Why I carry a revolver...

[357magWheelGunner]

Hey All,

I got into a discussion today with a friend of mine, and we got on the topic of "why I choose to carry a revolver" when most people in my generation prefer auto loaders. I thought it might be interesting to hear any of the members stories...here's mine...

I've been carrying as a civilian ever since I left the Marine Corps, I have to admit it, I was a 1911 and a Glock guy for several years. My primary carry was a Springfield TRP 1911, I always kept up maintenance on her, cleaned and inspected on a regular basis...everything that needed to be done to make sure my sidearm was in top working order. So, I got to the range to sling some lead...unholstered the Springer, made clear, and loaded up to fire. I got my sights on target, squeezed the trigger...and...click...nothing. I cleared the round, looked like a light primer strike. Put 4 or 5 rounds down range with no issues, reloaded a magazine with my carry ammunition...and after 2 rounds...FTF.
Soon after that, I started carrying a 686...and never looked back.
There were 1000 things that could have caused the malfunctions, but it was always in the back of my head, and I just never really had trust in auto loaders again. Revolvers can malfunction, but statistical, they will do so a fraction of the time that an auto loader will.

 

[robertrwalsh]

The decision to carry a revolver is a perfectly valid one. You get 5 or 6 or 7 shots pretty much for sure. For a private citizen (as opposed to a police officer) it is almost certain that it will do the job. I still sometimes carry a Colt DS (though most often I now carry a very small 1911 in .38 Super). I don't feel undergunned with the Colt, I just prefer the 1911.

 

[hsmith9491]

Two J frames gives me ten rounds.

 

[Arik]

I wouldnt say its a Perfectly valid reason. It is a reason. It's kinda like having a check engine light on a model X car and never buying a car again.

That being said my model 28 will usually set off 2 or 3 out of 6 on the first try. Have yet to shoot a full 6 rounds. My former model 12 would bind and not allow rotation of the cylinder on 2 out of 6. Trigger would stop half way. If I let go and pulled again I could usually force it shoot.

 

[bigwheelzip]

The only positive to the cool "winter" weather here in SC, is wearing cover garments that allow my favorite 686+ carry. Unfortunately, its only a few weeks a year.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I have a number of reasons why I generally carry a revolver but I do sometimes switch to auto!atic pistols. Reliability is the main reason for my wheelies, along with a lifetime of love for them. Additional firepower requirements (situational thought process) moves me to a pistol.

 

[gman51]

I had mostly semi autos but then I went to the revolvers. I went for a couple reasons. One I just feel the revolver is safer against ND and over all safety. 2nd I feel the revolver is less likely to jam.
I feel if I need more than 5 shots I am likely not to live through a confrontation anyway. Besides I can carry speed loaders.
But to each his own for sure.

 

[crazyphil]

From 15 years experience training a few thousand students on the range I believe the revolver is 5 times more reliable than the pistol. I don't have any scientific statistics to back it up. Just a WAG based on observations. After all is said and done I carry a Ruger SP101 .357 with Crimson Trace on board.

 

[gertieharry]

I'm a reloader, I just don't want to run around looking for all the brass.

 

[JonF]

I'm 77 years old and in my experience the good old 642 with Hornady critical defense in the cylinder keeps my comfort level right up there.

Here in Michigan (even this year) we wear several layers of garments. One in my jacket front chest pocket and one on my hip keep me relaxed yet ready for the gas station would be carjacker. So far so good.

 

[ContinentalOp]

The main reason I prefer revolvers for carry is that I tend to shoot them better. I never really pinned down why, but I've always thought it had to do with the rolling DA trigger pull giving me a better "compressed surprise break," as Jeff Cooper put it, IIRC.

Another big reason is dry-fire practice. I can't afford to go to the range as much as I like so I supplement with dry fire practice, which can be tedious with a semi-auto. I've always been concerned about bullet setback from chambering rounds in a semi-auto. When I had a Glock I would clear the chambered round and put it in a separate box to use on the range whenever I unloaded the gun for cleaning or dry fire practice. Probably a little overly cautious, I'll admit. But I never have to worry about that with a revolver. Open cylinder, dump rounds. When ready to go live again just replace rounds. No setback issues. Plus, there are not that many semi-autos out there that can be dry-fired in a relatively realistic way. If I wanted to get the proper Glock trigger feel with every dry-fire shot I'd have to cock the slide after every shot, not an action I'd want to have ingrained in my "muscle memory". With my revolver working the gun while unloaded feels the same as live firing, with the obvious exceptions of recoil and muzzle blast/flash.

As far as reliability, I personally think there's no real difference between revolvers and semi-autos, at least when comparing good quality brands. One thing I will say is that the stoppages the semi-auto users say are quick to clear generally involve the feeding/extraction/ejection cycle, which, for the most part, don't apply to revolvers.

A few other revolver advantages I like...

* I don't have to worry about the slide being pushed out of battery if I have to make a contact shot.

* I don't have to worry about a reciprocating slide getting caught in my clothing if I have to fire from the retention position.

* I don't have to worry about limp-wrist-induced stoppages due to injury or having to fire from awkward angles.

* It's easier to get a revolver that fits my hand well than a semi-auto.

I also like this article, even though I don't necessarily agree with every point: http://www.snubtraining.com/pdfs/WhyRevolversBeatAutos.pdf

Having said all that, I would have no problem carrying a semi-auto if I had one that met my needs. I think either type of gun will work well in the defensive/carry role. People have different needs/wants and they can choose whichever tool best fits them. I think one's competence with the tool carries more weight than the type of tool chosen.

 

[scooter123]

First off I love Revolvers. Love shooting them and love the way practicing with a double action revolver improves my trigger skills. As a result I tend to shoot between 100 and 150 rounds per week through one of my revolvers. As much as I hate to sound like a smart aleck my response to your post was you must not do much shooting with your revolvers. Because you name it, I have experienced just about avery fault that a revolver can produce. Misfires due to strain screws backing out, been there done that. Jammed cylinder due to powder debris under the extractor, been there done that. Jamming cylinder due tothe ejector rod backing out, been there done that. Misfires due to a short hammer nose on a Bangor Punta S&W, been there done that.

Now, I will admit that anytime I've had a mechanical issue with one of my revolvers I have fixed that issue and haven't had a repeat of issues like strain screws backing out. However, powder under the extractor is a continuing issue with any of my revolvers and try as I might to build a good ejection habit that particular skill is still evading me. Quite simply if I start rushing my reloads I get sloppy and usually get "bit" once or twice each range session.

However, in all the years I've been carrying my 40 caliber Sig P239 I have had exactly 1 fault in over 4000 rounds downrange. That fault was a misfire due to a primer in a round of Federal Champion that was missing the anvil. Needless to say I will continue to carry my P239 because it's proven to be far more reliable than my revolvers. In fact I am so impressed with how my first P239 has performed I have a nearly new spare waiting in reserve that's only been shot enough to confirm it's as reliable as my first.

 

[hannstv]

I just returned from the range about an hour ago, I was shooting nothing but revolvers. First time I have do that in years. All shooting was done double action and I haven't enjoyed shooting that much in a long time. Give me a J frame and I am "pretty salty", until I run out of ammo anyway. I have quit worrying if I need more capacity, 5 in the gun and a speed strip, that's more than I have needed for the first 69 years anyway.

 

[CH4]

To avoid having to explain, I carry 1911s and Smith revolvers equally. Both have had to proven reliable, or I wouldn't carry them.

 

[Rockdoc16]

Shield 9, 9C, and Ruger LCR. Feel safe with all of them. Gotta say, love shooting the LCR.

 

[cmort666]

I carried a 2" 36 for years.

Then heads started getting cut off and public places started getting shot up as part of certain "faith based initiatives".

At that point, I decided that five rounds of .38 Special and a reload weren't necessarily adequate. I now alternate between a 3 1/2" Citadel M1911 in .45acp and a Glock 19.

The 36 is good enough for any strongarm robber I'm going to come up against. Unfortunately, the threat has changed...

 

[DevilDog72]

I own and have carried both, never a real issue with either. The one and only real reason I carry a revolver is..... I like them better and , well, I can. So I guess that is 2 reasons.

 

[cmort666]

This is often caused by a strain screw that is either not screwed in tight, or which has been shortened too much, or a light weight main spring (or one that has been bent to emulate a light weight main spring.)

Your Model 28 should be 100% reliable.

I had an identical problem with my 3" 65, which I got police surplus from CDNN.

Some genius had cut off the strain screw then screwed it all the way in, so that it LOOKED stock. I'd get random light hits, sometimes 2-3 a cylinder. Fortunately I found this out when I took it to the range SPECIFICALLY to test the reliability before I started carrying it.

My smith and I finally figured it out and replaced the butchered screw with a stock part, after which it'd been 100%.

 

[Arik]

From 15 years experience training a few thousand students on the range I believe the revolver is 5 times more reliable than the pistol. I don't have any scientific statistics to back it up. Just a WAG based on observations. After all is said and done I carry a Ruger SP101 .357 with Crimson Trace on board.

This is probably somewhat true but there are only so many revolver manufacturers. You have current Ruger, Charter arms, S&W and old Colts. How many semi autos exist? That's the problem, people just lump them all in together. It's like saying sedans are more reliable than trucks. Some probably are and some arnt. Buying a cheap $150 semi auto and comparing it to a model 10 or 19 or 586 or Ruger SP101/GP/security special isn't fair. A work horse should be compared to a work horse.

 

[Targets Guy]

First off I love Revolvers. Love shooting them and love the way practicing with a double action revolver improves my trigger skills. As a result I tend to shoot between 100 and 150 rounds per week through one of my revolvers. As much as I hate to sound like a smart aleck my response to your post was you must not do much shooting with your revolvers. Because you name it, I have experienced just about avery fault that a revolver can produce. Misfires due to strain screws backing out, been there done that. Jammed cylinder due to powder debris under the extractor, been there done that. Jamming cylinder due tothe ejector rod backing out, been there done that. Misfires due to a short hammer nose on a Bangor Punta S&W, been there done that.

Now, I will admit that anytime I've had a mechanical issue with one of my revolvers I have fixed that issue and haven't had a repeat of issues like strain screws backing out. However, powder under the extractor is a continuing issue with any of my revolvers and try as I might to build a good ejection habit that particular skill is still evading me. Quite simply if I start rushing my reloads I get sloppy and usually get "bit" once or twice each range session.

However, in all the years I've been carrying my 40 caliber Sig P239 I have had exactly 1 fault in over 4000 rounds downrange. That fault was a misfire due to a primer in a round of Federal Champion that was missing the anvil. Needless to say I will continue to carry my P239 because it's proven to be far more reliable than my revolvers. In fact I am so impressed with how my first P239 has performed I have a nearly new spare waiting in reserve that's only been shot enough to confirm it's as reliable as my first.

I had an identical problem with my 3" 65, which I got police surplus from CDNN.

Some genius had cut off the strain screw then screwed it all the way in, so that it LOOKED stock. I'd get random light hits, sometimes 2-3 a cylinder. Fortunately I found this out when I took it to the range SPECIFICALLY to test the reliability before I started carrying it.

My smith and I finally figured it out and replaced the butchered screw with a stock part, after which it'd been 100%.

Amazing. I just finished dealing with the exact same problem in my K-38. My strain screw had backed out about two turns. All my rounds were getting dimpled but no "boom". When I put the rounds in the accompanying Model 19 - "Boom". Tightened the strain screw and so far six cylinders of flawless performance from the K-38. Thanks.