Remember, when old timers were defending themselves w/single actions (SA) they were fighting others armed the same way. I've been in a real gunfight where I had to reload my Colt DS, and the absolute last thing I would use is a SA b/c they are so slow to reload. I realize that statistics show that only two or three shots are fired, but what if your situation does not fall within this average?
Single Action Revolvers for Self Defense?
- Thread starter gen3guy
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wheelgunguy
Member
Nothing wrong with loving your SAs. If you have a DA that you are confident in I just see no reason to carry an SA. If all I owned was an SA then absolutely I'd carry it.
Hmmmm...In that instance I may just unload my gun and let them catch me.
I'd reverse the order of those two things.
wheelgunguy
Member
RV4driver
US Veteran
In self defense, I believe that it's all about advantage. If you think that limited rounds and the need to cock the hammer for every shot gives you an advantage...well, um, okay.
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.
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.
I wouldn't carry a SA for defensive use because I haven't spent the time training myself for their use in defensive situations. After spending decades training/practicing with DA I'm afraid I would react as I have trained in an emergency.
Highhawk1948
Member
Used to carry a .41 magnum Blackhawk for concealed carry. IWB , always felt safe and capable
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Can you use a Single Action for self-defense? Of course.
In some cases, like for a long time with the Casull-category calibers, there wasn't a viable alternative if you thought you needed that power in a handgun.
But choosing to limit yourself to SA when there is no compelling need is simply unwise when it comes to something as serious as your personal safety. SA guns offer no advantages, just drawbacks. If you have other choices, there is no excuse to carry one, and nostalgia should play no part in it.
Just my two cents.
In some cases, like for a long time with the Casull-category calibers, there wasn't a viable alternative if you thought you needed that power in a handgun.
But choosing to limit yourself to SA when there is no compelling need is simply unwise when it comes to something as serious as your personal safety. SA guns offer no advantages, just drawbacks. If you have other choices, there is no excuse to carry one, and nostalgia should play no part in it.
Just my two cents.
Made me think of this guy.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Habpg_vAG3g[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Habpg_vAG3g[/ame]
Cpo1944
Member
I wonder how many of those neat little North American .22LR`s are hiding in peoples pockets?
Frizzman
US Veteran
Having been in shooting situations, I never wished I had fewer rounds in the gun or that it was slower to reload. I have guns, including single action revolvers, that are my hobby/fun guns. When we say "carry" I assume we are referring to weapons for dealing with lethal threats. This is not related to guns used for hunting/hobbies/fantasy/play. I know of no law enforcement or military organization that issues or authorizes SA revolvers. There are reasons for that. Is a SA better than nothing? I guess so but I see no reason not to carry a more capable gun to keep myself and my family alive. When I was issued and trained to use a M10 in the 1970's, I was taught to NEVER cock that revolver and use it in single action...I don't expect an attacker to be poorly armed or hesitant to rapidly fire multiple shots at me and I don't expect them to stand still on a clear, sunny day so I can take the time to cock my revolver and take careful aim so I don't need more than a few rounds to end it....My experience is that reality doesn't work like movies, tv or fantasy. I collect swords and swords have killed many, many people but I'm not going to carry my broadsword for serious self-defense.
66 shooter
Member
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.
I used a 3 screw .357 Ruger for my concealed carry class. Two guys in the class had high dollar tricked out .45 autos. During the book learning the instructor had every one open their rev. or lock the slide back on autos. I pulled the pin and removed the cyl. After the shooting was done I had high score and I just let everybody think that was my only gun. Larry
stantheman86
US Veteran
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The only SA revolver I carry for defense is my NAA .22 LR Mini revolver, or my 4" Mini Master. ONLY because they are so small they allow me to carry when I can't carry anything else. The Mini Master has enough barrel to actually make .22 WMR viable for defense, but it's light, thin and compact so I can carry it IWB with shorts and aT-shirt on. The .22 LR Mini can be carried wearing pretty much anything, it's a Godsend when it's 95 degrees out and I'm wearing light gym shorts and a tank top. DeSantis and others make awesome pocket holsters for them, it's so light you can't even feel it. 5 rounds of Stingers beats fists if someone is trying to kill me. It's a "get off me " gun, not a gunfight gun. I also have a .22 Short mini but I think my fists would be a primary over a .22 Short lol
I'm so DA revolver oriented, and my muscle memory and training are so geared for DA revolvers that I would never make a larger SA revolver my "EDC", I'd be too afraid that in the rush of adrenaline and the "fog of combat" I'd pull that thing out and be trying to yank on the trigger of a Single Action revolver, I've actually trained myself NOT to cock the hammer and many of my carry revolvers are DAO..... so carrying SA revolvers is a recipe for disaster for me...no dice, I won't ever carry one except my "last ditch" NAA Minis,only because they don't make smaller guns than that and they don't come in DA.
If I were raised with SA revolvers and had been shoooting them since I was a toddler, then it may be a better choice. Lots of people are very skilled and muscle memory oriented with SA revolvers, so that it's second nature to them.
The disadvantage is that to get an SA revolver "ready" to defend yourself with, you have to cock it. A DA revolver is "ready to go" as soon as you draw it, but you still have the heavy DA pull as a safety.
I read a story about a small town police officer in Montana who carries a Ruger Vaquero as a duty gun, but we're probably talking a town where there might be 500 people and they just let him carry whatever he wants. He's no doubt an old timer who they just are letting him do what he wants until he's ready to hang it up. I don't see this flying anywhere but deep in a remote area like Montana, given todays litigous environment.
I'm so DA revolver oriented, and my muscle memory and training are so geared for DA revolvers that I would never make a larger SA revolver my "EDC", I'd be too afraid that in the rush of adrenaline and the "fog of combat" I'd pull that thing out and be trying to yank on the trigger of a Single Action revolver, I've actually trained myself NOT to cock the hammer and many of my carry revolvers are DAO..... so carrying SA revolvers is a recipe for disaster for me...no dice, I won't ever carry one except my "last ditch" NAA Minis,only because they don't make smaller guns than that and they don't come in DA.
If I were raised with SA revolvers and had been shoooting them since I was a toddler, then it may be a better choice. Lots of people are very skilled and muscle memory oriented with SA revolvers, so that it's second nature to them.
The disadvantage is that to get an SA revolver "ready" to defend yourself with, you have to cock it. A DA revolver is "ready to go" as soon as you draw it, but you still have the heavy DA pull as a safety.
I read a story about a small town police officer in Montana who carries a Ruger Vaquero as a duty gun, but we're probably talking a town where there might be 500 people and they just let him carry whatever he wants. He's no doubt an old timer who they just are letting him do what he wants until he's ready to hang it up. I don't see this flying anywhere but deep in a remote area like Montana, given todays litigous environment.
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Personal preference. When you calculate the odds of you needing it, with the avg. number of shots fired, etc...there's nothing wrong with carrying what you are proficient with. Should you need it, and you're able to conceal it, you could make the case that it's better than the j-frames that so many are fond of. I never could picture a scenario in a defensive situation where I would reload a revolver and continue the fight. I carry a speedstrip so my gun is not empty while I'm waiting for the police to arrive.
Is it the best tool available? Probably not. But you could say the same thing about folks that carry .380. There are now 9mms that are generally the same size, so should they all switch too? That would be alot of trade-ins.
Is it the best tool available? Probably not. But you could say the same thing about folks that carry .380. There are now 9mms that are generally the same size, so should they all switch too? That would be alot of trade-ins.
StrawHat
Member
It is interesting that the posters who I can identify as LEOs are all saying it wouldn't be their first choice. I have used a S&W revolver for nearly 50 years. It is the only thing I grab when things go bump in the night. And I have other choices, just nothing that comes as naturally to my hand as a S&W.
As an LEO, I carried what was issued, a S&W M19. We had the rodeo in town for a weekend and the Chief knew I was a shooter and asked if I would dress appropriate for the occasion. I did and carried a 5 1/2" clone with stag grips, a revolver I was very familiar with having shot it for years. (I did cheat and carried an old magazine for the 1911 as a speed loader.) While I was not worried about my choice of firearm, I certainly was glad to reunite with my uniform and M19.
Also interesting, those that have seen the elephant, are not choosing the SA revolver.
Kevin
As an LEO, I carried what was issued, a S&W M19. We had the rodeo in town for a weekend and the Chief knew I was a shooter and asked if I would dress appropriate for the occasion. I did and carried a 5 1/2" clone with stag grips, a revolver I was very familiar with having shot it for years. (I did cheat and carried an old magazine for the 1911 as a speed loader.) While I was not worried about my choice of firearm, I certainly was glad to reunite with my uniform and M19.
Also interesting, those that have seen the elephant, are not choosing the SA revolver.
Kevin
silentflyer
Member
If recall correctly early in his law enforcement days Skeeter Skelton packed SA hog legs, but then I wouldn't have wanted him shooting at me with a BB gun.
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Mainsail
Member
I recall a news story about a convenience store robber was taken down by a guy carrying a single action pistol openly. I think the good guy only got one or two shots off before his gun locked up. I'll try to find the story but I'm not having any luck so far.
FOUND IT: Here's a story about the story.
FOUND IT: Here's a story about the story.
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