The Revolver vs. the Pistol for self defense. Which is better?

[snubbyfan]

I'm having problems with my right hand. The preliminary diagnosis is Radial nerve entrapment resulting in limited mobility and weakness in my right hand and wrist. I've been shopping for a pistol with a properly fitting grip that is also light and concealable. The trigger on my snubby is as light as I can make it but a pistols trigger usually starts out even lighter. I went to my local gun shop and tried the Glock 19, Springfield compact and an M&P9c. Even though I'm an S&W fan I tried to keep an open mind while comparing these 3 fine firearms. I preferred the M&P9c, it had the best feeling trigger, fit my hand the best and had the best balance for me. It weighs only about 1 ounce more than my 442 with a Pachmayr grip and laserlyte laser sight installed and it looks small enough for pocket carry. I can carry the M&P9c with an extra loaded mag and have nearly half a box of ammo on me. The snubby would serve as backup on my left side. It's hard for me to call my left side my weak side. I'm right handed but because of my condition my left hand's stronger. Just need to raise the funds.

 

[dugo]

Talking about the "average gunfight" reminds me of the old saw about a guy who drowned in a lake with an average depth of four feet.

Chuck

Good reminder for any discussion like this.

Along the same lines, my dad, who has had a lot of real life combat experience, will remind us now and then that statistics are "... just statistics."

 

[texmex]

The US military was still purchasing revolvers long after 1911. Most of the Navy and Marine pilots carried revolvers during WW 2. They were issued tracer rounds to use for signaling rescue watercraft and aircraft. Lt. John F. Kennedy was carrying a 38 revolver during the rescue of the PT 109 crew. The Air Force Air Police (later Security Police) carried mostly S&W Combat Masterpieces up until the M9 began to be issued. Semi autos are flatter and easier to conceal. Semi autos have the advantage in firepower until the magazines run dry. Loading a revolver with loose rounds of ammo works pretty well. Running and auto dry and then reloading loose rounds into the magazine(s) seems a little slower. A revolver will handle light loads or heavy loads without any change or trouble. An autos recoil spring is adjusted for bullet weight and pressure. The revolver is faster to get into action for the first shot. There is no safety to work and you don't have to worry about whether a round is in the chamber or not. A revolvers grip is more natural and can be changed to suit the shooter. The autos grip size is dictated by the size of the cartridge and magazine capacity. The revolver is not critical as to bullet shape from wadcutter to round ball. If the cartridges will go into the chambers and the cylinder will turn, it will usually work. You don't have to go shoot a couple of hundred rounds to see if it is reliable with a certain type of ammo. A revolver doesn't depend on a box magazine. Most magazines are flimsy sheet metal and easily damaged. An auto may be sensitive to different brands of magazines. Some magazines may not work with some types of magwells. Revolvers don't sling brass all over the place or throw it at the shooter or others. You don't have to spend so much time picking brass up at the range. If you reload ammunition, it is a lot easier to find all your brass. Revolvers are better for long range shots. The sights are taller and allow more elevation. Their single action triggers are better than most automatics, especially double actions or Glocks. The revolver will fire if pressed hard against an adversary. Many autos will be pushed out of battery from such pressure and will not fire. A revolver will usually work fine if fired from inside a coat pocket. An auto will usually malfunction due to the slide tangling with the fabric. That means you can have a revolver in your hand and ready to fire while completely concealed. An adversary won't know you are armed until the bullets hit him. An auto can have the safety accidentally disengaged or have the magazine accidentally released. This makes it more likely to fire when you don't want it to or not fire when you want it to. A dud cartridge in an auto means you have to eject that cartridge and chamber another round. On a revolver, you just pull the trigger again. A squib cartridge will generally put either type out of action. Revolvers can handle cartridges from 22 Short to 500 Magnum.

 

[jimmyj]

Jimmy's solution: carry both ! (and a cell phone)
In the house, yard, neighborhood I CCW a S&W "J" Frame 2".
Shopping, Dinner out, Movie, etc I add a Glock Semi-Auto with an extra magazine to my "J" Frame. Reason: BGs mostly run in "Packs" and if "Push Comes To Shove" and Retreat (i.e. Run Away") is not an option, I want FIREPOWER.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Jimmy's solution: carry both ! (and a cell phone)
In the house, yard, neighborhood I CCW a S&W "J" Frame 2".
Shopping, Dinner out, Movie, etc I add a Glock Semi-Auto with an extra magazine to my "J" Frame. Reason: BGs mostly run in "Packs" and if "Push Comes To Shove" and Retreat (i.e. Run Away") is not an option, I want FIREPOWER.

Bad guys DO often run in "packs." This is just one answer to the dumb question "Why do you need a magazine that holds so many rounds?"

Our home fire extinguishers are not limited to seven ounces of fire retardant. Why? Because you might have a BIG fire!

Do you NEED a high-cap magazine? Simple answer: YES.

John

 

[66Park]

Bad guys DO often run in "packs." This is just one answer to the dumb question "Why do you need a magazine that holds so many rounds?"

Our home fire extinguishers are not limited to seven ounces of fire retardant. Why? Because you might have a BIG fire!

Do you NEED a high-cap magazine? Simple answer: YES.

John

Dumb question, indeed! The only people that ask that question are people that have no clue what they are talking about or people who are part of the gun banning agenda. I need magazines that carry fifteen rounds in my home defense pistol because I can't carry spares in my underwear.

 

[glider1]

A semi-auto is easier to conceal, quicker reloads and more rounds to begin with. A revolver is more reliable as a rule, has a better trigger as a rule and are easier for the average shooter to master.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I can't believe someone revived a Sirrduke thread!!

 

[Hill_Country]

Zombie thread.

Pleeeeeze let it die.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Zombie thread.

Pleeeeeze let it die.

No!

ECS

 

[Hill_Country]

Don't make me tell dirty jokes to get this thread locked. <G>

 

[Lost Lake]

SirDuke is gone, but several times new posters come on and revive his threads.....

Coincidence?


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