Time for Revolver Reality Truth?

[JotaDe]

Regarding the "younger generations vs revolvers" discussion, I'm in the mid-upper 30s range, and quite easily recall why I wasn't interested in revolvers as a kid.

My dad had many guns in the house, but they were all hunting, ranch or cowboy style. Being a teen of the late 80s I was into skateboarding and surfing, in my area cowboy was not cool and these guns (while fun to shoot) were outdated and from a time of black & white TV shows.

Being inundated with action movies action movies, terms like Uzi and Glock were what I thought was cool (for a long time). 20 years later I'm apparently still nudged by social media, because after watching the Walking Dead I wanted a large (my first) SS revolver. Pythons were out of the question but a new 686 6" wasn't. Now I have a G21 and a 686 and feel I have the best of both worlds, at least until another TV show or movie sways me to a new piece

For me, growing up thinking of revolvers as relics had as much to do with what social media showed as well as the natural inclinations of a kid to want to do something different than his dad. After all, dad's aren't cool right, so why would you be interested in the exact same firearms. Ha. Clearly that can't be a blanket statement, but if my kid isn't into Glocks and 6" revolvers I'll crack a smile and be curious to what the newer generations think are the must have guns. Most likely what ever is showcased on Call of Duty. Times change.

 

[MrAmbassador]

Here in NJ carrying is out of the question and shooting is mostly range only. My first legal handgun purchase at the age of 58 is a S&W65. It was that or a Beretta92FS. I still kind of want to blow off 15 rounds as quick as I can but I don't think the ranges are fond of that kind of shooting. I honestly don't expect to ever have to fire any weapon in self defense and seriously doubt anyone here would as well so the argument of firepower and number of rounds is moot. Not to mention if that rare event did happen, how about displaying the skill of marksmanship and actually hitting your target in one or two shots. I chose a prelock 64 for cost reasons as well as a love of the look of the old wood grips. It's a work of art and looks better without that hole in the side for a key. If you keep your weapons as you should, in a safe manner, is that lock really necessary? I wonder how many will never ever use that lock, I bet most will never be locked. Just an old guys humble opinion.

 

[Snakeshift]

I really enjoy shooting revolvers and as range guns they excel.

For all situations self-defense, they are obsolete.

If you realistically compare the ammo payload, ease of training a new shooter, ease of carry and current reliability, semi-autos are likely MORE reliable for current police issue pistols when compared to todays revolvers due to revolvers being a COMMERCIAL product.

If you really think about the time to reload, ability of the average shooter to handle a revolver versus a semi-auto, I consider todays revolvers, to be the modern equivalent of a a 2 shot derringer. You have to break the gun down to reload and the ammo capacity is 2.5 times for a semi-auto to a revolver. The same as a single action revolver to a derrienger.

From a realistic perspective of looking at all possible criminal encounters, only a hi-capacity auto offers a competitive option.

The simple truth is that for an average CCW holder "Rounds Count" doesn't really matter either way. You can kvetch all you want about "ZOMG i can have 30 9MM rounds on me!!!" or some other B.S.

When the simple fact is that even if you ever had to USE your CCW, the chances of you having the time to; Engage the target, run out of ammo, perform a reload, and engage the target again is infinitesimal at best. YOU ARE NOT A LEO/SWAT operator.


Revolvers are just as effective as they've always been for self defense.

 

[photoman]

When the simple fact is that even if you ever had to USE your CCW, the chances of you having the time to; Engage the target, run out of ammo, perform a reload, and engage the target again is infinitesimal at best.

So true. If people would take the time to do some research, they would find out that, by far, the majority of non-cop "gun fight" lasts ZERO rounds. That is, not a single shot is fired. If, you're one of the "lucky" ones that ends up firing, it's less than five yard, less than five seconds and less than five shots. Hollywood shootouts are as rare as hen's teeth. Especially for non-cops.

If a guy wants to carry a Glock 17 with two extra 17 rounds mags, more power to him. Freedom of choice is what it's all about.

Whatever you decide to carry, be good and be safe with it.

 

[stantheman86]

I agree with the jist of the above post, and have said this many times..........that as a civilian CCW holder, you are not a soldier or a police officer.If you find yourself reloading anything, whether it's a revolver or a pistol, you are in DIRE trouble.

When I was an Infantryman overseas, I carried 7+ mags for my M4, because it was my job to look for the enemy and engage him.

As a civilian, this is no longer my job. I don't need to carry a Glock 17 with a belt full of mags in case I get involved in a running gun battle.

Your job is to shoot and scoot, and shoot ONLY in last ditch, fear for your life circumstances. I feel that by the time I have had to fire the 5 or 6 rounds in my revolver, and I'm not already getting myself and family the heck out of danger, then I'm in deeper trouble than any handgun could get me out of. Yes, I carry two speed strips in the event I need to reload, but if I'm engaging armed attackers and I am having to reload, that means either all my shots missed or the bg(s) have been hit and are still able to fight.......

The odds of me, as Joe Civilian having to shoot at ranges above 1 yard are staggeringly low. Most CC shooting occur at contact ranges, and most HD shooting are at across the room range at the most.

I just read a story about a CC holder who got involved in a shootout during an armed robbery in a Dollar General in Texas, and hit a clerk in the crossfire........I would like to know how far the BG's were he was shooting at, how many rounds he fired, if he reloaded, etc. He was facing multiple armed attackers and was locked in the store. He tried to leave but couldn't, so he drew his weapon and started shooting at the BG's. I like to read about armed citizens defending themselves, and it is beyond sad that an innocent person died during this incident.

 

[Petrov]

This man was attacked by over 20 people, some of them were armed.
Just some food for thought for those that knock capacity.
My main carry is a G19, I often carry my 627 with buffalo bore hot 357 magnums and two spare moonclips on me. 8X3

 

[Petrov]

Oh take a carbine class, roll around in the mud in different prone positions as your holster/pistol scoop up dirt and mud they will stop all the same just for different reasons.

 

[photoman]

This man was attacked by over 20 people, some of them were armed.
Just some food for thought for those that knock capacity.
My main carry is a G19, I often carry my 627 with buffalo bore hot 357 magnums and two spare moonclips on me. 8X3

And if he had pulled a J frame out of his pocket when the first one hit him and blown the guys brains all over the others, chances are quite good the results would have been significantly different.

Again, I'm not knocking capacity or "dissing" anyone feels the need to carry 52 rounds of ammo daily. Freedom of choice!

 

[Badquaker]

When you kill the first one, ask who wants to be next.

 

[arc2x4]

BTW my EDC is a ruger LCP 7 rounds, and 2 full mags 19 rounds total, I have carried a 642 with 15 roundsand a 36 chiefs special with 15 rounds, in years past. For me concealment is very important, and yes I have a CCW good in any state I hapen to be in. Like the other poster said in reply to Petrov one shot to the head of the lead attacker would have probably ended the attack, but heck maybe it would have taken two or three. BTW I practice regularly with my carry piece and my range guns.

Most police would be better off learning to shoot accurately, and the public would be MUCH MUCH safer if they had fewer rounds fired and more in the target.

 

[STCM(SW)]

"Most police would be better off learning to shoot accurately, and the public would be MUCH MUCH safer if they had fewer rounds fired and more in the target."

An't that the truth!!!!!