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

[Ben Dare]

I haven't seen the old saw, so I'll throw it in

" Revolvers for defense, semi's for offense"

My corollary is that people who INTEND to do harm move to increase capacity; people who intend to LIMIT harm move to increase efficiency

On a more personal note, I enjoy the interaction with my revolver. I supply the energy to make it work through my DA trigger pull . . .while springs are involved, they are not as "in control" of the outcome as in a semi-AUTOMATIC which depends absolutely on proper balance of recoil springs and magazine springs

As an instructor once said, "I'd rather be well hung than well sprung!"

 

[Stophel]

Another "neo-Luddite" here.

Just not a big fan of autos. I have a S.A. 1911 that I bought sometime in the 90's. It's OK, it's accurate and reliable and all, but it just simply does not fit my hand, no matter what I do. It's very unnatural. Does NOT point well. I also absolutely DETEST manual safeties of any kind.

I'm exceptionally old fashioned in most every way, and most non-1911 autos are just "too modern" for my tastes!

 

[TiroFijo]

Revolver AND auto fan here

...I like variety.

 

[Iggy]

MS,
No, I just didn't want the fine sands, grass seeds and everything else floating around dirtying up my nice guns.

I never had a problem with reliability of revolvers in 13 years of holster carry as a Highway Patrolman, but air conditioned cars are different than saddle horses and dirt bikes.

 

[redsfan2]

I used an issue 1911 in the Marines. I was an instructor at Quantico for .45's, rifles ( M-16 ) and M-60 machine guns.
.45's were OK just like the 16's were OK .... but I never really developed a .. feel? or maybe more of an attachment to either of them like I did with my machine guns and my M-14.
Acoupkle of years later I used S&W .38's at the D.C. dept of corrections and did feel a connection right away.
Probably more old fashioned than anything else.

Still like most revolvers .... still think autos are OK. Didn't even consider one when I went looking for my hand gun.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I like the Series 80 Colt a lot, but when I wasn't actually practicing with it for a while and went back to it, I found that I could shoot my revolvers (including a cut-down 25-2) a little better.

I also like my SIG 225 a lot. So far, it is just as reliable as a revolver. But the trigger pull for the first shot is certainly nothing to brag about - not as good as my DAO 2" M15, and not as good as my DA 25 or my DA 520.

I also have a fully functional 1026 which rates the same comments (and has the same operating controls) as the SIG. I have a Beretta 92FS which works perfectly well, but it is slightly larger than optimum.

My revolvers all work fine. They did yesterday, they will tomorrow. I'm sure I'd trust my Colts (SS Gov't & LW Cdr) if I used them a bit more often. I trust my SIG regardless. But my revolvers shoot better at the moment, and I trust them whether I've used them recently or not. I can shoot them well DA, and I can shoot them very well SA. If I've practiced with one, I've practiced for them all. And it's not such a production to unload them and put them away, nor to get them out.

Simple, safe, reliable.

 

[ENH]

I just feel like there is less change for an AD with the revolver. I bet the USAir Pilot that just had an AD wishes he had had a revolver. See the CNN web site.
+1 for the revolver for defense and an auto for offense.

 

[22lover]

I like both. Both revolvers and semi-autos have been around 100+ years, so you don't really have to exclude either if you're anti-change.

My opinion - a lot of semi-autos have become very reliable in the past couple decades+...so much so that there's no practical difference, if one makes careful selection of each.

I'm dissappointed with the quality of the new S&W revolvers. Having scrutinized a couple of new ones recently. I'd just as soon carry my most modest ($100 surplus) semi-auto.

Now ... the older S&Ws and Colts are a different matter...made when quality was not a hit-or-miss proposition. Still, I'd put most of my semi-autos against any revolver made, in terms of reliablity, accuracy, and firepower. That doesn't mean I don't have a soft spot for revolvers...I clearly do...but they are hardly infallible.

 

[CW3PA]

Revolvers aren't as sensitive to different loads & immediate action drill is as easy as pulling the trigger again. Besides I like the look & "feel" of a wheel gun.

 

[mrhockey]

I bounce back and forth between a Beretta 96 Compact and one of two Smith wheelguns, a 642 and a 386. The 642 is my always gun and the Beretta usually only sees duty when I am wearing jeans.

I like, as others have said, the simplicity of the revolver. With the weight of my 386 and 7 shots of 357 magnum, I feel adequately prepared for anything, primarily because I am always carrying. I don't ever go without it due to weight or being uncomfortable wearing it.

 

[heeter3]

Like many have said RELIABILITY.The little snubs like my 442 also feel more comforable no matter how I carry it when compared to an auto and I really am sure that it will be ready if its ever needed.Revolvers are what I started with on the job and towards the end of my career when we changed over to autos I never really felt comfortable with them.I know revolvers and for me they are just the perfect fit.

 

[SmithSwede]

I too prefer the simplicy and reliability. Some additional reasons I strongly prefer revolvers:

1) A revolver is easier for me to deal with for day to day use. It is easy to load and unload. No need to worry about the slide of an auto perhaps pushing the bullet of the first cartridge back into the case. Easy to see at a glance that a revolver is loaded.

2) I shoot revolvers for fun and competition. Since 99% of the time at the range I'm shooting a S&W revolver, it just makes sense--at least for me--to also carry a S&W revolver and have one in my nightstand. Probably a mistake to switch to another platform when I use a particular one so much.

3) A revolver encourages dry-firing. I'm an old Bullseye shooter and a huge believer in lots and lots of dry firing. The SA trigger on a good revolver is such a joy in itself that it encourages you to dry fire the thing. And with a revolver, you can practice multiple shots or rapid fire by working the DA trigger. Hard to do that with an auto. But with a revolver, if you have ten spare minutes and a safe backstop, well.....dump the cartridges and do a bit of dryfiring!

4) The shape of a revolver, with its complex curves, just suits me better. A concealed revolver held next to my skin doesn't dig in and irritate me the way a boxy auto does. And revolvers tend to fit my hand much better, and therefore "point" much better.

5) I reload. I like having 100% of my brass go straight into a coffee can for the trip back to the reloading bench.

6) Accuracy. Sure, a .22 auto can be plenty accurate, and a target grade centerfire auto can also be accurate (at the expense of tight tolerances). But in my opinion, there is nothing quite like a good revolver for its combination of stone reliability and superb accuracy.

 

[BobbyH]

Habit....pure and simple.

I started out with a wheel gun 40 years ago and, since it always worked for me, I never saw the reason to change.


Bobby

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I shoot a revolver extremely well out to about 75 yards. I shoot an autoloader average out to 25 yards. Which would you carry were you me?

 

[pappy]

I have found that I feel more comfortable
with my 19 my or 66 than any semi-auto.

However, the gun you choose must feel "right" and comfortable in "your" hand.

 

[gizamo]

Hmmmmmm...

I go back and forth on this one. Mostly carry a 66-2 out and about. It is the go to gun...

My 1911's have never holstered CCW well for me. Just not comfortable. The New SR9 is getting carried alot now. It is svelte, doesn't have the grip safety and hammer. Yet it feels like the 1911. Don't know. I might start making that the go to gun in the future...

Giz

 

[Cat]

I have a SIG P250 and a S&W 19-3. I carry them both but I tend to gravitate to the revolver. I don;t know why; it may have to do with the fact that I packed one on the job when I was in probation & parole, and it is comfortingly familiar. I trust it. There is something about it that is reassuring and trust-inspiring. I'd like to see S&W bring back the K-frame magnum as a "Classic" model.

Miao, Cat

 

[pace40]

I'm getting older and don't like to bend over to pick up brass anymore. That said, I have developed much better accuracy with revolvers since I got too lazy to chase brass. I also can honestly say I have never had a revolver not go bang when it was supposed to. I can't say that for SA's.

 

[andyo5]

I have two carry guns. A 45 auto for holstered carry, and a J frame for concealed carry. I would not carry an auto concealed in my clothing because I'd be afraid it would hang up on the cloth or maybe get lint in the action. I can stick my 642 in my pocket with or without a pocket holster and know that I can yank it out of my pocket without it snagging anything.
So if I go in the woods, it's the 45 auto in a holster. Around town, where I don't want people staring and saying "that guy has a gun!", it's the snubbie.

 

[pownal55]

function and wallop.