Single Action Revolvers for Defense?

[JayFramer]

DISCLAIMER: This is another one of my seemingly endless parade of threads on various defense topics. I apologize in advance if you think this is stupid or that I am an idiot. This is more or less for my own curiosity and I just enjoy reading your replies and hopefully gaining some knowledge from the folks here at the S&W forum. Thanks for putting up with my nonsense.

So I have recently purchase a Ruger's New Model Blackhawk single-action revolver in .45 Colt. I got to thinking that if for some reason I was caught out when shooting the gun or if it was the only gun I had available to me at any given time, that I might need to deploy the gun in a self defense role against human attackers. Here is Lost Wages the threat from most animals is very low. The threat from bipedal animals is unfortunatly not.

Then I got to thinking about cowboy action shooters and the things they can do with their revolvers. Quite impressive. Some further reading showed that the famous Gunsite Academy in Arizona now offers a single action revolver defensive shooting course. More things to chew on.

This is a fun gun for me, but potentially another tool in the toolbox for more serious purposes if pressed. It's something I'd have to work on and research and I intend to with time. I certainly have other, more modern weapons that I'd reach for first but if it was all I'd have I would want to have some basic shooting and reloading skills down specific to its operation.

What do you guys have to say on the subject? Anyone pack an old single action or employ one in the self/home defense role? Again, not implying anything, just looking to strike up some conversation on a topic I've been thinking about. Please share.

-Jay

 

[Kanewpadle]

I carried a Blackhawk 44 mag for many years for four legged predators. I would not have hesitated one second two use it against two legged ones either.

The first rule is to have a gun. The second is to be proficient with it. Not much matters after that.

 

[sigp220.45]

I will sometimes carry this New Vaquero .45 Colt with smooth elkhorn grips. Why not? I really can't think of a realistic situation that couldn't be handled with 6 rounds of .45 Colt.

 

[Chromedhearts]

Your post reminded me of an instance back about, well it was in 1992. A lady that I knew, called me up. She had been harassed by an ex, and had went to a Gun Store; told ‘em she wanted something for home protection.
She had two teenage daughters at the time. The guy sold her a Blackhawk. Told her it was the safest gun out.
After she got home with it, she loaded it and while she and her daughters were looking it over, she thumbed the hammer back and didn’t know how to get it down. I told her to keep her finger away from the trigger and keep it pointing in a safe direction and I’d be right over.
About fifteen minutes later I get there and she’s sitting there with it scared stiff. I got ahold of it and showed her how to decock it and then unloaded it.
Showed her how to handle it then, unloaded.
Later I traded her a S&W 65, for it and eventually sold it off.
Didn’t mean to hijack your post.


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[silversnake]

Yes it would work if that was all you had. But why? There's no advantage over a DA revolver and several disadvantages.

 

[richbuff]

One advantage is if a perp took it from you and had no clue how to use it. Sort of like perps stealing manual transmission vehicle and not knowing how to drive it. Or using Windows 98, because there are no viruses for it anymore.

 

[6string]

If you live in a state with open carry, a single action might be a pretty good visual disincentive to a potential perpetrator.

 

[Kodiakco]

One advantage is if a perp took it from you and had no clue how to use it. Sort of like perps stealing manual transmission vehicle and not knowing how to drive it. Or using Windows 98, because there are no viruses for it anymore.

So you now have nothing and at the very least the perp has a heavy piece of metal to smash your skull in with. Not something I'd count on to save my a** in a bad situation.

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[Rastoff]

A single action certainly can be used for self-defense. Let's face it, it was the self-defense tool of choice for decades. But that was when the bad guy also had a single action. There are certainly better choices.

Even so, if you want to, by all means use it. Just be sure to practice with it. I have a couple of single action revolvers. When I go to the range I practice controlled pairs with them just like every other gun. I can shoot controlled pairs just about as fast with the single action guns as I can with other types. It is just a little slower. Of course I haven't practiced as much with those.

Semi-auto pistols are easier to conceal. They hold more ammo and are definitely faster to shoot and reload. These are the main reasons to pick them for self-defense.

Double action revolvers are not necessarily faster to shoot than single action revolvers. They are faster to reload though. However, if you do your tactical reloads, you can keep the gun topped off fairly easily.

 

[ExRanger714]

I'm not meaning to outright disagree with anybody here but I think Jerry Miculek and Ed McGivern might when told semis and single actions shoot faster than double action revolvers.

 

[Filo McShoe]

If all I've got is a single action I don't feel disarmed,
but I'd take a double action or a semi auto as my 1st choices.
I don't know if it made loading any faster but I remember someone using a 1911 mag to strip out shells to load a Ruger 45 convertible with the ACP cylinder in it.

 

[rwsmith]

Even if I practiced.....

SD is too serious to try to be 'cool'. If you can shoot a single action gun with repeat back up shots as fast as a double action, knock yourself out.

To me getting the hammer cocked is just one place where I can't afford to lose tiem.

 

[Old cop]

I had a Ruger single action .357 in bright stainless but the grip angle did not work for me. Even w/standard .38 the thing would twist in my hand and I had to reaquire my grip. Magnum loads were even worse so I eventually let it go. Real shame b/c it was a beautiful six-gun.

 

[otis24]

If it shoots and goes "bang" it will work. When most people think of single actions, they think of cowboy guns. I wouldn't want to have to use a single action for the same reason I wouldn't want to fire my DA revolver in single action mode in a self defense situation: too much chance of unintended discharge. I like the deliberate action necessary with a DA revolver.

 

[Groo01]

SD is too serious to try to be 'cool'. If you can shoot a single action gun with repeat back up shots as fast as a double action, knock yourself out.

To me getting the hammer cocked is just one place where I can't afford to lose tiem.

Groo here
The point is that you DON'T shoot a single action like other guns.
First , an SA is very "pointable" if held correctly.[most SD shooting is at pointing ranges]
Second,they are quit powerful [for a handgun] as a 357 is "small".
They can be very safe as they remain uncocked till needed[that schooling thing again.
They are a one-handed gun[ the other might be busy- wife /kids dog/horse
So you have a onehanded gun that you place the FIRST round in the middle, then see if another is needed.
See the english bulldog revolvers, [ps the Fuzzy Wuzzy's took drugs]
I am comming to the realization that we are teaching/being taught
not to "stop"[end of threating action] but to "terminate"[shoot till their down /till its empty]
The single action grip allows me to shoot more powerful rounds
[isn't that a good thing?] with out pain, the trigger allows called shots[in the middle] the big hammer tells me is it is cocked/or cock it .
The low round count forces me to conserve [the more you shoot the more you can miss cops hit 20 to 30% CCWs hit 30 to 40%]
AND its NOT plastic ,ammo sensative , OR BLACK[ That might scare
the 12 peoples you want on your side!!!!!!]

 

[otis24]

Good points. I will give it to you that a single action makes a better one handed shooter than most.

 

[Lostaro]

I picked up a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in .41mag a few months ago. I plan to carry when hunting/scouting for deer or just roaming the great outdoors.
It's a cool gun, very accurate and .41mag will handle anything I'll meet in my hunting grounds.
Of course it's not the best choice for self defense...but I don't feel unarmed with it and probably won't carry another gun if I have that on me.
Having an accurate/powerful gun with me and the mindset to use it when needed should be enough.

 

[silversnake]

One advantage is if a perp took it from you and had no clue how to use it. Sort of like perps stealing manual transmission vehicle and not knowing how to drive it. Or using Windows 98, because there are no viruses for it anymore.

If he's seen even one cowboy movie I think he will figure it out.

 

[TomkinsSP]

...I am comming to the realization that we are teaching/being taught
not to "stop"[end of threating action] but to "terminate"[shoot till their down /till its empty...

Once upon a time the Police were the Police, and the Military was the Military. Both were well trained professionals who did the job assigned to them exceedingly well.

But then someone decided the Police should adopt Military weapons and tactics. And I will even personally agree that there is a place for Special Services.

But Military work is different from Police work which is different from a Civilian acting in self defence.

 

[moosedog]

I think an SA revolver for self defense would be ok as long as Festus was backing me up with the sawed off shotgun.