guys my age have never heard of a 41 magnum. Whenever I take a buddy shooting I always bring either my model 10 or my model 58 along though because they are impossible not to have fun while shooting.
 
I completely agree with the OP. If the revolver is to be viewed by 21st Century shooters as a weapon rather than a curiosity, this elitism must cease (You're confusing the children, Dear!). IL, MIM, two-piece barrel, it doesn't matter to the new shooter. Let us concentrate on proper form and lots of practice. Then if the shooter wants to get into the inner workings, the knowledge is certainly to be found in this Forum (This is where I study!).

Not that it's going to make a difference - the revolver as a weapon in the 21st century is a curiosity. Much like standard transmissions on automobiles. Yeah, a few folks still insist on having them in their daily drivers but by and large, they're the stuff of hobbyists.

Rant all you want but to the "Regular Joe" wheel gunners will be viewed as the one poster said: "You going to go rob the Stage Coach after work?" (Which I find deliciously funny, BTW!).

Not what some of you want to hear, but it is the reality of the situation.

I do enjoy my revolvers. I own 5 and they're all Smiths. A couple of them I do carry and feel well-protected. But I can see the logic in someone packing a Glock, Sig or M&P.
 
. . . the revolver as a weapon in the 21st century is a curiosity. Much like standard transmissions on automobiles.
You know, back right around the time that the TV stations were full of panic about Toyotas allegedly running away from their drivers with stuck throttles, I had a throttle (old cable type) stick on my Honda Civic, while going down a mountain. My hand was on the stick, anyway, so I automatically shifted into neutral, stomped on the pedal once or twice, and the problem went away, never to reappear. Had I been driving a car with an automatic transmission, the procedure would have been much slower and less reliable. Standard transmissions have their advantages, both in safety and economy.

So do revolvers.

I know about bottomfeeders. Young folks should know about revolvers.
 
Wheelguns are actually making a huge comeback, mostly .38 and .357 snubs. The rise in CC permits is huge and many formerly "non gun" people are choosing snub revolvers for the safety and simplicity. Unfortunately a lot of them are Taurus 85's...........but I digress..........

By and large a lot of people who buy a .38 snub probably rarely if ever fire it, and so gun guys like us who stress durability, DA pull smoothness, etc. are making points that are lost on the person who will probably fire less rounds in their lifetime than we fire during one range trip.
 
Wow... off the forum for a day and missed this good thread. :D

I think the original question of " #2 Promote buy now products, even with the lock. Get younger people involved in shooting sports, reloading, etc. New guns are great, regardless of old style "mental attitude." confuses me a little.

I'm old style, having only pre-lock S&W revolvers. And I have the "mental attitude" that I have no use for, or want to pay retail for, a new Smith & Wesson product. I can get two on the used market for what one new revolver costs.

Getting a new shooter involved has nothing to do with new guns...

My 9 year old nephew shooting a $300 Mod 34 made in 1965
DSC_0020.jpg


... he's been shooting my old guns for about 3 years now.

As far as the OP's statement "#1 Please stop telling the younger generation to wait for "P&R" M29 deals. They are rare due to early estate buy-ins, owner/employees early buy-ins, and finally "left overs" in the retail gun case, that are usually over priced for collectors. BTW, they collect powder residue and require frequent clean out."

That confuses me even more. Let's drop the Mod 29 reference and use just P&R (older) revolvers. The "are usually over priced for collectors" remark is spoken like someone who doesn't know how to buy a good used handgun. Gunshows, Gunbroker, S&W Forum classifieds are all places I've found good quality handguns at below retail prices.

I do agree with the OP on #3 "Buying guns is the cheap end of the sport. Shooting and providing ammo is a bigger issue. Practice makes it complete." :)

New S&W revolvers do have their place, and as in evidence here a lot of you like them. Buy 'em and shoot 'em!
I just like to show my new shooters a higher quality product made years ago that will still do what it always did, shoot well and look good doing it.

"Jedem das Seine" ! :D

GF
 
Ok, I'll be honest, the first gun I ever bought was a .40 cal Sig. I thought I wanted a semi-automatic. Plus price was a concern. I didn't want to spend $800 on a Smith. Anyway, I love my Sig, I won't part with it, however, my wife is a revolver lover, and now I'm a convert. As stated many times on this forum, my next purchase will be a 686 +, 4" barrel. I just seem to shoot revolvers better, I like the accuracy out to 50+ yards, and I like the fact that I can keep them on target better for follow up shots than I can semi-autos. I was taken in by the number of rounds, ect of the new semi-autos, but I've seen the light.

Have a great memorial day weekend and thanks to all those who have served.

Ryan
Spring, Tx
 
A good gun is a good gun........truth be told all of my last 7 revolver purchases have been Rugers, not because I don't like S&W anymore but I already have what I "need" for now.

I have gotten my fiance into shooting and the last two times were with my SP101 and a 6" Security Six.

It's true, it doesn't matter, new or used, S&W, Ruger, Colt, Llama, just get out there and shoot!

My main point is I'm tired of the .01% of "S&W fanatics" out there who look down their noses at those of us who enjoy the new S&W revolvers. If you only like the older ones, that's fine. I'm just tired of getting backhanded comments on here when I mention to a new member that there's nothing wrong with my 64-8, 66-7 or 10-14's.
 

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