Revolvers making a "come back"

[skwchock]

I guess the thrill of semi-autos is waning. I have noticed in ALL the gun magazines that they are writing about the "benefits/advantages" of a revolver, esp. the .38 Special. The latest mags are praising the penetration/stopping power of the .38 Special..its ease of carry, its "point & shoot" with moderate recoil. And its popularity with the "older,mature" citizens who may have difficulty "racking the slide" on a semi-auto. I find it interesting. I have always loved the feel, look and effectiveness of my .38 Special and am glad that others are now rediscovering this, too.

 

[rkittine]

I own lots of both Semi-Autos and Revolvers. (And a number of single shots). For fun, I prefer revolvers and it is much easier to keep track of your brass.

Bob

 

[TTSH]

Despite my enduring love of all-metal S&W semi-autos, I will admit that I get a special thrill and almost giddy sense of happiness out of scoring a really nice condition vintage (pre-IL/pre-MIM) S&W revolver. I've been pretty fortunate lately in that regard, but they keep getting harder and harder to find in the high condition that I desire. I lost one just yesterday on GB, but not due to being over-bid. I lost it because shops in MA are closed down tight by our anti-2A AG lady so no way to take a timely delivery.

For now it's local F-T-F sales only or Fuggedaboutit.

 

[Jeppo]

I dedicated all of 2019 to a 66–1. I reckoned that shooting only DA might improve my trigger discipline.

Not sure it did any good but it sure was fun.

 

[malph]

Despite my enduring love of all-metal S&W semi-autos, I will admit that I get a special thrill and almost giddy sense of happiness out of scoring a really nice condition vintage (pre-IL/pre-MIM) S&W revolver. I've been pretty fortunate lately in that regard, but they keep getting harder and harder to find in the high condition that I desire. I lost one just yesterday on GB, but not due to being over-bid. I lost it because shops in MA are closed down tight by our anti-2A AG lady so no way to take a timely delivery.

For now it's local F-T-F sales only or Fuggedaboutit.

I'm with you on that. For pure enjoyment, there is a special place in my heart for the revolver.

I'm glad some of the new generation of shooters is catching on.

 

[NYlakesider]

You just cannot have the class and pleasure of a revolver with a bottom feeder.

Now I have plenty of semi autos even one made of Tupperware so send the ''Hate mail"

 

[sparkyvega]

I'm on a revolver kick myself, reexperiencing them all over again. I did it because I wanted to shoot much larger calibers in a price range that wouldn't break the bank...oh, and I'm getting tired of chasing down my brass.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

My primary carry guns are a 1963 two inch round butt S&W Model 12-2 with a Tyler T-Grip loaded with standard pressure Winchester "Defend" .38 Special 130 grain hollow points and a 1976 four inch square butt S&W Model 65-1 with a BK Grip adapter.loaded with Speer "Short Barrel" .357 Magnum 135 grain hollow points. These are what I carried when I retired in August 2018. They served me then and serve me now.

I gave my blued 1982 three inch round butt S&W Model 13-3 to my son-in-law.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[cremaley]

I totally agree. That's why my stimulus purchase was a S&W 327 2" revolver. Plan on using it in my carry rotation along with my Sig P365SAS.

 

[rockquarry]

I doubt revolver shooting is increasing to a degree that could be termed anywhere close to a "comeback". Most younger shooters have no experience with revolvers and aren't likely to develop a yearning for them.
I base this on the frequent weekday trips I've been making to a private gun club range for the last ten years or so. I don't recall the last time I saw a revolver shooter. From cursory glances, I would guess that most shooters use striker polymer-frame guns and shoot up very close, from three yards to fifteen. Very seldom will one of these persons shoot on the twenty-five yard range. Maybe the revolver shooters come out on weekends when I'm not there.

As for gun articles on the .38 Special, there are (like Jack O'Connor said) only about a dozen topics one can write about when it comes to guns. Everything else is pretty much a spinoff variation of one of the twelve.

Just when someone thinks there cannot possibly be room for another 9mm handgun, a new one appears and people read about it and buy it even if it offers virtually nothing (or even less) over similar guns that have long been in production. Sort of like the 1200 (that figure is probably no longer accurate) commercial hot sauces and salsas that are made in Texas, there has always been room for one more - maybe, until now.

Nothing wrong with the .38 Special; I'd much rather read about it than another 9mm gun or ammo creation.

 

[lawandorder]

The innards of my gun safe tells me they never left. Except for a few Hi Powers it's very round in there.

 

[gnystrom]

I have been alive a long time and I have witnessed a revolver comeback off and on for the last 60 years. I believe their current popularity stems from the fact 99% of them are all metal. Polymer guns do not have a soul.
The next generation "comeback" will be when people recognize the fact the revolver and the shotgun will be the last two standing in the attacks from the gun grabbing politicians.

 

[rockquarry]

I have been alive a long time and I have witnessed a revolver comeback off and on for the last 60 years. I believe their current popularity stems from the fact 99% of them are all metal. Polymer guns do not have a soul.
The next generation "comeback" will be when people recognize the fact the revolver and the shotgun will be the last two standing in the attacks from the gun grabbing politicians.

"Polymer guns do not have a soul" is a pretty good description. I've never had one, maybe because they're a bit too basic. I'll bet they work well as a "basic" tool, however, sort of like a hammer or a screwdriver.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Most younger shooters wouldn't touch a magazine, only electronic communication interests them. Magazines and the revolver talk and ads in them are for us. Polymer guns have a "soul" if you spend as much time connecting with them. I only have an S&W M&P9 1.0000 so far, but it is a great pistol. If I stay ambulatory, I may get a Glock 17 and M&P45 2.0 when I grow up. I agree they do not evoke memories of our youth, so if that is that soul is, or for any number of reasons, I may be wrong. I recently shot at a buddy's step son's gun club and of the two dozen or so young folks there, there was not a metal handgun or revolver in sight but mine. I was asked about my antiques. I suspect that we proud few are the last large group of revolver devotees. Revolvers are great, but shooting S&W semiauto's is no less fun. There are few bad days at the range. It's all good. Looking forward to getting back to the range.

 

[Jessie]

I like em' all. The classic build of a good revolver, the same with a ,usually, all metal semi-auto and the utility and capacity of the newer " plastic" choices.
I'm like that with boats also. I like sail and power boats.
I've found that to be rare. It's usually one or the other.
I think the number of new wheel guns and their increased capacity have spurred the recent interest.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I think there's been an upswing in the popularity of the revolver for the past few years, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to identify it as a "comeback."

S&W and Ruger have been coming out with new models or variations (Ruger probably moreso than S&W), aside from their 642/442/640 and LCR, respectively, models being popular. Colt has been bringing back some of their revolvers. Kimber has been having success with their revolvers. I think RIA has a revolver or two out, as well.

At the same time, I'd imagine that semi-auto sales, especially polymer guns, far outpace revolver sales. I don't have the numbers, so I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Just my opinion.

 

[BongoBoy]

I share many of the viewpoints already mentioned. I don't hunt, don't compete and gave up IDPA shooting quite a good while ago. I do carry, so that's the only 'practical' aspect of handguns for me--everything else is pure enjoyment of pulling a trigger. Mastering a revolver to shoot it as a carry gun isn't going to ever happen for me, but as a range gun, few things are more enjoyable for me now.

There's something about revolvers in general I find so goofy-primitive and obsolete in very concept, I wonder why I'd own one. But I own three and when they go bang, I know why I own them and love them. The mass, low capacity, gas leakage and precision mechanics all seem to disappear as anachronism, and reappear as art form--demanding a certain genuine appreciation and respect.

I enjoy sitting by the fireplace admiring my 629 and buffing it a bit, feeling it click shut and rotate into place--with the same satisfaction that some might get from opening and closing a Browning Citori. I really can't do that much with my M&Ps. Not a piece of cast plastic or a stamping to be found. A heft and density that, in the world of firearms and by itself, at one time conveyed a sense of quality machined workmanship.

I keep saying "I now have the last revolver I need to buy", but I know that can't be true, as there's no 454 Casull to be found anywhere in the house. So, just one more, then I'm done with the whole wheelgun phase.

 

[Kid Shileen]

What was old is new again. My interest in revolvers is returning. Currently on the hunt for a Smith model 25.

 

[Imissedagain]

^^^
Get a 460!

 

[mikerjf]

Ya know, I took that Glock apart, and I'll be d***ed... there's metal in it! A lot!!!