I was in Lafayette yesterday and stopped by Lafayette Shooters-a well known pricey emporium. After checking out the Filson stuff I moved to the back to the guns. WOW! The selection of semi autos was vast but I would estimate that less than 10% of the handguns were revolvers. Of those, there were a couple of Ruger single actions, a .500 and a .460 Smith a Governor priced at a grand and some Taurus revolvers. I was depressed to say the least. There were at least 3 people filling out 4473's so the prices were not scaring anyone off, but it was depressing-as it was dawning on me that the revolver era is seemingly passing.
One thing I came away with is that I will NEVER sell my 337, 317 or 638. Pocket firearms seem to be the rage today and in spite of the great selection, nothing to me seems to beat a J frame. The last straw was some guy talking a new purchaser into buying a Sig 238 over a Ruger LCP as a carry gun for his wife. I'm thinking "Is he crazy-that's like talking my mom into buying a 6 speed manual Corvette over a Ford Taurus as a daily driver". It was all I could do to keep quiet.
I remember fondly those days when the shelves were filled with S&W revolvers Ruger single Actions and a smattering of .22 pistols, a few .45's and a Python or two. No more....oh well guess I'm just feeling a bit left behind................

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Forum consigliere

That's certainly not happening here! Makes you wonder since revolvers are still being made and if demand for them is down, why aren't prices dropping?
That also reminds me of the line " reports of my demise were premature"
I actually think there is a resurgence for them with a lot of competition from the semi auto side now.

Cajun,

I chose the sig over the lcp too, but I do see your point regarding pricing.

In a purse with a holster, the woman should be able to handle it cocked and locked all day long....

I've been very very pleased with the Sig.

edit: I'll also add she will much more enjoy the lesser recoil of the sig.

Ahhh...Cajun Lawyer, it is the way of things.
When terms like Old School, and Dinosaur start to apply to you,
it's just time to accept your knowledge is no longer widely accepted.
Their Loss, I'm right there with ya.

+1, at least in my neck of the woods. Granted semi's are selling 2-1 over self-cockers but they are selling well also.

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Slim, U.S. Army, Ret.

I've got three in my house and looking to add one more...when I can find it. I want the new Ruger Super Blackhawk single action convertible in 357 & 9mm. My others are a S&W 642, and two Rugers; a .38 LCR & SP101 in .22LR.

The reason for the change that semi-auto's are more prolific is because the firearms and ammunition are much, much more reliable and diversified today than even 20 years ago (and think about it, 20 years ago would be 1994).

I can remember not feeling real comfortable with my S&W 459 9mm when it was first issued to me as a duty gun. It was a quality firearm, but it would hic-up at the range every now and then . . . could be the gun, more likely the ammo. That was not very comforting when transitioning from a S&W 586 that just worked and worked every time I pulled the trigger right out of the box.

Same for my Walther PPK/S that I used for a BUG. Eventually, I came to have 100% confidence in it's realiability, but I had to work on it to get it that way.

Today, though, the majority of quality semi-auto's work as well as revolvers right out of the box and modern ammo is designed to work with them. I think the realiability improvement, along with some of the other inherent advantages of a semi-auto, is why revolvers seem to be fewer and far between.

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- Change it back -

Gary,

I jest don't know what to say.........It's Signs & Wonders, I guess


Su Amigo,
Dave


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I see far more autos than revolvers for sale here. The revolvers seem to be mostly small pocket sized and big magnums, not much in the middle.

Being primarily a target shooter, my choice of pistols is considerably different than most. Most of the autos I see aren't really suitable for target shooting. Lots of Glocks and M&Ps, and even the 1911s have fixed sights. Every time I look at them, I ask myself "how many defense use only guns do I need?" and move on.

My 1911s are my favorite, and the have all been turned into target guns - adjustable sights, trigger jobs, match grade bushings fitted.

I only started getting into revolvers about 10 years ago, and find them very versatile. Good triggers, accurate, good adjustable sights (excerpt for the terrible RR/WO) and dependable. Can be used for both target shooting and defensive use.

The last several pistols I've bought have been revolvers instead of autos. I should still get a decent 1911 for defensive use and leave it that way instead of turning it into a target gun.

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Common sense isn't so common.

I have a slightly different viewpoint. If the revolver was truly at the end of the road I think you would find lots of used guns. Folks that appreciate revolvers are holding on to them, Lord knows I am.

Quality revolvers are snapped up quickly.

Now I understand not as many are made but they don't last long on the shelf.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Right now we have a ton of new shooters, AND everyone wants what they fear they may not be able to have in the future (HI_CAP semi's, & black rifles). These pistols & the black gun sales may be what has kept the doors open for many company's. After consumers get their semi fix, they may become more experienced/educated & appreciate a good revolver, & wood & metal. I hope.

T.V. and the movies have made semi's tacti cool and you don't see many revolvers ( Walking Dead being the exception ).New users buy what they see.

My 3 sons are familiar with revolvers, because I let them use mine when Cowboy action shooting and plinking in the woods. Otherwise, even with Military experience, obviously, they would never see revolvers. The younger LEO's in the family, have never been exposed to revolvers either. At Church we have shooting sessions (at a range, not in church) for ladies interested in CCW and self defense. It seems, the LGS's are only pushing semi-autos, even when they have LCR's and J-frames in stock. I think our society is becoming ignorant of revolvers (as well as Side by Side shotguns), because most positive firearms input is all about semi auto pistols, rifles, and shot guns. With all the PD trade-ins, we try to get people to have K-frame, Security-six and other revolvers as home defense pistols. But TV keeps them assuming they need to fight off the "A-Team". We can lead them to the good stuff, but you can't make them partake! Ivan

That's ironic also since that would be the situation where I would MOST want a high cap auto!

I can't buy the hi cap mags what I do have was needed to be registered by 01/01/2014. The assault weapon ban is bigger too. We really lost here.

I'd rather buy the s&w revolvers and enjoy them.

I think I know the reason, Caj.

If you look at the side of a revolver, the cylinder sticks out a bit. The semi-auto is flat. It is probably much easier to send text messages while holding the semi-auto than it is the revolver. Plus the gasses released at the barrel cylinder gap would wreck the phone.

It's so simple.
Jim

I am 72 and been carrying a pistol since I was 16 and I have run at least one farm out gun barrels. I decided many years ago that a revolver works best for me. I don't feel outdated or left behind because of my choice. I know that most people carrying autos, bless their hearts, just don't really understand. Larry

Boys, being one of the elder statesmen (old men) here, the only thing for sure I know is "They don't care how we used to do it". Being proved on a daily basis.

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Bill
Dis B. Leaf

I hit a bunch of gun stores in my area most are small but 2 are quite large and have a big inventory of firearms, reloading and related items.

Both big stores have about 150 autos in the display cases( and many more in the back) and about 30-35 revolvers(normally no more in back room)

On the revolvers some are the new things like “locked Smiths” and a couple Rugers and I think just to fill out the case a bunch of Taurus . Possibly you will find 3-5 older revolvers with no locks (S&W) available for sale and the dealers know people like me want than and do not haggle much.

Yes I have a few autos but getting to appreciate the circle guns a lot more.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

If few revolvers are being sold, even fewer show up on the firing line at our club. And we got a fairly mature membership at our hundred year old club. Now we do have some guys who are regular revolver shooters, but they are recreational target shooters and not practicing with carry revolvers. So what does that say about carrying? A bunch of closet revolver carry guys who don't practice?

This ^^^ is a much more logical explaination than any kind of "Autos are more reliable than they were 20 yrs ago" or "ACP ammo has improved over what was available 20 yrs ago".

The 1911 has been in service, incredibly reliably, and stopping it's targets, for over a century. Yet while Jack Webb, Peter Gunn and Efram Zimbalist Jr were weilding revolvers, it was revolvers that appealed to gun buyers.

I would make a wild guess and say that well over half of the people that buy a handgun today will shoot 50 rounds out of it once a year, no more. Some may fire 50 rounds, consider themselves "familiarized" and then NEVER fire it again. I certainly know a dozen people I can name that fit that description. Or put another way, handgun choice for the average consumer has little or nothing to do with anything other than what TV and movie good guys and bad guys are shooting.


Sgt Lumpy

My favorite LGS has two cases of revolvers and four cases of semi's. I'm sure the semi's outsell revolvers at least 5 to 1.

Their used case seldom has revolvers though, so folks aren't getting rid of them....

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Even older, even crankier....

"Seems like the wheel gun is becoming a thing of the past"

I beg to differ. Here in my area (Western NC) all the gun shops I visit have plenty of selection of both old and new and prices are only going up.

Look at this forum for instance. Over 140,000 members and the most traffic and busiest threads are in the revolver sections. It's the same in the Ruger forums as well.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

If I had to guess, I'd guess that my local gun emporium (the NAPA parts place) has at least 150 revolvers on display. Ruger, S&W, Taurus, Uberti, Charter, you name it. Even the occasional Single Action Army. They probably have three or four times as many semi-autos out. I counted 54 Kimbers in the case a month or so back.

The head gun salesman tells me he sells a bunch of j-frames to women. He recommends j-frames, though, rather than semis for women to carry in purses.

I'm headed that way in a few minutes. I'll snap a picture or two.

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Georgia On My Mind

To be fair, dude shouldn't be buying a gun for his wife without her thoughts on it.

Also, any knowledgeable gun store owner wouldn't try to peddle a gun to a guy buying it for his wife. He should tell the guy to bring his wife in and have her decide.

A lot of shooters nowadays think the more bullets you have, the better things are instead of concentrating on shot placement.

The double action revolver and the bottom feeder came about at roughly the same time. That the auto loader has become this popular, at roughly the 100 year mark for both, shows that the auto is just now becoming almost as reliable and in as efficient calibers as the wheel gun. I say almost because malfunction clearing is still a big part of training with an auto.

I see the same thing here. I have many .38 Specials and .357 Mag's. I am committed to the .38 Special round. It used to be Americas caliber and could be found every where and easily, and less expensive than any other caliber. Now it appears that 9mm is the universal round and now cheaper than .38 Special. I never thought I would see the day.

hopefully more of those guns of the past will keeping showing for sale, so those if us who like them have an opportunity to buy them

Gun stores here are down to about %15 revolvers. Used J Frames are non existent. I've got a DS, a Cobra, and a 442 in my carry rotation. I'd like to pick up a beat up Cobra/Agent for summer but that's it. No autos in my jeans or genes for that matter.
I'm sure you've seen the array of "high cap" guns available to one and all. I don't know if that's a good idea. I hope everybody has their head screwed on straight.

I was in the LGS yesterday and the few revolvers were .500s and such. Six long cases loaded with semis. One quarter of a case had revolvers. As long as I can get the revolvers I want i don't care what everybody else buys or does.

My 4 of my LGSs have an ok amount of used/trade in revolvers. It's just that I don't like or want all of them

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Most of the rest of the world can read this thread and say, "Those spoiled Americans, griping about what kinds of guns they can buy. I just wish I could buy any kind."
My local pawn shops seem to have a fair number of revolvers. It's not like the 70s, but that's life.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

My first guns were revolvers. In the crowd I ran with semi's were considered "unmanly" somehow. Yes, I hung with some real idiots "back in the day"! My first semi was a Browning .380(Lord I wish I'd never sold it!)& after that all my firearms were semi's, with the exception of my Model 686-2. I've been on a pretty heavy 3rd Gen kick for a while now, & I don't see it ending anytime soon. I will buy another revolver in the future, & actually I feel like that's coming up before too long. But if it makes you die hard wheel gun guys feel any better, I understand & feel the pain you say you feel when you look at gun cases with hardly any wheel guns in them. I'm sure its the same way I feel when I look at gun cases full of mostly poly pistols.

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

At gun shows I just breeze on past the tables loaded with black semiauto handguns. The ones that are any good (a precious few), I have already. My hot button is pushed only when I see a table with some really nice classic revolvers or the rarer old school (non-plastic) semiautos. My heirs will appreciate my discerning tastes someday. The modern junk will still be junk, but the old quality guns, made with care, will only increase in value. More and more, as I get older, I appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that went into carefully crafting old stuff - that goes for buildings, cars, guns and art.

As one example of this, look at the elaborate decorations on this old bank building, probably built around 1910 in Globe, Arizona. It took time and skill to do things like this - modern buildings are just slabs. My dad worked in this very bank in the late '30s.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

As posted by several members, they watch to many movies and TV they think it's a real gun battle they are going to encounter.

Most SD situations are over in a few seconds, Maybe 1-3 rounds?? I don't know, Not talking about crazy gang situations and drive bys.

Maybe you don't need 10 rounds to kill a Deer!!?? (just kidding!)

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Still Running Against the Wind

I think you're looking at it wrong. All those semis are in the sales cases because nobody wanted them. Very few revolvers in there because they are in high demand. If nobody wanted a revolver the cases would be full of them.
In my house, the revolver will always be king.

Well I just returned from a big LGS that I do a lot of business with. I was the only person looking in the revolver case. The semi case/S had 5-6 people looking at all times and in the 20 minuets I was there I saw 3 new black wonders and 1 oldie but goodie Colt 1911 .45 getting new owners.

FWIW I did look at a Colt OP 38 4'' in about 72- 75% condition but having good looking chambers and barrel with good lock up that they were asking $299 for. I almost did it but I will wait for a 19 2 /12 blue to add to my accumulation.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I have no problem with folks who don't understand the advantages of revolvers. It doesn't change what I'm going to carry. As a matter of fact, it probably made it cheaper, although that is starting to change. I have gotten many GOOD revolvers for $200 or less, in THIS millenium. Unfortunately, enough folks know what a revolver is good for that those days are pretty much over.

My LGS the last time I was there the used gun case had more plastiss in it than revolvers. Seeing this I'm thinking these orginal owners of these plastic pistols are reading the gun rags and buying the next best thing trading in the so called out dated plastic. One more thing is plastic pistols are far cheaper over a new revolver. There seems to be more of a turn over with plastic pistols. I'm still on the fence about going plastic. It's the 40 year life span of the plastic that worries me. By the time it reached the second generation of my family it will be unsafe to shoot right?

Right now I'm shooting a 1907 Swede mauser. If it was plastic it would be use less and hanging over the fireplace right?

I have a few auto's but I still prefer Revolvers.

Just a decade and a half or so ago finding a used colt, s&w or ruger revolver at the LGS the chances were slim to none. Everyone was hanging on to them. What has changed? Did the orginal owners pass away and there being traded in for different guns?

Maybe your right the world is changing. But I'm not, I'll have my revolver all the way to my grave. Then my kids will pick up my revolvers and enjoy them till they hand them down to there kids and so on. I'm planting a seed right now that will last for many generations of my family.

I didn't take any pictures, but I did a quick count. There were 202 new revolvers, not counting the NAA mini-revolvers. There were probably 30 of them. I would guess there were 75 j-frame and j-frame sized Taurus, etc. A bunch of various Rugers, Ubertis, etc. Saw a break-top Uberti Schofield. Maybe half a dozen black powder guns. In addition, there were probably 25 used revolvers, including a bunch of old break-top guns.

I would guess there were 500 semi-auto handguns in the cases.

We have a population of about 9000 people in the county. There is no doubt in my mind that Bo could put a gun in the hand of every man, woman, and child in the county. Seriously.

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Georgia On My Mind

The prices reflect the fact that you can't squirt out a plastic revolver frame. Well at least I haven't seen one yet. Of that plethora of semi-autos I am betting 80% were plastic. Even with CNC milling, plastic guns are cheaper and require less skilled labor to make and I can't imagine how that technology can be applied to revolvers hense the disappearance of revolvers. CZ bought Dan Wesson and they only make semi-autos anymore. No more Dan Wesson revolvers with interchangable barrels. Lord that brought tears to my eyes. I was looking to buy a new one to replace the one I traded years ago and have been sorry ever since. No I am thinking it is time to start collecting all the revolvers I can get my hands on before they become too valuable to afford.

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Jason Adams

Please don't take this wrong as I like them all, but what is the Advantage of a revolver over today's quality semi autos?

I guess most will say.
The reliability? The really are not simpler than a semi auto, there are more moving parts in a revolver than a semi.

New Semis are pretty darn reliable.

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Still Running Against the Wind

True enough. I would place yours truly in that new shooter category. Got the bottom feeders, mags, etc. Then I got my first wheel gun. 686-3 4".

NOW the lightbulb has gone off. The "what's next" list has been rearranged, with wheel guns on the top. 1911 has been moved more towards the middle.

So if I am any indicator, I would say wheel guns will be around for a while.

A lot of factors at work here. Maybe Caj really is just old and grumpy.

First, the company (S&W) is partially at fault. They make a few revolvers, but the quality is sometimes suspect (think about the new M69 with lock up issues). Over the years, they made a bunch of fine guns. But if they were making them, we'd be seeing them in the gun stores. We don't. Then think of the last 50 to 65 years (I use that as the start of post war production). All those guns they made found a way into a collection, drawer, or whatever. Part of the problem is us old guys who buy a gun and like it. So we put it in our safe and don't shoot it. So a few months later we build up our cash from Social Security payments and wander around a gun show. And we find a gun we'd have killed for back in the 1970s. So we buy it and toss it along side the other guns. Once they find their way into the black hole of old guys, they don't come out. Even after we croak our sons decide to keep Dad's old revolver because they know we paid a bundle for some of them.

Some guns. I have a 351 and have never seen another for sale. I have my carry gun (a 337 like the OP) and I have no plans of selling it. Bought it new too. And there must be others in my tiny collection. I have more than my fair share. I'm trying to sell a couple, but everyone thinks my asking price is too high because they remember back in 1979 they saw the exact same model for $350. I'm trying to steal their money by asking so much. Yet if they weren't so lazy and stupid, they'd check the current price of new production. Then they'd be mad the company priced things higher than in 1979. So I'll keep the guns I own. Very occasionally I stumble upon a great oldie. But most of the other old guys won't give up their treasures cheap, either.

I'm not opposed to semi-autos. I have a SIG or two. The modern kids don't want a P210, either. Not made of plastic, and its not cheap.

There are some things I smile about. I shoot my own reloads. They're cheap because I cook them up myself. And I save my empty brass. They shoot new factory ammo at $.30 to $.50 a round, and its unmanly to pick up brass at the range. So it costs them a bunch more to shoot. And I can sweep up their trash!

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Dick Burg

When I was young there were 2 kinds of auto loaders. Those that had jammed and those that were going to jam. The proof that has not changed is no matter what brand of auto people are using they are advised to learn how to clear malfunctions. Larry

The advantage to a revolver is that you can drop six magnum cartridges (dang near the size of a tube of Chap Stick) into a cylinder and drop most anything that is native to the lower forty-eight states.

Larry,
We share both an age and affinity for revolvers. More than a few times each year at our local range I have people approach me with interest in my revolvers. I always give them the opportunity to shoot one, and I get a chance to shoot their autos. I'll be honest, I can shoot some of their autos as well as a revolver and would seriously consider one if I were younger. But I'm not, and handling a auto feels uncomfortable no matter how well it shoots. A revolver, however, feels like an old friend that I know will always be there for me. And that feeling of trust is priceless.

What do you do with all those 10mm Semi Autos you have?

OK, yes there are some big honking revolver loads.I was not thinking hunting purposes. 1 point for revolvers.

The dial phone worked well also

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Still Running Against the Wind

There will always be a place for the revolver, just as there will always be a place for the bolt action rifle.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

There are glimmers of hope. My son's three boys, ages 15, 12 and 8, have shot a wide variety of handguns, rifles and shotguns. They're being raised to appreciate firearms and shoot responsibly and safely.

Their favorite handgun is a lovely 15-3 I gave my son several years ago. They love shooting it.

He's teaching them the virtues of revolvers. So far so good.

I haven't owned an autoloader for fifteen years.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Cajun, on your next visit take another stroll through Collector's Firearms and you will see plenty of wheel guns.