Are Revolvers Actually better than Autos?

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Got_Lead? said:
Hmmmm, an interesting thought to ponder. Is it possible that revolvers might just be superior to autoloaders? I think I'm beginning to side up with the old wheel shooters.

My weekends of late have been spent working up loads for the .38 special. What an absoultely wonderful old cartridge, it's just a joy to shoot, and very easy to reload. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it.

It's been several years since I have shot this cartridge, or for that matter, having shot reolvers in general. Like so many, I'd been bitten by the flash of XD's, Berettas, SIG's, etc, etc.

All this began several months ago, as the weather began to permit shooting again. I had just fitted a match barrel to my 1911 mil spec and wanted to work up a very accurate load for it. The first shots out of the barrel grouped into 1 hole at 25 yards, with 1 "flyer" about 1/2" away. That was the best I was to do out of the pistol for the next 4 shooting sessions. A lot of the groups I shot wouldn't best 2 1/2", and I began to wonder if it was me or the gun. So I decided to take out the Smith model 52 .38 master, which I had not yet fired (the clerk at the gun shop looked at me funny when I bought the gun, "your'e not going to actually fire that are you"? These guns were required to shoot 2" or less at 50 yards, so we were going to find out if it was just me that couldn't shoot.

So anyway, off we went to the range with several boxes of load work-ups, and for comparison, along came the 6" Security-Six. The comparison was an interesting eye opener.

To begin with the M-52 shot admirably, 1" to 2" groups at 25 yards (I did find out that I am the cause of larger groups, that's another story). What was interesting was how well the wheelgun performed by comparison.

My loads chrongraphed consistantly about 50 fps higher from the Security-Six, I had really expected the opposite, given the BC gap on the revolver, but this was not the case. The accuracy from my $212 Security-Six was every bit as good as the Smith target pistol, and perhaps a bit less fussy about the loads.

As I re-acquainted with revolvers after years of shooting autoloaders, several things occured to me about how superior they are:

1 Out of the box they are considerably more accurate than most autoloaders, and more forgiving of load.

2 They will shoot heavy loads, and light loads without ever having to worry about which recoil spring is installed. Will it function the action? Not to worry, if there's powder and a primer, she'll go bang.

3 No FTF's, FTE's, Stovepipes, etc.

4 Not too many autoloaders that can go toe to toe with the revolver on power.

5 You know when it's loaded.

6 The revolver is ideal to introduce the new shooter, clearing, loading, and shooting are so much less complicated.

7 You can easily see that it's loaded.

8 If you reload, your brass is really really easy to find.

9 "Glock Leg" much less likely to happen

10 And you gotta just love watching the cylinder turn.

Yup, I almost forgot how much I enjoyed em.
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No!

10/15/17 rounds are always > 5

Revolvers are ugly, capacity limited, they malfunction too, weird feeling grip, just terrible shooting experience.

Only revolver I could ever see myself owning is a s&w .500 magnum and that's just for S&G's.

Not to mention reloading is way better with a semi

Semi autos rule

*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*
 
With creamy peanut butter, sometimes the lid malfunctions. Plus the jar feels funny in my hand.

With crunchy, you get more AND bigger peanuts. It's way easier to make a sandwich with crunchy.

End of story!
 
Crunchy spreads more accurately.

That was a good point about creamy being injection molded.
I think it might be MIM!

Crunchy is a better application in the particular way I use it.
It thus, is best for everything!

I've only really tried creamy a couple times. I've had crunchy alot.
Therefore, crunchy is better!

You would have to be an idiot to agree...no wait...disagree, with this logic?
 
Revolvers VS Autos

To the poster who said that revolvers are ugly well first you need new glasses thier is no more of a beatiful gun made that a stainlees Ruger Super Redhawk & I AM NOT THROWING OFF ON ANYONES AUTO but most of them look the same my boy bought him a new auto pistol last year that jammed moe than a jar of Smuckers "Revolvers are ugly, capacity limited, they malfunction too, weird feeling grip, just terrible shooting experience." What planet are you from
 
"Revolvers are ugly (doesn't look like a Glock), capacity limited (unlike a Glock), they malfunction too (Glocks are perfection), weird feeling grip (doesn't feel like a GLock), just terrible shooting experience." What planet are you from?
Click to expand...

Planet Glock?

( I agree about the Redhawk and think the same about the Python.)
 
CraigC, when's the last time you had to reload while moving and getting shot at by people with automatic rifles? 5 or 6 of them at once? Reload right now or die. Put 5 or rounds down that hallway (and still have enough to fight) while your buddy maneuvers or he's gonna die.

"Better" is based off of what you're using it for. Clearly you've never had to use a handgun in a combat situation, so naturally your reasons for thinking revolvers are "better" excludes combat applications.


Also, if you think anyone on here but you cares about making your heart flutter, you're mistaken.
 
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trapper500 said:
To the poster who said that revolvers are ugly well first you need new glasses thier is no more of a beatiful gun made that a stainlees Ruger Super Redhawk & I AM NOT THROWING OFF ON ANYONES AUTO but most of them look the same my boy bought him a new auto pistol last year that jammed moe than a jar of Smuckers "Revolvers are ugly, capacity limited, they malfunction too, weird feeling grip, just terrible shooting experience." What planet are you from
Click to expand...


Eyes work great, but those things are ugly and yes, the redhawk is ugly too.

If they have a semi that jams, they should just pick a better gun.

I have over 10,000 rounds through my m&p without so much as a stovepipe or any type of failure.

Over 3,000 through my lc9, same thing.

Even had 5,000 through my sigma before I sold it. Same thing.

You say most semi autos look the same, yet revolvers don't? Come on now!

Planet earth to answer your question.

I have 10 armed thugs after me to rob me, give me a semi auto any day. Keep those revolvers

*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*
 
I prefer creamy peanut butter. To me, it's more about the bread......


but those things are ugly and yes, the redhawk is ugly too.
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I must agree here....
Yes, I know people who love those big shiny revolvers....but then again, I know people who love Lady GaGa. ;)


I have 10 armed thugs after me to rob me, give me a semi auto any day.
Click to expand...
I will disagree with this.
If I have 10 armed thugs after me to rob me, give me a transporter and Scotty!

.
 
pockets, I always use whole wheat (cholesterol issues). But, gosh, white bread with PB&J is decadant.
Ever try a little sour cream with PB&J? Holy cow! Amazing stuff!

I'm not sure which is more ridiculous? Talking about peanut butter on THR or, debating whether revolvers or autos are superior?

At least nobody brought up almond butter, that would be kind of confusing.
 
I like almond butter... and it doesn't give me hives like political-agendad peanutbutter.

Hey guys, would be a real pleasure if you posted pictures of all these lovely guns you mention. Revolvers or auto-loaders, if you have a view, post that fugly feller!
 
I will disagree with this.
If I have 10 armed thugs after me to rob me, give me a transporter and Scotty!
Click to expand...

It can happen as it has before. One poster here on THR was talking about he drew his gun on thugs approaching on both sides and they continued until he pointed the gun at the leader and made a direct threat to him. Granted they ran off and would probably run once gun fire started and such a thing is extremely rare but I like having the extra capacity. That doesn't mean I will always carry just autoloaders but they do have a realistic advantage.
 
No...

Revolvers are different than autoloaders.

For defense, I would take a quality autoloader over a revolver any day of the week. The exception would be if I lived in large Bear territory. The chances that a quality autoloader would malfunction in a defense scenario is pretty low. I'd be more concerned about running out of ammo with the revolver than I'd be of a autoloader malfunction. I shoot my autoloader and my revolvers both pretty well.

For hunting or for a scenario that I'd be spending days or weeks in woods, I'd prefer a revolver. For that, I'd probably prefer a .22 lr revolver. I'd probably want a rifle or a shotgun for my primary gun and a .22 lr for small game hunting.

One is not better than the other. If I had to pick only one, it would be a revolver.
 
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This is a loaded thread!! Lol what do you like? What do you shoot well? Buy that.

I REALLY like smith 686's and own a couple. Ive shot some real nice semis ( HK45) but it ant no smith revolver!
 
My Model 19 is more accurate at 25 yards than any of my auto loaders. Shooting .38 spl., that is. If I shoot magnum loads target acquisition takes longer and maybe something else is going on that I haven't figured out yet. At any rate I can't get the groups as tight.
 
exdetsgt said:
My Model 19 is more accurate at 25 yards than any of my auto loaders. Shooting .38 spl., that is. If I shoot magnum loads target acquisition takes longer and maybe something else is going on that I haven't figured out yet. At any rate I can't get the groups as tight.
Click to expand...

Possible flinch and anticipation? My Model 19 actually shoots better with jacketed .357 Magnum loads than with most lead .38 Special loads. The 140gr Hornady XTP is consistently very accurate in many people's experience, mine included.

As for the original tenet of "Revolvers better than autos," it depends on the use. Is a 3/8" drive socket better than 1/4" drive? Depends on the size of the job you're working on (or cartridge you want to shoot), doesn't it? I happen to be a die-hard wheelgun fan, as I love the .357 and .44 Magnum catridges. Sure, the 10mm is close in a semi-auto, but they don't fit my hands.

I guess if you think of a handgun as being only useful for a concealable, anti-personnel self-defense role, the semi-auto makes the old 6-shooter look quaint. At the same time, if you want a handgun to deliver a serious blow to 4-legged animals, the typical semi-auto looks anemic.

I'll continue to own both and use whichever one tickles my fancy on any given day, thank you very much. :cool:
 
I love them both. Carry an Auto, but use a revolver for home defense. Why?

For carry:
-Auto's are light, easy to carry/conceal and have a high capacity compared to a revolver.

For home defense:
-I can have a revolver loaded and ready, set it down for 10 years, and if I have to grab it in the middle of the night, I know it will still shoot. Don't have to worry about worn out mag springs, etc.
-If my wife grabs it, don't have to worry about a limp wrist issue.


Which is better? Neither. I like simple guns, the kind you can point and shoot. Having to worry about fine motor skills in high stress situations can end badly. That's why my auto has no external safeties. It's point and shoot like a revolver.

Pick the tool for the job.
 
This thread reminds me of the debates in the '70s era gun rags. However, I have never read the comparison refer to straight v phillips or smooth v chunky peanut butter. Keep up the laughs.
 
Well, this topic never dies. Y'all ever hear of Elmer Keith? Skeeter Skelton?
Even Jeff Cooper....Do you know he once said a .44 Special revolver was best for the everyday police officer?
Now, don't get me wrong...I really like a 1911, but if I was to own just one handgun, the DA revolver would be it.
Matter of fact, it is it.

http://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/articles/handguns/the-revolver-unappreciated-advantages/

The best advice is - pick what works for you and stick with it.
 
Post # 131...from Ragnar...
"CraigC, when's the last time you had to reload while moving and getting shot at by people with automatic rifles? 5 or 6 of them at once? Reload right now or die. Put 5 or rounds down that hallway (and still have enough to fight) while your buddy maneuvers or he's gonna die.

"Better" is based off of what you're using it for. Clearly you've never had to use a handgun in a combat situation, so naturally your reasons for thinking revolvers are "better" excludes combat applications...."


But, but..what if there's 10 of 'em? MS13 members... And they've got RPG's and stuff, and they're on meth and coke??!! I mean, as long as you are fantasizing you might as well go big.

Tell you what Ragnar, in a 'combat application' all the bullets in all the magazines the world won't do you any good if you don't have the right mind-set - without that you'll just be sprayin' and prayin'.
A auto-loader might give you an edge, then again it might just make you overconfident.
Speed is good - accuracy is final.
 
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