Weapon rotation, not what you think

[Sgt. Buzzard]

In 1970 I bought my first double action revolver, a Colt Detective Special. Wadcutter reloads were $2. a box with brass trade in at the local range. I shot it, a lot.

In '73 I went on the job and was issued a S&W mod.10. At the police academy we were drilled and timed in shooting and reloading from the belt/ holster loops which was standard equipment at the time. Also drilled was partial reloads with the very important proper indexing of the cylinder. It was practiced in daylight and dark, by feel, until you got it right. Each time.

That's when I realized the importance of cylinder rotation and the difference between Colt and S&W. No other brand mattered much back then. Upon graduation I gave my father the Colt and bought a J frame for back up and off duty carry. I always wanted to know the detailed manual of arms.

52 years later I still carry and practice with the J frame. Both shooting and reloading. I use speed strips now, with every load. And yes I still practice partial reloads too.

And BTW, I don't believe that the rotation of many different weapons is a very good idea either. You have carry guns and range toys, know the difference. Practice intensely with what you carry and stick with it.

So with that, I guess the message it is what you think

 

[URIT]

I can relate. We had to buy our duty weapons. Mine were S&W models 15 and later 19-4. My back-up and off-duty piece was a Colt Detective Special.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Yeah, the D/S is nice with that extra round. Too bad they rotate the wrong way. I'm paranoid, if something can go wrong, it will.

 

[A10]

I was brought up on S&W revolvers. A few years back I ran into some good deals on a Python and a couple of DS. They were wonderful guns but the difference in operation made me less confident in my ability to operate them under stress. I never carried them and ended up selling them all.

 

[chief38]

In 1970 I bought my first double action revolver, a Colt Detective Special. Wadcutter reloads were $2. a box with brass trade in at the local range. I shot it, a lot.

In '73 I went on the job and was issued a S&W mod.10. At the police academy we were drilled and timed in shooting and reloading from the belt/ holster loops which was standard equipment at the time. Also drilled was partial reloads with the very important proper indexing of the cylinder. It was practiced in daylight and dark, by feel, until you got it right. Each time.

That's when I realized the importance of cylinder rotation and the difference between Colt and S&W. No other brand mattered much back then. Upon graduation I gave my father the Colt and bought a J frame for back up and off duty carry. I always wanted to know the detailed manual of arms.

52 years later I still carry and practice with the J frame. Both shooting and reloading. I use speed strips now, with every load. And yes I still practice partial reloads too.

And BTW, I don't believe that the rotation of many different weapons is a very good idea either. You have carry guns and range toys, know the difference. Practice intensely with what you carry and stick with it.

So with that, I guess the message it is what you think

I could not agree with your consistency of operation more! I have a Dick Spl. that I picked up years after being weened on Smiths, and actually think it is a fantastic revolver! The reason I always opted to carry a Chief's Special is because of familiarization.

I have posted numerous times here on the Forum about "carry rotation" and why it is truly best to stick with ONE gun. Heaven forbid, the one day I need to use it I don't want to have to think about which gun I have with me that day, how it operates and how it reloads. NOPE! It's one boring carry gun for me - unless a long term change is either required or justified in my mind.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I don't believe in a "carry rotation" either...unless every handgun is of the same manual of arms. Changing from a pistol with a slide-mounted safety to a Glock type or a single-action pistol is simply complicating life. You want muscle memory and not have to take time thinking what type of pistol you have should the **** storm hit...it can cost you your life.

If you carry a revolver...stick with one type whether it be the S&W type...the Colt type..****ger type, etc. If a self-loader is what you prefer...carry all the same type of action even if not the same make.

There's the old saying..."Beware the one gun man...for he knows how to use it."

 

[rockquarry]

I don't believe in a "carry rotation" either...unless every handgun is of the same manual of arms. Changing from a pistol with a slide-mounted safety to a Glock type or a single-action pistol is simply complicating life. You want muscle memory and not have to take time thinking what type of pistol you have should the **** storm hit...it can cost you your life.

If you carry a revolver...stick with one type whether it be the S&W type...the Colt type..****ger type, etc. If a self-loader is what you prefer...carry all the same type of action even if not the same make.

There's the old saying..."Beware the one gun man...for he knows how to use it."

Makes good sense but since concealed carry became legal and popular it has created a side interest: the concealed carry hobby. It seems many of the hobbyists become rotators. They may claim 100% familiarity with a variety of guns under any circumstance. Perhaps some really have such skill.

 

[Doug M.]

The reality of complex psychomotor skills under stress makes that level of proficiency with different formats for serious use very unlikely.

 

[sigp220.45]

When I could only carry what the bosses said, I was also against the “carry rotation”. Now that I can carry whatever I want I’m a big fan of it.

Today it was my old Colt Cobra. Tomorrow it might be a Chief Special or a 6906. If I watch Key Largo again tonight you can bet it will be a Pocket Hammerless.

Once I retired I was no longer a professional guntoter, so I’m happy to be a hobbyist. I never carry spare ammo, so all the right vs left revolving stuff means little to me.

Its a free country, so folks can strap on all the gear they want. If you live or work in a rough area it might even be a good idea. As for me - I’m fine with variety being the spice of life.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Taught firearms, revolver and autoloaders for 18 years at the academy level. Retired I'm an RSO at a club range observing hobbyist shooters. Some are very good.

Personally I'm very familiar with my two 365's and it's nice to have that load of ammo on board as well as a fast reload.

However 52 years of high intensity training with K and J frames when the city is buying bullets makes for a huge difference in confidence of skill under high stress.

 

[Doug M.]

I've seen some very good shooters using revolvers; good training does make a difference.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I can relate. We had to buy our duty weapons. Mine were S&W models 15 and later 19-4. My back-up and off-duty piece was a Colt Detective Special.

Same here but I added a 686 when they first came out. Colt Detective Special in left front pocket on duty.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I've seen some very good shooters using revolvers; good training does make a difference.

As a former LEO and firearms instructor I would rather have a department of officers well trained with revolvers than half way trained with self-loaders that reply on spray-and-pray tactics.

Back in the 1990s in DC a riot started lasting several days due to a negligent discharge killing a civilian of the issue Glock by an officer with deficient training. Investigation showed training on the transition to Glocks was severely incomplete and poor.

 

[chief38]

"Beware of the man who owns but one gun". He knows how to use it!

While some carry multiple guns as a "fashion statement" or maybe a form of excitement, there is nothing like knowing exactly what is on your hip when it comes to knowing exactly what to expect, how to use it fast and efficiently, how to reload it and how many rounds you have on board.

I have lots of guns that would serve well as an CCW/EDC, but my only carry gun over the last 6 years is my P365. Before that (for 4 decades) was a M60. OK - I admit it....... I am boring.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

... Back in the 1990s in DC a riot started lasting several days due to a negligent discharge killing a civilian of the issue Glock by an officer with deficient training. Investigation showed training on the transition to Glocks was severely incomplete and poor.

Most people do not have an aptitude for handguns (or longarms either). Shooters who have bad habits with one platform tend to have extremely poor results on another platform.

An example is going from a heavy DA pull of a revolver or a 92FS and then they go to Glock. That is just an accident going to happen.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

"Beware of the man who owns but one gun". He knows how to use it!

Or maybe he's just not a gun guy but he wants to be a cop like his dad.

One of my worst partners was a son of a Lieutenant and since he got a "Art" Degree his only job was at Starbucks so dad got him hired as an officer. His only handgun was what was issued to him. At least his dad had two.

 

[STCM(SW)]

When I went into the Navy, well is was the 1911.
Still have some but revolvers I can change out and do well with.
Summer and winter makes what is CC.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

I found carrying a trained, large male German Shepherd with me in the front seat with the window down and leash in hand to be my favorite carry. I could roll the window up when I needed to, then roll it back down from the driver's seat. Gun was for protecting my dog. Dog was for protecting me.

When we were young, we always had two long guns behind us in the back window. I didn't carry that German Shepherd. I have traded guns over the many years, but stick with them for a long time. All my dogs have passed on,
but their pictures are within six feet. Dogs don't live long enough.

I would give up all my guns but one, if I could have my Shepherds back....
maybe not all at the same time.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I found carrying a trained, large male German Shepherd with me in the front seat with the window down and leash in hand to be my favorite carry. I could roll the window up when I needed to, then roll it back down from the driver's seat. Gun was for protecting my dog. Dog was for protecting me.

When we were young, we always had two long guns behind us in the back window. I didn't carry that German Shepherd. I have traded guns over the many years, but stick with them for a long time. All my dogs have passed on,
but their pictures are within six feet. Dogs don't live long enough.

I would give up all my guns but one, if I could have my Shepherds back....
maybe not all at the same time.

Dogs are awesome. At one agency I worked the dog handler had a very large German Shepherd...not huge but large and lean. That dog made more arrests than most of the officers did.

 

[chief38]

Or maybe he's just not a gun guy but he wants to be a cop like his dad.

One of my worst partners was a son of a Lieutenant and since he got a "Art" Degree his only job was at Starbucks so dad got him hired as an officer. His only handgun was what was issued to him. At least his dad had two.

I am willing to bet "gun guy's" rotate EDC guns much more than average LEO's do. I know many LEO's who see their duty weapon as just part of the uniform and have no interest in shooting it anymore than the bare minimum to qualify. "Gun Guy's" usually know more about guns than the average LEO's who carries as part of their job.

Not saying that here there aren't exceptions to the above (especially here on the S&W Forum), but just stating what I have seen over the years.