Hell boys and Ladies, this post is very amusing. Gave me more chuckles than I've had in well....the last ten minutes anyway. I apologize to those who do not know me....and as much more to those who do. Haven't posted awhile, but agreeing with NYlakesider provoked me to these observations.
On first hand experience I will remind you folks over 50 years of age, that newcomers to the handgun shooting sports and law enforcement particularly, have little or no exposure to revolvers. HA!...I said it.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise to me what the original poster stated.
I will not bore you with the age old argument of revolver vs. auto, with which you are all familiar, if your old enough to recall. What I will add to this discussion however, is that the revolver remains the most reliable handgun shooting platform for self defense.
In the hands of an inexperienced shooter, non-gender specific, not a gun hand, not a hunter, not a target shooter, not an everyday or once a week paper popper or tin can blaster, the auto (self loading pistol) can be trouble, even potentially fatal. Yeah, the revolver too, save your rebuttal.Training is the pivotal factor....and some other things, not germaine to this discussion, so far.
I prefer to start any inexperienced potential shooter with a small caliber revolver. I suppose I can't join any women's shooting group then if that is their policy. Much the pity and I am sorely disappointed. Still despite that tremendous reversal in fortune, good sense triumphs over the ridiculous.
Anyway, a new generation of shooters, a big change in U.S. states ccw laws, a radical change in law enforcement small arms choices have culminated in a changed perception in the handgun platform of choice for average Americans.
At least ten years ago, revolvers represented less than 10% of new gun sales, I don't remember where I read that but it was in some trade magazine that tracks such things. Today it is probably more because of recent ccw state laws being passed, but I'm guessing on that one.
What I do know, as a holster maker, a designer and law enforcement officer with over 45 years of experience, much of it as a police firearms trainer, the revolver remains as a reliable defensive platform, particularly for inexperienced, or occasional users. There is little doubt, can't change my mind.
Self loading pistols have been at the front of law enforcement now, for several decades. We begged for them back in the day when cops felt under gunned, we only had a six round service revolver and two reloads, and maybe a backup piece if you were allowed (I was), in some rural jurisdictions throughout the US solo cops had a shotgun in the radio car, we didn't.The bad guys had a hi-cap auto or two, or more. Speed, capacity, light weight material composition, and more reliable function today, than ever before. The double action self loader has become the principal sidearm of modern law enforcement and most military organizations. I post no argument, in that respect.
So in closing, I will suggest to this group of female shooters, that they not discount the value of a revolver, just because they have had little or no experience with a weapon that could provide excellent recreation and significant personal defense if called upon to do so. If their "group" trainers have had military or police firearms training experience limited to self loading pistols, they may have had little or no experience with the revolver, which would not surprise me.
Cheers;
Lefty