ContinentalOp
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This article was probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, reasons I decided to carry revolvers (aside from the basic fact that I tend to shoot them best). It lists 25 reasons why revolvers are better than semi-autos. While I don't necessarily agree with every point, it was thought-provoking.
http://www.snubtraining.com/pdfs/WhyRevolversBeatAutos.pdf
In addition to the reasons in the article and many of the more common reasons that others have cited, I carry a revolver because:
*They don't require magazines. One less thing to worry about.
*They have a lower cost for reliability testing with carry ammo. 3 or 4 cylinder-fulls (15-24 rounds depending on the gun) and I'm confident with its reliability as opposed to 200+ rounds of carry ammo with a semi-auto.
*They're more adaptable to dry-fire drills. Anything I can do live fire I can do dry fire with a revolver, minus the blast/flash, recoil, and holes in the paper. Ever try practicing a double tap with a Glock dry-firing? It goes like this: trigger press, hold back trigger, work slide just enough to reset trigger, re-acquire grip, release trigger, trigger press.
*Limp wristing is not a factor in proper functioning. I believe that if I'm ever forced to defend myself, it will most likely be from a close-range ambush-style assault. I may not be able to get a solid grip on the gun or I may have to fire from an awkward angle, either of which could potentially turn a semi-auto into a single shot pistol.
*Contact shots won't take a revolver out of battery. While training may overcome this issue, I believe the natural tendency will be to jam the muzzle into the attacker and pull the trigger.
*Reliability. This can be a controversial topic. But consider this. Semi-auto advocates say that when a revolver goes down, it's much worse than when a semi-auto goes down and is not as easy to resolve. However, most of the easily-cleared malfunctions that semi-autos experience are usually related to the feeding/extraction cycle, something that revolvers don't experience with the exception of a fail-to-fire due to bad ammo. In that case, you have to tap-rack-bang with a semi-auto versus pulling the trigger on a revolver.
*Snubs are easier to retain in a disarm attempt. The J-frame snubs are often regarded as being one of the most difficult weapons to take away. I recall Mas Ayoob saying the same thing about 2" K-frames. This also applies to...
*They have a better grip size. I have smallish hands. A Glock 23 is about the biggest gun I feel comfortable holding, but it's still much less comfortable and secure than holding a K or J-frame grip.
*They have better in-holster gripping. A semi-auto is flat up against the body when carried in a concealment holster. A revolver will leave a small gap for the thumb, making the initial grip easier to obtain.
*They conceal easier. The hardest part of a gun to conceal is the grip. I could conceal my K-frame revolver much more easily than I could ever conceal my Glock 23 when wearing the same style holster and wardrobe despite the "fat" cylinder.
Now, this is based on an assessment of my own life, where I go, how I conduct myself, and my typical routines as well as how much of my resources I can dedicate to practicing. If my situation were different than I might come to different conclusions and decide that a semi-auto was better suited to me. Other people will have different criteria that needs to be met and a revolver may not meet their needs. But it meets mine.
http://www.snubtraining.com/pdfs/WhyRevolversBeatAutos.pdf
In addition to the reasons in the article and many of the more common reasons that others have cited, I carry a revolver because:
*They don't require magazines. One less thing to worry about.
*They have a lower cost for reliability testing with carry ammo. 3 or 4 cylinder-fulls (15-24 rounds depending on the gun) and I'm confident with its reliability as opposed to 200+ rounds of carry ammo with a semi-auto.
*They're more adaptable to dry-fire drills. Anything I can do live fire I can do dry fire with a revolver, minus the blast/flash, recoil, and holes in the paper. Ever try practicing a double tap with a Glock dry-firing? It goes like this: trigger press, hold back trigger, work slide just enough to reset trigger, re-acquire grip, release trigger, trigger press.
*Limp wristing is not a factor in proper functioning. I believe that if I'm ever forced to defend myself, it will most likely be from a close-range ambush-style assault. I may not be able to get a solid grip on the gun or I may have to fire from an awkward angle, either of which could potentially turn a semi-auto into a single shot pistol.
*Contact shots won't take a revolver out of battery. While training may overcome this issue, I believe the natural tendency will be to jam the muzzle into the attacker and pull the trigger.
*Reliability. This can be a controversial topic. But consider this. Semi-auto advocates say that when a revolver goes down, it's much worse than when a semi-auto goes down and is not as easy to resolve. However, most of the easily-cleared malfunctions that semi-autos experience are usually related to the feeding/extraction cycle, something that revolvers don't experience with the exception of a fail-to-fire due to bad ammo. In that case, you have to tap-rack-bang with a semi-auto versus pulling the trigger on a revolver.
*Snubs are easier to retain in a disarm attempt. The J-frame snubs are often regarded as being one of the most difficult weapons to take away. I recall Mas Ayoob saying the same thing about 2" K-frames. This also applies to...
*They have a better grip size. I have smallish hands. A Glock 23 is about the biggest gun I feel comfortable holding, but it's still much less comfortable and secure than holding a K or J-frame grip.
*They have better in-holster gripping. A semi-auto is flat up against the body when carried in a concealment holster. A revolver will leave a small gap for the thumb, making the initial grip easier to obtain.
*They conceal easier. The hardest part of a gun to conceal is the grip. I could conceal my K-frame revolver much more easily than I could ever conceal my Glock 23 when wearing the same style holster and wardrobe despite the "fat" cylinder.
Now, this is based on an assessment of my own life, where I go, how I conduct myself, and my typical routines as well as how much of my resources I can dedicate to practicing. If my situation were different than I might come to different conclusions and decide that a semi-auto was better suited to me. Other people will have different criteria that needs to be met and a revolver may not meet their needs. But it meets mine.
