Revolver vs. Semi Auto for CCW

[Long2guns]

My $0.02 worth - I have four specific firearms that I carry; one revolver (S&W642), one striker-fired compact (Shield .45) for normal day-to-day activity, with the 642 in a pocket holster of my shorts in the hot months.
As I do volunteer security at my church, it's an HK45 full-size DA/SA on the busiest day (Sunday mornings) or special events involving large crowds with either the 642 or Shield as backup. Smaller events/secondary days (Wednesday nights) it's either the Shield or a SIG P220 DA/SA, which I consider a mid-size gun.
The HK has an almost 5" long barrel (which I prefer), the SIG has right at 4 inches of pipe. It would not be unrealistic to have to take a shot at 20+ yards. I'm not doing that with a short barrel, I know my limitations and practice regularly. So, 3 out of 4 of my carry guns are large, heavy, .45ACP and one .38 Special.
I like the cooler weather better now (sick of sweating in this "air you can wear" humidity!) as it is way easier to conceal defensive armament.
A total of 30 years of law enforcement plus 5 years Regular Army has taught me the best laid plans turn to crap about 5 seconds into battle. What-if's are good to keep you mentally sharp but as stated already, no one can prepare for every possible scenario.

 

[majick47]

It boils down to animal instincts. The criminal predators hunt the weak. injured and elderly. Confronted by anyone capable of resisting they usually turn and run. Self-confidence, common sense and minimally equipped you will have the upper hand. They will sense "don't bleep with me".

 

[Fast Glass]

There is no question a semi auto is superior. It's not a debate.

I know I carry an inferior gun. But reality is where I live is so safe I can have 15k of photography equipment in my truck unlocked at home or at my workplace. Lawn mowing equipment in the bed of my truck. And nothing gets stolen. The reality for me is I'll probably never have to pull it out in self defense much less worry about round count or reloading speed of a semi auto. And I avoid confrontation like the plague.

 

[M1A4ME]

This is like a caliber debate.

Never ending, never changing anyone's mind.

Seems like I read a Skeeter Skelton column 40 years ago where he said something like, "This subject generates more heat than light."

I like my old S&W revolvers. I like my Speed Six. I haven't carried any of them in 40 years. Haven't shot one or two of them in that time.

Averages? Normal? Usual? I don't carry for any of those. Just like I don't carry a spare tire, jack, and lug wrench in the truck because I usually have flat tires.

 

[Doug M.]

Carry what you are most capable of shooting well, and that you always have. If you ever go anywhere unarmed where legal (my only exception that matters is if I am having a medical procedure that requires medication that can impact my alertness/judgment), pay someone to scream at you like R. Lee Ermey until you un"screw" your thought process.

 

[Rocketmedic40]

I do have one massive advantage for wheel guns: public perception.

If I'm walking around with a black plastic pistol, particularly in a situation where someone has been shooting, I'm a bit more likely to be seen as a problem, not a bystander. Random people might not know the difference, but someone responding might…and if that shiny steel helps differentiate Me from Him with an AR pistol and bad intentions I'm all-in OK with that. "The scary guy with a machine gun!" Ain't the young dude dressed like Pop with a wheelgun at the low ready.

This goes extra for places with silly prosecutors- it's harder to argue a revolver as an assault weapon than it is to argue that a standard capacity semi automatic is not. Once again, a fractional difference, but one that might matter.

 

[Harv 24]

I always hear and read that advice..."Carry what you shoot well/best"
I don't think the majority of Snubby carries are doing that, There carrying for convenience and then justifying it with "Better then a sharp stick" or the all too popular " I 'm in a safe part of town and I'm not out at night".

Pretty sure the Catholic school shooting happened in the middle of the day in a nice neighborhood.

 

[smithman 10]

I always hear and read that advice..."Carry what you shoot well/best"
I don't think the majority of Snubby carries are doing that, There carrying for convenience and then justifying it with "Better then a sharp stick" or the all too popular " I 'm in a safe part of town and I'm not out at night".

Pretty sure the Catholic school shooting happened in the middle of the day in a nice neighborhood.

Do we know if any of the staff or attendees at the Mass were armed? If so, would they have been able to stop the shooter? Whether pistol, revolver or long gun?

The synagogue I pass each night when I walk my dog (carrying a J-frame I might add) has a sign that indicates that all weapons must be approved by the defense committee. Obviously they have a plan to respond to an attack. Seems to me that every church and school needs one.

 

[Dave686]

There is nothing worse than a trainer that figured out last year which end of the barrel the bullet comes out. Unless of course it's someone telling you what its like to be in a shooting and they have bever been in a shooting.

I was a cop when we still carried revolvers. I have been out of it for decades. I occasionally carry a J-Frame when I am willing to give up round count for concealability. My revolvers that I carried as a cop are my favorite handguns to shoot, but they are now range toys. Most of the time I'm carrying a Shield, or a M&P Compact or a Full Size M&P, all in .40S&W.

I have been in shootings. I have been in a fight for control of my revolver, and I know of a State Trooper that is alive today because of a magazine disconnect on a semi-auto. I assume that is what's being referred to as a "California Gun" in #3 of the first post.

Many things are greatly debated like Caliber choices, Firearms types, Firearms manufacturers, Safeties, Magazine disconnects, Hammer/Hammerless, frame materials, dry firing, and the list goes on and on.

It's a big reason these forums and YouTube is so popular. People can seek out information and see what makes sense to them at what does not.

Most cities of any size have paid training available. Many areas have local gun forums that might help with reviews. Start with basics and try to choose wisely.

In addition to hands on structured training, shooting in local matches is a great resource. You may find fellow shooters that are more qualified to help you than what you are paying big bucks for.

Another thing is always running through scenarios in your head. For example, you are in the store and this happens or that happens, what do you do.

And most important…. Know the laws for the use of deadly force wherever you carry. As cops, we had any questions we had on the use of deadly force answered by our States Attorney. They were who was deciding what would be charged and what would not. You should see if your States Attorney, District Attorney, etc. would be willing to have a group get together for a seminar. I don't think most firearms trainers are qualified to teach the use of deadly force, but its done in every carry class there is.

So which is better for you, a revolver or a semi-auto? Now you have the answer… it depends on you, your abilities, your training, and your carry situation, no one here can answer that.

 

[Smeckler]

Cite please?

https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics

Defensive Gun Use in the US

Explore defensive gun use statistics and understand how firearms play a role in self-defense across the United States.

www.2afirearmsacademy.com

The Average Gunfight: How Many Rounds, What Distance, and How Fast?

Discover what real-world gunfights look like: how many rounds are fired, at what distance, and how long they last. Based on FBI and self-defense data. Train smarter.

concealedcarryclassdenver.com

https://thetacticalprofessor.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/tac-5-year-w-tables.pdf

Average Number Of Shots Fired In Self Defense For A Civilian

For those who think it's easier to annoy you than to Google 'Average number of shots fired in self defense for a civilian' themselves.

letmegooglethat.com

 

[nll401]

Do we know if any of the staff or attendees at the Mass were armed? If so, would they have been able to stop the shooter? Whether pistol, revolver or long gun?

The synagogue I pass each night when I walk my dog (carrying a J-frame I might add) has a sign that indicates that all weapons must be approved by the defense committee. Obviously they have a plan to respond to an attack. Seems to me that every church and school needs one.

It was morning Mass at a Catholic school - this was a daily activity. Virtually all children inside. The shooter used an AR-style rifle but also had a shotgun and pistol. The shooter was shooting through a window from the outside. Any meaningful response would have had to come from outside the building.

 

[crasig]

No one disputes that revolvers (as a rule) ARE MOST RELIABLE. Until I found semi-auto self loaders, that I could trust, with
higher round counts, that were more comfortable to carry - did I finally change my mind. I have revolvers I leave home now.
Comfort, Conceal-ability, followed by performance, & caliber came next, 9x18 works fine. I will not own a plastic handgun.
Very satisfied with my Accurate, supremely Reliable MAKAROVs - that like hollow points. I have made improvements to both, and they are MY favorites.. I'm Old - set in my ways - & know what I'm doing. NOT telling anyone else what to do.

 

[hike]

These are just my opinions on something that was actually rather hard for me. You believe something to be true, and after decades I think I may have been wrong. I am an honorably retired police officer, and I am now a professional CCW trainer for a major sheriff's department. Which means I'm still learning to shoot...

While I was still a cop I carried a S&W 342 M&P .38spl off duty in a fanny pack. Just before I retired in 2022, I bought a Glock 43X. I had it cut and milled at the Glock Store in Nashville and had them put on an EPS Carry red dot. I have trained with it for hundreds of hours and became really good with it. I love this gun!
In my classes I teach that many of the civilian assaults happen when you are isolated and most vulnerable. Many don't know they're under attack until they have already been shot, stabbed or hit with a high probability of more than one assailant. If you reach for your weapon, the bad guy(s) may see this, intensify their attack, and try to take the gun from you. At this point there are many things that can go wrong with your pistol. Assuming you are right handed, you are using your left hand to defend yourself until your weapon joins the party, here are seven things that could go wrong:
1. Ammo failure, you now need two hands to clear the malfunction. You can do this with one hand, but you need to train a lot to become unconscious competent.
2. Bad guy grabs you gun and purposely takes it off battery.
3. Bad guy then runs his finger along the trigger guard and drops your magazine. If this is a California gun, you are in big trouble.
4. Bad guy puts on the safety during the struggle,
5. Bad guy grabs the muzzle of your gun and uses it as a lever to either turn it inwardly towards you and you get shot with your own gun, or turns it outwardly and peels it out of you hand.
6. Bad guy holds your arm so that if you get a shot off, you end up limp-wristing and causes a double feed malfunction.
7. Bad guys shoves your gun in a position where if you get a shot off, the slide hits you or something else disrupting the cycle of operation, causing a double feed.

All these vulnerabilities can be eliminated by using a snub nose revolver. The only downside is 5-6 rounds. As my police academy range instructor, Mr. Mumford used to say, "You got what you got, you know what you know. If you go into a gun fight with only three rounds in your magazine, you better make them count!"

For now anyway, my Glock sits in the safe, and my J-frame goes with me everywhere I go, again.

Thoughts?

Many of your 7 "things" are applicable to a revolver as well as a pistol. You shouldn't have included those to condemn pistols.

 

[BE FAST]

Dear hike,
Please list how the seven issues with pistols are also true for CCW revolvers.
Thank you.

 

[eagle1944]

I carry two guns as well, but I'm not as cool as @Riposte1. My primary is a 2.5" 686-6, but my secondary is just a Beretta 21A in .25 ACP. I carry a reload for my 686, but have the 21A just in case I need something preferable to a sharp stick rather quickly. I carry the 686 appendix in a custom IWB holster I had a local saddle maker make for me. I carry the 21A in leather pocket holster in my right front pocket. I use Buffalo Bore ammunition for both, their low muzzle flash 158gr .357 Magnum load and their 70gr .25 ACP load. My reload for the 686 is in a DeSantis 2x2x2, and I carry no reload for the mouse gun

Great share. What a coincidence.

I have a DeSantis "Roscoe" cross draw OWB holster, stoked with Winchester .38 Special +P 130 grain JHP but I am packing the Kimber K6xs a six shooter.

I returned the Roscoe to Amazon. The sharp rear edge of the 642's cylinder "eats" into the leather upon drawing. I don't see how breaking in will totally rectify the issue. Went with a Bianchi model 111 OWB Cyclone. Has a retention thumb snap but I can deal with that. Very well made, more substantial than the Roscoe.

 

[eagle1944]

Thoughts...

I carry a gun for one reason, as insurance for a day I hope never happens. And because I am not going to be at the mercy of some one else. I practice and stay proficient because I know, if that day happens, I'm on my own, no one is coming to save me. And I want the best possible advantage I can have, with a gun that I can fight and win with. A gun with enough power and capacity.


That gun is not a snub nosed .38. This is 2025. There are better choices.

I agree. My new S&W 642 will be my anti-carjacking tool in an OWB cross draw and speed loader in pocket. Strong side at 3:00 a G43 with extra mag. Yeah, carrying two "heaters." It's okay to call me paranoid.

 

[eagle1944]

Respect your opinion. But what if the bad guy grabs your cylinder?

 

[eagle1944]

BE FAST TOP THREE RULES
1. The only way to win a gunfight...is not to be there.
2. Movement is your friend.
3. Distance is your friend.

I am not advocating to sell your pistols and buy a snubby. I am merely saying you should not have a false sense of security thinking a pistol is the end-all-to-be-all. It has some major vulnerabilities against an assailant who has been trained in the bad guy academy (prison). Know these areas and TRAIN to prevent a bad guy from exploiting them. The best way to do this is to remember BE FAST Rule#1. Become a situational awareness expert.

You nailed it!

 

[rwsmith]

These are just my opinions on something that was actually rather hard for me. You believe something to be true, and after decades I think I may have been wrong. I am an honorably retired police officer, and I am now a professional CCW trainer for a major sheriff's department. Which means I'm still learning to shoot...

While I was still a cop I carried a S&W 342 M&P .38spl off duty in a fanny pack. Just before I retired in 2022, I bought a Glock 43X. I had it cut and milled at the Glock Store in Nashville and had them put on an EPS Carry red dot. I have trained with it for hundreds of hours and became really good with it. I love this gun!
In my classes I teach that many of the civilian assaults happen when you are isolated and most vulnerable. Many don't know they're under attack until they have already been shot, stabbed or hit with a high probability of more than one assailant. If you reach for your weapon, the bad guy(s) may see this, intensify their attack, and try to take the gun from you. At this point there are many things that can go wrong with your pistol. Assuming you are right handed, you are using your left hand to defend yourself until your weapon joins the party, here are seven things that could go wrong:
1. Ammo failure, you now need two hands to clear the malfunction. You can do this with one hand, but you need to train a lot to become unconscious competent.
2. Bad guy grabs you gun and purposely takes it off battery.
3. Bad guy then runs his finger along the trigger guard and drops your magazine. If this is a California gun, you are in big trouble.
4. Bad guy puts on the safety during the struggle,
5. Bad guy grabs the muzzle of your gun and uses it as a lever to either turn it inwardly towards you and you get shot with your own gun, or turns it outwardly and peels it out of you hand.
6. Bad guy holds your arm so that if you get a shot off, you end up limp-wristing and causes a double feed malfunction.
7. Bad guys shoves your gun in a position where if you get a shot off, the slide hits you or something else disrupting the cycle of operation, causing a double feed.

All these vulnerabilities can be eliminated by using a snub nose revolver. The only downside is 5-6 rounds. As my police academy range instructor, Mr. Mumford used to say, "You got what you got, you know what you know. If you go into a gun fight with only three rounds in your magazine, you better make them count!"

For now anyway, my Glock sits in the safe, and my J-frame goes with me everywhere I go, again.

Thoughts?

You shoot BEFORE they grab your gun and do all that stuff. You could just as easily end up in a fight over the gun with a snub nosed revolver if you let them grab it.

No weapon is a sure thing. The idea is to give yourself a fighting chance. Training for different situations like those you describe should be part of the package.