Revolver vs. Pistol

[Lou_the_welder]

Yesterday my 686 jammed on me. I couldn't even open the cylinder- trigger wouldn't pull all the way back. So, I gave up trying to fiddle with it and gave it to the RO. He took it to the back and did something to it. Walked back, handed me my revolver and all the shells.
I think I shot maybe 4 cylinders out of it , to make sure it was ok....
When I was leaving, I was talking to that same RO. And asked him about the revolver. I said to him, and there are still people that say that revolvers are more reliable than autos huh! As he was carrying a glock by his side. He said he didnt have to work there long enough to know that revolvers aren't as truly flawless as some people believe.
It didn't take long for me to know this as a fact. Revolvers have failed me truly in almost every way. I sure do enjoy shooting them .
Anyone who believes otherwise, has not shot Revolvers long enough.

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[Rastoff]

...and there are still people that say that revolvers are more reliable than autos huh!

To every story there will be at least one who will offer up a report like this. The fact remains, revolvers are more reliable than semi-autos. This is not in question even a little bit, it's just the simple truth.

No one has said that revolvers are fail proof. Every mechanical device has the potential for failure. Even spoons have failed. That doesn't negate the fact that revolvers are more reliable.

There are advantages to the semi-auto that, for most people, outweigh the disadvantages. But to say that a semi-auto is more reliable is ridiculous and not looking at the real truth.

 

[hostler]

I think everyone here(yes I said everyone) can agree that both revolvers and most modern semi autos offer an acceptable level of reliability under most circumstances. Obviously at the range reliability differences are so similar to be practically the same, At dart throwing distance, not an issue. At bad breath distance is when the circumstances turn weird or unusual and the revolver starts to excel. Pushed into the belly of the bad guy, inside of a pocket, weak hand, sideways or upside down, bad guy has a hold of the gun, mag ejected. If your mag gets ejected somehow your bullets have now completely separated from the firearm, you may have just one shot, depending on firearm you may have zero shots. I think that's where this conversation always ends up, the distance question. At a distance (several feet, a few yards) having more ammo would absolutely be an advantage, quick reloads could also possibly be an advantage. Within a couple feet distance, you aren't going to be reloading and you need a gun that will not be as effected by the circumstances/effects of grappling with the bad guy as a semi-auto is.
Oddly enough, if you need to shoot under water a semi-auto works better than a revolver. I was watching a show the other night where it was tested, apparently a revolver hammer slows down just enough under water to keep it from firing the primer, and the Glock they used not only fired once but continued to cycle under water. Who would've thought.

 

[GoodSam]

My feelings are quality always trumps quantity no matter what your weapon de jour is.

That's good, but my motto would be "reliably always trumps quantity" over "quality always trumps quantity".

There are beautifully made, quality guns that are not so reliable for self defense and guns that have a high ammo capacity which are very reliable.

I tend to agree that revolvers are generally more reliable and user-friendly then semi-autos as a group but I like and shoot both.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Anyone who believes otherwise, has not shot Revolvers long enough.

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In about 60 years of shooting revolvers, my experience has been that if you do your regular preventive maintenance on one you won't have any reliability issues. The only problem I've had lately was with a company-issued S&W Model 686-6 (not my issued 686-6) that started getting a bit hard to open at the range. Everything from the ejector rod back checked out, so I turned my attention to the front latch. A few squirts of solvent, a bit of air drying, a short squirt of lubricant, and it was back in full, easy action. I had a talk with the "trained Glock armorer" about how to maintain revolvers.

Since I'm retiring Friday and there are less than a handful of revolvers in the hands of officers, I don't know that my advice was actually absorbed.


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[model3sw]

I agree with Engine49Guy that a .357 in a small frame S&W is quite uncomfortable to shoot. I would rather be on target with a lighter load than off target with a hotter load.

Here in the far south with heat soaring, carrying ANYTHING could be uncomfortable, so, I stick with 642 or my Ashland 60-1 2" Target that can take a .38 Special +P+ if you wanted however the +P is just fine and quite controllable. I use a shot shell (snake shot) as the 1st out just in case of critters and crawlers which I am much more likely to encounter than an assailant.

If I had to reach for a .357 Magnum, sorry guys, that N Frame would be a chore to carry. The Sig P229 in .357 Sig, would be preferable to me.

 

[BrassTacks]

Multiple Guns for the Seasons

I agree with Engine49guy. The Airweight 38 Special is the way to go. I carry the 642 (Enclosed Hammer) for the Summer and move to my 40 Compact for colder days.
Don't limit yourself to just one and done!

 

[Protected One]

I posted this question on a different forum & would like to include
the S&W forum in this question.

What would you want to carry for SD, a 357 in magnum revolver(6 or 7 shot) or a Glock 19 you can sub any pistol & any 357 in magnum for this discussion.

At this present time I'm going between my new & improved 686 + revolver & my G19 gen 4 &/or my G43. My G19 is by far an easier pistol to shoot with accuracy that my G43.

However, my 686 + with my new trigger job is now my first choice to carry 24/7
even though its a monster to carry. My feelings are quality always trumps quantity no matter what your weapon de jour is.

As always, all responses are welcome.

Since you asked the question about SPECIFIC guns, I will give you a SPECIFIC answer.

First, I would eliminate the g43 because it's NOT the one you shoot best - by your own admission. That should be the first consideration in your decision: WHICH DO I SHOOT BEST?

Now that you're down to the 686 or glock 19, it seems that you favor the 686, but the question is...because you say it's a monster to carry ARE YOU LIKELLY TO ACTUALLY CARRY IT EVERYDAY? Be honest with yourself about this because edc stands for EVERY day carry. If the answer is "Yes", then your choice is pretty easy. And if you think you won't then I'd recommend going with the glock 19, and that's not a bad choice at all.

 

[adwjc]

Since I'm retiring Friday ...

Congratulations!

 

[Whitwabit]

It had nothing to do with the platform. I had to learn my own shortcomings under stress before I settled on an EDC.

I owned and carried only 686 revolvers until I took a private lesson that included drawing and firing on a simulated attacker. With the adrenaline pumping, I short-stroke revolver triggers consistently.

The short reset of my DA/SA semi-auto EDC fixes my short-stroke problem and addressed my other concerns about safeties and trigger weight .

All my auto carry pistols have short reset triggers and am finding I am having the same problems as you with my new 686+ PC !!

I am short stroking it about half the time and any rapid fire probably better then half .. Its a hard habit to break since I am use to shooting autos these last few years ..

Shooting both My Beretta PX-4 and my Sig Leg P229 in 40 with the SR triggers I do fine .. but still short stroking the revolver ..

So won't be carrying it anytime soon and it won't be the bedside pistol for awhile till I am more use to the triggers full release to reset ..

 

[Whitwabit]

When I leave home I assess my potential threat level and carry accordingly. Usually it's the P32 that goes for a pocket ride. I can put 8 rounds in a half dollar size target at 5 paces very rapidly (I practice often) so that should take care of self defense.Threat level higher..I'll take a J frame in .38, IWB holster. Anything else I leave to law enforcement. I'm no hero..sorry someone robbed your store,stole your car, your pocketbook etc etc. Maybe you should carry a gun. The 12 gauges keeps me safe while at home.

How can you assess a threat to where your going before you get there an know what is going on ???

 

[SRG]

I've carried many different guns at one time or other over the last 40+ years, 1911's, BHP's, Colt and S&W 38-357 wheelguns, S&W 9mm, SIG 9mm and 40, Glock 9mm and 40. Some by personal choice some by department regulation. I've never felt inadequately armed with any of them. I still own examples of each but these days 99% of the time I carry a Glock 19 by choice. It's light, concealable, easy to shoot, provides 30 rounds when carried with a spare mag and if the worst happens and it ends up damaged, lost, or setting in a property room as evidence, then less then $500.00 (blue label) at any gun shop and I'm back in business without me mourning the loss of one of my custom 1911's, or S&W's. Just my .02

 

[Donn]

This is one of those every-other-week, beat-it-to-death, opinions-are-like-orifices, topics.

I'm with officer Callahan on this one - you'll get responses from all the types he cited - 'nuff said.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[ruger 22]

I have the utmost confidence in my old BHP which I carried for over 40 years backed up by a model 36. I have since retired and replaced the 36 with a 649-2 which I pocket carry. If I were going out to a place where I suspected trouble I would bring both guns. Today however, I avoid troublespots like the plague and for SD being a very close encounter I just carry the 649-2 with an extra speed strip. If I could only carry one it would always be a revolver.

 

[Protected One]

Considering the number of realistic possibilities I've read or heard about and that criminals often work in pairs (or more) - not to mention 4 legged attackers, I am more comfortable carrying a higher round count than my chiefs special allows. Thus, I carry a Shield 9mm.

 

[DWalt]

For me, lighter and smaller is always better, That is why my carry gun is a .25 ACP Galesi that fits in my front pants pocket. I have never been in circumstances where it was needed and do not expect to be. If I ever find myself in such circumstances, that pistol will be enough.

 

[model3sw]

Still hoping I can find a .357 Sig barrel for my S&W Performance Center "Shorty 40" (first issue 1993)

I know there are a few out there in 2 barrel sets and, at one time in the past, there were drop in barrels from outside manufacturers.

DANG, if I could just find one !!

 

[Rastoff]

Considering the number of realistic possibilities I've read or heard about and that criminals often work in pairs (or more) - not to mention 4 legged attackers, I am more comfortable carrying a higher round count than my chiefs special allows. Thus, I carry a Shield 9mm.

Do you really think 2 more rounds makes a difference?

 

[texasjarhead]

When hiking on my hunting lease which has an active wild boar population- a S&W model 19 loaded with 180 grain hard cast bullets. At home, a 12 gauge mounted with a good flashlight or the model 19. When I feel I need to carry concealed, a S&W 3913 due to weight and size considerations.

 

[oink]

Do you really think 2 more rounds makes a difference?

You forgot the chamber. Make that 3 or 4 depending on which magazine. Plus way quicker reloads. So you're talking, at minimum, more than half again the capacity of your J frame 38.