Feeling more secure with a revolver vs. a semi-auto?

If I can’t reliably defend myself with this then nothing will

03hemi said:

You literally just proved my point, revolvers can lock-up.

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It looked to me as if your point was "just as easily"...you're probably right though, I may have another revolver lockup on me before I pass away..

BKLooney said:

It looked to me as if your point was "just as easily"...you're probably right though, I may have another revolver lockup on me before I pass away..

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Only time I’ve ever had a revolver lock up was actually just at the most recent range trip where there was a brass bur under the rim of a cartridge that prevented the cartridge from fully seating. Outside of that, never had a revolver malfunction other than them getting tougher toward the end of a box of 50 cartridges

ImDrRich said:

I hope this question is in the right Forum.

I like both and my collection reflects that but I still feel more secure about my revolvers than I do with any semi-auto I own. I carry either depending on my mood but when the SHTF it's the revolver that will go bang every time.

Does anyway agree? Disagree?

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I absolutely agree with you the Security of knowing that firearm will be there when needed!

I carry and am trained with both, have mostly carried SA when for work but certainly feel comfortable with a revolver.

The debate about reliability is interesting. SA's will stovepipe, etc, but - and maybe it's because I collect older guns primarily and have purchased several via GB w/o being able to physically inspect first - but in 25-ish years of collecting I've had a good handful of revolvers have issues first time at the line. A 29-2 that turned out to have a bent hand, a pre-10 M&P that had a bad trigger job, a Colt SAA 'just tuned' that needed a whole new hammer all come to mind. On a short-barrel Super Blackhawk ammo - of multiple types - would back out of the case under recoil and fully lock the cylinder or lock it part-way. All of these once smithed properly were good to go for many rounds...but revolvers can certainly fail from lack of maintenance, Bubba-smithing, etc.

Similarly, with most SAs I've encountered, one good hour of training with that exact example will eliminate the primary issues, and I'd have to agree that even with training for both, clearing a stovepiped empty shell is a quicker job than opening the gate, checking the cylinder, realigning with the next/a next un-spent cartridge, etc. The exception of course is ammo - but I've also had some boxes that would not go off in certain revolvers no matter how many times the trigger was pulled and then went 'bang' just fine in the next example on the bench (most of these were from a bad batch about a decade ago in .38, Federal IIRC).

I've had to draw my weapon several times, happily never had to use any of them. While the one time it was a .45 revolver the reaction was more extreme than others, in all cases - down to in one instance an actual blued PPK - have had a very useful affect on any negative elements around.

I guess my point is that it's controlling the variables for me. When CCW for work or personal habit it's always a gun I know extremely well, containing ammunition I've either personally loaded or shot a demo set from that lot from. Yes, every one of my boxes of factory SD ammo has at least 5 rounds missing, as this is my personal minimum for testing, regardless of platform. I did actually weed out a bad box once and Cabela's happily let me exchange that box.

So revolver, semi - it's training, training, and more training for me.

"You, sir, have failed to maintain your weapon." -Michael Caine, 'Harry Brown'

I used to be a “revolvers = reliability” kind of guy. For decades I’d never had a revolver fail me…but I had suffered a pistol either jam or “smoke-stack” or fail-to-feed … It was rare…but it happened….so I was a dedicated revolver devotee.

When I trained as a young LEO we were using revolvers (S&W Mod 66) … but the fact is that I only Once needed to draw my firearm…and fortunately never actually needed to discharge it. After I quit that line of work, I adopted the conclusions of the training taught at the end of that career: The most likely time a civilian will need to use a handgun for self-defense…will be: Less than 7 yards and usually in the dark. (sight-picture is unlikely to have much importance)

Then, one day I came across a little Ruger LCPs… DA/SA (dbl-action/single-action) striker-operated…operated exactly as a revolver (no safety complications and yet, without hammer issues)…. which has NEVER failed to operate perfectly. Small, slim, concealable, 9mm is about as good as a .38 spcl …. so that’s what I carry day-in/day-out. It certainly is faster to re-load if required (as long as a spare mag is carried…which I subsequently realized I never do…the spare is left in the truck.)

The flat pistol is more comfortable, more concealable and weighs less than a revolver of similar caliber, and has more rounds available.

This may sound strange from coming from a guy like me that would never carry a revolver for protection because of their low ammo capacity and very slow reload time but the Revolver is slightly more reliable although they too can jam up from bullets that walk out of the cartridge case under recoil. Dropped in the mud or sand or dirt the revolver is way more likely to jam up as well,

Having said all that today's modern auto's with their shallow feed ramps were designed to feed just about anything and are extremely reliable with one caveat and that is if they are still in relatively new condition. Magazine springs can take a set, recoil springs can weaken, sears and hammers can wear out (on revolvers too). The older the weapon revolver or auto the more likely it can fail at a critical moment as a handgun is a machine and all machines eventually wear out or can break at the worst possible moment.

ImDrRich said:

I hope this question is in the right Forum.

I like both and my collection reflects that but I still feel more secure about my revolvers than I do with any semi-auto I own. I carry either depending on my mood but when the SHTF it's the revolver that will go bang every time.

Does anyway agree? Disagree?

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OP, I see you have a LEO experience. Were you trained with a revolver at the Police Academy?

When LE moved from revolvers to autoloaders. It was interesting that 100% of the officers did not jump on the autoloader bandwagon.

So, it's a Training Issue. Today I go to the Range and most of the revolver shooters are really poor shooters. I see people cocking Single Action and the target is 7 yards away and they do a "shotgun pattern". Another young man put a round in the ceiling at the Indoor Range.

The bottom line is everyone should have Professional Training and then decide what is best. I believe a lot of people go by what their father or grandfather told them or their favorite "influencer" said.

I have had both a revolver (a .38-44 Heavy Duty) and a Semi-Auto (1911 Colt National Match) go south on me; thankfully both times it was during training exercises and all that got hurt were my feelings! While I used a 1911 for years, as a geezer whose 'need' for a firearm is pretty much limited to protecting my home and family from extremely rare random violence, I depend on a bevy of revolvers, all in .357 Mag, located in strategic places around the homestead. No magazines to 'take a set', no wondering 'what if...'. If I'm thinking of going somewhere where carrying a gun is advised, I rethink that idea. Of course, I don't live in or near a big city where random violence is commonplace, so perhaps I've gotten somewhat complacent.

Part of the issue is are you carry for duty (as said, then you carry a semi), or for self protection. Self protection you (shouldn't be anyway) trying to get into a sustain gun battle. The gun is to get you OUT of the trouble spot, get to safe position and let police or other professionals do the rest. 6-8 rounds should easily do that. In fact many CCW semi's also only hold that many rounds. Seems everyone starts thinking a defensive situation is just like a scene from John Wick and they are going to need a few hundred rounds. Vast majority of defensive uses requires 2-4 shots. So a compact auto or a revolver would both cover that.

And no - revolvers do not fail as often as semi's. get a misfire? pull the trigger again (one hand, revolver) or rack the slide and pull trigger again (2 hands, semi). In a close up contact self defense using body index shooting position with a semi, Better have practiced a ton so you don't limp wrist as you are holding it one handed in an awkward, natural weak position and so FTE/FTE very possible. Revolver? doesn't matter. If you can pull the trigger it will go bang and bang again on the next trigger pull.

Mike LaNier said:

, Of course, I don't live in or near a big city where random violence is commonplace, so perhaps I've gotten somewhat complacent.

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I see it from a different perspective… Not living in town makes security a higher concern.

I live waay-out in the country… at the end of a relatively un-used country rd which goes almost nowhere… in the middle of a ranch…almost a mile beyond a security-gate… there is no secondary or “back way” to get here…I am the only one out here. … so if you get here…you belong here …or are lost…or have questionable intentions.
And That is Why I carry. All the time. Day or Night. Because if I need to dial 911… it’ll be a half-hour before help gets here…and only then after they’ve called back in to dispatch to clarify directions because they got lost.
Unless it’ s the game warden, a friend, who likes his coffee strong, black, and unflavored ….(Navy).

ImDrRich said:

I hope this question is in the right Forum.

I like both and my collection reflects that but I still feel more secure about my revolvers than I do with any semi-auto I own. I carry either depending on my mood but when the SHTF it's the revolver that will go bang every time.

Does anyway agree? Disagree?

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I carry a Glock 23 in the woods against black bear and cougar (as well as any possible 2-legged predator). Though Glocks are renowned for their reliability, I think I would feel more secure with a revolver because 1) I can carry a more powerful cartridge (.357 mag) than .40 S&W; 2) It will go off at extremely close range, i.e. pressed against the animal, where a semi-auto won't; and 3) If I have to fire one-handed in a split-second it won't limp-wrist.

Lots of people here say they carry revolvers.
Here in Illinois we must recertify every 5 years.
Last two times I was the only one in the entire class with a revolver.

03hemi said:

Revolvers can lock-up or misfire just as easily as a semi-auto.

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Not an expert but I think I do not agree. I shoot both revolver and semi. I have experienced several typical failures with semi. Maybe just luck but I have never experienced a revolver failure. I shoot maybe 40% revolver and 60% semi so the respective frequency is pretty valid.

Furthermore all of the literature and comments I see constantly purport revolver reliablility surpasses semi. As has been mentioned already there are many mechanical things that can go wrong with semi as compared to revolver. But that is just one aspect. Overall I prefer semi for a number of reasons; but gross reliablity is not one of them.

jakerudy said:

I tend to agree with one caveat. If a revolver does jam you are probably done. An auto gives you a chance to recover. That concerns me more than capacity.

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According to experts and accounts of deadly confrontation, ANY jam and you are done. I doubt that in any deadly confrontation that entails only 2 to 3 seconds, clearing a semi jam is feasible for continued health. That goes for predators of all types; human and non. (Just saw a video of a bear attack... there was no chance for fail recovery .)

In training I have taken where one is shown actual video of actual deadly confrontation, there was no 'recovery' time; no movie-like prolonged shootemup; 2 seconds max, maybe 3. Maybe that can happen but by far most legitimate self defense actions are in the 1-3 second range.

So... regarding pure reliability, I think revolver is superior. That does make revolver better. Personal perference. I prefer semi for a number of reasons, but not for reliability. As I noted elswhere, I shoot both. I have experienced multiple semi fails. I have yet to encounter a revolver fail.

I would have no problem carrying a revolver daily, but they don't conceal well for me and I am in a concealed only state. That is why I carry a Colt Defender. It just disappears under a golf shirt.

bigslimm said:

Not an expert but I think I do not agree. I shoot both revolver and semi. I have experienced several typical failures with semi. Maybe just luck but I have never experienced a revolver failure. I shoot maybe 40% revolver and 60% semi so the respective frequency is pretty valid.

Furthermore all of the literature and comments I see constantly purport revolver reliablility surpasses semi. As has been mentioned already there are many mechanical things that can go wrong with semi as compared to revolver. But that is just one aspect. Overall I prefer semi for a number of reasons; but gross reliablity is not one of them.

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Revolvers do break too. I have had one go belly up on me, and I wasn't hot-rodding it either.

Squib_Load said:

WRONG. On its face it's Wrong.

Part of CCW with an auto is learning how to clear jams. Everyone who carries a semi must learn how. There are drills for it. Failure to feed, failure to eject, stove pipes. Every type of jam has a different way to clear it, so you do all of them when a jam occurs. And, mag floor plates let go and dump all your rounds on the ground ... I've had all of them happen.

It is not a concern when carrying a revolver. Long practice sessions with a revolver are the only times a lock up from fouling or metal expansion from the heat in a very tight cyl gap occurs. I doubt anyone is going to go through 200 rounds in a gunfight.

Failure to fire? Simply pull the the revolver's trigger again.

I've never had jams competing with a revolver. Not enough rounds in a stage are fired to foul a revolver. Between stages I just brushed the forcing cone with a brass wire brush. Gun cools. Good to go. That's prevention.

I've had jams when competing with a semi with hot and cold guns. They happen to everyone.

Semi-autos jam OFTEN. Prepare for it.

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I must be the luckiest guy on the planet, After shooting 1911A1's, M9 beretta's and Glocks now shooting Glocks since 2004 when I retired from Uncle Sugar, not to mention a few H&K's thrown in there, I can count the number of times on 1 hand where I had a malfunction.

The reason I shoot and carry Glocks is due to there reliability.

I carried a Model 19 2.5” for many years. Long after other agencies had pistols. I always felt at a disadvantage. I was then issued a P229 in 9mm followed by a P229 in 357 SIG. I NEVER had a failure with either one. I was required to shoot once a month, sometimes more.

If one does their research and finds the right pistol and ammunition and most importantly, shoots at least once a month, you can have confidence in that combo. As others have stated, it takes me about a second to clear a stove-pipe in a pistol. Plus, the enemy we face to day are all carrying pistols with high capacity magazines.

I'm comfortable carrying either. My usual carry gun is a 3" M64-6 or a Walther PPS. I also carry and have trained with J frames, other K frames, my sole L frame (681-2), or my 4" 27-3 and 4" 28-2. I've got other Walthers, plus Berettas, M&Ps, and Glocks.

I've been to professional training over the years with both revolvers and autoloaders. In one class, I put 720 rounds through my 67-1 in a day and a half with no problems, though I spent a lot of time with a chamber brush and a toothbrush. In other classes, I've put 300-400 rounds/day through my autos with no problems. I start each class day with a clean, lubed gun, and I use either my handloads (revolver, sometimes auto) or decent factory ammo (auto).

The problems I've seen and read about with autoloaders seem to be due to a lack of maintenance, use of crummy/broken magazines, and poorly-made handloads or just junk ammo. Police firearms instructors have told me that most cops, not being gun guys/gals, don't take their duty pistol out of the holster between quals, so the guns are both dirty and dry. That'd definitely contribute to problems on the range.