Why did you choose a revolver over a semi auto for carry?

[ArmyRover]

I carry both, just depends on the day. Some times its a snubby .38 spl others it's my .40 shield or my .45 SIG P250c

All are reliable accurate weapons. If they weren't they wouldn't be considered for CC.

 

[ruger 22]

I carried a BHP for my main gun and a Model 36 for backup for over 40 years. If I could only have had one gun it would have been a revolver. My main reason was the revolver is more dependable when the chips are down.

 

[JTMcC]

I've carried some version of a 1911 (3 1/2" to 5") since I was a teenager and love them but wanted to carry more horsepower due to the number of mountain lion and (less so) black bear in my area.
And to be able to carry 1 round of shot in the gun in summer months due to the rattlesnakes we often encounter in the yard where the kids play.
I've used .45acp shotshells for years but almost always end up having to clear a stovepipe. Not a huge deal but annoying.
I've developed quite a bit of affection for revolvers and have about 7 of them now.
A 329PD goes everywhere with me these days, but sometimes a 1911 as well.
Not having to chase brass is just an added benefit.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've carried both, but for the last seventeen years have only carried a stock DAO J-frame .38 Special, every day.

Three reasons: concealability, simplicity and as near 100% reliability as can be expected of any gun. There are other benefits, of course, most notably that I can't be accused of a negligent discharge of a "hair-trigger" single-action-capable firearm.

I'm content and confident toting the little J.

 

[digiroc]

My constant carry is a 360PD AirLite usually AISW.

The super light weight and form factor make it effortless to carry. Shooting it can be a painful operation so I bought a 340 Pro Series all stainless to shoot.

When I bought it I immediately took it out to my backyard range and it locked up tight after the first round. New out of the box failure on a weapon I thought would never fail to fire. Turns out that a tiny metal chip had got into the works and locked it up.

Taking the side plate off and blowing it out fixed the problem but it somewhat unervered me as to revolver's as never fail weapons.

When practical I'll also carry one of my 3rd gen autos. My 4040PD as first choice, but a 3914DAO for it's small size and thinness.

digiroc

 

[jmr986]

Great thread OP. Just got back into shooting after around a 20 year absence. First gun I bought was a 686 pro 4". Really miss my model 27 and Colt Python I sold (sigh). Since then bought 3 semi-autos just for the range and to try other calibers. Really like my Sig 9mm and Dan Wesson .45. Was considering them for carry. But, the Sig was just sent back after 100 rounds because the trigger stuck when I took it apart to clean it. With the Wesson I had a bad mag that FTL due to a faulty spring. Both great guns and I would buy another Sig or Wesson. But I'm reluctant to use them as carry weapons because of the issues. So considering a revolver. When I used to have to walk to the bank everyday with cash I had a chiefs special in my pocket. Thinking 586 L comp or 627PC.

I wonder if the penchant for revolvers is a generational thing. I was the only one in my CCL qualifying class with a revolver the rest were 30 somethings all with plastic semi autos. Really like my semis but I'm thinking wheel gun if my life depends on it.

 

[S.B.]

My thoughts, fewer malfunctions and variety of ammo without being picky.
Steve

 

[wadcutter1]

Wow, a thread resurrected after 8 years of neglect.

Personally I've gotten sick of shooting autos at the range. Chasing brass across the dirty floor seems to uncivilized compared to just emptying the cylinder in my brass bag. Also, 38 special and 357 are so nice to reload compared to most auto cartridges.

Because it's a good idea to carry what you practice with, I now also prefer to carry a revolver.

 

[coachb]

Love my revolver always there for me never jams

 

[Bubba2014]

I carried a model 10 for the first 15 years in LE, and switched to S&W 5906 and later to Colt 1911 for the next 15 years. Now that I'm retired and much older, I usually carry a 642 because it is very easy to conceal, and also very reliable. Occasionally in cold weather and wearing a jacket, I carry a 64 with 3" barrel. Also, I truly enjoy the old S&W revolvers.

 

[SuperMan]

Started out carrying a Model 19 4" in 1970. About 1976 switched to a GM 1911 .45... Carried it till discovering the .38 Super in 1980s and have been carrying a Colt Commander in that caliber ever since.

Reasons:
10 rounds of close to .357 Magnum forepower in a ten shot 31 oz. loaded gun that is far more controlable than a light weight .357.

Very slim, slides inside the wasitband with or without a holster and stays comfortably in one spot all day long.

Fits my hand perfectly and hits where I look.

If I can't hide the Commander then the backup is a Kahr P380. Hides much better than a snubbie and has two more rounds. It is headshot accurate at 25 yards. With a nice smooth 6# DA trigger pull it is safe to carry with or without a holster. Also has excellent night sights...

If woods walking I will generally bring a revolver, either a Taurus Titanium Tracker or a 657 Mountain Gun...both in .41 Magnum. I used to often carry a .22 revolver or semi in the woods but after asking myself the question "What will I need this gun for?", it wasn't for hunting, it wasn't for plinking, it was going to be used for rabid animals, bear, moose, coyote, wolves, cougar and two legged vermin... I would have looked really stupid if I ran into a situation that needed a bigger gun when I had a whole safe full of them at home and just had carried a .22....

Bob

 

[mazer]

Well, because of a birth defect I can't shoot auto's well at all. I was issued a 1911 when in the USMC, but thank goodness I never had to use it other than to qualify and had issues even with that..grenades were also an issue, but that's a different story!
Anyway, I started carrying revolvers, and honestly, I'd never go back. I don't need 15 shots for self defense, I carry an additional 12 rounds in speed loaders on my belt, so that kind of takes care of the "round count" issue! I carried a Ruger Alaskan in 44mag, for 3 years every day, and when folks comment on the weight (never the looks! ) I just tell them with the right belt and holster, you hardly know it's there!
Now I still have my Ruger Alaskan, but around town I started carrying my S&W Alaskan Backpacker IV! So, now the weight is out the window as an issue as well!
Oh, and of course looking down this "maw" would be NO fun!

 

[Mister X]

Well, because of a birth defect I can't shoot auto's well at all. I was issued a 1911 when in the USMC, but thank goodness I never had to use it other than to qualify and had issues even with that..grenades were also an issue, but that's a different story!
Anyway, I started carrying revolvers, and honestly, I'd never go back. I don't need 15 shots for self defense, I carry an additional 12 rounds in speed loaders on my belt, so that kind of takes care of the "round count" issue! I carried a Ruger Alaskan in 44mag, for 3 years every day, and when folks comment on the weight (never the looks! ) I just tell them with the right belt and holster, you hardly know it's there!
Now I still have my Ruger Alaskan, but around town I started carrying my S&W Alaskan Backpacker IV! So, now the weight is out the window as an issue as well!
Oh, and of course looking down this "maw" would be NO fun!

I'm curious and a bit confused. You have a birth defect that makes shooting autoloaders difficult, but it didn't disqualify you from military service and you shoot scandium snubnose .44 mag revolvers without any issues?

15 rounds won't likely be needed in a civilian self-defense situation, but you never know. I'm currently fine with a 5-shot revolver for carry most of the time looking at available stats, but will admit to having some concerns with it's low round round. Either way, they will almost certainly be resolved with what's in the gun. Thinking you can make up for low capacity by carrying reloads isn't realistic IMO, especially so with a revolver.

 

[S.Hunter Adams]

I can't purchase or carry any gun with plastic on them. I realize they work great. For me, it lacks the feel of "my gun". I know this isn't logical when contemplating the necessities of a carry gun, but it matters to me. I carry a 2.5" 686+ and a 3.5" Colt Officers ACP 1911 (all steel frame). In a long shoot out (not likely) of course I'd get more rounds out with the 1911. But I love not thinking about the safety and I just love my 686. I do not feel out gunned with 7 rounds of .357 so I carry with absolute confidence.
I carry both guns outside the waist band, even in the summer. My answer is a slightly over-sized tee shirt.

 

[Skydog67]

I am in the process of converting over from Glocks to revolvers. My reason for doing this is that even after years of carrying Glocks, I could never get comfortable with carrying them with a round in the chamber. I realize that this fear is totally irrational. I realize that there is zero chance of a Glock firing unless the trigger is pulled. And I realize that in a quality holster where the trigger is covered, Glocks are 100% safe to carry. Nevertheless, in spite of all this...I still could not bring myself to carry one with a round chambered. I just always figured I would have the chance to quickly rack the slide and chamber a round if I ever needed to pull the gun. But then my philosophy on this shifted. I now believe that being able to pull the gun and immediately fire 5 rounds is much better than pulling the gun, racking the slide and then firing 10-15 rounds. The time it takes me to rack the slide could cost me my life. So...one round immediately available is better than 10-15 rounds that I may never get to fire at all. And now that I am making the switch, I'm also finding that I really prefer the looks, feel and function of a revolver anyway. I wish I had just started off with them in the first place. That's what I get for listening to all the gun gurus that steered me toward Glocks when I was first introduced to CC. Don't get me wrong. Glocks are fine guns. I've never had any issues with them, enjoy shooting them and still intend to keep them. They are just not the right EDC for me.

 

[gkitch]

If we KNEW what our gunfight was going to look like we would know exactly what to carry.

Multiple assailants? I have not known of many John Wick or John McClane situations in real life, outside of war. Most conflicts will likely be with only one or two bad guys.

At 25 yards or so, the auto is preferred in a gun fight. One is much more likely to have to fire multiple rounds and a reload becomes more likely as well. Two hands and a proper hold can usually be implemented throughout the fight. The fight will not transcend into a grappling match or struggle for the weapon.

How about a fight at, say, THREE yards or so? Here an assailant may easily CLOSE with you, even after being shot. A revolver is significantly more reliable in such a situation and the reliability factor outweighs the firepower or reload aspects based on odds. The revolver is harder to take away from someone, and less likely to fail due to limp-wrist, muzzle contact, slide interference, etc. In a close fight, I'll take a revolver. Pull trigger, gun goes bang, reapply as necessary, use as impact weapon as needed.

So, most police and civilian gunfights happen, statistically, at what ranges? How many assailants? Most are within SEVEN yards and against ONE assailant. A police officer has help with him or on the way. The CCW holder will likely not make a call for help until after the situation has unfolded.

Statistically in a CCW scenario the advantage is with the wheelgun. I am highly skilled with revolvers and semi-autos and often carry either. I know that, as a civilian, a tense situation will likely devolve into a lethal situation at very close range. If a crystal ball showed such a common scenario to be "my" gunfight, I would very intentionally choose the revolver for practical and not emotional reasons.

 

[len917]

Carry SR9c or J-36 3". Would carry the J more except I can't find IWB holster that I like for 3" bbl. J is less bulky than 9c

 

[Wedgie]

I carry both. 340PD and a Glock 19 or sometimes a 41.

 

[OLDSTER]

revolver carry

simple, easy, reliable, and safe. And my 360J weighs in at about 16 oz. loaded

 

[MetalMan]

Carry SR9c or J-36 3". Would carry the J more except I can't find IWB holster that I like for 3" bbl. J is less bulky than 9c

+1 for the 3" J....

My 3" 60-15 shown in a Milt Sparks VMII. Only I know it's there and is extremely comfortable for all day carry.