".a renaissance of interest in revolvers. . ." Michael Bane. You think that's true?

[DonD]

I handload all my shells. I like my model 27. shoot the gun drop the shells in my gun box. Digging 9mm brass off the ground is not for me.

My only centerfire semi auto pistol is a 9mm Ruger SR9C, great gun. Reload for all my other centerfires both revolvers and rifles but I can't reload for the $10 box of 50 Walmart is charging for aluminum cased 9mm Federal ammo.

Even if I were so inclined, there is so much brass lying around at the range that I use that trying to find my 9mm among all the others would be a real pain in the butt and really not worth the effort. Range is OK with you policing your own brass but sells leftovers and doesn't appreciate you scavenging other's brass. I have no issue with that. Don

 

[Rick_A]

In the past couple years we went from none to six...and there's a few more to be had yet...

A decade ago I had a couple and sold them off. The chances of that happening now are pretty slim.

My autos have increased by merely one in comparison. Where the revolvers used to be a challenge to shoot double action, I do just as well with them than the autos these days and they are simply a pleasure. It's practical handgun shooting in its purest form.

 

[JMC502]

Was teaching the other day with a model 65 in my holster. 5 of our new officers didn't even know how to open the cylinder. I would love a come back but just don't see it. All the better for me though as prices are lower.

 

[tndrfttom]

I'm not seeing a great increase in the popularity of revolvers.

I shoot at an indoor range/club in Florida where the average age of the active shooters seems to be around 60-65. The membership demographic includes a pretty good segment of transplanted Yankee retirees (and many are retired law enforcement that served when the revolver was standard issue). From what I've seen of the active shooters, self-loading pistols outnumber revolvers by a considerable amount. When you do see a revolver on the firing line it is most often a S&W J Frame or small frame Taurus or Ruger LCR.

I think revolvers got a big bump in popularity/sales with the rise of Cowboy Action shooting but that seems to slipping with the popularity of 3-gun, IDPA, etc. They also got a bump with the introduction of the X-Frame Smiths and Ruger-made hand cannons and "Judge" 410 revolvers.

Out of curiosity I did a quick check of my inventory and I'm almost equally divides between revolvers and autos.

One of the LGS that I frequent keeps a good supply of used, realistically priced, handguns but used Colt, Ruger and Smith revolvers just don't stay on the shelf. So, somebody else besides me is buying them.

 

[slickracer]

Call me a "Renaissance Man"

 

[sodacan]

When I go to my range, I am usually the only guy with a six-shooter. Most of the others are plastic semi-autos. Many of the shooters are fascinated by a model 1917 or a Python, and I am always willing to let them try one out. Many of them bought a plastic gun as their first one and have never fired a revolver. I get many different types of reactions, from wow to no big deal. I don't know about a comeback for wheel guns, as long as there are much cheaper plastic alternatives. Shoot what you like, and like what you shoot.

 

[68sixspeed]

I am finding myself shooting more with the revolvers, they are just cool mechanical works of art in a way, and the versatility of shooting mild hand loads works great for my bad back. I have sold most of my plastic guns. Kept the 1911's and sig's.

I let a friend of mine shoot my python and 629dx the other week at the range, I think I may have converted him, or at least cost him some $ as he wants a 357 revolver now... next time I'll let him try a L frame s&w and see if that makes him buy one. Best thing to do is share the hobby, I always get a kick out of letting someone try a revolver who has never shot one.

 

[Buford57]

While there is much more space devoted to semis, my LGS has a 6' 3 shelf cabinet dedicated to new revolvers. They run heavily to J-frames, BGs and LCRs, with some SAs and hunting stuff. Used revolvers rarely stay a week.

I wouldn't say renaissance, but the revolver is far from dead for particular applications, IMO.

 

[S&W Fan]

I'm usually the only guy at the range shooting a service or sporting sized revolver. Lots of j frames though.

My experience as well. There is one shop in my area that is known for having a very good consignment selection (made even more so after July 2013 when our law changed mandating ffl/background check for transactions not between blood relatives). While they always had a nice selection of wheelies (especially S&W) it's greatly increased. As far as the new stuff the semis considerably outnumber the revolvers.

 

[BE Mike]

I think the only area where revolvers are popular are with pocket guns like the j frames and hunting handguns. I think revolvers are fascinating to younger adults who haven't shot one. Although I'm from the days when revolvers ruled the earth, I'm convinced that autos are hard to beat these days. They are very reliable, reasonably accurate and carry more ammo. Ammo for autos has vastly improved in performance over the years.

 

[M29since14]

I must have missed the part where revolvers went out of style!

I feel that way too. Maybe I am living in the past? I think revolvers will always be with us, but in a different capacity. As Shawn alluded to, J-frame guns and sporting revolvers probably are the future for revolvers and the self-defense market, which is all the rage to talk about and undoubtedly must dominate sales (but is basically uninteresting), will be dominated by high-capacity autoloaders - unless operation of law prevents that.

Revolvers generally seem to be most interesting to handloaders and to shooters interested in precision and marksmanship. The folks I see at the range and in gunshops these days don't appear to even be aware of either of those things. I think Bane must be referring to the interest he may be seeing in younger shooters in the large hunting revolvers. That's a great thing and I hope he is right.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I have been shooting revolvers since the early 1950s and owning them since the early 1960s. I have more revolvers than semi-auto handguns. Most of my semi-autos are government model 1911s. I only have two plastic guns which are a Glock G20 SF 10mm and a G35 .40 S&W.

Most of the revolvers I see young people buying today are Taurus, Charter Arms, and Rugers in smaller calibers for concealed carry. The Smith & Wesson and Colts are purchased by older shooters, collectors, or hunters.

My favorite LGS has two display cases of revolvers, two display cases of plastic semi-autos, one display case of Sig Sauers, and one display case of 1911s.

 

[44wheelman]

Have you seen the prices for new & used revolvers on gunbroker?

This indicates to me a steadily growing interest in revolvers. If not, prices would go... down. Supply & demand.

 

[gen3guy]

It's true for me. I often get a double take when I show up at the range with my Model 10 or Ruger Blackhawk. I've always loved the wheel gun. A previous post commented on the skyrocketing price of revolvers, and it's true at least for new revolvers. But over the last two or three years I have been able to take advantage of the fact that shooters REALLY want semi-auto pistols. The LGS that I frequent has been giving people 50 cents on the dollar (not uncommon in gun trades) credit for their revolvers towards new Glocks, M&Ps, etc. They mark them up a little bit and sell them. My favorite example is a 95% Smith & Wesson model 36 no dash that I paid $339 for. I also got a 90% 30-1 for about the same price. I have a few auto pistols myself, but I reside in revolver heaven.

 

[clayflingythingy]

Numbers don't lie:

https://www.atf.gov/file/3341/download

 

[Absalom]

Numbers don't lie:

https://www.atf.gov/file/3341/download

Indeed. And elsewhere on the ATF site, you can find the comparison of the numbers over time; see snip below.

Revolver production has grown, but is dwarfed by pistol production growth. Any recent turn-around, as apparently diagnosed by the guy quoted by the OP, would have had to be pretty sudden.

 

[one eye joe]

WE OLD GEEZERS THAT FREQUENT THIS FORUM LOVE OUR WHEELGUNS. WE LIKE THE SIMPLICITY, THE PRECISION, AND THE AESTHETICS OF WOOD AND STEEL……

THE YOUNGSTERS THAT I ENCOUNTER ON THE RANGE, SEEM TO LIKE THE TUPPERWARE 9s (THE CHEAPEST AMMO TO SHOOT, CURRENTLY), AND THE 40s IN DA ERGONOMIC STYLES. I STILL LOVE MY COLT 1911s---A DESIGN AND A CARTRIDGE THAT HAS REMAINED RELEVANT FOR OVER 100 YEARS. I SEE VERY FEW 1911s, EXCEPT AT PIN SHOOTS, AND FEW REVOLVERS ON THE LINE…..

IF THERE IS A RESURGENCE IN REVOLVERS, I WOULD CONCUR WITH OTHERS, THAT IT IS IN J FRAMES, AND LARGE HUNTING CALIBERS. OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T SEE IT. NONE OF THIS CONCERNS ME. I HAVE ALL OF THE GUNS THAT I NEED OR WANT TO SHOOT. IF THE KIDS DON'T LIKE WHEELGUNS, THERE ARE MORE OF THEM FOR US. AS LONG AS S&W CONTINUES TO BUILD GUNS WITH THE DISFIGURING IL, MY UNMOLESTED EARLY MODELS WILL CONTINUE TO RISE IN VALUE…..

I MUST MAKE ONE MORE STATEMENT REGARDING THE COLT 1911. AS MUCH AS I LOVE THEM, YOU MUST SHOOT THE .45 ACP OUT OF A REVOLVER SUCH AS MY 4" 625--MODEL OF 1989, TO FULLY APPRECIATE THE CARTRIDGE. THE ACCURACY IS PHENOMENAL, AND THE FACTORY TUNED TRIGGER IS THE BEST OUT OF THE BOX, OF ALL MY S&W REVOLVERS. AN ADDED BENEFIT IS THAT THE EMPTIES DROP IN A NEAT LITTLE PILE ON THE BENCH…...

 

[davetnitro]

i am relatively new to shooting (15 months) but i got the bug bad..

within 4 months, i had 3 9 mm, 2 .40's and 2 .45's, along with a couple of AR's. around the end of last year i decided i wanted a revolver.. i got an M&P R8, and loved it, couple months later bought a 629-6, followed up by a JM 625, now i am down to 1 9mm 2 .40 and 1 .45,, and the revolvers are the only ones that go to the range... go figure, so it seems i may be a renaissnace man....

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Maybe they were talking about Renaissance Wax.

 

[loeman]

I never knew there was a dark ages for revolvers! And now there's a Renaissance? Awesome!