Are revolvers going the route of manual transmissions?

[jmr986]

Took my CCL test with my 686 SSR. Swapped out the wood grips and put the rubber ones on, glad I did. Got my needed score on my first target (out of 3 possible targets).

Of the 6 of us I was the oldest by far (64) the rest of the whippersnappers were in their late 20's early 30's. All had semi-auto's, Glock's and one HK. One person had feed problems and the RO had to help her out.

When I got back into shooting this year I went straight to a Smith .357. The selection was limited, most of the dealers in my area had at least 3 to 1 semi's to revolvers.

Although I do have a Buckmark Hunter and a Dan Wesson .45 on order I still like my wheel gun. Although there are things about the semi I like.

These damn kids and their fancy guns. And get off my lawn!!!

 

[petepeterson]

I would guess that the ratio of revolvers to automatic produced might be on line with manual transmissions to automatics.

I have no math to back that up, though. A stick-shift will get the job done, same as your three-five-seven.

 

[Ed Fowler]

Revolvers are just too reliable, I enjoy reading about the problems with the pistols. Pistols do keep the ammo makers busy!

Sometimes I feel the age of the disposable hand gun are just around the corner.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Not as long as I'm alive.

 

[buck460XVR]

While Semi-Autos are becoming much more popular for SD/HD and general range shooting, most hunting with centerfire handguns is still done with revolvers. I don't see that changing anytime soon. Most folks new to handguns are into them solely for SD/HD and range shooting, thus folks now in classes like those to get a CCL are going to have Semi-Autos.

Kinda like motorcycles......how many automatic transmission motorcycles do you see?

 

[TAC]

Some of the highest performing cars have manual transmissions!

 

[gwpercle]

That's all they know. I know a lot of people who have no idea how to drive a standard transmission car. All they have ever been exposed to are auto's
With age comes experience and wisdom.
I carry a revolver because I got tired of the semi-auto blues. The song goes.... is it the ammo , my grip , the springs , the magazine, the magazine spring , the magazine follower or could it be the gun ?
Revolvers end all of that and newbe's haven't discovered it yet.
Gary

 

[H Richard]

When my wife came back from a visit to a close friend that has lost her husband earlier this year, she made an announcement, but warned me first to sit down. She wants her own gun and wants to have a CCL. This is from my wife of 52 years that always stated she "tolerated" having guns in the house. With seeing what is going on around the world, and then traveling alone on lonely highways she made her own determination.

Now, giving it some thought as to what gun might be best for her in my mind it will be a revolver, probably a J Frame, but maybe a K Frame snub. Why? She is not motivated to practice, so the most simple mechanism that takes literally no thought process is the revolver. Just pick it up and shoot it. No slide to rack, no safety to disengage, no slide that jumps back and forth in her hand, no empties flying out, just aim the gun and pull the trigger.

When she is ready, (she told me not to push her), I'll just take her to my gun room and let her handle any gun she wants, then select several and take them to the range for her to shoot. Then have her try and think of where and how she plans to have/carry the pistol. I'm pretty sure it will be a car gun or maybe a bedside table gun except when she travels, but she will have to determine that. I will be curious to see what gun she finally selects, and what she thinks after having 16 hours of training and law's read, before she qualifies. This may take several months.

 

[Stopsign32v]

While I love manual transmissions, automatics are better. Technology has made them better in every way, other than "fun factor".

Now take what I said above and swap manual transmission for revolver and automatic transmission for semi autos. That is the reality.

 

[Smith61]

Still going strong!

Revolvers are here for now and will be in the future.....
Hell, there are so many models of single actions available and being sold, it's a given that the DA Revolver will not go away anytime soon.

 

[TAC]

There is some energy loss with semiautomatic firearms, just as there is in automatic transmissions. You can't ignore science.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Every time a family member or friend tells me that they 'want a gun' I suggest that they 'learn to shoot' first. Not just plinking soda cans and paper targets in the desert with a borrowed 10/22, but professional instruction about the social, legal, and financial responsibility that comes with owning and using firearms, safety, security, shooting techniques, etc. Then I suggest that they learn to shoot a variety of firearms - revolvers and semi's, rifles and at least one shotgun - in a variety of calibers. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from shooting and I'll gladly show someone I know how to operate a firearm, but I always make them aware that there is more to firearm ownership than simply pulling a trigger.

To the OP's question about the perceived obsolescence of the revolver, I do not think so. The revolver is a good 'first gun' for a novice to learn how to handle and operate a firearm. Revolvers, like semi-autos, come in a wide variety of sizes and calibers but do not require additional manipulation to operate (inserting a magazine, operating the safety, slide stop, etc.) Revolvers are more simple for a novice to operate in a highly stressful situation such as self and home defense, darkness, etc. How many times have we experienced feeding and extraction problems or flubbed a magazine exchange on the range or during a drill or competition? That happens a lot with novice and casual shooters who don't practice often, and that's serious trouble in a self-defense scenario. That's why recommend revolvers for beginners. That and I think Smith & Wesson revolvers are nicer to look at than a Glock.


When instructing beginners we start with a K frame .38. This is a WWII-era Victory that was factory modified to 4" Model 10 in 1980.


The 3" K-frame Model 13 is a house and truck gun. The 640-1 is EDC.


When I want more bullets my preferred autos are HK USP's - 9mm and .45 ACP Compacts and Full-Size with max capacity mags.


Beyond that it's an AR15 with 30-round mags.


This is my favorite automatic.

 

[Arik]

I was done with manual transmission after my first traffic jam

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Mister X]

My primary focus is self-defense and an enclosed hammer snub revolver is my choice more often than not. I do own several Glocks(primarily for home defense), but feel the revolver is the more effective personal defense weapon for most people in most scenarios. The vast majority of civilian self-defense encounters occur at close-quarters and are resolved with very few shots being fired. The hammerless snub has numerous advantages in a close-quarter defense scenario that make it a sensible choice.

I would say the reason for the autoloaders popularity for defensive purposes is most people simply look at what military and police use and follow their lead, but their need differs from that of an armed civilian. Proactive/intentionally engage and pursue vs Reactive/avoid, escape, defend. In matters that are potentially life of death, decisions should be based on logic, facts, stats and common sense and you should be able to articulate why you carry what you do and be able to defend that choice in debate. In my experience, most people who default to "just get a Glock" cannot.

The semi-auto's greatest advantage over the revolver is greater firepower/capacity, but then many people choose a 6 round single stack micro-pistol or a 7 shot M1911 which makes very little sense to me. Quicker reloads are also possible with an autoloader, but reloading it such a rarity in civilian defense scenarios to warrant too much consideration IMO, especially considering more likely and practical pros/cons.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Yep, revolvers and 1911's, going the way of the dodo bird.

 

[lowriderfxr]

I'd say yes. Superior performance if used by someone who knows what they're doing.

 

[Stopsign32v]

There is some energy loss with semiautomatic firearms, just as there is in automatic transmissions. You can't ignore science.

Please explain because technology doesn't agree with you.

 

[jmr986]

My primary focus is self-defense and an enclosed hammer snub revolver is my choice more often than not. I do own several Glocks(primarily for home defense), but feel the revolver is the more effective personal defense weapon for most people in most scenarios. The vast majority of civilian self-defense encounters occur at close-quarters and are resolved with very few shots being fired. The hammerless snub has numerous advantages in a close-quarter defense scenario that make it a sensible choice.

I would say the reason for the autoloaders popularity for defensive purposes is most people simply look at what military and police use and follow their lead, but their need differs from that of an armed civilian. Proactive/intentionally engage and pursue vs Reactive/avoid, escape, defend. In matters that are potentially life of death, decisions should be based on logic, facts, stats and common sense and you should be able to articulate why you carry what you do and be able to defend that choice in debate. In my experience, most people who default to "just get a Glock" cannot.

The semi-auto's greatest advantage over the revolver is greater firepower/capacity, but then many people choose a 6 round single stack micro-pistol or a 7 shot M1911 which makes very little sense to me. Quicker reloads are also possible with an autoloader, but reloading it such a rarity in civilian defense scenarios to warrant too much consideration IMO, especially considering more likely and practical pros/cons.

Very articulate explanation.

 

[robertrwalsh]

In a word, NO. Revolvers are perfectly fine firearms, even for concealed-carry self-defense. If you are willing to put up with their obvious limitations (low round count and slow reloads) and are happy with their positives (functional reliability with any sort of ammo and a very easy malfunction drill) they are perfectly fine weapons. Not so much for police use anymore where a higher round count, more ammo carried on you and quicker reloads may be much more necessary than for the average concealed carry consumer.

 

[5screwsloose]

Also revolvers can be had in more robust chamberings than most auto pistols. There are exceptions of course such as the old Automags, Wildeys, Coonan, and more recently, Dessert Eagles etc.