Any room for improvement in revolvers?

[AZ Desertrat]

As much as I like my .44 Specials for carry....I still think we need more DA revolvers in "smaller" cartridges....how about some more in 32 H&R, .327 Fed, .32 Long.....etc...AND bring back a top-break in the same calibers.....

 

[chriske]

I don't know if it can be considered an improvement :
I love snubs, and the 6 or 8 cartridge clip is an excellent idea.
What if such (clip-loaded snub) were built to chamber short auto-pistol rounds (.45 ACP - 9 mm)
AND USE ACCORDINGLY SHORT CYLINDERS instead of overly long (.357 Mag-length) ones ?

 

[Sam1911]

Sort of like the Taurus M380? http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=856&category=Revolver

 

[chriske]

Yes, sort of.
I was thinking more in the direction of a 6 shot .45 ACP or 9 shot 9mm L-frame sized snub with a short, unfluted cylinder.

Actually truthfully I was dreaming about a swing-out cylinder version of a Webley RIC.
I confess : no improvement, there, just nostalgia.

 

[RealGun]

I don't think requiring moon clips is an "improvement", although I do enjoy my Smith 625JM. The differences in ammo availability and price are often mitigated by reloading revolver brass. The problem arises in .44 Special, very comparable in shooting experience to .45 ACP, with the guns being dropped from so many lines. The .44 mag guns that can shoot .44 special are usually overkill in size, weight, and barrel length.

Another one is .38 Special versus 9mm. That again is a reloader's solution, but is .38 Special ammo that hard to find or that expensive, to the point of requiring 9mm and moonclips?

Lastly, being able to shoot .45 Colt in a smallish gun is an abandoned niche that would have its following still.

Seems like there ought to be a spot for a .41 Special, like there is (or was) for my .41 Magnum.

Yes, I know, this is not about the gun's mechanics, but is an improvement in the revolver's status in gun companies' marketing plans

 

[benzy2]

Locally, 9mm is going for $15/50 and .38 special is running $23/50. That's a fairly large variation. Hand loads bring things much cheaper for the .38 but I can't find a comparable option price wise today in factory loads. Who knows what 6 months to a year will bring but I don't see factory loads catching up to 9mm prices. Still, I'll hand load .38s and be happy for cheap.

 

[RealGun]

Locally, 9mm is going for $15/50 and .38 special is running $23/50. That's a fairly large variation. Hand loads bring things much cheaper for the .38 but I can't find a comparable option price wise today in factory loads. Who knows what 6 months to a year will bring but I don't see factory loads catching up to 9mm prices. Still, I'll hand load .38s and be happy for cheap.

Sounds about right, but do I want to spend $500 for a special gun? I think a 9mm revolver would only make sense to someone who doesn't, and isn't planning to, reload.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Hey! I didn't explain my pic... Revolvers are different by design, and technology. Lighter wheelguns have more recoil. Stock design can go a long way in fixing that recoil but we don't produce stocks fitted to individual people for each handgun.

Better sights. Better grips. No failures for new defense guns - period.

The eight round 38/357Magnum and a five shot 38/357 J frame would work fine for where I work and play - that was my pic.