Goodbye Revolvers for Defensive Carry

[jimmyj]

Hi:
lets keep this between you and me--I like Glocks for the same reasons.
BGs run in packs and I an't good enough to hit my target (s) everytime under stressful conditions.
To keep from being stun slapped yet again, I also carry a S&W Revolver as a BUG.
Jimmy

 

[NKJ nut]

Hi:
lets keep this between you and me--I like Glocks for the same reasons.
BGs run in packs and I an't good enough to hit my target (s) everytime under stressful conditions.
To keep from being stun slapped yet again, I also carry a S&W Revolver as a BUG.
Jimmy

A Glock? Seriously? Where in the world did you find one of those? You know that revolvers are much more common than those seamy autos. About the only ones that buys those things are the guvmint and the police.

Jimmy, you ain't done formed your own guvmint or opened up your own police department have you?

 

[wheelyfun66]

I will probably give some of you heart attacks to hear this (or make you spit coffee all over your keyboard)....

but I just sold my 66 snub (to a forum member...keeping it in the "family") in order to purchase a.....Glock 26 subcompact..

I do have a 340 M&P for carry....but the 66, as sexy as it is...just did not fill the role I was hoping for.

For concealed carry, the subcompact Glock is outstanding.
Light weight
10 rounds of 9mm,
easy to reload,
accepts magazines from larger Glocks,
lots of holsters available,
easy to maintain,
no external safety....

And in the past, my experience with these subcompacts has been outstanding....
Now....if I could afford it, I would have many semis and revolvers!

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Oldman45,

My post was in regard to your notion of what folks are currently purchasing [["Eliminate the government purchases and it may well be that over half of all individual purchases were revolvers"]], not how many .22s have been sold in the 19th and 20th century.

Yes, I agree with you that a great many government agencies do buy autoloaders. A great many are Glocks. However, you may be confusing domestic production data. If you notice, the US manufacturing data shows that Glock Smyrna GA manufactured 30,000 pistols in 2010. However, the ATF also reports over 400,000 handguns being imported from Austria in 2010. What do you think those were? (See Dwever's earlier posting regarding imports). So... attempting to subtract law enforcement autoloader demand out of total reported domestic production [["Eliminate the government purchases and it may well be that over half of all individual purchases were revolvers"]], doesn't appear to be good math or logic. If you were to add in all the imported autoloaders, then subtract law enforcement purchases, I might be interested in reading your conclusions.

Curious... [["I maintain there are more revolvers made than autoloaders if you eliminate the plastic guns."]] That may or may not be true, but what has it got to do with anything being discussed here?

 

[dynamike]

A new 2012 Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger does everything a 1970 Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger does only better. Further more, the new ones do things never dreamed of by the old ones. And they do it with comfort and all the modern conviences. With that said, the 2012's are much better cars than the 1970's are...they just have that certain "soul" that you can't engineer in a lab or explain. That's my thought with the semi vs. revo

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

A Glock? Seriously? Where in the world did you find one of those? You know that revolvers are much more common than those seamy autos. About the only ones that buys those things are the guvmint and the police.

I managed to get a rare Gen3 19 for the civilian market... but they are scarce.

 

[NKJ nut]

Curious... [["I maintain there are more revolvers made than autoloaders if you eliminate the plastic guns."]] That may or may not be true, but what has it got to do with anything being discussed here?

not one thing does it have to do with anything being discussed here. i sell 10 .380's for every small revolver. The big reason is because the new generation plastic frame guns are much smaller than the revolvers. Now as many of us know it's not real hard to carry a bigger gun like my .45 SIG or my Glock 19 but many people don't want to put forth the effort to carry a larger handgun or they are like my nephew. He's a traveling salesman and he has to observe something I don't called a "dress code" so he can't wear untucked shirts or what i call cover clothing, so a bigger gun is out for him but he can carry a smaller gun like the LCP or the LC9. They may be plastic and thus irrelevant to someone but as I am fond of saying, "They'll kill a Son of a biscuit eater as well as anything". Of course like ChattanoogaPhil I might be a little young for my opinion to count for anything

 

[NE450No2]

Random thoughts...
Semi-auto vs Revolver, it is an age old question. I have used both as primary duty and both backup guns.

Now retired, I use both for daily carry away from my property.

I prefer a S&W 5 shot revolver as my "little gun".
Most of the time I carry a 1911 in 45 ACP as my primary...

Sometimes I will carry a "little 1911 as a backup...

However on hunting trips, while traveling, I sometimes carry a 4" S&W 44 Mag as my Primary.

I always have a little extra ammo for the 38 backup.

I always have a lot of extra ammo for the Primary...

Extra ammo is carried in speed loaders or magazines...

 

[NE450No2]

For most "Civilians" that are not well trained I recommend a revolver, or two.

For a person that is VERY well trained,. I recommed a little revolver as a No2 and a Semiauto as a No1. You should always carry the "little" revolver, as usually, any deadly force encounter, will be at conversational distance, or Closer... You will normally find yourself using your No2 revolver first...

 

[DonDee]

I have and love them both. I have all 3 sizes of Glocks in .45 caliber-21, 30 and 36. I normally leave the 21 at our place in Florida for walking around in the woods or for trips on our boat. It gets mighty desolate sometimes in the upper reaches of the Apalachicola River and it's comforting to know it's in the boat bag. I'll take the 30 and 36 along on any everyday outing where I can conceal them IWB. But for deep concealment or pocket carry I'm trying real hard to make one of my J-frames work all the time.

Why? Easy, it's what I'm used to and what I love. I bought my first two Model 36's in 1970 and still have one; I'd have them both except for my truck being broken in to in my driveway. I have confidence in a J-frame and my hand just seems to go naturally around it. I don't consider myself an especially good shot, but I spent many hours back in the '70's putting holes in a 55 gallon drum with a model 36 at about a hundred yards; it's a gun I know well, love and trust!

I'm not saying that I'll never have to go with a pocket .380 for deep pocket concealment, but I'm going kicking and screaming. In an effort to avoid doing so I just spent $850.00 yesterday that I didn't really need to spend to order a 340PD. So I should have the weight easily down into pocket .380 territory so it's just a matter of a little extra width in the cylinder.

There's just not a right and a wrong here in my opinion, except carrying nothing or something you don't love and trust.

Just my .02.

 

[auburn2]

Well I've carried both as a civilian and as a sailor. The reason I prefer a revolver in general is I can shoot better with them. I can't shoot a Glock straight to save my life (so hopefully I will never have to) and I am less accurate in general with autos than with a wheelgun. Ironically I shoot heavier autos better than light autos which really goes against the biggest advantage they have as a carry peice.

I don't exclusively carry revolvers, I have carried a variety of autos, I still carry a sig P229 at times (moslty in the winter) and I still carry a CZ82 at times (mostly when I want something small). But the pistol under my bed and the one with me every day in my car and primary carry gun are both revolvers.

My wife has never shot a semi-auto and doesn't want to learn to. That makes a revolver the only safe choice for her.

 

[FordTruckGuy]

I think the opening thread was a great view point. I am comforatable with both. I understand the reality vs. romance. I believe dwever is thinking with his brain and not the nestalgia. I am just grateful that regardless of what we like, that we all have one thing in common and that's the love of shooting. Also, I have not taken anything posted here as defending. Good thread.

Jim

 

[LL617]

I know your letter was an old post, but I am a newbie, new to shooting and to having a CWP, and your post interested me.

My spouse carried SA's and has been scratching his head over my wanting to carry a revolver. I tell him it's because of theold the old Jean Autry and Roy Roger reruns that they showed at 5:00 am on Saturday morning when I was little.

Actually, it has been more a result of the trouble I have had handling SA's in my introductory course work. I struggle to operate them correctly. I wonder if I will want to switch over in the future, too. Right now I am concentrating on developing proper technique during my time on the range and getting somewhat comfortable with the S&W revolvers.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

I know your letter was an old post, but I am a newbie, new to shooting and to having a CWP, and your post interested me.

My spouse carried SA's and has been scratching his head over my wanting to carry a revolver. I tell him it's because of theold the old Jean Autry and Roy Roger reruns that they showed at 5:00 am on Saturday morning when I was little.

Actually, it has been more a result of the trouble I have had handling SA's in my introductory course work. I struggle to operate them correctly. I wonder if I will want to switch over in the future, too. Right now I am concentrating on developing proper technique during my time on the range and getting somewhat comfortable with the S&W revolvers.

LL617, my wife also switched from semi-auto's to revolvers but I beat her there by almost a year.
For me it was simply a case of going back to my roots, her's was more out of necessity.
I don't know if it's because we are both getting older but she started "limp wristing" her S.A's
and no matter what she tried, grip-wise, she couldn't get away from it. This was frustrating
because these S.A's were guns she had fired many times over the course of a number of years without any problems whatsoever.

At least she's still able to reliably fire her Kel Tec P3AT so she's still in the semi-auto game, in a "small way."

 

[Austerity]

If I was trying to use a 627 as a concealed carry gun I'd be looking for something else too. I'm not out looking for a fight or to save the world or to step in between gang bangers doing a public service (shooting each other), or fantasizing about it either. A 342 and a speed strip will do just fine as personal protection. If I were to "what if" things enough I guess I'd want a hi-cap semi-auto and extra mags too, or better yet an MP5 and extra mags. Seems like it depends where you draw the line.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[UDR2]

Good for you for stating your case and I agree w/you. Anyone in LE should carry off duty the same type of weapon their agency requires on duty, and semi-autos make a lot of sense in today's world. My issued gun was the Glock 23, but since retirement in '97 I've carried a small .38.

As others have said a civilian CCW is only concerned with self protection and has the option of running away if at all possible. If I were to return to LE it would make sense to carry a modern self loader, but since I'm too old for that I feel well armed with the .38.

Stay Safe,
Old cop

+1, Old Cop. Well said.

I love revolvers and have kept a Ruger Alaskan loaded with .44 Spl at the bedside for years... soon to be replaced with an 8-shot UDR with DPX .38 +P. (Full bore .357 mags will be reserved for range fun.)

BUT I am not a LEO, and when I am out and about, I carry either a 9mm EMP, a Kahr P380, or a Seecamp .32 - depending on dress and time of year. My selection of carry options is based on what I can shoot well and carry comfortably. A LEO does not have the options that I do, and I do not have the responsibility or the target on my back that LEOs have. Thanks for sharing dwever... and hat's off to all LEOs!!!

 

[gregintenn]

I love revolvers, and I get my feathers ruffled when I see some young punk trash talking them on internet forums. The OP makes a good case without slurring anyone else's choice. Anyway, as much as I love the revolvers, I confess I sit here with a Ruger LCP in my pocket. The flat profile is just so much more comfortable than any revolver cylinder.

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Good thread, great points and discussion. I'm a civilian with a CCW permit. I open carry on my farm and discreetly carry concealed more and more. I choose a 3rd gen auto most of the time and am carrying a M60-7 as either a BUG or primary CC for short trips about town, so I am aware of the points, advantages and disavantages of both. I well recognize my limitations and am cognizant of the repercusions in the event I am ever involved in a self-defense situition. The way I figure it, I need to be intimately familiar with whatever I choose to carry. Now, if I'm home, I'm gonna grab my Benelli M2 loaded with 000 buck. It's pretty hard to miss with that, even for a half blind old fat man.

 

[LouisianaMan]

As OldCop and others have said, it makes absolute sense to carry the same or similar gun to that which you carry on duty. It would be a shame to waste all the muscle memory & confidence you develop with your duty weapon!

I've tried a number of autos and found the ones I chose too bulky for me (Beretta Px4); bulky and not fully reliable (Beretta 84); and a variety of classic pocket autos. The only one of the latter I've found reliable is a Remington 51 in .380, but occasionally even it has hung up due to ammo, aftermarket magazine, or whatever. Not a great feeling with either reliability or power level, but rates occasional carry when its flatness seems indispensable.

I've standardized on S&W revolvers and am trying out a couple of Charters, since their cylinder release works like S&W's & in most CCW respects they're functionally interchangeable. (True, cylinder rotation is opposite direction, which could be a problem in a partial reload situation.)

Bedside, I have an S&W N-frame and a 1911 that it took me 500+ rounds to break in fully and make it reliable--at least with one specific load The N-frame is my "go check the noise" gun; the 1911 is the "lock & load, they're coming!" gun. Familiarity through service use and recent/ongoing practice with this 1911 example leads me to accept the tradeoff in slightly reduced muscle memory in exchange for firepower & rapid/handy reloads.

If I were an LEO with the duty to confront, pursue, and capture, I would want an auto for service and concealed use, just like the OP. As a civilian now, the lower firepower of the revolver seems adequate for my needs.

 

[wheelyfun66]

How about a combination of both revolver and semi-auto?
Hate to admit it....but I sold off my pristine 66 snub in order to purchase a new Glock 26...
Still love the S&W 340 for carry though...