Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
One thing I've never understood is why the barrels on all revolvers are positioned at the top of the cylinder. Seems if it was positioned at the bottom of the cylinder, you would have a much lower bore axis-to-hand position and thus more controllable recoil. You'd need an extended topstrap to carry the sights, but that could hold an internal laser or tactical light as well.
Alternatively, the cylinder need not be positioned above the hand. If it were positioned in front of the hand, you'd have a low bore axis. Lightweight materials (polymer, titanium, or light alloy) would help with the nose-heavy balance.
The other thing I'd like to see is the return of the top break revolver with automatic ejection. Press a thumb catch, in the blink of an eye the revolver frame springs open and the ejector throws out the shells then retracts. Slap in six rounds in a full-moon clip, the rounds sliding easily into the chamfered cylinder, snap the frame closed, and you'd be reloaded in a flash. Without having to be Jerry Michulek.
In deference to m21sniper, who thinks that all revolvers are unsafe without manual safeties, you could have a thumb safety and even a grip safety like the S&W model 40/42.
It would also be interesting to see a single-action revolver where the hammer is automatically cocked and the cylinder rotated by closing the frame, and thereafter by a gas system. This would allow a short single-action trigger pull.
Revolver design appears to have frozen 40 years ago.
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All of these ideas have been tried many times. The shooting public is pretty conservative and does not like radical change.
Revolvers have been built as:
rocket powered cartridges
semi auto,
self cocking,
up to 21 chambers
dual interlocking cylinders
low barrel
dual barrel
quick reload with snap in cylinders
etc.
The best combat revolver was the Webbley .455, durable, quick reload, heavy bullet and combat proven all over the world.