Why Revolvers/Wheel guns

Just an interesting observation ...Most of these type threads ,the semi auto fans always without fail mention that a gun is nothing more than a tool.
 
I have two very good semi-autos I love - my new RIA 45 FS, a very good customized clone of the original 1911, and a Gen III 6906, the nadir of compact 9mm design. Both shoot very well. But my various J-frames, and my M&P 38, are all better "point and shoot first round" in my hand. The autos shoot well, but their first is always "find it", and the second is "on target". I trust both, but I trust the wheelguns more.
 
I love (double-action) revolvers. If you pull the trigger and don't hear a BANG, all you have to do is pull the trigger again (provided the bang-less round was at least the second-last available). Clearing the chamber of a mis-fire, stove-pipe, etc, and loading another round in a semi-auto might possibly be the last act you perform in this life.
 
Revolvers have pleasing aesthetics for me. Just the look of them. An example would be the Python or m 19. Pistols are just to functional looking, like a hammer. The closet pistols with looks would be a 1911 or a P08 Luger.
 
I am 72 yrs old, and have had Rheumatoid Arthritus in my hands since I was 19 yrs old. Spent 20+ years in the Army wrestling with a 1911. When I retired I promised myself that I would never wrestle with a semi auto again. I do own some semis' though, I just seldom shoot them. My grand sons like them so I keep them for them. Even with arther, I can shoot my revolvers as fast as the kids can shoot the autos'. I have never been a spray and pray kinda shooter, More of a one and done!! Lol
 
I remember way back in 1988 when a large Police Dept.for which i was a member switched to the Beretta 92 FS, a fine semi auto. Prior to this we were armed with the S&W Mod 64 4" heavy barrel a fine revolver. After the first few months the actual shooting results started coming in which led to the formation of the RIP A CLIP CLUB! In actual shootings guys were firing an entire 16 rounds and not hitting anyone or barely wounding. Prior to this most shootings using the Federal 38 Spl. 110 gr. +P+ ended in a toal of two to three rounds fired. The 9mm load was a Federal Hydro Shock 124 gr +P+. In the first few months the club had about 30 members and the guys with revolvers were still stopping assailants in two to three rounds. Now things did get better over time, but the rounds fired with a semi auto were still more. So this leads me to believe that a large number of people feel safer with more rounds available in a semi auto. Guys with revolvers knew to take there time so to speak, only having a total of 18 rounds of 38 versus 46 in 9mm. Moral of the story, learn to shoot well and not count on the extra rounds. After all 18 rounds or 46 rounds empty is empty! Make your shots count what ever you carry!
 
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Did you ever read Sixguns by Elmer Keith? Hell, he was there, growing up in real gun fights in the American West. Sorry, Elmer was a wheel gun guner, no dang sissy semi autos. Did you ever read Skeeter Skelton stories and writing? ****, he was there, on the border in Texas, with his 44 specials, dang, no sissy semi autos for him. one shot, one hit, two shots, two hits, etc, no jams, just dead folks, get the picture. And then Hollywood decided to pick Clint Eastwood to be someone named Dirty Harry Calahan. Well punk, do you feel lucky? Could be that dude was carrying a semi auto instead of the worlds most powerful hand gun of the day, a 29 S&W, so do you fell lucky? will it jam on the next shot? does it have one in the chamber?. **** and you want to really know why we all shoot S&W revolvers? We just do and not have to worry about feeling lucky. We are lucky because we bought and shoot the best.( Hint, that aint no semi auto in the reference to the best). Now do you understand??
 
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Back in the mid 80's a guy came into the gun shop/range that I was working in and wanted a Hi-Power because he had just been in a gunfight in his apartment against someone that had a Hi-Power and all he had was a J frame. Both emptied their guns at each other from about 5-6 feet - no hits on either side, but he was convinced he needed more bullets. My boss suggested he learn how to shoot first, he went elsewhere. Oh well, you can't fix stupid.
 
Sgt 45 said:
Back in the mid 80's a guy came into the gun shop/range that I was working in and wanted a Hi-Power because he had just been in a gunfight in his apartment against someone that had a Hi-Power and all he had was a J frame. Both emptied their guns at each other from about 5-6 feet - no hits on either side, but he was convinced he needed more bullets. My boss suggested he learn how to shoot first, he went elsewhere. Oh well, you can't fix stupid.
Click to expand...

Some folks just don't want to hear the truth- like take a lesson, and/or practice!

Chuck
 
Revolvers for me because that's what I grew up with and it's all we had. The only semi-auto in step-dads gun cabinet was a 10/22.

Step-dad was into OM single action Rugers. First gun I had was a 4 inch Security Six.

First semi-auto hand gun didn't come my way until I was about age 30. I have a number of them now but my semi-auto collection had to evolve from pretty inexpensive things that I always had problems with to much better quality guns that I DO enjoy shooting some now.

For me, it seems about any revolver fits and functions great but with semi-auto's I've had to move up to Ruger 1911s, Sigs and Glocks to get comfort and reliability I have confidence in.
 
After a long time I went back to revolvers and they seem to put the fun back in shooting. I almost have to force myself to put a semi auto in the range bag.
 
It all started when I was a kid. We had cheap crappy semi-auto cap guns that used a roll of caps and didn't really operate that well. The cool kids had the revolver cap guns that used round disk caps. Those performed flawlessly. I used to dream of having one of those.

Sooo I'm just drawn to revolvers as sort of payback for not having one as a kid.
 
Forgive me for posting a picture of an semi auto but I believe the controls on this one are unique and maybe we might see more makers doing this.

This is a Grand Power P11 Mk12.

This pistol has a cock and lock safety and a de cocker.

This is the only pistol that I know of that will allow you to shoot continuous double action just like a revolver without having to de cock each time.

So you can comfortably practice your DA and SA with the same weapon just like a revolver.
 

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  • Grand Power P11 MK12..jpg
    Grand Power P11 MK12..jpg
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If you handload, revolvers are much more versatile. I can load for my 629 anything from the mildest target loads up to magnum thumpers.
 
MJK-MOD-547 said:
Forgive me for posting a picture of an semi auto but I believe the controls on this one are unique and maybe we might see more makers doing this.

This is a Grand Power P11 Mk12.

This pistol has a cock and lock safety and a de cocker.

This is the only pistol that I know of that will allow you to shoot continuous double action just like a revolver without having to de cock each time.

So you can comfortably practice your DA and SA with the same weapon just like a revolver.
Click to expand...

I think you are correct that the combination of SA cocked and locked (Condition 1 carry) and DAO options is unique.

However, there has been combined DA/SA de-cocker pistol and DAO "revolver" operation in the past.

The pistol on the top is a Browning BDM. It has a rotating mode switch that allows it to operate as either in DAO revolver mode, or in DA/SA de-cocker pistol mode.

4268E593-D9B1-49B7-B987-EB5F1A8631DF_zpsq8su5s9h.jpg


It was developed for the 1991 FBI service pistol trials, but wasn't successful.

This was around the same time many police departments were transitioning from DA revolvers (some DAO, others not) to semi-auto pistols. The advantage was the ability to transition an officer or agent from a DAO or DA revolver to the BDM in "R"mode where it operated like a DAO revolver. The *only* training needed would have been the loading, reloading and immediate action drills.

However, things are a bit more involved in the pistol mode. The decocker is pressed down to decock the pistol, but then stays there, so you have to remember to press the lever back up to the"fire" position. In that regard it's a safety that operates backwards.

The decocker also functions as a slide release, which is nice as the regular slide release on it is small like the release on a Glock. However, you once again have to move the lever back up before the pistol will fire. The slingshot slide release method really works best for this pistol.

All in all there wasn't much if any savings in training, and most departments preferred to go with a little extra training for a conventional DA/SA de-cocker equipped pistol, or to just go the DAO pistol route. The end result was it was only in production for 7 years and they are not commonly encountered on the used market.

To be fair however, it also has the narrowest grip profile I've ever encountered on a double stack 9mm Luger pistol, along with the same narrow slide dimensions as the Hi Power. Size wise, it would have worked well for the FBI's intended concealed carry role.

The second pistol is an FN HP-DA. It was a DA/SA de-cocker equipped pistol developed for the second round of the M9 service pistols trials. It has a reasonably nice, light weight DA trigger pull and the de-cocker operates normally, springing back up after it is depressed.

----

This is all the long way of saying that a combination mode gun is only going to find acceptance if it also doesn't have any operational oddities or quirks in one or both of those modes.
 
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The controls on the Grand Power P11 Mk 12 work as follows.

Looking at the de cocker.

10:00 position
cocked and locked safety. Note, this safety only works when hammer is in the cocked position.

9:00 position
ready to fire continuous SA

7:00 position
Will de cock. If de cocker remains in the 7:00 position you can shoot continuous double action.

So with this weapon you can shoot it in the 9:00 and 7:00 position continuously

BB57 Thanks for posting those pictures I learned something new today!
 
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Groo here
I have many of each..
and also carried both at the S.O.
If I was going somewhere that was dirty,muddy,sandy,snowy,etc. AND
I might have to crawl through it and so needed to clean daily.
The auto is the choice,,,
BUT,,, if I could keep the gun holstered , under cover ,and myself
cleanish,, the revolver will go...
Even today , you should test the auto with your carry ammo [many 100s of rds] to be sure all is well.
Where as ,with the revolver you only need to see where the gun shoots.
5 or 6 if you are a fair shot, and if the shell goes bang..
AND if the rounds stick , you still get 5 or 6 etc for sure before
attention is needed.
 
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