Revolvers making a "come back"

[Rushing1]

On duty, I always carried metal pistols: German Sig 220, Cz Rami, and S&W 642. ( all 3 at the same time)

Reliability first, my accuracy with it, and it's stopping power.


Revolvers are life savers. One can depend on one.

I have lots of plastic autos. Those are nice too: the Glock remains in the car: and gets most abuse.

In my area, the most revolvers are seen in Pawn Shops. I browse them often. Saw an unfired Python 6 inch couple of days ago: $2,400.
It is the heartbreaking time of having to sell heirlooms.

Just purchased a S&W 29: times have changed----new carjackers are more savvy: many wear armored vests. Small calibers are of minimal effect, but a crossdraw 44 with a magnum load will crush the chest. ( special circumstances warrant specialized tools)

The Lake Poet, William Wordsworth understood, wisely, that,

"Into our own hands,
Our safety lies"

And a revolver will always have a place

 

[jcs266]

I suppose that's an individual thing. I do believe most people can probably carry and conceal a larger gun than they think they can, though it typically does require a bit more committment and forethought regarding clothing and carry gear.

I used to routinely carry a 3" 65 in an IWB holster under an untucked shirt for 12+ hours/day, even in hot, muggy summer weather. It was well-concealed and comfortable, but I used a good quality holster and a good, double-layer gun belt to support it all.

Of course, not everybody is willing and/or able to do so, and that's all right. That's why J-frames were invented.

My 3" 686+ is with me 12+ hrs a day and everywhere I go. With proper wardrobe and belt/holster selection it's easily carried.

 

[otis24]

Comeback?

When did they ever go away? Seriously, they've remained in production to this very day by just about every major firearms manufacturer that ever produced Revolvers to begin with, folks have continued to carry them all the while, and they still have a strong niche in the role of Wilderness Defense because they simply offer maximum power in the smallest possible package.

Sure, Semiautomatic Pistols are generally more popular, but I honestly think that has more to do with the significantly lower cost of polymer-framed pistols as well as the lower cost of ammunition when it comes to pistol cartridges. Because the most popular carry firearms tend to be single-stack subcompact pistols which only have marginally higher ammo capacity. If there were most inexpensive, ultra lightweight polymer framed Revolvers available like the Ruger LCR and Taurus 605 Poly, then I bet that Revolvers would be more popular among average shooters due to their greater ease of operation and greater power. (5-6 rounds of .38 Special or .357 Magnum vs 7-8 rounds of .380 ACP or 9mm Luger.)

And many people gravitate towards autos because they are thinking primarily self-defense. I love my Hi Power and my Sig, but for back country, you are right. The revolver platform offers more power and can be had in different size platforms. I would want a revolver for back country/woods carry. Right now, my needs are primarily home/self-defense.

When/if finances allow, I will own a revolver or two again!!!!

 

[anoblefox]

I think the current looting/riot situation is attracting many 1st time gun owners to get whatever is available. My longtime belief is that revolvers are the BEST choices for those new to the firearm world. Perhaps this has some influence on the renewed interest in the wheel gun.

 

[eTripper]

I've always been a fan of revolvers. But the popularity of 'wheelies' is cyclical, and they seem to come in and out of vogue. Their biggest plus is their reliability, simplicity, and versatility.

 

[oink]

I carried a revolver most of my career. I also carried a semi-auto back-up most of my career. I like them both but I've always been a better revolver shooter. Until I retired I could still out shoot the vast majority of young guys and their issued semi-autos, even with my failing eyes and unsteady hands. Retired, I carry a semi-auto more as a slim one is just so easy to carry. But I still carry a revolver at times. I guess I'm just not very loyal.

As far as I can tell revolvers are not making a comeback although collectors are driving the prices up. At my last qual I was the only old guy that qualified with a revolver. I qualified with both.

 

[Mr Wonderful]

I like semi autos and revolvers, but I always find myself messing with or just taking out and looking at or playing with my revolvers more.

 

[Mr Wonderful]

Well when I qualify on the HR 218 course I always take my 4" 686. The instructor always asks if I brought that piece of 19th century technology.
I always answer yes and smile.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Beautiful, and I like that grip better than what comes on it. As soon price get back to normal, that'll be the next revolver I buy.
Thanks for the pic. Seeing it with that grip makes me want one even more.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'm not sure if revolvers are "coming back". My perception is they never really left. I still see a few at the range (500 members) where I shoot.

I've gone into the polymer realm lately to discover that there are some benefits but I prefer metal for most things. I purchased my first handgun in 65 or 66 which was a revolver. I can't think of a time where I didn't have at least one. I believe there 5 in my safe now.

My observations are revolvers won't ever be as popular as semi autos are now. I say that because I have just about everything and I can't see an advantage over something like a Sig or HK for self defense. I do still carry a revolver occasionally but I think of it as a 3yd knife. I definitely do not plan to get into any gun fights with it. I'll use my HK for that.

 

[PALADIN85020]

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

 

[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.