Is the revolver now a 'hobby gun'?

[ISCS Yoda]

Well, with Americans buying semi-auto everything these days it is understandable that bolt action rifles and revolvers are taking a back seat for the manufacturers. I like them all but as a routine EDC I still carry a M649 and I still keep a M686+ as my nightstand/home defense handgun. They're not just hobby guns for my purposes.

YMMV as always.

 

[500SNW]

As for me, I get tired of the "scissors-string-paper-rock" philosophy of defensive firearms. Remember...in a combat situation between two individuals...it is not your gun versus his...it is you versus him. The skilled shooter who can best retain his composure will usually win...even if he only has a .38 snub compared to his opponents Uzi.

 

[jtcarm]

Personally I don’t think revolver (S&W) quality was all that great even back in the day.

The major difference, IMO, was that departments back then had S&W-trained armorers who knew what was required to get them running and keep them that way.

I once read that when San Antonio PD adopted the Model 58, the first shipment required rework of every unit before they could be issued. One reportedly had a .44 magnum cylinder.

 

[pistolpete10]

I still carry revolvers, mainly a 642. None of the newish revolvers I've purchased in the last several years have been perfect, not one of the last 8 S & W revolvers were perfect, they all have/had something wrong with them. However, they all fired when the trigger is pulled, every time. I can't say that about the last 8 semis I bought. The revolvers are at 100%, semis at maybe 50%, some just jam once in a while, some actually required repairs before they would function every time.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Everything semi-automatic, all the time.

Took me several years to come to the realization, but I've completely gone off of acquiring, or even being interested in current gun manufacturers' catalogs and wares. The more stridently current automatic are touted and pushed the less I want to hear about any of them and I distrust current production revolvers.

I'd be willing to sample a new Colt Python, but already have and older Python so can't get motivated.

Older revolvers and 1911s ...well maybe a High Power, will see out my handgun needs.

 

[zeke]

Own and like revolvers and semi autos. However the increase of legal ccw may have significantly increased the popularity of plastic semi's, and for good reasons. And yea, this is all just opinion. The semi's are much easier to conceal, easier to shoot with any accuracy / less practice and more affordable.

Went to the fancy indoor range for first time in a year, with 3 in 625 45 acp. Like to occasionally practice dumping all 6 rounds into humanoid target at 7 yds. After practicing for awhile turned around and all the employees had come out of the back rooms to stare. None of whom i recognized. Fortunately the owner was there and wasn't "reprimanded" for rapid firing. Broke in a whole new patch of young-uns to what a large bore revolver can do, which is to make a gaping 6 in hole in target fairly rapidly.

While i carry semi's mostly, there is a 4 in M29 bedside with moderately loaded 180 jhp's at 1250 fps. No safety and a deliberate trigger pull.

 

[BB57]

Own and like revolvers and semi autos. However the increase of legal ccw may have significantly increased the popularity of plastic semi's, and for good reasons. And yea, this is all just opinion. The semi's are much easier to conceal, easier to shoot with any accuracy / less practice and more affordable...//...

That depends on a lot of factors and is not a universally true statement.

I like and carry both. A J Magnum frame .357 magnum is difficult for most people to shoot well and qualifies as an "expert" gun, but it is easy to conceal.

A 2.5" or 3" K or L frame .357 Magnum is much easier to shoot with full power .357 Magnum loads, and while harder to conceal than a Model 60 it is still just as easy to conceal as many medium frame 9mm semi autos.

Similarly, a 1 7/8" Model 36 is as easy to conceal as some .380 pistols, and offers similar terminal ballistics. It also has no slide to rack, so it is much easier for women and for older people with arthritis to operate.

I don't know that a DA/SA pistol is that much easier to shoot than a DA revolver, especially when the first shot matters. With a DAO pistol it's a draw.

How well the handgun fits the shooter is far more important and revolvers generally have a much wider range of grips available to fit people's hands than pistols. That's especially true with the GP-100 and SP-101 where it has a grip stub rather than a grip frame, allowing for a much shorter trigger reach if needed for a small hand.

Revolvers also offer a great deal more flexibility.

Consider a 3" Model 60, a Model 66 or a 3" Model 686+. All three can shoot .38 Special, .38+P, and .357 Magnum, as well as .38/.357 shot shells, and they are fully functional across the entire range.

Try that kind of range of performance with the average 9mm semi-auto - without changing out the recoil spring.

Revolvers are also not picky in terms of feeding. I generally need to shoot a minimum of 200-300 rounds of my carry ammo in a semi-auto using all the magazines I plan to carry with zero malfunctions before I am comfortable carrying it.

With a revolver I can just check for bullets backing out of the case under recoil, cases sticking on ejection and large grains of powder that might get under an ejector star. 50 rounds and I'm usually comfortable with it's reliability and familiar with it's point of impact with that load.

 

[Johnnu2]

For me, personally, I only trust a revolver for SD (mod 637)....Mine is not a hobby gun; in fact, I never shoot it at the range.... nope, I don't 'practice'.
IMHO as always,
J.

 

[Hair Trigger]

My solution?
Buy pinned and recessed Smith and Wesson revolvers.
They work.

That's been my philosophy, and I have 6 of them now.

Well, if you do that, you limit yourself to magnums and rimfires.

And what's wrong with that? That 'limit' is almost limitless

.22MRF, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and all the Specials in between with their +P cousins.

I don't see revolvers making much of a comeback as a duty weapon unless it's for a backup; magazine round-count wins out nowadays over 6-in-the-wheel (and several revolver models have addressed that to some extent), and the plastic guns are just too cheap not to buy in quantity for a large department. However, I don't think they'll be relegated to strictly a hobby status (range guns); lots of hunters, outdoors people and CC carriers are using them.

 

[zeke]

"That depends on a lot of factors and is not a universally true statement."

Someone experienced with (shooting/carrying) a 2 in airweight 357 is likely much more effective than a newcomer armed with a 9mm carry gun. However that, and your comments, were not the context of the statement. Very little is "universally true", and there is most certainly exceptions to anything. This is why some use the terms "may" and "opinion".

 

[rich5674]

Never a problem with a Smith

No my revolvers are not hobby guns. I’ve had about 5 used revolvers, 4 new. 2 new in the 3 years all worked 100%. Only problem I ever had was ammo related. My Ruger LC9S has been 100% with every bullet I ever put through it. I trust my 3 Smith snubs with my life. The only limiting factor is my marksmanship

 

[500SNW]

Why always the competition and the comparisons? Revolvers worked quite well...and got the job done for 150 years before people started bashing them as antiquated and ineffective. Ask any long retired cops and they'll probably tell you that their wheelguns got the job done. I mean, if you stop a threat, you've stopped the threat and it matters little which tool you used.

 

[Buzzzer]

I think in a civilian self defense scenario it matters little which firearm is used. I have both and carry both. However, as I get older I'm finding that I'm much more apt to carry a revolver than a semi-auto. Easier to load and unload is the main reason. I find as well that I can shoot revolvers a little better.

There is a definite place for each. As always, whatever one feels comfortable with, and can shoot well, should win the day...

 

[pistolpete10]

The only thing that the semi does better than a revolver is that it holds more ammo. Now days it's cheaper than a revolver so I guess that's an advantage. Any one who thinks the average semi is more reliable than an average revolver hasn't spent enough time with both.

 

[otis24]

Just because first responders don't utilize revolvers doesn't mean that the revolver doesn't have a place in front line work. Most certainly it is very capable in the hands of private citizens for home defense, trail/woods gun, and personal protection.

I like wheel guns. But, I also ascribe to the mantra of it's better to have more ammo and not need it than to need it and not have it. I own a Browning Hi Power. Not only is it a great gun with excellent ergonomics and a storied history, it has plenty of capacity and reloads can be fairly quick.

That being said, I think many of us prepare for the worst case scenario that we envision in our minds. If I were to prepare for the threats that are most probable given my environment, lifestyle and social situation, a six shot k frame revolver would be more than adequate for the task! Revolvers have their place.

 

[BigBill]

the Leo I talk with carry glock 40 cal. I have a 1911a1 in 45 acp for many decades. I mainly carry a Redhawk in 44 mg with two speed loaders. I’m accurate with either gun. Some out to 100 yds. Carry what your accurate with. And practice with it often.

What has the market today in a tizzy is the cheap plastic autos.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I've never had the option of carrying outside the home for self defense, so i do not know if I would want to carry a hammer shrouded J frame or a small semi-auto.

For the home, I feel much more confident of my ability with my SIG 226 than with any of my revolvers.
And my SIG has four important advantages over my revolvers:
1) Higher capacity (10 Rd. Mag. in NJ),
2) Faster reloading,
3) Tritium night sights, and, not to be underestimated
4) Pretty blue grips.

 

[Longcarbine]

Own about 30 revolvers, have owned about 30 semi autos. Have never had one single problem with any of the revolvers, on the other hand damn near every one of the semi autos had some type of failure at one time or another. Have sold or traded all my semi autos, will never own another.

 

[sigp220.45]

The interesting thing about this thread isn’t “revolver vs auto” (which has been done to death) but “hobby vs non-hobby”.

Its like hunting. For most of us its a hobby, but for some people its a living.

If you carry a gun for a living, its not a hobby.

If you carry a gun because you want to, its a hobby. Most people in the world get along fine without carrying a gun.

I used to carry a gun for a living - not a hobby.

Now I carry one because I want to - hobby.

Oddly enough, the more you are “into” it (paid training, tons of gear, studying different loads, etc) the more of a hobby it is.

The OP’s point is well-taken. Amongst the not-a-hobby group the revolver is a dead duck and the quality of modern guns has suffered for it.

No offense to those of us in the hobby group. I’m sure you take the protection of yourself and your loved ones seriously. Some folks skydive for a hobby and I bet they take that seriously too.

 

[Cdog]

It compares with buying new vehicles.

When you buy as many "NEW" firearms of any type, as I have you are more likely to get to be the one that has the joy of getting the bugs out.

Poor fitting of parts was once far more common in the selfloader, thus feed reliability issues. Now most newly designed autoloaders are of modular design that requires little fitting of components.

Revolvers are still more of a clockwork design. They benefit from skilled hands and eyes.

It seems many of the major players are resting on their laurels. Selling off their name. Colt was one of the first examples of this I recall.

In the last 20 years I've had more issues with proper feed from bolt action than selfoading rifles.

I purchased a new 3" 686+ that wouldn't make it through a full cylinder before seizing. It was so tight the heat expansion would cause the barrel and cylinder to contact, thus rendering the piece useless until it cooled.

No doubt, fierce competition has caused auto loaders to improve. No doubt that we seem to have firearms being assembled by unskilled non shooters that simply assemble what they're given. The finish on many of the parts these unskilled hands are being given ain't at all what it should be.

In the last couple of weeks I looked at a Ruger Vaquero for a friend. Complaint, the load gate won't open. Cylinder doesn't turn.

I've been inside a Blackhawk many times, so I knew where to start.

As I was disassembling the revolver I was really disappointed at just how rough, basically unfinished the components are today.

I got the 44 up and running, but I'm not pleased at all with what I saw.