I carried a revolver for the first 20 years of my career and had to use it to defend myself three times so I do trust that platform. We transitioned to Glocks in my last 10 years and saw few, if any problems, with either weapon system. As a retiree I continue to carry a revolver b/c that's where my comfort level is, but I no longer run into gunfire or otherwise look for trouble. Modern auto loaders make sense for today's LEO and I would not feel comfortable w/o one on the street today.
Can we show Revolver's are not as reliable as today's Semi-Autos
- Thread starter Practical
- Start date
crstrode
Member
Ditto from me - except make that 50 years.
Walkingwolf
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2017
- Messages
- 1,624
- Reaction score
- 1,655
Does it really matter? People are going to carry what they feel best suites them. Same as they drive vehicles that best suites them.
Most guns go boom when the trigger is pulled, if they don't replace them.
Most guns go boom when the trigger is pulled, if they don't replace them.
HamHands
Member
You guys are totally right! Revolvers ARE less reliable than semi-autos! Totally true!
Please sell me all your vintage "one of a kind" revolvers, especially those Lou Horton's and what not.
I will dispose of them in a tasteful and admirable way! No reason to keep them anymore!
Gotta get me one of those fancy shmancy polymers now. To keep my shield 9 company. With those clipazines and such.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Ain't that the truth. I love the "Lew Horton Specials"... I just got my Smith & Wesson Historical Society letter yesterday stating the history of my new to me 85' manufactured LWS, 3" barreled .44Magnum/Special... I think this is my favorite Revo I've ever held and shot!
bigggbbruce
Member
bigggbbruce
Member
..............
Last edited:
Triggernosis
Member
You're correct. I mean, your 686 didn't lock back either when it was empty.
75Vette
Member
crstrode
Member
No reasonably experienced shooter is surprised when a semi-auto gun malfunctions - they are trained to expect it.
On the other hand, revolver malfunctions are indeed a surprise. Most reasonably experienced shooters have not experienced such an event.
On the other hand, revolver malfunctions are indeed a surprise. Most reasonably experienced shooters have not experienced such an event.
I declare....
I declare that everybody's posts, except the first one, are all valid arguments. With a high quality, well maintained HANDGUN with good quality ammo there is little difference between the two in reliability while knowing that there are some differences between how they COULD fail, on the possible occurrence that one does, and know that no mechanical system is perfect, or stays perfect under use.
I declare that everybody's posts, except the first one, are all valid arguments. With a high quality, well maintained HANDGUN with good quality ammo there is little difference between the two in reliability while knowing that there are some differences between how they COULD fail, on the possible occurrence that one does, and know that no mechanical system is perfect, or stays perfect under use.
Echo40
Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2017
- Messages
- 4,064
- Reaction score
- 7,904
Honestly, does it really matter?
In my experience, reliability/function seem to vary between individual firearms, which is most often in turn a reflection of the firearm's owner and the amount of diligence they demonstrate towards their firearm, ergo you can have 2 of the same firearm from the same lot function differently just because one of them is shot/cleaned more often.
Furthermore, there are a number of different variables at play which can cause or otherwise contribute towards the malfunction/failure of a firearm, many of which are liable to be more or less problematic between semiautomatic pistols and Revolvers, ergo the performance of either type of firearm can be highly situational.
Personally, I think that as long as the firearm is reliable enough to function when needed, then questions in concern to that which is "more reliable" are completely irrelevant, serving as little more than juvenile schoolyard-esq "My dad could totally beat up your dad!" argument fodder. At least as far as civilians are concerned, anyway.
I like both Revolvers and Semiautomatic Pistols, use both of them for different purposes, and enjoy them both equally, so I don't have a personal stake in arguments in regards to which design is more reliable, but even if I did prefer one over the other in general, then I would still think that it's a silly argument.
Just carry whatever you like, as long as it functions reliable when properly cleaned/lubricated/maintained, then that's really all you have to worry about. Everything else is just a lot of "what-ifs" which nobody can ever be adequately prepare for because there are simply too many variables to consider without driving yourself crazy to the point that you are literally irrational/paranoid in your desperate struggle to prepare yourself for every dire situation your mind can possibly conjure and thus no longer capable of making any informed decision to begin with. The world is imperfect, mankind is imperfect, mankind's creations are imperfect, you are imperfect too, ergo their can be no such thing as perfect preparation/flawless execution, so you just gotta do the best that you can do with reasonable/realistic limitations in mind.
In my experience, reliability/function seem to vary between individual firearms, which is most often in turn a reflection of the firearm's owner and the amount of diligence they demonstrate towards their firearm, ergo you can have 2 of the same firearm from the same lot function differently just because one of them is shot/cleaned more often.
Furthermore, there are a number of different variables at play which can cause or otherwise contribute towards the malfunction/failure of a firearm, many of which are liable to be more or less problematic between semiautomatic pistols and Revolvers, ergo the performance of either type of firearm can be highly situational.
Personally, I think that as long as the firearm is reliable enough to function when needed, then questions in concern to that which is "more reliable" are completely irrelevant, serving as little more than juvenile schoolyard-esq "My dad could totally beat up your dad!" argument fodder. At least as far as civilians are concerned, anyway.
I like both Revolvers and Semiautomatic Pistols, use both of them for different purposes, and enjoy them both equally, so I don't have a personal stake in arguments in regards to which design is more reliable, but even if I did prefer one over the other in general, then I would still think that it's a silly argument.
Just carry whatever you like, as long as it functions reliable when properly cleaned/lubricated/maintained, then that's really all you have to worry about. Everything else is just a lot of "what-ifs" which nobody can ever be adequately prepare for because there are simply too many variables to consider without driving yourself crazy to the point that you are literally irrational/paranoid in your desperate struggle to prepare yourself for every dire situation your mind can possibly conjure and thus no longer capable of making any informed decision to begin with. The world is imperfect, mankind is imperfect, mankind's creations are imperfect, you are imperfect too, ergo their can be no such thing as perfect preparation/flawless execution, so you just gotta do the best that you can do with reasonable/realistic limitations in mind.
500SNW
Member
I'd be inclined to agree with the OP. For the first 8 years of concealed carrying, I carried some form of Glock. Never had an issue with any of them, and they always went bang every time I pulled the trigger. Switched over to revolvers about 3 or 4 years ago. In that time, my CC revolver has locked up three times due to crimp jump, and has suffered a cracked up firing pin which still needs to be replaced. Based on my limited experience to date, I wouldn't say revolvers are more reliable...but perhaps I'd say that revolvers and modern semi-autos are about equal in terms of reliability.
What gun and what ammo?
Neither have I, and I carry two of them every day.
RGVshooter
Member
So you're basing your opinion that revolvers are not reliable on just one youtube video and your experience with a colt 20 yrs ago?
Why is this post in the revolver section and not in "The lounge"?
I'm outta here......
Last edited:
Ranger514
Member
To answer the OP's initial question: No. He bought a lemon Colt 20+ years ago, which colored his opinion. Then, he saw a video of a Ruger revolver that had a malfunction. Case closed: revolvers are inferior to semi-autos.
Sorry, I respectfully disagree. I've been owning, shooting, and carrying both types for over 40 years. No firearm is free of risk of breakage or malfunction. Find the manual of arms that suits you best through trial. Use quality ammunition. Practice often to maintain skill and gain confidence in your defensive firearm. Inspect and maintain your firearm(s) regularly.
In my personal firearms history, I've had more "failures" with semi-autos than I've had with revolvers. The worst was a broken extractor on my duty carry Sig P229 after approximately 30k rounds fired. The rest were minor clearing issues that were quickly remedied, and would not have taken me out of the fight had I needed to defend myself. Nowadays, my most frequent off-property concealed carry is a Sig subcompact DAO P290RS 9mm, but my Smiths get carried around the homestead, and out in the woods. I like having a choice in firearm selection.
Sorry, I respectfully disagree. I've been owning, shooting, and carrying both types for over 40 years. No firearm is free of risk of breakage or malfunction. Find the manual of arms that suits you best through trial. Use quality ammunition. Practice often to maintain skill and gain confidence in your defensive firearm. Inspect and maintain your firearm(s) regularly.
In my personal firearms history, I've had more "failures" with semi-autos than I've had with revolvers. The worst was a broken extractor on my duty carry Sig P229 after approximately 30k rounds fired. The rest were minor clearing issues that were quickly remedied, and would not have taken me out of the fight had I needed to defend myself. Nowadays, my most frequent off-property concealed carry is a Sig subcompact DAO P290RS 9mm, but my Smiths get carried around the homestead, and out in the woods. I like having a choice in firearm selection.
This is not a revolver versus Semi-Auto thread. The issue I did not convey well enough is that how a product is designed and manufactured results in a level of reliability. The features the product has as well as the processes used to make it will affect it's reliability and its meeting requirements.
I don't believe today's revolvers except for a few are designed and manufactured to the same standards as today's semi-autos.
The M&P revolver might be.
I have had both semi-autos and revolvers fail. I have had magazines drop their base plate spilling ammo at the range. I have had rifles and shotguns fail to cycle and fire in competition and even hunting. If you use guns enough they will fail. I have had new and old guns fail to work.
My point is I think you are more likely to get a semi-auto that if you calculate an MTBF or a calculation of whether it would fire reliably if carried for 5 years ASSUMING you maintain the gun the numbers for the Semi-Auto would be higher than we think.
I don't know how to make the calculations. The answer above was the closest I have found.
For my use I have decided to use Polymer semi-autos and J-Frame. They have worked the most for me.
I don't believe today's revolvers except for a few are designed and manufactured to the same standards as today's semi-autos.
The M&P revolver might be.
I have had both semi-autos and revolvers fail. I have had magazines drop their base plate spilling ammo at the range. I have had rifles and shotguns fail to cycle and fire in competition and even hunting. If you use guns enough they will fail. I have had new and old guns fail to work.
My point is I think you are more likely to get a semi-auto that if you calculate an MTBF or a calculation of whether it would fire reliably if carried for 5 years ASSUMING you maintain the gun the numbers for the Semi-Auto would be higher than we think.
I don't know how to make the calculations. The answer above was the closest I have found.
For my use I have decided to use Polymer semi-autos and J-Frame. They have worked the most for me.
Last edited:
3rdgeargrndrr
Member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2014
- Messages
- 1,162
- Reaction score
- 1,193
Give any gun to me and i will swap it out with so many aftermarket parts they will all be unreliable as ****.
Odd ball revolver stoppages
While conducting firearms training for my office, prior to transitioning to autoloaders, I witnessed the following stoppage:
a ham-handed agent, while reloading, managed to get a fired casing under the extractor star yet still in the chamber. This was with either an S&W Model 36 or a Colt Detective Special. Don't remember which. Getting that casing out took some manipulation. This was not a fault of the gun but how the user interacted with the gun.
I obtained a box of Norma factory loads in .357 Magnum. Using them in my S&W Model 19, The ammo was so hot that the primer extruded into the hammer nose hole in the frame, effectively locking up the cylinder. To open, it was necessary to bash the cylinder against a wooden structure while holding the cylinder release in order to shear off the extruded primer material.
And yes, I've had my fair share of stoppages with autoloaders.
I was honored to be able to write a portion of the instruction manual that accompanies every Kahr handgun. As I recall, I said that reliability depends on the interaction of the gun, the magazine, the ammunition and the user. These, alone or in combination, can affect a pistol's overall reliability.
While conducting firearms training for my office, prior to transitioning to autoloaders, I witnessed the following stoppage:
a ham-handed agent, while reloading, managed to get a fired casing under the extractor star yet still in the chamber. This was with either an S&W Model 36 or a Colt Detective Special. Don't remember which. Getting that casing out took some manipulation. This was not a fault of the gun but how the user interacted with the gun.
I obtained a box of Norma factory loads in .357 Magnum. Using them in my S&W Model 19, The ammo was so hot that the primer extruded into the hammer nose hole in the frame, effectively locking up the cylinder. To open, it was necessary to bash the cylinder against a wooden structure while holding the cylinder release in order to shear off the extruded primer material.
And yes, I've had my fair share of stoppages with autoloaders.
I was honored to be able to write a portion of the instruction manual that accompanies every Kahr handgun. As I recall, I said that reliability depends on the interaction of the gun, the magazine, the ammunition and the user. These, alone or in combination, can affect a pistol's overall reliability.
Last edited:
