With an auto you have to wait for it to cycle. Evidently, this is so slow that companies like Glock & Springfield put lightening cuts in the top of their slides on competition models so there's less mass and the slide can cycle faster. Now to a mere mortal like me any semi-auto has fired and is back in battery ready to fire again before I've recovered and am ready to fire another shot. I've never noticed that my 1911s are slower to cycle than my Springfield XD(M) Competition .45 or my Glock 34 that each have a big hunk of their slides removed as competition guns. In fact, I've yet to hear any 1911 owner complain "you know, the only problem with this gun is it's doesn't shoot fast enough; I need to cut out a big hunk of the the slide to make to cycle faster."

I've been told that theoretically a revolver can be fired faster than an auto. Well, at least if your name is Jerry Miculek, though he seems something of an anomaly. My 9mm pistol has a titanium cylinder to accommodate such stunningly high rates of fire (lighter weight metal for less mass). Again, doesn't matter much to me, as I cock the hammer manually and fire with a desire for accuracy so we'll never know how fast it could potentially fire.

So which can you fire faster? Or are you a mere mortal like me to whom none of this matters?

I miss equally well with both.

__________________
Possum—The other white meat!

I couldn't afford the ammo to do the tests!

38 special is getting more expensive faster than anything else around here.

So I'll vote for "none of this matters", knowing full well it does.

The record is 5 shots into a ace of spades @ 7 yds in less then 3/5ths of a second with a revolver.
Don't think any semi-auto can match that.
One of my S&W revolvers had paper work that stated the rapidly of fire was only limited by the dexterity of the shooter.
I can't do that..........

__________________
Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

My usual "bests" are .19 splits with my 10 shot 617 and .16 splits with my Ruger 22/45 Lite. Seems like a reasonable comparison. Others regularly do better. I make no claim of being fast.

I find JMs' .12 revolver splits amazing...

I know with shotguns, a pump action Winchester model 12 is faster than a semi-auto. The shooter just holds the trigger back and it fires with every shuck, where the semi you must release the trigger after each shot and that makes it slower.

Getting the finger OFF the trigger than the squeeze. I'm still neck and neck with the MKll and the 617, but prefer the revolver.

In match shoting such as the Bianchi Cup the revolver ruled it in the early years, but the 1911 style (and a few others) the custom gunsmiths have learned how to get the utmost accuracy as well as speed out of them. In any professional speed shoot, you will find the Semi-Auto the winner, (unless Jerry Miculek is there).

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have considerable direct experience running the timer for shooters of all levels of competition, and no mortal is going to "outrun the action" on a properly set up semi or revolver. All else being equal, it is easier to shoot the semi faster.
In addition to his revolver record, Mr Miculek does a demo with a 1911 holding the pistol in his left hand and "fluttering" his right hand on the trigger, which results in emptying the magazine at firing rates up to 600 rpm: machine gun territory.

For reference, a .1 split = 600rpm rate.

You can find splits below .15 at any Level 2 or higher USPSA match in the double taps, which is about 400 rpm. My personal best with a revolver, recorded on a timer, is .16 splits on a "Bill Drill."
I am not a Master and never will be.

The real contest is not how fast you can pull the trigger, but all the time you spend on the clock NOT shooting: draw, target acquisition, transition to next target, reloads, moving to next firing position, etc.
That's what you really learn under (simulated) pressure: smooth gun handling.

__________________
Science plus Art

I can fire quickly and still hit the target better with an automatic with a good trigger. I have a FEG Hi Power with a 4 lb trigger that's best of all my guns, and firing as rapidly as I can I still get 3-4" groups at 7 yds. I can do nearly as well with my SW1911E.

No one should be able to shoot a double action revolver faster then he can a single action auto like a 1911.This is why this platform has dominated the shooting competitions for years.Common back in the days to see shooters virtually melt two FMJ rounds together in the barrel of a 1911.Articles on this were frequent in Combat Handguns.

The real question is how fast can you fire and hit what you are aiming at.

For other than high end competitors, I doubt the gun cycle time is an issue.

Comparing most of us to Jerry Miculek is like comparing a B student in High School physics to Albert Einstein.

Shooting bowling pins in an informal match. Once competitor said "No fair, you are using a semi auto."

I went to the car and got my Dan wesson 357 and continued to kick his butt.

Its not the gun, its watch the front sight as it recoils. As it comes back down on target, squeeze the trigger.

David

Rapid fire double and triple taps are about all this old guy feels the need to master for close quarters work. Revolvers and semi-autos both work for what I need, but the magazine capacity of the semi-auto is a decided advantage.

"fire with a desire for accuracy so we'll never know how fast it could potentially fire."

......"I may be slow but I'm as inaccurate as anybody".....

I'm not fast enough on the trigger for cycle times being much consequence on my score sheet, regardless of the type of action.

The single fastest time I've ever shot any handgun in Steel Challenge, was recent Sig 1911---5 targets in just under 3 seconds. Shot another using 610 S&W revolver in 2.4..... Fastest 5 shots using 10/22 carbine was blistering 0.9 seconds. Somehow just can't get that to happen very often.

Evidence suggests the time delimiter is not the gun cycle time.....*kaff*kaff*

Even then I had not run into the cycle rate of the gun seeming to affect my own performance. If I could go way faster more of the time I would....just doesn't work out that way.

Hard for me to break 6 sec stages these days. Way too slow to be above the bottom half of the field.

__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas

It is awfully hard for a semi-auto to beat a single action revolver that is being "slip fired" by a good hand.

__________________
Bill
Dis B. Leaf

Depends on what it is. My 22/45 MKII has an aftermarket trigger that is the best on any gun I own. With a comp and bull barrel it's a matter of slapping that trigger.

I can shoot my 1911 and 22-4 about the same, but can manage about a shot a second faster with the 1911.

I need to properly time this stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUT8mxU9g64
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_EPsKZhoXw

The shots above result in roughly 4" groups at 7yds.

Such shooting is highly impractical and only effective among the most seasoned shooters with major action work.

Comparing my issue double action, 4" Model 14, to my 5906, in combat qualification, (Back in the day.) I could recover and fire a second shot much faster with the Model 14. With a firm, two hand grip I could control the recoil better with the model 14.

My early 5906 had the square trigger guard which I used. With a firm two hand grip with my left forefinger gripping the trigger guard, I still could not control the rocking motion caused by the cycling of the slide as well as I could control the 4",38 revolver, for second shot accuracy.

That revolver was, without a doubt, the best handling gun I have ever fired. However it does lack the energy and firepower of the modern 45's.
My present favorites are the M&P 45 and the 1911a1.

Never said average Joe. Google Texas Rick O'Shay. Or attend SASS End of Trail. Just saying, I have seen a bunch of em do it rather quickly, me , not quite there yet.

'

__________________
Bill
Dis B. Leaf

As the title says...

Semi Automatic pistols are SLOW

Double action revolvers are SLOW, but not as bad as Semi-Autos

Colt SAAs rule when it comes to speed.

Here is a clip of the late Bob Munden (I am not this fast)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGZC60PCaiM

All my Heroes wore Six Guns

Rick my man. I believe the op was speaking more in general terms of auto vs. Revolver. Not MY specific talent, or lack thereof. Only the best Sir.

Went back and re-read post. I stand corrected. I believe he does mean, me, the individual. Apologies extended. I shoot a SA faster than my autos. But, since this is in Smith Competitive Shooting I have no business here since Smith does not make a SA (I don't think). I will pay more attention in class. I will pay__________

__________________
Bill
Dis B. Leaf

+1000

semi auto

no contest

pretty sure Jerry Miculek shoots faster splits with a semi auto too.

make mine a 1911/2011

__________________
NRA Life
USPSA/IPSC

I don't know whether it's just that I'm too old to be that fast anymore, or if my trigger finger is simply slower.

In any case, my splits with my M&P 40L (Apex FSS trigger with 2.1# pull) run around 0.23-0.25 seconds.

My splits with my 686 SSR (Apex Evolution IV with 4.9# pull) run around 0.27 seconds.

I just don't seem to be able to run the finger any faster than that.

So, most of my focus is on movement, transitions, etc. The good news is that my splits for transitions to nearby targets are only 0.01-0.02 seconds slower than my double-taps.

here it is now that's fast 27 rounds in 3.7 seconds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFoM8S3JwZU

__________________
Psalm 23:4

Bob Munden could fire a SAA faster than a .45 ACP.

Then, he was fast with anything........................

So, the correct answer is: SAA

Without a doubt, I can shoot double action revolver much faster than a 1911.
We have fun shoots at my club
6x 8" plates + 6 round limit at 15 yards.
My best time with a 686 is 4.07 seconds
My best time with my 1911 is way beyond 6 seconds
Most of the posts here are opinions on stuff they have seen.
Mine is a back to back comparison on my own shooting.
I believe that was the original question.

This 686


This 1911


shooting was done during this summer

Technically, an experienced shooter should be able to cycle a revolver faster than a 1911, since the revolver action depends on muscle strength and memory, while the 1911 depends on spring weight and load strength. My assumption is that speed shooting utilizes lighter loads (in the case of the 1911s light spring and functioning). Most shooters do not have the muscle memory or practice to be faster than a semi-auto…. but those that do….the revolver is usually faster. However, unless you are a revolver master shooter, like JM, loading the revolver is the weak link… fast but not like a mag change…
Tha being said, a good semi-auto shooter should be able to shoot 6, reload and shoot 6 in very fast time….my best was under 8 sec. on "El Presidente".. 6 shots on 6 plates with 1911 was under 3 sec.

__________________
Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

This past summer I qualified for LEOSA w/my Model 38. The other retirees were shooting their Glock 23 and got shots on target much faster than I did. Some of this was due to the reloading process b/c I ran dry after 5, but I'm convinced that if I were to return to LE today a Glock would go w/me.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

As I recall, (I could be mistaken) Ed McGivern could cycle a S&W revolver a lot faster than a 1911. I believe that is with stock guns, and using one hand. I'm thinking his numbers were 5 shots in 9/20th of a sec. with the Smith, but it took him 1.5 sec. to empty the 1911. I don't know if that was 7 or 8 shots. Is my memory right? With a trigger finger like that, he probably didn't even need a gun to kill you with it.

__________________
Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I can empty either one in a long eye blink, but the group size would need to be measured with a surveyor's transit.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"