Why get a revolver instead of a pistol?

[spirit4earth]

I know very little about revolvers, though I have fired them before. Actually, I don’t know much about guns, but I’ve had an M&P 9 compact that I loved and felt very comfortable with. It was easy to shoot, easy to clean, and 9mm ammo wasn’t that expensive. I had to sell it, unfortunately. Now I need to get a new handgun. I don’t want to rule out something like a 642, unless it’s more expensive than a new 9c. I know I won’t go shoot a revolver for fun, like I did with the 9. How easy are revolvers to clean and to troubleshoot? I know there are strong opinions on both sides of the handgun aisle, but tell me what’s good (or better) about a revolver.
The gun will occasionally be carried, and I’m getting it for self-defense while hiking, in the car, and at home. I just want to get the job done, should the need arise.
Thank you in advance for positive feedback.

 

[OKFC05]

Then stick with the plastic fantastic. I started with revolvers, and all the decorations on the "I love me wall" were won with revolvers.
But there is more to learn and more to do with revolvers than with M&Ps. I shoot an M&P Pro 9 5" in matches, but I can shoot the same numerical scores with a Model 66, which is more likely to put me in the wood. A friend outshoots me in SSP, so he decided to try me with revolvers, and found out it is harder than it looks. First of all, if you can't speed reload, you can't win with revolvers.

 

[wopr1967]

For carrying and self-defense, I like revolvers because of the added safety benefit of a long, hard double action trigger pull. Many people like striker fired guns, but to me, the trigger is just too light, and accidents do happen.

Plus, a revolver has soul

 

[CLASSIC12]

Because Dirty Harry did not carry no stinkin’ semi auto

Well except that time when he lost his model 29

(Sorry, not helpful, but couldn’t resist)

 

[Scorpion520AZ]

I’ve had an M&P 9 compact that I loved and felt very comfortable with.

The answer you seek is in your question.

 

[hkcavalier]

Revolvers can sit for decades and lose little to no reliability.

There is no complicated failure to fire drill. Just pull the trigger again.

You never have to wonder if the magazine is seated, the safety is on or off, or the slide is slightly out of battery. If the revolver is in good working order and the cylinder is locked into place it will fire.

Revolvers teach good trigger control in double action, and the only thing that can match a smooth & crisp single action pull in the auto world is a 1911 or perhaps a CZ (in single action).

You can load very light or very heavy without modifying the gun. Point of impact might change but it will work.

Your options are limited in the auto world when you want/need more than 500 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.

If you're into such things, you can have stupidly small, light guns that fire magnums e.g. the S&W 360PD in .357 Magnum which is less than 12oz empty. There is no auto equivalent, 9mm +P+ out of a micro is close but is rarely reliable or safe.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

A revolver does have soul! I agree. Further, due to their long trigger pull they are inherently safer than today's tricky trigger automatics. I have both but routinely carry revolvers although I am still a fan of 3rd Gen S&Ws pistols. Metal. Not plastic. Double action triggers. Etc.

But, to get specific:

Actually, I don’t know much about guns,

That's quite curable with a little time and effort. At some point in time none of us knew much about guns.

It was easy to shoot,

Revolvers are easy to shoot.

easy to clean

Revolvers are easier to clean.

,

and 9mm ammo wasn’t that expensive

.

I reckon that .38 Special cannot be all that much more expensive and maybe even less if you're just shooting range ammo. Save the expensive, defensive ammunition for carrying, although you should shoot it some to get to know it well.

I don’t want to rule out something like a 642, unless it’s more expensive than a new 9c.

Prices are unknown to me. A 642 makes a great pocket carry gun.

I know I won’t go shoot a revolver for fun, like I did with the 9.

Why? They are equally as fun! Except for the fact that lightweight revolvers like the 642 are definitely less fun. But an all steel gun in a J frame size is a hoot to shoot!

How easy are revolvers to clean and to troubleshoot?

Super easy to clean. You don't take them apart! Troubleshooting is something you do when you have trouble. Mostly, you won't ever have any trouble. They work all the time. Okay, anything can break but, as a practical matter, wheel guns rarely break if you treat them right.

I know there are strong opinions on both sides of the handgun aisle, but tell me what’s good (or better) about a revolver.

It's all perception, really. What are the uses it is put to, how will it be carried, etc. If you can work a pistol's slide easily then the pistol and the revolver are not difficult gadgets to operate. If you can't work the slide then the simplicity of a revolver takes over. Some of us don't have incredibly strong opinions against one or the other; it's just personal preferences. I prefer revolvers. I own plenty of pistols and I shoot them and carry them but I shoot the revolvers and carry the revolvers more often. It's not a contest.

The gun will occasionally be carried, and I’m getting it for self-defense while hiking, in the car, and at home.

Let's get back to your basic comment. You don't know much about guns. So, if you're familiar with a small auto pistol then maybe you should stick to what you do know about until such time as you familiarize yourself with new things.

Both pistols and revolvers are useful for carry/self defense, wherever, etc. Can you confidently use your gun? Will you use it if you need it? If you can and you will then you're most of the way there. Carrying the gun means hiking and in town. What are you going to confront in either place? Can you use your gun successfully in either place if needed? That's your key.

In the car you ought to be carrying it, not searching for it in your console or glove box. But that works if necessary.

At home it needs to be ready for use - no little kids around!!! Both pistols and revolvers are good here, too. My choice is a revolver. Before my house fire I kept a loaded revolver in every room of the house. In the new house I will do that again. When I need a gun at zero dark thirty I need a gun I don't need to think about - revolvers are so simple to operate they make excellent I-just-awoke-and-need-a-gun self defense tools.

That gets the job done.

 

[ACORN]

Because revolvers are cool.

 

[Old cop]

From what you describe I believe a small revolver would suit your needs. They can be ignored for long periods of time then pulled and used w/o any problems. I had to use my issued revolver three times in 30 years, during the period when we all carried revolvers, and I’m still around to enjoy my retirement and I still carry a J frame.

 

[jtcarm]

Beats me.

Go to a rental range, try both, & see what you like.

I’m just a dyed-in-the-wool revolver guy. I’ve been playing with a Glock 22 and 3913 lately. I sorta see the attraction of the latter. Also a CZ-75C I tried at a rental range. The Glock, not so much.

I carry a K-frame .38 everywhere I go. It’s just what I know best.

Here’s one tip:

Revolver or auto, with the right holster and clothing selection, there is no reason to settle for a small-frame gun. Your ability to hit goes up considerably with larger-frame guns & longer barrels. IDK much about M&Ps (I have shot one), but it doesn’t look as though a compact or even full size would be much harder to conceal than a Shield, or that much extra weight in the right holster. I absolutely prefer a K-frame to J, and can carry comfortably all day in 100-degree heat (I live in Texas.)

On second thought, that’s no discomfort from carrying my revolver, plenty from the heat.

 

[S&W Rover]

The OP may end up liking both, or preferring one over the other. The recommendation to try both at a rental range is a very good idea.

Having said that, you can hardly go wrong with a "compact" (not small) or full size pistol, like the various versions of the M&P-9. And 9mm is a good caliber to start out with. You can branch out later.

If you decide to go with a revolver, a mid-sized revolver (something like a S&W K Frame) is a good thing to start with (not a 642). The 642 is a pocket revolver, and very good for what it is -- but not a fun gun to shoot at the range, and smaller than it needs to be for home defense.

Anyway, give a few guns a try at the range, and if you get one type or the other, there is no reason you can't branch out later. I'd bet most folks on this revolver forum also have pistols!

 

[Birdgun]

spirit4earth, I shoot and collect S&W revolvers. They are built like the finest mechanical watch. They are reliable, dependable, safe, easy to operate, and accurate. A S&W in deep black mirror blue with fine wood grips, like my large framed Model 25-5, is a joy to the eye. My Model 19-3 "Combat Magnum" is the handgun I shoot better than any handgun I've ever shot. If I'm hiking about and want to be well armed for any type of critter I might encounter, I carry a fine stainless Model 625-9 "Mountain Gun" in 45 Colt. If I were to concealed carry an utterly dependable revolver, it would be my little Model 36 "Chief's Special."

My everyday, concealed carry handgun, that I depend upon to protect my life and the life or my loved ones, is an ugly, works every time, life depending confidence, kick about, S&W Shield in 9mm.

S&W Model 25-5 that I nicknamed "Black Beauty" in 45 Colt (pleasing to look at, powerful, and deadly accurate).

S&W Model 19-3 "Combat Magnum" in 357 Magnum (I shoot it better than any other handgun).

S&W Model 625-9 "Mountain Gun" in 45 Colt.

S&W Model 36 "Chief's Special" in 38 Special

S&W M&P Shield in 9mm (my every day CCW).

Thanks for your consideration.

God bless,
Birdgun

 

[spirit4earth]

Thank you ALL for your input. It’s so helpful. Financially, I’d have to go with a J frame—-from what I can see, the K’s are too expensive. I think it will come down to a FS M&P 9 2.0, or a J frame with an enclosed hammer.
The next step is to see what’s at my two local shops, and go from there.

 

[UncleEd]

Stick with what you know and have liked.

Then down the road, when you acquire knowledge,
good taste and sophistication, get a K-frame
or L-frame revolver or a Ruger GP-100 or a
Ruger Blackhawk.

Or switch your question to the auto sections.
And never look forward.

 

[Ribwizzard]

So you don't have brass flying all over the place,

 

[JayFramer]

Revolvers do not jam and autos by and large are jamomatics in comparison. They also allow for more accurate fire due to the lower capacity. Users with autos tend to "pray and spray" while revolver shooters are more accurate since they know they have less rounds. Also rounds like the .500 S&W trump any auto pistol load for pure stopping power.

 

[Ribwizzard]

Then , like with a .357. You can load up some wimpy .38's and plink away having fun all day, then drop in some.357's and go kill some hogs, got some rats or snakes, they got some shot shells you can shoot out of the same gun.
Not ever going to find a semi auto that versatile.

 

[ajgunner]

I can't believe that nobody has even mentioned the fact that you don't need to bend over to collect your spent brass.

 

[Ribwizzard]

Dollar short

 

[Echo40]

Did we really need yet another Revolver vs Semiautomatic Pistol thread so soon?

Seriously, there are already a couple active ones on other subforums, not to mention countless others posted all across the internet.

Could we at least have another Bear Defense or [insert cartridge here] vs [insert marginally more powerful cartridge here] thread for a bit of variety among the redundant threads?

At any rate, I'll answer this thread the same way I always do... Carry the firearm that YOU are most proficient with and feel the most confident with, nothing less will satisfy YOU, and there's no point driving yourself crazy trying to find the illusive, optimal one-size-fits-all platform for self-defense. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.