Revolver versus pistol

[flatbutt]

I've been thinking that it is time for a good old fashioned wheel gun that is simply constructed and always goes bang versus a semi-auto that is more complicated. This is brought on by my difficulty using the Glock. I've never had so many FTF/FTE issues with any other pistol. I know that my grip may be the cause of the issue but dang it is annoying.

So what do you guys think of the comparo...wheel gun versus pistol?

[LakeCleElum]

I'm way over being a gun buff, but:

For a handgun it's all about light weight and ease to conceal.....Semi-auto for me, 9mm or 40 Cal. Never had issues you mention, maybe seek advise from your local range/gun store?

[Taz's Master]

I love revolvers. Nothing more versatile or useful than a 4" .357. (I'd include reliable, but you're already going to have 500 Glock fanboys telling you how many thousands of rounds without cleaning they've shot with nary a failure.)

[HardDrive]

My Sig 938 has not been perfect, its FTFs on me once in a while. But I'm never going back to a wheel gun. I have a S&W hammerless, and its simply too porky to carry.

[vash]

isnt a revolver a type of pistol?

am i over thinking this? i thought a pistol was any firearm capable of one-handed use. dunno. english was not my first language..give me a pass folks.

[Hard-Deck]

Revolver: Pro-easy to use, easy to clean, no slide to jam. Con-less ammo than a semi auto.
Semi auto: Pro-more ammo. Con-in a point-blank fight, if you have the gun against the person, the slide may move making trigger pull impossible; gun inoperable. This has happened during carjacks.

Pros and cons are not balanced.

[crb07]

There are some nice 5 shot revolvers with internal hammers. A friend who works in a gun shop and teaches self defense says it is all he carries. Not much can go wrong. His opinion is most situations you will end up in are very close up and if someone grabs for your gun it is not really possible to stop it from firing compared to an automatic or revolver with an exposed hammer.
I am more of a G19/FNS9 type. Never had any issues even shooting reman at a range. I did have a G19 clip give me some issues. Can't visually see a problem but for some reason the slide will not stay open after the last round, only happens with this particular clip. Other than that both are super reliable.

[Taz's Master]

I reload, revolvers are more ammo tolerant, and don't scatter my brass all over the place. I can go 600-1500fps and a revolver will function just fine and all my brass will get reused.

[aigel]

What do you use it for?

I hunt - sometimes dangerous game. Revolvers only!

G

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

Revolver: Pro-easy to use, easy to clean, no slide to jam. Con-less ammo than a semi auto.
Semi auto: Pro-more ammo. Con-in a point-blank fight, if you have the gun against the person, the slide may move making trigger pull impossible; gun inoperable. This has happened during carjacks.

Pros and cons are not balanced.

No argument, revolvers have less ammo on board. Do you really expect to need more than 5 bullets? On TV and the movies they have gun battles all the time. If you are a cop you may need lots of bullets. I just can't imagine many situations the average citizen will be blasting away and need more than one bullet much less a 16 round clip. Nothing wrong with more bullets but 5 is likely more than most would ever need. Of course I am just speculating. I have never been in a situation where guns were drawn. I hope to never be in that situation.

[tabs]

S&W 686 or 586. Preferably of the earlier production variety. By the same token the Colt or varietal 1911's...Springfield makes top notch varieties at a modest cost for what you get.

[Shifter]

Seems like this might the solution to the capacity issue with a revolver.

[Bill Douglas]

Revolvers certainly are reliable and they come in a handy size.

[Taz's Master]

Originally Posted by tabs

S&W 686 or 586. Preferably of the earlier production variety. By the same token the Colt or varietal 1911's...Springfield makes top notch varieties at a modest cost for what you get.

K frames carry better, but hot .357's can ruin the forcing cone/barrel. Ruger's GP100 has a very underrated trigger, and the Six series is great in double action, besides the deserved reputation for durability and accuracy. Smith, Colt and Ruger are all three great options in revolvers.

A D Frame Colt in .38 special makes a sweet revolver. Very pricey, but if you aren't going to shoot .357's a Diamondback is about as nice as a .38 special gets. Police Positives, Detective Specials, Agents and Cobras (and the Magnum Carry if you find one) are all D Frame Colts like the Diamondback.

The Original model Trooper (not the MK III) is the platform the Python was built from. Although not as pretty, it is the same frame and action, and can be had for much less than a Python. The old Colt actions are more complicated than other designs though, and if they need tuned or repaired, smiths competent to work on them are rare and expensive. The newer Trooper MK III and King Cobra aren't as nice as a Python, but are very strong revolvers, and they're Colt pretty.

Dan Wessons are interesting revolvers strong, extremely accurate with interchangeable barrels, do not overlook them.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by vash

isnt a revolver a type of pistol?

am i over thinking this? i thought a pistol was any firearm capable of one-handed use. dunno. english was not my first language..give me a pass folks.

Revolvers are a type of handgun, as are pistols. The terms "revolver" and "pistol" are not interchangeable. "Pistol" covers every type of handgun that is not a revolver; semi-autos and single shots.

As far as civilian self defense, the revolver wins hands down. No pistol is as simple and reliable. If you can conceal a decent carry pistol, you can also conceal a decent carry revolver. Under "life or death" circumstances, the pistol rapidly becomes too complicated (especially if it malfunctions) to operate for most folks who are unaccustomed to that level of stress; one's fine motor skills and ability to recall details of operation of anything remotely complex simply vanish. Simply pointing and yanking a trigger is far, far easier, and will serve most of us much better.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

As far as civilian self defense, the revolver wins hands down. No pistol is as simple and reliable. If you can conceal a decent carry pistol, you can also conceal a decent carry revolver. Under "life or death" circumstances, the pistol rapidly becomes too complicated (especially if it malfunctions) to operate for most folks who are unaccustomed to that level of stress; one's fine motor skills and ability to recall details of operation of anything remotely complex simply vanish. Simply pointing and yanking a trigger is far, far easier, and will serve most of us much better.

Myself being relatively new (2-3 years) to firearms I would have to agree with the above. I can't/don't/won't carry at this time but can imagine being in SD situation where my SA pistol fails to perform due to user error. Our 686 is far less complicated. I have no stats on what is considered 'average' that typical gun owners spend training with their firearm. I will go on a limb with stating that my 1x a month is a bit above 'average' and I don't feel remotely capable to pull of HD with my pistol. YMMV.

[vash]

that big 8-shot S&W revolver is the coolest one of them all. it looks sinister. my brother (i think) said it was developed for the lead SWAT entry guy..that absolutely needs his gun not to jam. i think.

me, i think the 3" barreled 686P is on my shortlist. 7-shots..just three less than the great state of California thinks we need. or what we can be trusted with.

i shot a 686 with a 6" barrel..i couldnt miss. haha.

[sammyg2]

I watched that movie the other day called the book of Eli.

He got into a firefight with about a dozen bad guys and he got off at least 30 rounds from his semi-auto without re-loading.

I was thinking, no way could you do that with a revolver

[Taz's Master]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I watched that movie the other day called the book of Eli.

He got into a firefight with about a dozen bad guys and he got off at least 30 rounds from his semi-auto without re-loading.

I was thinking, no way could you do that with a revolver

I've seen movies where guys have gotten off easily 30 shots with a revolver.

[aschen]

im not really a carry guy, but if I were: I think one of those hammerless (titanium framed?) S&W .357 make alot of sense. I would worry about my ability to clear a jam or troubleshoot an issue in an adrenalin fueled instant. I would suspect accidental discharge is pretty difficult with a double action only revolver as well though I am not sudgesting tempting fate.