Goodbye Revolvers for Defensive Carry

Thanks for your thoughts dwever.
I love to hear from people who have a different take on things than I do.It challenges me to reconsider my own decisions and gives me insight into points of view I may not have considered.
For me a wheelgun is the right choice.As it is for many others.
For you a semiauto is the right choice.As it is for many others.
Forums like this make it easier for a lot of people to make right choices.
 
Sometimes it might be the tool user more than the tool, too.

I can generally out-shoot most of our folks (including some of our instructors) using one of my J-frames while they're using duty pistols. I can reload my J's faster than a lot of them can reload their pistols.

That doesn't mean they should change over to 5-shot snubs, now, does it? ;) And yes, I can do even better with larger pistols of various make/model & caliber, on any given day ... but I decide where I want to draw that line for compromise in my daily equipment choice nowadays, and I have only myself to blame if I choose wrongly.

I try to make it a point to avoid denigrating another person's choice in dedicated defensive handguns (especially if they have no choice in the matter, or are limited in their choice for whatever reason). It doesn't help to subconsciously erode someone's confidence in their weapon choice. Not at all.

Of course, it isn't much good for someone to have an unjustified level of confidence in a defensive weapon just based on the particular weapon make/model/caliber, either, I'd think.

We work with what we have, or what we "like" the best, even though that might not be the "best" or "optimal" choice depending on a given shooter's/owner's skillset & experience.

I've certainly seen any number of shooters demonstrate much better skills with one type of handgun than another, but choose the one with which they can't do as well when shooting it under demanding drills simply because they "like it better".

If we have no choice ... we have no choice, although disparate impact (related to equipment) court cases and newer service pistols with some adjustment available to accommodate a wider range of users is helping address this sort of thing in LE work.
 
The revolver is seeing an increase in popularity. There are more people carrying them than one thinks. I see few available these days. There are a couple I am currently looking for but the LGS say that the used revolvers fly out the door about as fast as they come in.

It may well be they are as popular as the auto loaders.

How many here carry an auto loader for main carry but a revolver for a backup? I know a lot of officers that carry a revolver in their pocket.
 
I carry auto loaders for many of the same reasons as the OP though I do love revolvers too. In fact my next gun will be a 686 but not for conceal carry. I don't have enough room in my clothes for reloads and I'm aware that I would not likely shoot the same in a life or death situation as on the range and though I don't believe in spray and pray I feel 17 chances to save my life gives me better odds than 6.
 
Different styles and sizes all serve a purpose. If I am dressed up to go to a wedding I have my pocket .32. Heading to the Bronx in New York I have my 4006. Going upstate hunting I have my 627 on my hip etc. The point is become proficient with your firearm(s) and carry what you think is best for you or the current situation. There is no right or wrong.
Just practice and be alert with your surroundings.
 
Regardless of the type, I'm just glad to read of so many people that carry a gun. For me, a revolver and semi auto are two diferent tools made for specific tasks. I own and carry both depending on the circumstances and feel lucky to have that option. Its all good.
Whw
 
I have enjoyed reading this thread immensely, and I'm sure it will continue. I am so impressed with the thoughtful, polite discourse. Another reason I'm glad I own a Smith! A 67, BTW.

Chuck
 
I have enjoyed reading this thread immensely, and I'm sure it will continue. I am so impressed with the thoughtful, polite discourse. Another reason I'm glad I own a Smith! A 67, BTW.

Chuck
 
Great post dwever.

I carry semis. I don't have the right revolver for carrying. My revolvers are VERY large and very small.

I know my semis quite well, and feel safe enough with them. I do like having more rounds in case things get out of hand. But I also carry a tiny 380 with only 7 rounds sometimes.

I can tell you one thing though.... If 1 old 0311 doesn't quit posting that picture of his beautiful wheel gun, I will end up finding one of those somewhere and buying it. I don't know what it is, but the shape of it screams comfort and hide-ability. The shells look like they are .38's so they have enough power to do the job.... That is a beautiful gun there 1 old 0311!
 
Different jobs require different tools. For a service size belt gun, it doesn't get any better than a Gen 2 Glock 17 (IMO). For deep concealment, the Airweight Centennial is the best choice (IMO).

It just depends on what you're needing the gun for...
 
The revolver is seeing an increase in popularity. There are more people carrying them than one thinks. I see few available these days. There are a couple I am currently looking for but the LGS say that the used revolvers fly out the door about as fast as they come in.

It may well be they are as popular as the auto loaders.

By Federal law, all U.S. manufacturers report to the ATF their manufacturing production by calendar year.

According to the ATF, in 2009 1.8 million pistols were manufactured in the United States and .547 million revolvers.*

By 2010, there were 2.2 million pistols manufactured and slightly more than half a million (.558) revolvers.*

But that doesn't give a clear picture of revolvers and pistols because of imports. Glock in 2010 alone imported around 350,000 pistols to the U.S., and our Federal Government gets their Beretta's from Italy which was also a six figure number for 2010. Germany sent 230,000 H&K, SIG & Walthers. Of course Taurus imports both pistols and revolvers, but I have no idea of the half a million weapons imported by them in 2010, how many were pistols and revolvers.

*ATF Online - Statistics
 
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By Federal law, all U.S. manufacturers report to the ATF their manufacturing production by calendar year.

According to the ATF, in 2009 1.8 million pistols were manufactured in the United States and .547 million revolvers.*

By 2010, there were 2.2 million pistols manufactured and slightly more than half a million (.558) revolvers.*

But that doesn't give a clear picture of revolvers and pistols because of imports. Glock in 2010 alone imported around 350,000 pistols to the U.S., and our Federal Government gets their Beretta's from Italy which was also a six figure number for 2010. Germany sent 230,000 H&K, SIG & Walthers. Of course Taurus imports both pistols and revolvers, but I have no idea of the half a million weapons imported by them in 2010, how many were pistols and revolvers.

*ATF Online - Statistics

Stats are stats. They do not indicate what is being carried. There were many years where few auto loaders were made. Another thread here shows about 75% of all those here are over 50 yrs old. Those of us in that age group will remember the days when a revolver was all there was to carry or use. We also remember the accuracy of the revolver.

Back then any handgun was a pistol. Some dumb guy came along and started the pistol being an auto loader.

Try finding one of those handguns today. People have them, people hold on to them and people shoot them. Revolvers are not used by LE due to a certain maker more or less giving their stuff away.

Try reading the threads of all those that carry concealed. I bet most carry revolvers. Many LEO carry revolvers for a backup gun.

Many carry revolvers for defense. I am not one of them but have often and still will on occasion. I am fortunate in that I can just shove a 1911 in the waistband and walk into a store due to open carry being allowed. I have also grabbed a snubby model 36 and placed in my front pocket. But there has been thousands of times I put a Model 66, 19 or 686 in an OWB.

Go to a large indoor range and see who is shooting what. Older guys shoot revolvers more often than not. Young guys shoot auto loaders because that is all they have ever known and they got their intro to them compliments of Hollywood.

As to what is being made: How many of those auto loaders were sold to government agencies? How many remained on foreign soil? Let's face it, one third of all handguns produced were revolvers. Eliminate the government purchases and it may well be that over half of all individual purchases were revolvers.

I still see LEO carrying revolvers on occasion. If more of the young would try using revolvers, they would find they can shoot more, hit more and use fewer rounds doing it. They can shoot .500 S&W, .44 mag and a lot of others with a revolver.

The revolver is a long way from being dead.

FWIW: I have seen many young officers take a revolver off someone and then cannot unload it because they do not understand how it works.
 
My revolvers have included a .38 J Frame, a 617, PC627 5", PC627 2 5/8", and PC629.

It was in the Spring of 1978 that I received my first professional training with a firearm, compliments of Uncle Sam. When, more recently, through the agency I serve, I was introduced to Glocks, I was not impressed. However, given what was approved, I have since had two Glock 22''s, the latest a 4th Gen., a Glock 35, and a Glock 27 BUG, all .40.

Thousands of rounds later, it seemed increasingly logical to move away from revolvers to a Glock for defensive carry. No malfunctions from either my Glocks or two S&W 1911's (Gun Site Edition and a PC Melonite). To stave off the switch to semi's cause I'm a revolver guy, last Summer I purchased a UDR (PC 627). Beautiful weapon, balanced, and accuracy that belies it's 2 5/8" barrel. This had 8 rounds, I bought match grade moon clips for fast re-loads, a Galco Combat Master holster, took more training, but in the end, my head prevailed over my heart. It just no longer made sense to carry the beauty of the PC 627 over the business of a Glock 22.

I looked at my duty Glock 22 (.40) with the Federal Premium 180 grain loads at 392 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy, and compared to the revolver I had good energy, less recoil, faster follow-up shots, more accuracy (http://www.pbase.com/dwever/image/139037121), DOUBLE the capacity chambered, better concealment, better at night, and my pants aren't being pulled down. On duty I'm at 46 rounds minimum, 71 with an extra mag and BUG; defensive carry I'm at 31 with one spare mag - even at that lowest number, with the PC 627 that is one round shy of four moon clips and three re-loads.

I carry the Glock now, and last month sold my UDR PC 627 on this site as I came to realize the hard truth that there is a significant difference between an Ultimate Defensive Revolver and an Ultimate Defensive Weapon. In the end, I chose duty over beauty, function over feelings, reality over romance.

I am not to posting to engage a debate. I know I'm being provocative here to the revolver crowd, but this is simply my narrative, my report to you regarding a personal change in my thinking, my reasons why, and the resulting actions on this topic of concealed carry and self defense. Ironically, without the financial reasons, I ended up mirroring my agency when they moved away from the wonderful 686.

We all have choices to make. Sounds like you've thought things through and came to a sound conclusion.

Funny isn't it? Seems to take a while and then the light bulb comes on.:o
 
IMHO it all depends on the situation!

If I were a LEO (especially a uniformed one) I would more than likely agree with you on most of what you have said. When you are in the streets you never know how many "bad guys" or exactly what situations are going to present themselves. Having large amounts of fire power in a reliable & easy to control gun is definitely reassuring.

I am a civilian and when I carry it is concealed and discrete. I am (presumably) not being targeted like so many LEO's are, and the need for me to pack a heavy bulky gun with pounds of extra ammo is not really needed or practical.

I did at one time carry a Colt 1911 in .45 acp and found it just too big, bulky and heavy for me to actually carry on a daily basis. That did not last very long. I now carry a M60-7 5 shot 38 stoked with Buffalo Bore Heavy+P loads. I carry 6 extra rounds and I feel quite comfortable with that combo. I use a Kramer Horsehide Belt Scabbard along with his ammo pouch and Horsehide gun belt. As a civilian packing discreetly, I doubt I will ever need more than that.

My home defense gun is not a hand gun at all, it's a Remington M870 with an extended magazine tube. My back up HDG is my M60.

This is just my opinion, but in general I truly believe that most CIVILIANS are better suited to carry revolvers. In general they are simpler, more reliable, easier to operate, and if there is a "dud", simply pull the trigger again. LEO's, well that's different.

Chief38
 
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I am glad you are comfortable with your choices. I guess we all have different needs. I rarely carry except for my walks at night and then I take a revolver. Easy to load and unload and lock in my gun safe. I bought my daughter an S & W Bodyguard for the same reason. Easy to load and unload for home defense. Easy to check. That was actually a recommendation from our retired police chief. Yiogo
 
Here is my personal take on this issue. I have spent decades shooting semi autos in IDPA and USPSA and love doing so but my constant companion off the range is a j-frame size revolver. I see the semi autos in general as offensive weapons and my revolvers as defensive . With a semi auto I am generally running toward something and with my revolver I am going to be running away from something. I am an old guy that doesn't go to stupid places, do stupid things or hang around stupid people. The one time I got shot at I was with a police officer friend and even there I would have only fired my revolver if my friend was in harms way. The revolver is easy for me to conceal and I am a good shot with it at self defense distances. OTOH, to each their own and if you have personal reasons for carrying a semi auto it certainly is none of my business.
 
As to what is being made: How many of those auto loaders were sold to government agencies? How many remained on foreign soil? Let's face it, one third of all handguns produced were revolvers. Eliminate the government purchases and it may well be that over half of all individual purchases were revolvers.

In 2010, there were more .380 pistols manufactured than all revolver calibers combined. Are government agencies buying a lot of .380 pocket pistols? Besides, civilians buy tons of government trade-ins anyway.

I think it's a safe bet that civilian ownership of autoloaders significantly outpaces that of revolvers. That said, I'm not so sure that has a direct correlation to what folks, who are permitted, actually carry concealed on a regular basis. I know a lot of guys at the Club with gun safes stuffed with autoloaders, but regularly carry a small frame revolver.

http://www.atf.gov/statistics/download/afmer/2010-final-firearms-manufacturing-export-report.pdf
 
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In 2010, there were more .380 pistols manufactured than all revolver calibers combined. Are government agencies buying a lot of .380 pocket pistols? Besides, civilians buy tons of government trade-ins anyway.

I think it's a safe bet that civilian ownership of autoloaders significantly outpaces that of revolvers. That said, I'm not so sure that has a direct correlation to what folks, who are permitted, actually carry concealed on a regular basis. I know a lot of guys at the Club with gun safes stuffed with autoloaders, but regularly carry a small frame revolver.

http://www.atf.gov/statistics/download/afmer/2010-final-firearms-manufacturing-export-report.pdf

First off, I do not believe those figures are correct at all. Yes, they are published but figures are made by the makers.

You have to be a young guy. You do not remember the years when we had revolvers. You obviously do not remember the gun makers like Davis that put the same serial numbers on every gun they made, or that turned in paperwork that was filled with errors.

While I do think a lot of .380 guns are being sold, I know the demand for 9mm is more than a .380. The demand for .40 cal is more than 9mm, if for no other reason than the law enforcement demand.

Since you enjoy figures, find the number of .22 caliber guns made since their inception. It will be far more than any other production caliber. But statwise, it does not mean anything other than there have been a lot of .22 calibers made and more have been shot by them than any other caliber.

As to your mentioning Government buying, one area agency of 611 people ordered 240 .380 caliber handguns last year. They never received them. Also, there are some foreign agencies that issue .380. Many of them are south of our borders.

Now since you like to figure so much, please tell us why makers would build so many .380 calibers.

I still maintain there are more revolvers in circulation than auto loaders. I maintain there are more revolvers made than autoloaders if you eliminate the plastic guns. Yet I do not care. Out of all my guns, you will not find a .380. Never cared for mouse guns. I had one and sold it. Nor do I think anyone I know owns a .380. Maybe I do not run in the circle of people that want a .380.

But I do know that manufacturing stats are not accurate.
 
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