What am I missing by not owning a revolver?
- Thread starter Otis
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Jerry Miculek can reload a revolver faster than I can reload a semi auto but on average, for the average shooter, it takes about 6 seconds to empty a cylinder and reload it with out speed loader practice.
I have an older S&W that has a butter smooth action and is a dream to shoot but I stand by my comments, not to bash revolvers, but because I believe it to be true that in general, revolvers have heavier trigger pulls, lower ammo capacity, and slower reload times and those are three things the OP would be missing by not owning a revolver.
Studentofthegun
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With zero practice I have seen people make a hash out of reloading a semi auto.
Every revolver is different. Ruger makes a 5 shot 9mm revolver that uses moon clips. It is very fast to reload. With a little bit of practice I am certain you could reload a revolver a lot quicker than you might think. If I can do it, you can too.
If you want to disregard all revolvers as inferior to semi autos that's fine. To each their own. That doesn't change the fact that a revolver can be a very effective self defense weapon.
Studentofthegun
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Oh no, I don't mean that, I like revolvers. Those are just the only things I could think of that one would miss by not owning one
In other words, the only things someone would miss are negatives? Not sure I buy that, but as I said, to each their own.
Here are some advantages to revolvers:
1. Many people struggle to operate the slide because they lack the strength or ability to do so. I saw this a lot back when I was an instructor. It may have had something to do with the fact that many of my students were women. However I've seen some men that had arthritis or other issues that prevented them from doing so.
2. In the winter I can carry a revo in my jacket pocket and in a pinch can fire it from inside my jacket pocket. It has an internal hammer which makes this possible. Not ideal, but nice to be able to do so.
3. Some small semi autos (if we are talking about pocket pistols) are simply less reliable than a small revolver. I've owned a KelTec 3AT and a couple of Ruger LCPs. While Inreally like my LCP Custom, I know for a fact that my 642 is more reliable. Same went for the Kahr PM9 that I had. Nice gun but nowhere near as reliable as my 642. That's not to say that revos are perfect but they do have distinct advantages.
4. Being able to use two different cartridges and still have a reliable gun is a plus. My wife could carry or shoot a revolver is .38 special while I could choose to carry it with .357. Download 9mm and you might be facing the prospect of unreliable operation.
There you go. Some positive aspects that someone might miss by not owning a revolver.
I'll say this as well: shooting revolvers has made me a better shooter. I've learned trigger control because of it. With a revolver, one should maintain the sight picture throughout the trigger pull. The lessons from revolver shooting have served me well at matches, even if I am running my STI Edge.
Magdump
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The only way to find out if you are missing anything is to buy that 586 and shoot it for a while. I have a seven shot 586 plus that I really enjoy shooting. It's a great gun for days when I want to slow down and focus on shooting tiny groups at 25-50 yards with 38 Special loads or ringing steel at 100+ yards with 357 Magnum loads. Don't worry about the crooked barrel issues. That problem was blown way out of proportion and isn't nearly as common as others will try to lead you to believe.
In some cases the age of the owner/shooter has something to do with liking only semi autos. The older the shooter the more they probably prefer revolvers...younger folks obviously seem to prefer the autos.
Doesn't always work that way though. A good example is forum member Prosecutor. He could justifiably change his CFF moniker to Revolver King and it would be an appropriate fit.
An old fart like me likes them all equally well as long as they ain't too ugly.
They can be finish worn and still not be ugly
39, and I would buy a fixed sight Smith any day of the week over a plastic fantastic.
My latest pickup.
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An amazing trigger if you are taking about older S&W pinned and recessed guns. I also use them to teach new shooters. Smooth long DA triggers with crisp clean quick SA triggers helps new shooters shoot well. Also no mags, decockers, safeties, FTF, FTE etc... This does not apply to all revolvers but in general even avg revolver triggers are better than most semi-auto triggers.
Agree the 686 is sweet, I got my 686+ 4" after my folks passed away seven years ago.
I am a little late to this thread, not being that interested in revolvers, but I swear it looks like you have a wooden magwell on that. Double take, I did.
It is a pretty gun, and would be fun to try sometime.
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I own several different types of handguns, but I nearly always find myself w/ a revolver close by. Once in a blue moon do I get on a short-term capacity kick, where I'll edc a double stack auto, but not very often.
There is just something I find very comforting about a good heavy service revolver. I generally tote a blue 1978 4" Colt Mk3 Trooper. When I need something smaller, I reach for the 2.5" 386 Night Guard.
As much as I like the BHP, CZ75, 1911 and various Walthers, If all the handguns I had were a few medium frame revolvers, that'd be fine by me...
There is just something I find very comforting about a good heavy service revolver. I generally tote a blue 1978 4" Colt Mk3 Trooper. When I need something smaller, I reach for the 2.5" 386 Night Guard.
As much as I like the BHP, CZ75, 1911 and various Walthers, If all the handguns I had were a few medium frame revolvers, that'd be fine by me...
I have to admit, I'm starting to eye either a Ruger LCR or Taurus for a second EDC gun
Then I'm afraid I must be a member of Black Guns Matter, no diversity here.
Laughed out loud... thanks for that.
For me, a revolver just carries with it a sense of history and nostalgia. I have a variety of semi-autos I may carry, but I have no problem carrying my little j-frame .38 and feeling well armed. It goes bang every time. To each his own... as they say, YMMV.