Revolvers making a "come back"
- Thread starter skwchock
- Start date
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Why did a lot of shooters go after plastic guns anyway? I seen a guy trading in two plastic pistols for one new pistol. It makes me think there following what the gun rags rate as the gotta have new plastic pistol.
I been a revolver guy all my life. Pistols are ok. I never had great accuracy until I built my 1911. Man size targets no problem but tight grouping just wasn't me. At 25 yds my built 1911 will shoot clusters and cloverleafs. Yet my colt python at 100 yds I can make pin point shots. After each shoot at the range I practice at 100 yds with handguns just to keep the edge sharp. One must know his limitations or do we have limitations, with 3' of Kentucky windage my cz85db is accurate at 100 yds. Knowing and understanding your capabilities of your weapon matters.
I shoot at 25 yds all the time. Nothing shorter.
I been a revolver guy all my life. Pistols are ok. I never had great accuracy until I built my 1911. Man size targets no problem but tight grouping just wasn't me. At 25 yds my built 1911 will shoot clusters and cloverleafs. Yet my colt python at 100 yds I can make pin point shots. After each shoot at the range I practice at 100 yds with handguns just to keep the edge sharp. One must know his limitations or do we have limitations, with 3' of Kentucky windage my cz85db is accurate at 100 yds. Knowing and understanding your capabilities of your weapon matters.
I shoot at 25 yds all the time. Nothing shorter.
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
Welcome to the s&w forum. It's a great forum. The longest distance here we have is 100 yds at the range.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
The used plastic pistols are taking over where the used revolvers have been in the used case at the LGS have you noticed? Some are running out of room.
I purchased more revolvers during the plastic craze.
I purchased more revolvers during the plastic craze.
Capt. F.
Member
My thoughts exactly. Good explanation.
I spent the last 4 years working part-time in a local gunshop, unfortunately. And I am currently back as an instructor at the local indoor range. That gives me a pretty good view of what people are wanting in handguns and the state of the industry.
The only place I hear or read that revolvers are making a comeback is here. And only here, on this section of the board. Out there, nobody wants them. They don't order them. They don't rent them. They don't come into the store asking about them. Other than a few old guys standing at the door, before we are even opened, asking have we taken in any nice pre lock s&w revolvers. And even their numbers are dwindling.
The compact and subcompact 9mm "ccw guns" killed the market for revolvers. The Sig 365 and to a much lesser extent the Springfield Hellcat being the final nails in the revolvers coffin. Those that carry guns for a living know the threat has changed. And even the "CCWers" can see that the threat is no longer one individual. What sells is cheap striker fired plastic pistols that are crammed with as many rounds as manufacturers can stuff into them.
The gun must be as small and light weight as possible, easy to shoot, require no maintenance and recoil like a .22. Otherwise, the buying public is not interested.
I am sure there are those who desire and want to buy and carry J-frames and LCRs. But other than a brief run on Kimber K-6S a couple of years back, I haven't met any. Yea, "have a gun". Copy that. But of all the many things one can expire from these days, nostalgia would be the most foolish cause of death.
Regards 18DAI
The only place I hear or read that revolvers are making a comeback is here. And only here, on this section of the board. Out there, nobody wants them. They don't order them. They don't rent them. They don't come into the store asking about them. Other than a few old guys standing at the door, before we are even opened, asking have we taken in any nice pre lock s&w revolvers. And even their numbers are dwindling.
The compact and subcompact 9mm "ccw guns" killed the market for revolvers. The Sig 365 and to a much lesser extent the Springfield Hellcat being the final nails in the revolvers coffin. Those that carry guns for a living know the threat has changed. And even the "CCWers" can see that the threat is no longer one individual. What sells is cheap striker fired plastic pistols that are crammed with as many rounds as manufacturers can stuff into them.
The gun must be as small and light weight as possible, easy to shoot, require no maintenance and recoil like a .22. Otherwise, the buying public is not interested.
I am sure there are those who desire and want to buy and carry J-frames and LCRs. But other than a brief run on Kimber K-6S a couple of years back, I haven't met any. Yea, "have a gun". Copy that. But of all the many things one can expire from these days, nostalgia would be the most foolish cause of death.
Regards 18DAI
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MaygerMtMan
Member
When I recently took my grandson to the range his favorite shooters was the 629 with magnum loads. Shooting a 44 mag revolver is like driving a big-block 60s muscle car: An unforgettable rush and so much fun.
Teach your (grand)children well.
Teach your (grand)children well.
Qc Pistolero
Member
In my neck of the woods,for one young shooter who shows up with a revolver(to me a young gunner is anybody 35 or below),19 show up with an auto.And amongst those 19,16 will be with a polymer framed 9.
While I shoot 75 to 80% of my handgun ammo in revolvers,I must admit the auto is the big favorite here.
If I remember correctly.when I was a kid(35 and below),I too liked to squeeze the trigger quite rapidly with more than 6.
While I shoot 75 to 80% of my handgun ammo in revolvers,I must admit the auto is the big favorite here.
If I remember correctly.when I was a kid(35 and below),I too liked to squeeze the trigger quite rapidly with more than 6.
Stroker468
Member
The ONLY other revolver I have seen at the range is when my shooting buddy brought his 19-5. Otherwise, I'm the only one.
I never really could get into polymer handguns. Most of them were too light; great for carrying, not nearly as fun to shoot. Plenty share the same sort of basic look that, while functional, isn't exactly what you can call pretty. The only polymer pistol I have is an issued Glock, and while I do appreciate it for being simple, reliable, and robust, it's not something I would've actively tried to purchase. I'm glad that folks like CZ, Sig, Beretta, IWI, etc are still putting out metal handguns, and especially glad that Ruger, S&W (minus a particularly unsightly blemish on the side that keeps me from buying any new production wheelguns from them), and Colt, among a few others, are still putting out admirable revolvers.
I've been doing my best to share my adoration of the revolver with my coworkers and friends - folks that are mostly in their twenties and early thirties. Everyone always seems to be fascinated with revolvers or at least highly appreciative of the way they look and how they hearken back to a bit of classic Americana. They're a lot more approachable for the new shooter and otherwise less intimidating. Watching those that generally haven't had the chance to handle a revolver before try one out for the first time is pretty magical. In the sea of modern polymer wonders, an all-metal handgun certainly stands out. Especially when it's a revolver. Limited capacity and increased prices compared to the polymer semi-auto competition surely aren't doing them many favors in this day and age among the general gun buying populace though.
I've been doing my best to share my adoration of the revolver with my coworkers and friends - folks that are mostly in their twenties and early thirties. Everyone always seems to be fascinated with revolvers or at least highly appreciative of the way they look and how they hearken back to a bit of classic Americana. They're a lot more approachable for the new shooter and otherwise less intimidating. Watching those that generally haven't had the chance to handle a revolver before try one out for the first time is pretty magical. In the sea of modern polymer wonders, an all-metal handgun certainly stands out. Especially when it's a revolver. Limited capacity and increased prices compared to the polymer semi-auto competition surely aren't doing them many favors in this day and age among the general gun buying populace though.
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I carried the same Model 10's on the job from 1986 until I retired in 2011, when the switch came in the early 90's everyone seemed to jump on the semi-autos, I stuck with what I knew worked, had to use it on occasion and it kept me here. I have the mentality,"ain't broke don't fix it." I own Glocks and Sigs, but I still have my 10's 2&4 inches and my 36, they still get carried more often. The young guys who came on as I was leaving would ask if my revolver actually worked, I'd laugh, best was I had a new kid ask what the round things on my belt pouches were, "grenades" he asked. speed loaders. The ribbing stopped at the range when you were trained appropriately on a wheel gun and went to the range and practiced you can make that revolver move as quick as any auto, and place your shots even better. But I went through the academy when policing was taught and shooting was taught, not social work and gender issues, or de-escalation psychology.
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MJK-MOD-547
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My first ever gun purchase was a wheelgun, a Ruger Super Blackhawk circa 1973...It's long gone now, but 18,000 guns later (if I count the inventory from my two former firearm businesses) it looks like my last one will also revolve in a circle as I rebuild my post-divorce/retirement collection...As of yesterday, 2 semi-autos (Smith and Kimber) and 12 revolvers (Smith and Colt) have taken refuge in my safe...
...Ben
...Ben
At my club revolvers are as common as vehicles with manual transmissions. Which is not a bad analogy, IMO. I like driving a stick for the fun, but in no way can I argue it's better than an automatic as engineering has overcome all the advantages a manual used to have.
There a few niches left for revolvers that I can think of, bullseye, long range shooting, hunting, calibers more powerful than the 10 mm.
Side note, talked to a local city cop and they've recently been issued Glock 19.
There a few niches left for revolvers that I can think of, bullseye, long range shooting, hunting, calibers more powerful than the 10 mm.
Side note, talked to a local city cop and they've recently been issued Glock 19.
xring33
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I haven't scrolled all the comments but, in my opinion, automatics are cheaper to produce, have a higher capacity of rounds, are more adapted to polymer parts and more affordable for the general public. That being said.....I like revolvers.
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I agree. I love my revolvers and feel I could defend myself using them if needed.
Still, it's hard to ignore the efficiency of the new polymer wonders.
No, they don't have the soul of the older revolvers but they tend to work well, carry a lot of bullets and be easy to shoot.
They are typically lightweight and pretty corrosion resistant.
The accuracy and triggers have been improving with the latest generations.
They represent a compelling, cost effective and practical choice for many.
When I shoot the latest polymers, I am more surprised than anything by how good they've gotten for being a bunch or plastic and stamped metal wrapped around a barrel.
LOL!!!
You get a "like" just for that gem alone! 
It reminds me of the range visit where I got to try a brand new M2.0 plastic wonder gun out of the range's rental fleet. Unlike much (most?) of the rental fleet, it hadn't been beat to a pulp yet. Impressed the Hell out of me.
Would I buy one?
Nope. I'm through and done with my "Plastics Period" and back to all-metal... magnificently-made vintage S&W revolvers, in particular. 
Different strokes for different folks.
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