First Gun Purchase - SemiAuto vs Revolver

If you like the revolver then get a good quality revolver. It will probably outlast you. Still plenty of time to get a semi auto later.

I have both. My revolvers are range guns and toys mostly. If I were ever inclined to hunt with a handgun one of the magnum revolvers would be my pick. My semi's are the ones I trust more for serious use. But I still think that for most people starting out a revolver is probably a better place to start. Once you master one and gain more experience you'll be in a better position to decide. In a nutshell, if you need to ask for advice, go revolver.

I1924 said:

I like the concept of the revolver more.

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Then honestly in my opinion the rest of your question is unimportant at this time. If that's what you like, start there. Learning to shoot a double action revolver trigger will set you up to be a quick learner on any other trigger.

Advantages are the simple operation. Semiautos have lots of advantages too, real advantages, but a good revolver is a great starting point.

This was my first gun.

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After some trigger time you can reassess.

If you like a revolver, get a revolver

It will help to know if you live in a restricted State.

If I could have only one handgun, it would be a 4-inch revolver in .357 magnum. You can shoot light .38 special target loads up to full power .357 magnums. If you ever decide to start reloading, the options regarding bullets and power levels are truly amazing.

Mine is a Ruger GP100, but there are other options.

If you're strongly drawn to a revolver, then do that.

Otherwise, my standard suggestion for anyone who is going to buy their first handgun is to buy a target-oriented, full-sized, .22lr semi-automatic (e.g., a Ruger Mk___, a Browning Buckmark, etc.). Here is why:

• Learning to shoot a handgun well is not easy. Most people who buy a handgun never learn to shoot it well. It's not rocket science, but there are some counter-intuitive things about it, some obstacles to overcome, and a lot of reps required.
• There are some challenges that are common to all handgun shooting - such as learning sufficient muzzle discipline to avoid doing unsafe things, holding the pistol still enough to stay within whatever an acceptable hit zone is, learning to isolate the movement of your trigger finger from the other muscles of your strong hand, etc.
• Some guns add other challenges on top of these universal ones. Revolvers, for instance, add a long and comparatively heavy trigger pull (if shooting double-action). Service caliber guns add some recoil. Larger caliber guns add even more. And so on.
• Many things are best/fastest learned by stripping away as much extraneous stuff as possible and focusing on just the pure basics. A .22lr semi-auto does this. You can get a good (i.e., short-and-light) trigger. You don't have to deal with material amounts of recoil. You can also afford to shoot copious quantities, which is the real secret sauce of getting good.
• You can add other challenges later. But you will learn how to shoot handguns in general fastest and easiest by starting with a .22lr semi-auto with decent sights (or even a red-dot on top).

This approach is like learning to drive a car by taking a modestly-powered automatic-transmission car to an empty parking lot. There are other ways to learn to drive. But there's a lot to be said for starting at step 1 and then moving on from there.

ETA: I own both semi-autos and revolvers. I think learning to shoot a revolver DA is very beneficial to all handgun shooting, and I think every serious shooter should acquire that skill and the benefits that come from it. I am not anti-revolver. I just think that the easiest path is to learn the core stuff first, then add challenges.

Have you shot either one? Could go to a range that rents handguns & try both, see what you like.

Get what you like and what feels good, I like both so can't pic one for you. Think how you will use this gun, and what kind will be better for you. And you will be getting more anyway lol. Welcome to THR.

Unless you already have trigger time, go take a basic handgun course at a range that has rentals. Try some different options. After you have some experience, you will know how to answer that question.

Having stated that, a Buck Mark .22 would be my first recommendation so that you don't acquire a bunch of bad habits.

JudgeHolden10 said:

Unless you already have trigger time, go take a basic handgun course at a range that has rentals. Try some different options. After you have some experience, you will know how to answer that question.

Having stated that, a Buck Mark .22 would be my first recommendation so that you don't acquire a bunch of bad habits.

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There are many factors in play but the Judge has a great suggestion. Start with a low recoiling and inexpensive round and get some practice.

Sorry, the Judge is common suggestion for equipment to substitute for competence. Don't get it.

The OP needs to take some basic training with both types of guns to achieve some competence before getting into the usual weeds of this gun vs. that.

If the OP refuses or is unable to train (I understand finances), a 38 SPL DA revolver and perhaps some good training videos would suffice but this is not an optimal solution.

The next set of posts will usually recommend this or that. They are really not that important as compared to learning how to use a firearm correctly.

I second the notion of getting some experience with different handguns (any family or friends who are into shooting?), or finding a nearby range that offers training classes for new shooters. Lots of choices out there and while we can recommend this gun or that (I'm sure a lot of us would suggest a .357 double action revolver with a 4" barrel as your first and only gun), there are other factors you might want to consider before making your decision.

Is this gun primarily for target shooting or just plain old plinking? Will it be something used for concealed carry? How about home defense? Is it something you can afford (ammo costs and range time), to get enough practice in so you're reasonably competent with using it? A decent revolver from S&W or Ruger should be reliable and durable but is going to cost you a bit and you'll want to make sure it's really what you want before you invest the time and money with getting one.

As previously mentioned get some training and start out with a 22 rimfire pistol.

I say this as an individual that shoots revolvers 95% of the time.

I agree that a .22 is the smart path to follow. You will be glad you did when you look back. It takes a lot of practice to have decent skill with a handgun. So you will also save a lot of money even over cheap ammo like 9mm.

If you want to learn to shoot a handgun, a 22lr is best for most people. A good semi-automatic 22 is generally cheaper and easier to find than a high-quality 22 revolver. Lots of double-action 22 revolvers have horrible triggers. (I learned on a single-action Ruger Single Six as a teenager.)

My first "real" handgun was a medium-framed 4" 357 revolver. If I could only own one handgun, that is what I would pick. It can shoot mild 38's or crazy 357's. It is effective for almost all North American game animals, if you are skillful with it and get close enough. It's a good HD weapon, and you can CC it if you have to.

I've taught quite a few people to shoot, and they seem to generally find that a revolver is easier to understand right away (intuitive). With a semiautomatic they have more opportunity to get the controls confused, get some part of their hand whacked by the slide, limp-wrist it, etc.

There's nothing wrong with a revolver. Although semi-auto pistols with large magazines are popular for self defense, the reality is that most encounters end with no shots fired and most of the remainder take less than the capacity of a 5-shot snubbie. At the range, capacity isn't even an issue and you don't have to look for your spent brass.

If you have zero experience shooting handguns, I suggest a beginner's class that includes live firing with a variety of revolvers and semi-autos provided by the organization that sponsors the class. The NRA has classes as do most ranges.

Most ranges have rental guns. Try as many as possible to find the one that works best for you. A good fit to your hand (i.e. not too big or too small) is important.

Unless abused, good quality guns last a long time. A used one from a reputable gun store is as good as a brand new one. It may even be better because the previous owner shot it enough for the action to smooth out.

Nothing wrong with starting out on a revolver in my opinion. Like the others, a good .357 with a 4" barrel makes a good starter because you can begin with mild .38 target loads and gradually work your way up to the real fire-breathers available and back again, something you can't do as much with an auto. Couple that with no need to worry about spare magazines, unless you count speedloaders (another subject entirely) and you're all good.

While I began shooting handguns with a .22 auto (Whitney Wolverine in 1975), they can be a lot more fussy and frustrating if you're not accustomed to the quirks that come along with self-loaders.

GEM said:

Sorry, the Judge is common suggestion for equipment to substitute for competence. Don't get it. ...They are really not that important as compared to learning how to use a firearm correctly.

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JudgeHolden10 said:

Unless you already have trigger time, go take a basic handgun course at a range that has rentals. Try some different options. After you have some experience, you will know how to answer that question.

Having stated that, a Buck Mark .22 would be my first recommendation so that you don't acquire a bunch of bad habits.

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@GEM If I am reading your post correctly, you are thinking that I do not agree with you. On the contrary, I do agree with you completely. I think people would benefit from sampling a bunch of different firearms and taking a basic handgun class before selecting a handgun that may not suit them.

However, given the fact that virtually no one I know who shoots learned to shoot that way, I wanted to suggest the .22 handgun as the next best (although significantly less suitable than training and testing) alternative. There's an ideal, and there's also what most people, in my experience, actually do.

Perhaps I should have phrased that last sentence as "If you are not going to take a class and try different handguns due to whatever reason..." instead of "Having said that..." to make myself more clear. My apologies.

I you like the look and feel of a revolver then by all means , choose a revolver.

If I were to make a suggestion, it would be to get a 9mm revolver.
Ammo is cheap, recoil is light, power is adequate.

Im a wheel guy myself. But I own and shoot semi auto as well. Flavor of the day for me. I rotate each for my ccw.

Judge, I didn't mean anything too critical. I was just responding to the entire thread of this gun or that. Sorry if I sounded harsh, didn't mean to.
Buckmarks are fine guns. Not a bad trainer. I just caution folks who jump in to buying a gun for self-defense or carry without some experience.

My first handguns were autos. Had some basic familiarization and instruction on good technique, but i ran with a Taurus PT-145 for several years. It was my only handgun for many of those years and it did everything I wanted it to do. Even cc’d it some.

I ran through several autos before i found a revolver that fit my wants. Still have all except the Taurus. I shoot both autos and revolvers, and like having additional tools in my toolbox.

But autos are inexpensive, generally reliable, and available in a wide variety of calibers, capacities and sizes.

I’d start with one again-no regrets. If revolvers are what you are drawn to, though, there is certainly nothing wrong with that.

I own both but over the last couple of years I notice I am not using the revolvers much anymore. Autos are so much more ergo friendly and easier to shoot for me. For new shooters a revolver is a good choice, inherently safe and easy to live with. But as you move along with experience you will probably find an auto has more to offer. Any name brand polymer striker, hard to go wrong. Cheers.