Revolvers making a "come back"

[UncleEd]

Call me a dinosaur if you will - but I'd consider myself pretty well armed with this one unless I was facing a herd of stampeding elephants...

John

I happen to have two friends in Arizona, Jim Daniels
and Jack Beam, and they've both reported seeing
elephants on Friday and Saturday nights.

So you'd better be careful!

 

[PALADIN85020]

"Semis" are those long lines of tractor-trailer rigs climbing Elk
Mountain on I-80 in southern Wyoming.

Yeah, we have those in Arizona, too. This lineup of backed up semis was on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson; the holdup was a whale of a pileup ahead - police, medical choppers, overturned cars, etc. There was nothing I could do about it, and the delay was for several hours until they evacuated the dead and injured and cleared the debris. This lineup stretched for several miles; couldn't see the end of it.

That's Picacho Peak in the background. The only Civil War battle in Arizona was fought near it.

John

 

[Drm50]

I own one semi auto keeper, a Hi Power ( not counting 22s ), one Colt NS and three Ruger SAs. the rest all S&W DA revolvers.

 

[American1776]

All of these brand new pocket sized autos that hold a big basket of bullets are cool, but there's nothing like a 5 shot .357 magnum in your pocket ready to do business, and you know it's going to go bang every time.

 

[eazyrhino]

I've been doing my part since 1984 promoting revolvers everyday when I bought my first S&W model 36. Love 38.spl. Best cal. ever in my opinion. It's served many law enforcement, military and civilians well for over a century. That being said, I've bought my fair share of many different cal. semi-automatics and revolvers over this period of time. Yet I find myself coming full circle back to revolvers and my beloved 38spl.revolvers. S&W only mind you. Snub nose j frame revolvers are my favorite. I've used my mod. 36 for camping, hiking, ccw and have always felt most confident. Full circle Baby Full circle. My current revolvers are as follows two mod.36s a mod.442 no lock mod.40 mod.10-10 2"bbl. mod.586 22 cal 4" bbl. mod.29 4"bbl. Oh yeah did I mention I love blued guns and all where purchased new I've never bought a used gun.

 

[Oldfrt]

As a relatively new shooter, 5 years ago I didn't own a gun, now between me and the wife we have a pretty sizable collection. She likes the semi's because she likes to pop off a bunch of rounds without having to reload, but she still uses the couple of revolvers when the magazines are empty (I load them at home for her). I like the slow fire rate of a revolver and bolt action rifle, I did get a ruger 9mm a few months ago and after finding I can't load the dang magazines without the tool I handed it over to my son and said enjoy. If I can't load it on the fly without tools I don't want to depend on it. If I am going somewhere where the capacity of a semi would be desired I guess the 460V with the black mamba holster and gun belt holding 25 rounds will have to do, if nothing else the first 460 will make everybody deaf so I can run away.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

The classic S&W revolvers will become increasingly collectible; they are superb examples of 20th Century American craftsmanship.

 

[stmry]

Revolvers..........Always a "turn" for the better.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I wonder if more people would like revolvers more if they had a better DA trigger pull?

 

[357 shooter]

The articles, I think, are attempting to promote revolver shooting amongst younger and newer shooters.

For the older heads, we do not need to be convinced.

There is a whole generation of shooters now that have no real experience with revolvers.

They think the Glock has a great trigger.

It's those folks that the article is attempting to sell revolvers to.

I must give credit where credit is due. Was shooting my Glock 34 a few weeks back and despite the trigger pull it is a respectably accurate auto pistol.

BUT, right afterwards I switched to my 586-4 and fired the best ever 25 yard group with it. After trying to manage the Glock trigger the Smith was like a trigger that operated on my thought waves!

The next two guns up - a Ruger 22/45 and Smith 617-1 - same thing , best ever 25 yards groups with them!

But I have to also say I am usually the only person at the range ever firing a revolver. Once in a while near hunting season might see someone with a hunting revolver.

But the 7 yard line is the most used pistol distance at the two ranges I belong to and mostly plastic framed autos.

 

[Donn]

Not sure they're making a comeback as much as they're what's available since the lockdown and the new buyer phenom that's come along with it. My LGS still has a generous supply of wheelguns, as well as a limited quantity of 38spl and 357mag ammo on hand. The auto loaders and AR's disappeared last Spring as did 9mm, 40 S&W, 45acp, and 5.56 ammo. As others have mentioned, I too have a soft spot for revolvers. They outnumber automatics in my safe. That said, I still believe any rekindling of interest is due to the times. If new shooters had any choice in the matter, they'd opt for a Glock 19 or an M&P. My $0.02 you understand.

 

[NavySCPO]

Revolver Comeback?

I imagine in this day and time, it would be incredibly difficult if not impossible to define a trend in firearm sales. People are buying firearms in record numbers, and I suspect if they can't find what they intended to buy, are buying whatever is available.

I love all my revolvers, and enjoy shooting them all. But in the current reality, where my vehicle or my person could be surrounded by rioting thugs, I want every advantage I can get. From what I've read through the years, citizen involved shootings are normally (?) resolved with 3-5 rounds. So a good revolver with a speed-loader or 2 should be enough...if things were normal, they certainly are not.

Today, I'll keep my Glock 43x with 3 extra magazines close at hand.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Putting 6 shots into one hole with a Victory 38sw never gets old.
Then again, I still think wadcutters are a carry round.

 

[kreuzlover]

I am a handgun hunter. I have been since '65, in the last century. If you are going to hunt big game, it's probably a revolver you want to be carrying. You have 5 to 6 shots to deal with your quarry. Plus all the big powerful calibers are mostly chambered in revolvers. Sure, you can get a Desert Eagle ( I have one, in .50Ae ) or a Wildey, which are hard to find, much less finding the ammo for one. The bolt action single shots can be chambered in big calibers, but what if you need a quick second, or even third shot? No, all my go-to big game handguns are revolvers, except for my Desert Eagle, which is my hog gun.

 

[OLDSTER]

I've always been a fan of good S&W revolvers, particularly those of a number of years back that were lovingly and finely finished at the factory.

These revolvers WORK. They go BANG when you pull the trigger as reliably as anything mechanical can achieve. Retrieving your expended brass does not involve hunting around in the grass to find it. It can be left loaded indefinitely with no spring fatigue, and will be ready to serve you when you pick it up - no safeties or any other gadgets to worry about.

As a matter of fact my last purchase was a K-frame .38 special. Most people looking at it would probably say it looks like new. It's not new. It's almost exactly my age - made in 1939.

Call me a dinosaur if you will - but I'd consider myself pretty well armed with this one unless I was facing a herd of stampeding elephants...

John

Couldn't be said better. I certainly agree. My 1947 factory nickel M&P sort of says it all.

 

[heeter3]

I love them.Thats all that I own and I own 11. My last semi auto a beretta was given to one of my fellow officers when I retired.I dont miss the semi autos and love shooting my .38s.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

I guess I am one of those "old guys" that like the look, feel of an all metal revolver. To me, they are works of art. They look great. The precision of the workmanship makes them stand out from all the semi-autos that are mass produced. The disadvantage is the weight, it is really hard to CCW with a 2 lb weight handing on your belt -- and it is hard to conceal as they "print" through your clothing.

I carry a 5" 629 "Classic" (full underlug) 44mag from pajamas-off until pajamas-on, every day. In a homemade under-the-shirt cloth vertical shoulder holster. Very comfortable and well-concealed. And I'm not a big guy: about 130 lbs and 5'9". Stoked with 240gr full-spec Underwood JHP's. I can comfortably shoot those for a whole range session, because I use a very relaxed grip with flexed and relaxed elbows ... the recoil gets soaked up by the mass of my forearms, and never reaches my eyes, neck, or brain-box. I shoot strictly single action, cocking the hammer with my weak thumb ... doesn't really add significant time between shots, because of the very high (vertical) muzzle rise due to my relaxed grip: I just cock it on the way back down.

 

[vintage40s]

... I shoot strictly single action, cocking the hammer with my weak thumb...

With my DA-only 642-2 Lightweight, I sort of shoot single action. I pull the trigger until my senses tell me I am into single action:
1. The trigger finger touches the end of the thumb.
2. I hear and feel the faint click at the end of the cylinder revolvement.
Then I final aim and fire.
This is my first gun which I bought on July 27. This forum has been an education.

 

[UncleEd]

Vintage40s,

Hopefully down the road you'll get something
like a K-frame .38 and try just pure double
action shooting, no staging or stops or
hesitations.

With a bit of practice you'll find you don't need
to stage a trigger---just a straight even and
smooth pull through--and you'll be on target.

In fact, try it sometimes with the J-frame; again
with a little practice you might be surprised at
how well you do.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

I like the lightest possible SA trigger I can get. To that end, I put in an 11 lb rebound spring, that gives me about a 3 lb trigger. It feels even lighter than that. My previous EDC was my 10mm 1911, with a 2-1/4lb trigger. For some unknown reason, my 3 lb 629 trigger FEELS even lighter than the 2-1/4 lb trigger on the 1911. Also for unknown reasons, I shoot my 929 more accurately than I shoot my 1911.

 

[ContinentalOp]

With my DA-only 642-2 Lightweight, I sort of shoot single action. I pull the trigger until my senses tell me I am into single action:
1. The trigger finger touches the end of the thumb.
2. I hear and feel the faint click at the end of the cylinder revolvement.
Then I final aim and fire.
This is my first gun which I bought on July 27. This forum has been an education.

I would highly recommend you learn how to properly shoot a DA trigger, with a straight-through pull, especially with a defensive-oriented gun like the 642. You likely won't get the chance to stage your trigger in a defensive encounter, so it's better to learn how to pull the trigger straight-through before you need to (and hopefully you'll never need to).

Get some snap caps (if you don't have them already), and spend a few minutes a day dry-firing. The key is to pull the trigger as quickly as you can while also pulling smoothly and steadily (no starts and stops, no hesitations). Start slow, focusing on smooth and steady, then as you get the hang of it increase the speed. Pulling the trigger faster, while maintaining smoothness and steadiness, will disturb the sights less than pulling slowly and/or with hesitations. Also, it's perfectly acceptable to let your finger slide across the trigger face as you pull, so long as you pull the trigger straight back.

Paying attention to the trigger return/reset is also important. Ideally, your trigger pull and reset will be at the same speed. With time, you can develop a smooth rhythm when firing quickly that will help keep your shots on target.

It takes some practice, but once you do I think you'll find you'll be able to get more of a surprise break with a straight-through pull, which will help you shoot accurately. I used to stage my trigger like you, but once I got the hang of DA shooting I found that a straight-through pull helped me be more accurate more consistently.

Just my opinion.

 

[Red Tex]

Yep...

Smith and Wesson k-frame revolvers are my soft spot when it comes to handguns. Oh, I love my Colt 1911s, don't get me wrong. And I have a few other semiautos as well.

But put a k-frame in my hand and I'm a happy shooter.

Did I mention that my EDC carry is a 642?

So, are revolvers making a comeback?

I'd like to think that's true, but I seriously doubt it. They're maybe holding their ground and will be viable into the foreseeable future. But it's clear that tupperware semiautos are front and center these days.

 

[cerescorubi]

I love revolvers and have several. I also have some semi automatic pistols. I wonder if the increase in sales has more to do with pricing and perceived quality. Smith& Wesson has had a problem competing price wise with semi automatics like Glocks or their clones. It is simply cheaper to ingect plastic than machine steel. Current Revolvers are as much as double the cost of a new Smith and worse with the more desireable older models. It has also been about 20 years since the hole appeared and many believe this as a major quality fault. I have bought about a dozen Smith & Wessons in that time. Recently I bought a pair of 642's that eliminated the hole and the rest including a couple of expensive Mountain guns that were older pre hole models. When you think about it is a wonder they do so well.

 

[Arkfarmer]

Serial number date look-up

Hello Fokes, I'm an old farmer from Arkansas. Another fellow shooter from the Accurate Shooter board directed me over here, been on that board forever as Farmerjohn and you can check my history over there. shoot mostly 600&1000yd IBS, old bullseye pistol shooter, still got all my pistols but my eyes are gone. Can still kill an old doe with my Mod 57 but they got to be under a 100 yds anymore. Anyway I have a few S&W revolvers, try and pickup any that I run across that have the firing pin on the hammer. Got hold of on last that I can't figure out what model it is and a gentleman on the other site sent me over here, it's got a K on the butt and the serial# is 273362, just wondering when it was made,
thanks John

 

[bulletslap]

My Grandson and his contemporaries look at a Revolver like my Dad's generation looked at flintlocks

The Grandson is warming up to Revs, hey at least his carry piece is a 3914.

 

[cone2245]

I'm a 24 year old shooter. And revolvers definitely outnumber semi autos in my large collection. I started collecting milsurp in high school and my first handgun was a British Enfield revolver. Hated shooting it and still do. But not as much as my Nagant. I started buying older Model 10's and caught the bug bad. The revolvers are just so much more fun to plink with. I carry a Model 19-9 from the Classic line on the ranch and my most recent purchase was a 586. Bought that as a pre-election investment. Ive had buddies offer to buy it but after shooting it, I cannot justify parting ways. I've taken a lot of friends and the Europeans from my grad program shooting pretty often and they love shooting the revolvers. They might not shoot well with them, but they enjoy the revolvers. I think us younger folks are seeing the revolvers as fun range pieces but will open up to them as carry pieces.

 

[RayRay7]

I'm in my mid-thirties and I too have a safe where the revolvers outnumber the autos my a good margin.

Having been in one of the local shops a lot these last few months; even the revolvers were taking off from the shelves. Not sure if it was due to the availability factor, but I saw a good handful of people ask for revolvers. That being said, the last few buddies that I've taken to the range during 2020 (all but one new to firearms) all ended up with an auto...and a Beretta O/U but that's another story.

As for me, while I'll appreciate much any firearm, I grew up attracted to target/field shotguns, revolvers, single shots, lever guns and nice wood n steel over most other things.

 

[Rich427]

I'm way more of a revolver enthusiast than automatics but most of my revolvers are large frame. Not the easiest for carry. I like my S&W 469 9mm for carry.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

I'm way more of a revolver enthusiast than automatics but most of my revolvers are large frame. Not the easiest for carry.

It can be done. My EDC is a 5" Classic (full-underlug) 629 .44mag, carried in a homemade under-the-shirt vertical cloth shoulder holster, from pajamas-off until pajamas-on, every day. Very comfortable and well-concealed.

 

[1sg]

My kickin' in door days are long behind me when Ammo superiority was paramount, hence the preference for semi's. In the civvy world, my preference for EDC is the old reliable revolver...