Are Revolvers Actually better than Autos?

[Kiln]

Its all preference really. From my experience revolvers are prefered by older people and guys who just don't want to have to continuously rotate ammo and make sure the gun is lubed perfectly. Semi Autos are more likely to hang up on you especially if you buy sub compacts or cheap ones but can be easily cleared. While revolvers are less likely to malfunction, if they do screw up it isn't normally easily rectified and the gun is essentially out of the fight.

 

[engineer88]

I carry either a glock19 or SP101 every day. It really depends upon my mood that day. I like the capacity of the semi, I like the simple versatility of my wheel.

The big tellall however is if I could only have one, the SP101 would win. Why? I can shoot 38 for cheap fun, load light 357 for carry, or heavy 357's for woods, or even shot for that matter. Would I prefer more rounds if I could have it? Certainly. But I do not feel unarmed with only five. Plus, I love my stainless steel. Just something about it and nickel and a deep blued finish on a revolver. Just a lot to love and I love them all.

All that being said I am right down the middle, about ten auto and ten wheels. I just seem to gravitate towards the wheels as I get older and shoot more.

 

[credx2]

An obscure addition to the list

One more for the list: works underwater
I was talking with a Seal friend of mine last year on a dive trip. He told me the Seals use the S&W 686 when they shoot underwater. The logic was pretty clear. He said that a cylinder will turn underwater while the water stalls the momentum from a slide on a semi auto preventing it from operating correctly. It made perfect sense to me. I remember when Glocks first came out, one of the arguments on their superiority was that the barrel wouldn’t bulge if fired while it was full of water. I mentioned that to my friend. He said the 686 worked just fine full of water.
Just my opinion but if I’m going to war I want my Glock, the range my 1911, and if stranded on an island for the rest of my life my 686 if I could only have one it would be my 686…Oh yeah shooting bad guys underwater…my 686.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

Yeah, before that it was 4" model 66s. I disremember about shooting under water, but the stainless, and magnum power. were factors.Decisive accurate hits in hostage scenarios. blah d bla bla
I got an article about it around here some place. Theres gotta be a SEAL around here we can ask?

 

[charlie echo]

"Glock Leg" is when you shoot yourself in the leg while either drawing or holstering your Glock.

I was wondering that....and read your answer that made me laugh so abruptly I spewed pistachios on my two cats on the kitchen counter...

I used to think I liked Glocks until I and my girlfriend, now my wife, shot several at the range where we're members of...



p.s. yes I know I've dug up a zombie-thread

 

[jump]

are revolvers actually better than autos

they dont jam lol

 

[PoserHoser]

One more for the list: works underwater
I was talking with a Seal friend of mine last year on a dive trip. He told me the Seals use the S&W 686 when they shoot underwater. The logic was pretty clear. He said that a cylinder will turn underwater while the water stalls the momentum from a slide on a semi auto preventing it from operating correctly. It made perfect sense to me. I remember when Glocks first came out, one of the arguments on their superiority was that the barrel wouldn’t bulge if fired while it was full of water. I mentioned that to my friend. He said the 686 worked just fine full of water.
Just my opinion but if I’m going to war I want my Glock, the range my 1911, and if stranded on an island for the rest of my life my 686 if I could only have one it would be my 686…Oh yeah shooting bad guys underwater…my 686.

Shooting a gun under water hmmmm....... hopefully somone with expierence will answer this

 

[gunguy0829]

A bullet when fired under water will go about 20-30 feet,( study done by glock with a 9mm ) and just fall, plenty of other studies on that, seals shooting under water, maybe special ammo and i know the russians have developed a gun specific for shooting under water, no expert just my two sense.

As far as auto or revolver, simply i shoot better with a wheel gun, 686-5 6" barrel, thats what i carry. I stil love my autos and sometime carry my ruger p345.

 

[MCgunner]

If you do it with a double action revolver, is it still Glock Leg? I mean its the guns fault either way , right?

If you do it with a revolver, it's not "Glock Leg", it's Darwinism.

 

[Tim37]

they dont jam lol

i had one of those cheap heritage single six knock offs that would lock up. somtimes it got interesting getting it to unlock you had to pull the cyclinder with it on a live round and the hammer cocked.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Right now, as I ponder why my new Gen4 G26 is finicky with 115gr range ammo....
I would say my revolver is King for concealed carry!

 

[Doug S]

I would say, not better, just different.

 

[PabloJ]

They are more suitable for handgun hunting but in all other respects modern pistol is superior.

 

[hariph creek]

Depends...what's it for, what do you like, what do you shoot better, what do you have, what etc...

Revolvers can be quite versatile. They can ''jam'', via debris or a jumped crimp.

Autos are probobaly superior combat weapons.
My 10mm will more than ''nip at the heels'' of a .357mag. It does barely ''nip at the heels'' of the .41mag, though.

I like semi-autos, alot. I like revolvers better.
I generally shoot semi-autos more accurately. I generally enjoy shooting revolvers more.

Modern polymer semi-autos (Glock/XDm/M&P/etc...) are probobaly better (for military and law enforcement) than older semi-autos and revolvers. They just leave me flat.

I love .38special.

If I could only have one centerfire handgun, it would be a 3" K-frame, preferably M65. 99% of the time I'd put .38special through it.
Since I don't have to choose. It's a 10mm 1911 and a .38 snub.
My unconverted 1957 Single Six, is pure pleasure.

 

[Jeff H]

I love my revolvers and shoot them as much as the auto loaders, but 17 beats 6.

 

[CraigC]

They are more suitable for handgun hunting but in all other respects modern pistol is superior.

Automatics 'may' be superior as combat weapons but in all other respects revolvers are superior.

I would also love to see a $400 automatic shoot 2" groups at 50yds.

I'd love to see an automatic feed any bullet shape, style or weight without possibility of malfunction.

I'd love to see a "modern" automatic incapable of being seperated from its magazine.

I'd love to see an automatic with a safe 2lb trigger.

I'd love to see an automatic that functions on cartridges the length of the .357/.41/.44 magnums and do so at any power level.

I'd love to see an automatic .44Mag that can use any cast bullet up to 355gr at any velocity and NOT weigh 4lbs.

I'd love to see an automatic .44Spl.

I'd love to see an automatic .38Spl, besides the S&W 52.

I'd love to see an automatic .357 that functions at any power level and with any bullet.

I'd love to see an automatic .38-40.

I'd love to see an automatic .32-20.

I'd love to see an automatic .32H&R.

I'd love to see an automatic .327Fed.

I'd love to see an automatic .41Mag.

I'd love to see an automatic .45Colt.

I'd love to see an automatic .475Cooper.

I'd love to see an automatic .480Achilles.

I'd love to see an automatic .480Ruger.

I'd love to see an automatic .475Linebaugh.

I'd love to see an automatic .500Linebaugh.

I'd love to see an automatic .500JRH.

I'd love to see an automatic .500S&W.

I'd love to see an automatic .50Spl.

I'd love to see an automatic .577Tranter.

I'd love to see an automatic stir my soul the way a blued and case colored single action revolver does.

I'd love to see an automatic make me wanna spend $5000 on it.

I'd love to see an automatic make me wanna adorn it with carved ivory.

I'd love to see a "modern" automatic worthy of engraving.

I'd love to see a "modern" automatic that accepts custom stocks of any kind.

Seems to me that there is a hell of a lot that a "modern" automatic can't do.

...but 17 beats 6.

You can't miss fast enough to win a gunfight and most are 2-3 shots.

 

[HGM22]

Like others have said, they both have advantages and disadvantages, and I think you have to choose based on the situation.

 

[oldfool]

I do casual wear an autoloader, and enjoy range time with others
but I vote with Craig C, #66

If the 1st three don't get it done, I probably already lost the fight, and a couple or three backup rounds if I ain't dead yet will do for me; I live a 'quieter' life, outside of cyber-space anyway. The plastic is for the body bag they put me in if I lose.

So I leave the hi-cap autoloaders for EDC to LEOS and soldiers who are obliged to go on offense, and I reach for a lever action, with a revolver for backup if/when my small slice of world turns into a "scenario", with none but milady for backup armed same/same, cell phone optional.

Can still "range in" a few rounds and hit a soda pop can at 100 yards with most of my 4"-6" centerfire revolvers (none of 'em custom built), with any round in the gun caliber, if you give me enough time.
Never could do that with any of my autoloaders, save rimfires.

I don't shoot 5 rounds a year in self defense, much less than 15 or more.
But >5000 rounds a year easy, because I enjoy shooting with what I like shooting best.

Be it the gun or the shooter, know your own limits, do your own thing.

 

[PRM]

Revolvers

Is a Revolver Better - Why absolutely...

There is nothing like a Colt C&B revolver unless

Its a Colt Single Action Army unless

Its a Colt Bisley unless

Its a Colt Police Positive Special unless

Its a Colt Detective Special unless

Its a Colt Diamondback unless

Its a Colt Python

AND I AM NOT BIASED!!!

To prove it, I have owned and shot both Colt .380s and Colt 1911s

 

[oldfool]

"There is nothing like"

unless it be a vintage S&W model 27
AND I AM NOT BIASED!!!
either, of course
(note I did not say "better")

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Just going to cover the things I see issues with.

I'd love to see a "modern" automatic incapable of being separated from its magazine.

Spare Magazines come to mind, a semi auto being incapable of being separated from it's magazine would be a hindrance and I've never lost a magazine.

I'd love to see an automatic with a safe 2lb trigger.

I'd love to see a revolver with a safe 2lb trigger.

I'd love to see an automatic .44Spl.

I'd love to see an automatic .38Spl, besides the S&W 52.

I'd love to see an automatic .357 that functions at any power level and with any bullet.

I'd love to see an automatic .38-40.

I'd love to see an automatic .32-20.

I'd love to see an automatic .32H&R.

I'd love to see an automatic .327Fed.

I'd love to see an automatic .41Mag. <- Desert Eagle

I'd love to see an automatic .45Colt.

I'd love to see an automatic .475Cooper.

I'd love to see an automatic .480Achilles.

I'd love to see an automatic .480Ruger.

I'd love to see an automatic .475Linebaugh.

I'd love to see an automatic .500Linebaugh.

I'd love to see an automatic .500JRH.

I'd love to see an automatic .500S&W.

I'd love to see an automatic .50Spl.

I'd love to see an automatic .577Tranter.

Some of those cartridges are obsolete and others are specialty.

I'd love to see an automatic make me wanna spend $5000 on it.

I'd love to see a revolver OR an automatic make me want to speed 5 grand on.

I'd love to see a "modern" automatic worthy of engraving.

1911, Hi Power, Colt 1903, SIG P210, etc.

I'd love to see a "modern" automatic that accepts custom stocks of any kind.

1911, Hi Power, various .22 autos.

Seems to me that there is a hell of a lot that a "modern" automatic can't do.

What's your definition of modern anyway? Revolvers haven't changed much in the last century.

 

[gunguy0829]

PRM, just a guess you like colt?

 

[PRM]

Gunguy0829, how did you deduce that, I was trying to be subtle, To answer the OP I like both semi-autos and revolvers. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be a revolver and that's just personal thing - has nothing to do with one being better than the other

oldfool, I also own a few new and vintage S&Ws. They do kind of look good together (Colt and S&W). The ONE gun I have always regretted letting go was an original New Model #3 S&W in 44 Russian that was 98-99% condition. I even had a six inch target barrel and a 4 inch service barrel that were both serialized to the gun. What was I thinking...:banghead:

 

[AFDavis11]

I prefer revolvers for personal defense. Easier to deal with and very reliable. I do like how flat an auto is though.

I would like a 4 shot revolver in .44 or .45 that had a cylinder small enough to conceal, like S/W J-Frame size. That'd be neat.

If I were a cop today though, I'd probably go with the auto and use a revolver as a backup.

I have always been bothered about a story I read many years ago about someone, in Israel I think, that got killed by a guy attacking him with a knife. A very dangerous situation. He saw the attack coming but the guy closed the distance too fast. He drew a Browning High Power and got off two shots. The attacker simply grabbed the slide with one hand and stabbed away with the other. While grappling with the gun it jammed and despite taking two 9mm rounds the attacker survived.

I've always been concerned more with the close engagments rather than the far ones.

The idea of fighting off a knife attack with a jammed auto still bothers me.

While in the military we transitioned to the Berretta 9mm and that thing shot like piece of junk. Bullets sprayed all over the back stop. I think the target, that I had so easily hit year after year with a revolver, was actually laughing when I got done.

I've never been too convinced of the stopping power of bullets that miss or the firepower of a jammed automatic.

 

[JRH6856]

The attacker simply grabbed the slide with one hand and stabbed away with the other.

The idea of fighting off a knife attack with a jammed auto still bothers me.

It would be no different if the guy grabbed the cylinder of a revolver. if the cylinder can't turn, the gun won't fire.