Years ago I had some formal training with a revolver- using a speed loader, and what not, but was a dyed in the wool auto loader guy. In my old age, I've been looking again especially at the 686 Mountain Gun, or the R8, not the TR8. What would be some arguments for carrying a revolver over an auto, specifically the 7-8 rd .357 mags?

Thanks for any info.

No Feed Jam. No Slide Bite. No Failure to Feed. K.I.S.S. Theory. No Limp Wristing. Etc. Etc. Revolvers are much simpler. I am a wheel gun nut so my opinion is a little biased. I adore my 627-5. Who doesn't love 8 rounds of .357 mag????

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Dyin ain't much of a livin

If, in your "old age," you would feel more comfortable or confident with a revolver over a semi-auto, then that is the single best reason to carry one!

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LEO since 1981.

i always get a kick out of the guys who attend these training classes where you are required to bring 1500+ rounds of ammo for the paper bad guys and whatnot, and then they try to convince everyone "if you have a death wish, carry a revolver. want to lose a gunfight, carry a revolver..."

i don't understand the need to carry a high-cap auto with at least 2-3 spare mags, and preferably a backup gun... but that's me. i'm not planning on apprehending any bank robbers. i don't need to carry a cop's service pistol and a batman belt.

none of that stuff is real life, at least not in my neighborhood. i feel plenty comfortable carrying a 5-shot j frame around town, with one reload. that's my comfort level, not saying it should be anyone else's. we all have to determine what we're comfortable carrying, and adjust accordingly to any perceived threats.

best weapon we have is still between our ears. i've never needed a gun in my life, thankfully, but i usually have one with me. i also don't go out of my way to place myself in harm's way. there are a lot of common sense things we can do in our everyday lives that increase our safety, around our homes, commuting back and forth, etc. if you use your brain and plan ahead, that will always trump being stupid even if you carry a high-capacity pistol and 94 rounds of spare ammo.

I think that the revolver gives me more confidence in my ability to provide a good defense for myself and my family, just due to the fact that they don't jam, and tend to go bang when I pull the trigger. I am very partial though, and have thinned my herd to all revolvers.
The best for you is what you are comfortable with, or can afford and adjust to.
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked

looking for a revolver to carry...........then consider the S&W "J" frames.

lightweight....reliable....accurate....easy to conceal

A 386 Night Guard should work for you.

Stick with what you know. If your muscle memory and most of your training is based around an auto, and you're not having physical issues that would preclude using one, then stick with your autos.

If a physical disability is an issue, then carry size .357 mag revolvers are not going to be all that pleasant to fire and the ones that are more controllable are heavy.

Doesn't matter what is theoretically better, what matters is what you are most familiar with the use of and have the most recent experience with.

I am an leg amputee and wear a prosthesis and carry a cane when my back doesnt hurt and I am permantly disabled because of type one diabetes. I carry my ccw revolver anything from a Smith model 10-625-8 in a Maxpedition KISS bag. And,it works well for me. I am from the old school and revolvers are easier for me than semi-autos. I do have one 9mm and that is a 2nd gen Glock17. rz625-8

Over the years I have used both a Revolver and a Semiauto for carry and work guns.

Each has certain advantages over the other.
Many times I have carried one of each, or two of both, depending on my "asignment" or Dept rules.

I say carry what you are most comfortable with.

rz

In the mid 1960's there was a place on ther bank of a river that people would gather to shoot.

I met a fella there that had only one hand, his right.
He had a "fake" hand for his left. He had it "designed" to hold a S&W revolver, with the cylinder open, so he could reload it easily.

This was before speedloaders. When ever we shot together, he would shoot my 1911's some, but early on he explained to me why he was a "revolver kind of guy", as with one hand, any kind of malfunction would put him out of business.

I will say he was a "Wizzard" with a S&W revolver.

+1
I shoot both semi-auto and revolver. Saying that, my carry is a Model 19 w/2 1/2" barrel. .357 Mag will do the trick in any situation I'm likely to find myself in. I'll leave the "mega-round" minigun type scenarios, to those that believe that they will find themselves in and be capable of handling, multi-threat zombie like situations.

My go to gun for CC is a Smith 442 in a Kydex paddle holster.

It is comfortable, powerful enough, and has enough ammo to serve the purpose of self protection.

The main reason that I prefer a revolver is reliability as has been mentioned above. The only thing I have not seen mentioned above, is the occasional misfire that happens from time to time. It is much quicker and easier to just pull the trigger again, than to rack a slide on an auto.

REAL MEN CARRY REVOLVERS!
Wimp man (Jimmy) carrys both a auto and a revolver together CCW

I read about carrying plenty of ammos, back-up guns, etc. for defense purposes on gun rags, forums, etc. but I've always question the rationale for civilian conceal carry and self-defense. I personally would not want to get into a protracted gun battle. Immediate target acquisition and most important, shot placement counts. .44 Magnum are great but so is a well-placed .38 Special FMJ. Like most have said, carry what you're most comfortable with and trained to employ effectively.

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"Sursum Ab Ordine"

Thanks for the replies. I just have an urge for a good revolver. I've read some of the posts about malfunctions with the new revolvers, so I'll probably go with the 686 Mountain Gun.

I like autos, and as long as I have a quality auto, I know I don't have to worry about malfunctions. I've always believed in having extra ammo, just in case. But as someone pointed out, that as long as I'm not looking for trouble, 7 or 8 in the gun and a spare speed loader should do the job. Especially when it is .357 magnum. Sure, it may take some extra training to speed up my reloads, but all I got is time.

That's one that I'm looking at. I just wish they'd make one with a four inch barrel. I've always liked the 10mm, and the 310 was interesting, but 10mm is not so plentiful in stores around here, and I don't like the idea of ordering on line and waiting two weeks to get what I want. Of course I could shoot the .40 out of it...

I'd suggest a snubby model 19 or pre lock 66. Either one has everything you need and nothing you don't. Good luck! Regards 18DAI.

Exactly my sentiments.

I carry a revolver because no matter how stressful the situation I feel confident that I won't forget how to use it.

My CCW gun is a Ruger SP101 .357, heresy I know on a S&W forum but it suits me. Heavy enough to dampen the recoil of max load Buffalo Bore ammo but not too heavy for an IWB carry. I carry one speed strip backup and don't worry about it.

I really wonder if anyone can point to a self defense situation where someone needed a 15-18 rd Glock or Glock like semi with two large capacity magazines in reserve?

My bet is that there has never been one, if that many rounds were needed, the shooter was probably spraying all over the area and not hitting a thing. Don

I carry Glocks a lot, in an IWB holster. But if I'm just going out the door to a local restaurant, I'll jam a Smith j-frame, with Barami Hip-grips, in my belt on the way out. So much quicker, so much easier, and it'll still do the job...even with only five bullets.
Sonny

I'm agreeing with that sentiment more and more these days. I've always believed that I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. But ultimately that can be said about any weapon. The goal should be to figure out how much ammo is necessary. Law enforcement, I believe should be worried about more ammo, but since I'm not anymore, the possibility of multiple threats is not as likely.

One of the things I've wrestled with though, is efficiency. If I have a sixteen shot .40, generally they are the same size (roughly) as a 327 Night Guard with half as many rounds. I don't want to lose the velocity with a 2" barrel, either.

So, I'll be picking up, probably a Model 627 with the 4" barrel. I'll be changing out the sights- probably to the XS night sights- and the grips, and maybe getting a finish applied. Though my wife says I should get another HK. Don't have the money yet, so my mind could be changed in the mean time. Hopefully not, because I really like that 627.