Revolver vs. Semi Auto for CCW

[Law-dog]

The post was not about any of what you said and to tell the truth I don't remember what it was about. I agree on weapon retention as I'm a retired cop also and had those same type confrontations. I see someone in Walmart with a pistol in a cheap assed nylon holster open carrying. I say anyone behind him has better access to the weapon than he does. Now that I'm retired all carry is concealed.

Same here. I spent a lifetime of carrying in uniform and not in uniform as a special agent and now as an old guy going about my business. I see no value in open carry unless I am in the boonies.

I see those guys in Walmart sometimes, even with top 1911s, wearing their 5.11 pants and wanting to be sure everyone sees them. I see more with the tactical rigs showing off their gun, sometimes pushing a shopping cart with 2-3 kids with them. Why show the gun?

And I too am amazed at how simple it would be to snatch one of those guns?

Kind of like those folks that need to be covered in tats, shrinks say they need recognition and spend thousands on ink, so they feel adequate. If you need ink or an openly displayed gun to feel good about yourself, well, that is a mental issue.

I travel today for a medical event, a 3 hour infusion in a big city. My guns will never be seen and locked in my truck during the medical event. It is Friday, I will try to get out of the city before the 5 oclock trafic starts about 3 pm and the road rage guys are out. lol

I do have a small heavy duty gun safe in my truck.

 

[Gun Relics]

Same here, always a pocket pistol and a bigger handgun in the console, at least a Glock 19. And if I am there after dark, there may be a third one.

I like that idea and didn't think about that - then you can choose what is most appropriate for the situation. We are allowed two on our permits here, so I can carry my 2" J frame in my pocket but have the 4" locked up in the car in case I need it.

 

[shamus]

This may come across as racists but here goes. A little over 50 years ago I was a young USAF officer, going home on leave from Georgia to Louisiana. I had crossed over into Alabama and on a long stretch of US 80 several miles from any town a carload of gentlemen of another color passed me and forced me off the road. I stopped, no choice, and one got out of their car and headed back toward me. I stood out and leveled a big S&W K 38 at him and he suddenly had other ideas, ran back to his car, jumped in and they took off, Never saw them again. Yes my gun diffused the situation with no shots fired.

My questions are: did he display a weapon and why did only one exit their vehicle? Maybe they just wanted directions. Is it possible, given all the circumstances that you self-talked yourself into it being a dangerous situation? And yes, it was racist, which I do not care about but, their race has no relevance to the story. Just asking.

 

[fatcat3]

I worked 4 law enforcement jobs plus 24 years military. I have had a little CS, CN and Mace and others. But I could never work in a prison. Congrats to you guys who can do that.

Thats funny. I'm just the opposite. I might be outnumbered 50, 75 to one and completely unarmed, but I KNOW they are all s*** bags. I don't have to wonder if I just pulled over granny coming home from church, or some loser just waiting to up his "street cred." You and those like you have my respect.

Prison Guard. [screw] Verb
1. Someone too lazy to work and too chicken to steal.
2. Thats Prison Guard thank you not "corrections officer".

 

[9Mary7]

My daily is an Sig P250 Carry. All the ammo of a Semi with the smoothest DA trigger of a revolver. It trades off in the summer with my 3953.

 

[BarryinIN]

There are advantages and disadvantages to both autos and revolvers. I carry both for that reason.

Besides all the usual auto positives, I shoot semiautos better, plus I have a red dot on a couple which extends that gap. A semiauto will be my first choice unless the attacker is up on me.

For the revolver positives already named, I also have a revolver if someone is on top of me. It's carried where it may not be the fastest draw, but I can access it in most situations where my reach is restricted.

One other time I prefer a revolver for defense is when riding a motorcycle. When I thought things over, I realized that if I should ever need a gun while riding, chances are I will be in an awkward position or I will be injured. In such cases, I won't be able to get a good solid foundation behind the gun. In other words, limp wristing is likely.
In addition, the extra power I might have in a revolver cartridge could be useful around vehicles.

Today?
SA-35 HiPower with Trijicon red dot.
S&W 12 2".
S&W 642UC.

 

[Rocketmedic40]

I am probably the least experienced here, new to concealed carry.

I recently completed two days (16 hours) of CCW class in California with a lot of range tests and drills. I decided to test with a revolver because that's what I want to carry. I have a 2" smith 38+p Ti Lite, a very small, light hammerless that I want to pocket carry, but I tested with a S&W 19-2 4" for the sake of accuracy in the range test. If I qualify with a revolver, I can register any two revolvers I wish for the permit.

Out of 8 of us, I was the only revolver. There were M&P's, Glocks and Sigs. The "hot choice" semi auto here in CA is the Sig 365. There was a woman in the class with a purse holster and a Sig. She was one of the best shooters.

I wanted a CCW permit so I can occasionally carry or drive with a handgun when I feel it's necessary.

The point is, the trend is the CCW of choice are compact semi-autos, especially with the younger crowd. The compact, accurate, reliable semi's of today are excellent weapons. There is only a very small chance that a civilian will ever need to pull and use their concealed weapon. I prefer revolvers but I am in the minority, by a lot. If it came to that, I would rather have that 4" revolver than the 2" revolver, but lugging that thing around and trying to hide it - no thanks.

A leather pancake inside the waistband Holster lets you hide a 4 inch K frame pretty easily. I'm actually carrying my model 19 right now.

 

[Gun Relics]

This guy would say that revolvers take more skill: World Record

 

[Twobravo2]

Malkovich, it's a sometimes 3D printed part, sometimes made overseas. I don't want to get in trouble for explaining how it works here. A YouTube search for "gl;ock switch" should get you all of the answers you need. They are showing up here and there on turd's gun's, often gang members. BATFE puts out regular training about them to LE.

 

[njr]

I'm coming back to the states at some point and should be touring around in a Chevy Suburban for the winter and Spring. If my plan goes according to schedule I shouldn't be anywhere warmer than 69°.

I may be around bears though some of them large and brown so out in the boonies I'll probably carry a 1911.

Otherwise something in one of the smaller calibers should get the job done.

I'll probably carry a semi auto for the smaller calibers.

 

[Smoke]

(statistics show that most gun fights are over in 2 shots or less)

Which statistics?

 

[Smoke]

I don't know, those Canadians look mean to me,

I wanted a CCW permit so I can occasionally carry or drive with a handgun when I feel it's necessary.

True story bro, if the situation is so sleepy that you specifically feel the need to carry a gun, maybe stay home.

 

[Smoke]

I posted this the last time this topic came up. I've updated it in BOLD Those of you who remember him know that he has forgotten more about this topic than I will ever know

There was a Member who is no longer with us who used to post here frequently under the name 18DA1.

He claimed to have investigated over 200 homicides in his career and I don't have any reason whatsoever to doubt him.

One of the most common things I heard him say (or read him saying) was "You will run out of time before you run out of bullets". He said it over and over and over again. He said every time this discussion came up.

As stated previously, He investigated over 200 homicides and again no reason to doubt him. I may not get this exactly right but I'm pretty sure he said only one that he investigated went over 10 Rounds fired by all parties involved.

That one he said (Quoting the county Coroner)the victim was actually dead by the second shot and the guy that shot him stood over the corpse and emptied his magazine into it.

I've never been in a gun fight but I've witnessed four of them. Of the four none of them lasted longer than 30 seconds and I'm almost positive none of them went over 10 Rounds.

I predominantly carry a glock 19 and 2 reloads or Glock 26 and one reload depending on how I'm dressed. So 45 rounds or 27 rounds (12 round magazine in the 26 and a 15 round reload).

Since I moved it's a Glock 19 or M&P9

The only thing I'm "confident" of is that I'm going to run out of time before I run out of ammunition

 

[Mister Coffee]

One of the most common things I heard him say (or read him saying) was "You will run out of time before you run out of bullets". He said it over and over and over again. He said every time this discussion came up.

Since we're all stuck on the space-time continuum, I guess the only way to add more time is to add more space. "Look ahead," as they say in motor racing.

I'm not a gunfighter. Just thinking out loud here.

 

[PaulM&P]

I typically prefer revolvers as secondary/backup so I can quickly pass it over to my wife if needed. But sometimes I use one as primary as well.

 

[KenTheHunter]

Whatever you're comfortable and competent with. My only advice, other than that, is refrain from carrying different systems a lot; ie: DA/SA semi auto v striker fired.

 

[BarryinIN]

I typically prefer revolvers as secondary/backup so I can quickly pass it over to my wife if needed. But sometimes I use one as primary as well.

I follow that principle too.

 

[Rocketmedic40]

Just swapped my 1911 for a 686+…

 

[lrrifleman]

This is a lively discussion. I'm almost 68, and have been shooting handguns for a good 50 years. I can shoot both pistols and revolvers proficiently, but I am more proficient with a rifle.

However, I am also disabled and the world we live in isn't the world that we grew up in. I like revolvers, but I had an experience with a Model 27 that was a wakeup call. The extractor star separated from the ejector rod. Something I really wouldn't want to experience while fighting for my life, especially since I can't run.

Look at the Kyle Rittenhouse situation. Look how many rounds he fired, and note that the aggressors didn't stop and turn tail. Look at the paid agitator, how many are wearing body armor? I don't intentionally travel into dangerous areas, but when I'm traveling out-of-state, I don't always know where the danger spots are.

Since the coma that accompanied the accident that left me disabled, I've followed the philosophy of preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. I don't believe that anticipating multiple aggressors against a disabled person is a fantasy. I also train and prepare to launch 2 center of mass and 1 to the head in the event that I'm attacked.

Currently, I shoot USPSA, ShootSig, and GSSF matches, all using a variety of Glock, Sig and S&W semi-autos. I'm only looking to make it home at the end of the day, since I have a family to care for.

 

[Tabby Lynn]

^^this man has iron pants and hips of stone!

Don't need iron panties nor hips of stone to carry a 1911. All you need is a good holster and something that can camouflage said holster when you carry concealed. Did it for many years and never found it to be uncomfortable or an issue. Outside of Vietnam never had an occasion to have to use it other than competition. A friend of mine recently got a Gold Cup in 9mm, sweet. I just ordered a TISAS in 38 Super. Will be interesting to see how it performs.