Revolvers vs Semi-Autos

[Mickey D]

I carry my Flintlock because it works!

Because it "never rains in Southern Califirnia"!

 

[Mickey D]

The only auto I will carry is the Colt Pony DA only. Nothing to fumble with just pull the trigger, just like a revolver.

Try shooting multple shots from a coat pocket!

 

[sonny]

For those who say revolvers ALWAYS go bang when you pull the trigger, my 460V was the exception to that rule.

If you had said your K-22 had misfired, it'd be okay...maybe. But if a 460V misfires, it can get you eaten in a hurry.
Scary prospect...my buddy carries one for Alaska hiking trips.

 

[rgitz]

I carry S & W revolvers. I own two autos; both Browning Hi Powers (MK III) that I've had for a number of years. I've been through lots of autos everything from S &W to Kahr and whatever is inbetween. Just never developed a real affection for them. Find a gun that fits your hand and then practice with it until hitting becomes second nature. Yeah, if it don't work get rid of it.

 

[sonny]

My Glocks and my 1911's always go Bang. But I normally carry my 640-1 or my 442. It's a matter of size. A j-frame on Barami Hip-Grips is invisible under a t-shirt. Wore it to church this morning.
sonny

 

[Ron H.]

I own both but after many years of experience I have to wonder whether the technology of semi-autos has offered a sufficient advantage over revolvers to place our safety and lives in the functioning of semi-autos. Even the very best 1911 pistols and other semis have a percentage of misfires and jams.
Yes, the beautiful single fire action of a well made 1911 is fantastic but I know of no one who has used a semi-auto for a long period of time who has not experienced any malfunctions. Then there are the springs, rods and slides that have to be maintained and serviced. Extractor problems, magazine issues, etc.
Fun on the range but when an intruder enters my house my .357 revolver will fire every single time.
I don't and can't carry in NJ but at my bedside, a loaded revolver will fire every single time!
Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

Sir, revolvers are not actually simple (look inside one some time), and they can and do fail. There are posts about it on the boards here all the time. I've personally had failures with several different revolvers, and each time it required disassembly and/or gunsmith attention to fix. Not quite the same as clearing a stovepipe in an auto.

But no matter. More important than action type is what *you* shoot best and are most comfortable with.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[2Loud4You]

If you had said your K-22 had misfired, it'd be okay...maybe. But if a 460V misfires, it can get you eaten in a hurry.
Scary prospect...my buddy carries one for Alaska hiking trips.

Make sure he checks all the screws BEFORE his hunting trip or he may become bear crap if it failed like mine did.

 

[kenpofan]

I prefer Revolvers..

I've carried both as a LEO.

I still carry a revolver off duty and as a back up to the plastic wonder.

 

[USAF385]

I trust semi autos with my life...

as long as I have a revolver back up

 

[bmcgilvray]

I'm a true believer so prefer the revolver. I think they'll come up with death ray guns before the semi-auto ever closes the reliability gap, shot for shot, with the revolver.

So what that the semi-auto MAY in some cases be cleared more quickly than the revolver that suffers a snag? Stoppages occur with more frequency with the semi-auto which is subject to more different types of failures that require some clearing function in the first place.

 

[BarbC]

I started out with a j-frame 60LS but I didn't feel secure with only 5 shots and to conceal-carry a larger revolver would be heavier and bulkier.

So I traded off caliber for capacity and slimness. I gradually moved up through the Kel-Tec 32, and then the Kel-Tec 380, and then the Walther PPS 9mm, and now I'm working on obtaining the M&P 45c, which may put me back to the heavier and bulkier quandary.

I do like the DAO semi-autos with no safety. The semi's I have are also very easy to field-strip and clean. Mine are shot a lot and broken in well. If I weren't confident in them, I wouldn't carry them.

 

[Miss Fire]

I confess, I own a bottom feeder, as in one. It does hide nicely under lighter weight summer clothing. Sometimes it goes bang , sometimes it doesn't, it does like to spit empty shells forcefully into my forehead on occasion.
My revolvers go bang every time, they don't spit, and in cooler weather they hide under the jeans and sweatshirts I normally wear.
My 1911 holds 7 in the mag and one in the pipe, my 686+ holds 7 and I shoot it way better. If it came down to needing one to save my butt, I sure hope I'm carrying a revolver if that day comes.
Revolvers are easier(for me at least) to clean and maintain, and I think most of use agree, that from a purely asthetic standpoint a revolver is simply better looking. Just looking at some of the gun porn posted here answers that question.

 

[m657]

I've shot SASS matches for over a decade. In tens of thousands of rounds, I've never had a SA Ruger fail in any way. Routine cleaning, never even a loose screw to tighten.

Colt SAAs & clones, also tens of thousands of rounds. Same reliability, occasionally need to tighten a screw.

S&W N frames in ICORE, speed steel, target work over several decades....never any FTF issues.

Took the bottom feeders from 4 major brands out for a little exercise about 6 months ago.

They quickly reminded me why they stayed home most of the time....

 

[Andy Griffith]

Revolvers vs. jam-a-matics is sort of a mute point...
When you get one of these:

 

[FrankD45]

I believe in simplicity in high stress situations so I keep a M36 (no dash) on my night table. I figure if it is ever needed I will likely be jarred awake and not able to perform fine motor skill activities, so i like point and shoot. For typical daily carry it is either a S&W 1911 (.45 ACP) or a Kimber Commander sized 9mm. In any event I never leave home without taking a handful of dowels...

Frank

 

[walnutred]

At one point the only sidearm I trusted was my 1911A1. Then I went through a stage where I carried mostly small revolvers. Now I carry both, depending on what I feel like. I would say that reliability is more a function of price rather than design, then I remember for the last 25 years my best friend has kept a RG 22 short revolver in his night stand. Uses it to dispatch raccoons on a fairly regular basis. He has more powerful and better grade firearms, but as this revolver has been 100% reliable for what he uses it for he sees no need to change.

 

[pawncop]

Well, I bet my life on my M&P45, my primary back up/off duty is a Glock 32 (357 Sig) and secondary back up/off duty is a 686 2 1/2" (357 Mag). I used to be qualified with several guns but I am much more a believer in the axiom "Beware of the man with only one gun -he probably knows how to use it."

It is a wonderful topic to discuss to no end without any real resolution.

I started carrying revolvers in the late 70's - Model 19, 28, 586, and probably would be carrying such except we had a Chief of Police that not allow us to carry 357 Magnum loads for patrol and that is when I changed to the 45 ACP.

They are both mechanical, and breakdowns can occur with either, and when it does occur with a revolver (normally) it is completely out of action.

I am comfortable with either, and must admit that I have real soft spot for quality revolvers from those times when craftsmanship was honored and a way of life.

But in the end I do depend on my 45 M&P to defend my life and the lifes of my citizens.

 

[USAF385]

But in the end I do depend on my 45 M&P to defend my life and the lifes of my citizens.

Do you get your citizens in bulk? I but mine from Wal Mart.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Nothing is 100% reliable. My Colt MK IV locked back on me once, had to strip it down to the bare frame, clean the trigger mechanism, fine ever since. My 4" M-19 broke on me at the range once.
I think the design of semiautomatics-the M1911, e.g. is more "user friendly"regarding field stripping and cleaning. I tend to the leave the actions of my revolver alone, if they feel a little sluggish or gritty I rely on spray cleaners to retore them.

 

[Joewisc]

Semis are the sexy gal at the bar who you'd love to spend a few nights with. Revolvers are the gal who winds up the love of your life.