Time for Revolver Reality Truth?
- Thread starter tkosiba
- Start date
TNDAVE,
I guess I am a rare breed lol. I am under 30 and pretty much all I shoot and collect now is Smith revolvers. I admit I started out with the semi-autos and found my real passion with revolvers, dont get me wrong I still own a 1911 and CZ 75 but other than that its revolvers for me. I would also prefer carrying my Smith 66 or 586 anyday over a semi-auto.
Eric
You are an odd duck! (jk) I am glad to see younger guys enjoying revolvers. A good Smith is a joy no doubt. I still carry various K frames and enjoy them very much. I will often carry a Glock 19 though. It is hard to beat a gun that is like 2 1/2 revolvers.
I like the older S&W revolvers with no lock as much as anyone but unless you are a collector and wait for good pre-locks, S&W and other firearms producers will stop selling all revolvers due to no sales. They are not going to go back to the no lock guns due to liability issues brought on by lawyers. When I go to buy another revolver I will most likely buy a new revolver to help keep the industry healthy.
kcub, I agree 100% but don't hold your breath on this one. You will loose. This country is so loaded with liablity lawyers looking for a paycheck that most industries have the same problem and the firearms industry is in all of their sites.
BTW, just a few details to my original post.
Shooting recessed cylinders (like I did in the mid 70's) resulted in frequent "clean out" pauses. I still have the dirty tooth brushes to remind me. Worst yet, cleaning out the recesses usually caused more buildup under the star which led to possible cylinder binding. Today, without cylinder recesses, no problem at all. Also, tool steel parts in my 1911's are noticable by shooters wanting ultra fine triggers. However I have not noticed much trigger difference between a 629-1 and a 629-6 as a high volune shooter (and personally, I prefer the new guns with a beefier enhancement).
Those few voices that "still find good P&R models" out there at a good price, most likely represent a
very small percent of guns sold, and leaves a false impression to new shooters that they are plentiful. Usually inner circle club buddys get good private deals, not the big market. Besides, the last thing a
new shooter needs is to buy a gun that's been worked on with flaws. New guns eliminate this issue for the novice.
Shooting recessed cylinders (like I did in the mid 70's) resulted in frequent "clean out" pauses. I still have the dirty tooth brushes to remind me. Worst yet, cleaning out the recesses usually caused more buildup under the star which led to possible cylinder binding. Today, without cylinder recesses, no problem at all. Also, tool steel parts in my 1911's are noticable by shooters wanting ultra fine triggers. However I have not noticed much trigger difference between a 629-1 and a 629-6 as a high volune shooter (and personally, I prefer the new guns with a beefier enhancement).
Those few voices that "still find good P&R models" out there at a good price, most likely represent a
very small percent of guns sold, and leaves a false impression to new shooters that they are plentiful. Usually inner circle club buddys get good private deals, not the big market. Besides, the last thing a
new shooter needs is to buy a gun that's been worked on with flaws. New guns eliminate this issue for the novice.
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Huh?
I have to agree with 18DAI about one thing. I have a hard time talking up a gun I have no enthusiasm for myself. I have some modern S&Ws, but my real interest is in those made two or three generations ago, so naturally, those are the ones that I am most likely to comment about. If this leaves the young fellows a little cold, that is not my intent.
LOBO
Member
Shouldn't we be concerned about getting more new gun owners to join our ranks? If they do so by purchasing S&W guns then that is just an extra benefit.
I'm late 60s and was raised on revolvers and Colt 1911s. Today...My serious working guns are either a Glock 23 or a 1911, depending. My favored casual carry arms are Kahr PM9 and early Smith M60s and 442s, also depending. NAA .22 mag when reduced to almost naked. All are good and each has their place. New isn't better and old isn't worse, nor vice versa. Just sayin'.
Will admit, however, I've developed a bit of a bias against the later lw J-frames independent of the lock.
Will admit, however, I've developed a bit of a bias against the later lw J-frames independent of the lock.
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M3Stuart
Member
I've been thinking about this thread and I've got three recent examples that, in my mind anyway, sort of negate the point;
1. Older couple with weak shooting skills sporting his-and-hers glops in 9mm and 45ACP.
2. Young lady at the range with a brand new 686+ 4" and a 92FS. She said they were the only two guns she owned. I asked her what drew her to the 686 and she said easier follow up shots with .38 Spec, dead-on accuracy, and not having to worry about mag springs when the gun sat for months - loaded - as a home defense gun.
3. Middle aged lady with a 3" Talo 686+ and a S&W M&P9c. She used both for CCW. She said she had traded her 9c in for a no-manual-safety version of the 9c because she didn't want it at all. I asked her if the IL on the 686 bothered her and she said "not at all".
So, perhaps, we err in thinking we can categorize people by age and handgun preference (including IL, manual safety, mag spring reliability, etc).
1. Older couple with weak shooting skills sporting his-and-hers glops in 9mm and 45ACP.
2. Young lady at the range with a brand new 686+ 4" and a 92FS. She said they were the only two guns she owned. I asked her what drew her to the 686 and she said easier follow up shots with .38 Spec, dead-on accuracy, and not having to worry about mag springs when the gun sat for months - loaded - as a home defense gun.
3. Middle aged lady with a 3" Talo 686+ and a S&W M&P9c. She used both for CCW. She said she had traded her 9c in for a no-manual-safety version of the 9c because she didn't want it at all. I asked her if the IL on the 686 bothered her and she said "not at all".
So, perhaps, we err in thinking we can categorize people by age and handgun preference (including IL, manual safety, mag spring reliability, etc).
627 city hunter
Member
Hey old guys,
I am in my mid-20s. Love revolvers - particularly N frames.
Us 'yunguns' aren't all that dense and unaware of revolver reliability and quality particularly from new S&W.
Have you seen the competitors, current ****? Sorry, but Ruger has terrible ergonomics and weight, and Taurus please... my .40 is garbage ready for trade from a brand new warranty replacement.
And Charter Arms... the cylinder shakes in the frame.
S&W revolvers currently offer the most choices and affordable quality //
I am in my mid-20s. Love revolvers - particularly N frames.
Us 'yunguns' aren't all that dense and unaware of revolver reliability and quality particularly from new S&W.
Have you seen the competitors, current ****? Sorry, but Ruger has terrible ergonomics and weight, and Taurus please... my .40 is garbage ready for trade from a brand new warranty replacement.
And Charter Arms... the cylinder shakes in the frame.
S&W revolvers currently offer the most choices and affordable quality //
kbm6893
Member
Revolvers are still a viable tool for self defense, despite what SWAT magazine and Blackwater tell you. If I ever have to venture into a high crime area, I would say pack a semi with more rounds. But come on people! Some people on here have visions of tactical reloads in the middle of a gun fight! Revolvers can be fired while jammed into a person (somenthing very likely in a self defense scenario), they can be fired from a pocket (hammerless ones, anyway). And unless you are assaulted by a marauding gang of flesh eating mutants, once you display a gun, the bag guys generally run. Fire a shot? They're all heading for the hills. If you like a semi (and I do, too), stick with them, but to completely rules out the revolver is ludicrous. Whenever I go to the range, most people with semi auto's are there to make noise, not learn marksmanship. 15 rounds fired in less than 30 seconds is the norm. Then their targets look like they were hit with buckshot at 25 yards.
Brian41
Member
I shot my first M-15 when in the AF and was hooked. Had we had Glocks then it probally would have been them. Now S&W revolvers are mainly what I own and shoot and mostly older P&R but do have a couple IL types not made back then (PD series).
I don't own any plastic guns as the appeal just isn't there. I just don't have need for 25 shots and don't fault for those that do. I live and travel in areas where my 5 shot J frames are protection enough for me.
I've shot with younger guys that usually have auto loaders and let them shoot my revolvers. My 41s and 44s always impress and a couple have come back with big bore revolvers for deer hunting later. Almost always Ruger DA guns but it's a start into revolvers for them at least.
I'm not one to fault anyone's choice of guns but just happy to see them into shooting. I've noticed too the older guys just getting into concealed carry guns usually go with autos too. It's what is out there and pushed at many gun shops today.
I don't own any plastic guns as the appeal just isn't there. I just don't have need for 25 shots and don't fault for those that do. I live and travel in areas where my 5 shot J frames are protection enough for me.
I've shot with younger guys that usually have auto loaders and let them shoot my revolvers. My 41s and 44s always impress and a couple have come back with big bore revolvers for deer hunting later. Almost always Ruger DA guns but it's a start into revolvers for them at least.
I'm not one to fault anyone's choice of guns but just happy to see them into shooting. I've noticed too the older guys just getting into concealed carry guns usually go with autos too. It's what is out there and pushed at many gun shops today.
While the argument may be made for the revolver (by us revolver fans) the facts are that when the world thinks of the word "handgun" they see a mental picture of a pistol. And when they speak with their wallets, they buy a pistol. (Usually a Glock).
I wonder what % of hand gun sales (new +/- used, doesn't matter) are revolvers as opposed to pistols.
Bet it's a significant minority ...
I wonder what % of hand gun sales (new +/- used, doesn't matter) are revolvers as opposed to pistols.
Bet it's a significant minority ...
There are exceptions, to these observations.
1. The "younger" generation plays First Person Shooter video games. EBR's and polymer autos are what they "play" with, so that's what they gravitate to when they buy.
2. The "younger" generation is used to buying the newest and latest version. Most don't care about the "old, used, classics" that their old man had. It's status, bragging rights, assumed lack of problems, etc.
3. They all go "bang", so at least they're supporting the shooting sports/hobby.
1. The "younger" generation plays First Person Shooter video games. EBR's and polymer autos are what they "play" with, so that's what they gravitate to when they buy.
2. The "younger" generation is used to buying the newest and latest version. Most don't care about the "old, used, classics" that their old man had. It's status, bragging rights, assumed lack of problems, etc.
3. They all go "bang", so at least they're supporting the shooting sports/hobby.
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AveragEd
Member
I couldn't agree more. I have a 30 year-old son who has always been into guns in general as well as hunting and trapshooting. About three years ago, I decided to rebuild my collection of S&W revolvers and bought a dozen or so like-new stainless steel earlier models.
As the collection grew, he commented, "You really like your revolvers, don't you?" At the time, his one handgun was a 1911 clone in .45ACP. But not long after he made that remark, he started to appreciate the history and construction of my older revolvers as compared with current production ones and really enjoys shooting them.
Had I not gotten back into S&W revolvers, his idea of a handgun might be limited to a 1911.
Ed
As the collection grew, he commented, "You really like your revolvers, don't you?" At the time, his one handgun was a 1911 clone in .45ACP. But not long after he made that remark, he started to appreciate the history and construction of my older revolvers as compared with current production ones and really enjoys shooting them.
Had I not gotten back into S&W revolvers, his idea of a handgun might be limited to a 1911.
Ed
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