Autoloader or Revolver? Input Needed.

Which will fit my needs?

  • Glock 17/Glock 19

    Votes: 68 32.5%

  • S&W 686/Ruger GP100

    Votes: 141 67.5%
  • Total voters
    209
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D

Dynasty

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Sep 20, 2007
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I currently have a three gun collection. A Marlin Model 60 (.22LR), Norinco SKS (7.62x39), and a Remington 870 (12 gauge). I feel these guns all serve a purpose in a SHTF scenario and each can be used for a specific reason. I am looking to add one more firearm to my collection for the time being. Obviously, I am looking for a handgun. The question I have is...autoloader or revolver?

I want something that will be reliable in any situation. Something that will be unaffected if it does not get clean for an extended period of time. Something that can function in snowy and wet to dusty and humid conditions. Something that will still function when dropped and thrown around. Something that will last a lifetime.

I have seen many videos and read many articles on Glock tests. I will admit, I am impressed at what these autoloaders can take. However, it is still an autoloader and can fail. With the Glock 17/19 (9mm) ammo will be plentiful being a NATO round. With a SHTF scenario aside, easy to purchase (Wal-Mart) and relatively inexpensive. Also, proven to be a man stopper.

I have also seen videos and read articles on revolvers, specifically the S&W and Ruger .357 Magnum revolvers. They are very simple in design and to use and the .357 Magnum is very effective and can be used across the board for numerous applications.

Both have there pros and cons. Which would be the better handgun to go with? Which would you rather have if you were allowed only one, for the next 10 years? Which would be the better "do it all" handgun?
 
i say go for the glock. If there is any auto out there that is as reliable as revolvers are known for it is a glock. ammo is cheap and 9mm is common.

i don't know why you would want to drop or throw around your gun, but yeah the glock will still work after that.

if you can wear out a glock i would be impressed.

With a SHTF scenario aside, easy to purchase (Wal-Mart) and relatively inexpensive.
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in these SHTF scenarios, i would think that the option of buying ammo at "wal mart" wouldn't be an option at all. If a situation is that bad i doubt that there is gonna be any ammo left at the store anyway, and even if there was the posibility there are so many others that are thinking the exact same as you. so what i am saying is don't depend on wal mart for a stock pile.
Also, proven to be a man stopper.
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all handguns suck man, if shtf the handgun should be a back up only, and transitioned to only if there is a malfunction or the gun runs dry.
 
IMHO buy the high capacity glock or what ever brand trips your trigger because I feel with the incoming administration, we will be going back to the Brady bill and high capacity magazine what ever (pistols or rifles) will be limited to 10 rounds only, again. LM
 
I voted for the revolver. A 4" 357 is the best all around handgun you can do just about anything with. You can select wadcutters to full magnums to meet whatever is at hand, including game up to deer/black bear (may not be legal to hunt with where you live but it can do the job). Either revolver is a good choice.
 
Modern autoloaders are not mutch behind a revolver in reliability, if at all.
and glocks are not the only ones that are reliable, SIG, CZ, H&K, S&W autos and Ruger, to name a few, are all just as reliable as Glocks and will still be able to shot well after several 10k rounds.

Revolvers have other benefits, more powerfull ammo (at least as long as you dont go in to the realm of handcannon autoloaders.), ease of use and ease of maintance.

both are good systems and both types will serve you well, go to a Range that Rents out guns and try a couple you like and see wich one shoots best and feels best in your hand.
after you got your self a couple guns you like you can start doing research on the net to see if there are bad things about them and then decide wich one you should buy.

dont let your self be guided by a merketing department and in the end buy a gun because you where told it is "the gun to rule them all", instead go out and decide for your self.
 
Ruger SP101.You may want to CCW someday,and you're already armed with a good shotgun,a great .22 for foraging,and a decent combat carbine [one of the best in the price range] showing that you've put a lot of thought into your choices.
 
it is still an autoloader and can fail
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An auto-loader that fails is far less dangerous (tap-rack-bang, worst case magazine out, rack a few times, fresh magazine in and you're good to go) than a revolver that fails (and yes, revolvers DO fail!:eek:). I've been in police school for only 3 months now and have seen 2 revolvers fail so far (our service handgun is a S&W 620 and they are brand new). Bot times a gunsmith was needed to get the gun to work again.
 
another vote for the gp100. A 4" .357 is about as versitile as you can get. It's the swiss army knife of handguns! Load it with 100gr DEWC's to teach the kids to shoot, 125gr JHP's to ruin a BG's day or 180gr hard cast FP's for hunting!
 
I can't vote...

Sounds like reliability is your main criteria. Not surprisingly, then, many are recommending a revolver. Personally, I love revolvers, but I have to agree with Silvanus that revolvers can and do fail occassionally. "Six-fer-sure" zealots apparently miss or ignore the frequent "My revolver locked up, now what?" threads that pop up on what seems to be a weekly basis.

IMO, revolvers have a lot going for them, but absolute 100% reliability isn't one of them. For what you're looking for, I'd put a .357 revolver and a Glock your best choices and about on par with each other. My suggestion would be to try each and get the one you're most comfortable with and shoot best.
 
I'm glad this came up because its never been discussed before.
It boils down to this:
Revolver: carried by cool guys from John Wayne to Jelly Bryce
Semi Auto: Carried by thugs and professional football players.
Your choice.
 
Based strictly on the criteria in your second paragraph, I voted for the Glock. For hard use/abuse it would be more likely to keep functioning than a revolver. Part of the reason that every army in the world uses autos is the greater ability to keep going in harsh field conditions.

However, either weapon would be a good choice.
 
Don't forget...

you can get a revolver in 9mm. If you are really set on 9mm since it's a NATO caliber, there are revolvers chambered for 9mm, and they're easy to reload because of the moon clips they use. Reliable autoloaders are cool, too, but revolvers do have quite a reputation for reliability. I would plan on getting both, if it were me. Now if I only had more money...
 
Based strictly on the criteria in your second paragraph, I voted for the Glock.
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+1

If I was not able to clean it regularly, I would take the Glock in an instant.

Starting with 2 clean guns and "dirty" ammunition, the glock would probably function for thousands of rounds, the revolver would be done in a few hundred if you were lucky.

For example, there have been times I've had to put my revolver away after 50 rounds of 45 Colt shooting Bullseye.
 
Of all those listed I'd go with the G19. The .357's are fun to shoot, but are way much louder and way much more muzzle flash, more expensive ammo and more recoil and take longer to reload. They are also a heavier gun.
The G19 is just boringly reliable and accurate and with 15 rounds in the mag you don't have to worry about reloading in most situtations. It is relatively compact and flat for CCW and like the revolver, it'll go bank most of the time you pull that trigger. Try it, you'll like it.
 
Do not assume that a revolver is more reliable than an autoloader. It trades one set of problems for another (go read Kuhnhausen's book on the S&W revolver). You may get more reliability under range conditions for the first cylinder, or maybe not if conditions are bad. If that were the case, then why would anyone use a semi-auto?

Throw mud and crud into the mix. Semi-autos probably win, if only because the action of the gun is closed. James Yeager ran 12 days of training, with 10 of those days in rainy and muddy conditions. "Reliability with Glocks was bad, with every other handgun it was worse." (http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=1731.0) Mud can get between the firing pin and primer, as well as in between the cylinder and forcing cone. What about those exposed bullet tips in the cylinder? Would you fire a gun with a plugged cylinder? Plugging a cylinder hole or two would be very easy to do. As one gunsmith put it: "Bullets do not make good squeegies."

Since you specifically mentioned a SHTF situation, you really should consider the conditions under which you'll be operating and the support system that will be available to you. After reading that article, I am considering purchasing some flap holsters. Frankly, I'd go with the Glock because I can work on the gun myself with very little training (my training consists of reading a $25 manual). My SHTF support system consists of me and the contents of my closet.

Frankly, there's no reason not to get a semi-automatic pistol (this from the guy betting his life on his revolvers for 30 days). Am I against revolvers? Of course not! Either gun will do fine under normal CCW conditions. BUT...and it's a big "but"...semi-autos have the advantage of a more closed action, higher capacity and very fast reloading time.

***

Before the Miculek admirers jump in, VERY few people can run a revolver up to its full potential. That list is very, very short and can probably found in the top 20 at the ICORE National Championships. Are you willing to dedicate tens of thousands of rounds and the time to the task? Mr. Miculek spoke about his personal round count...and as of that interview a few years back, it was nearing 1,000,000. It think he guesstimated 400-500k for revolvers and revolver competition.
 
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I'd go with a revolver in .357, but it wouldn't be a 686. A model 686+ or 620, maybe, or an 8-shot 627. Rugers are also good; I've heard a cop say you can run one over with a car and it will still function.

One benefit of a revolver is that it will shoot any ammo you feed it so long as it's the right caliber. In an emergency or a situation where ammo is scarce, this can be important. I've bought mystery .357 magnums off the back shelf of my local fun store, and it worked fine out of my SP101.

If it's a matter of 9mm vs. .357 magnum, I'd go with the magnums. They're better if you plan on spending time in the woods, either for hunting or protection from things bigger than humans. .357 is also on record as being a better 1-shot manstopper than any other defensive caliber.

I don't think reliability is much of an issue these days. Autos jam, revolvers jam, but neither very often. The only time I've heard of a revolver malfunction was when something was plugging the barrel, causing the middle to bulge when the gun was fired. That was my brother in law, who never took care of his guns.
 
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Do not assume that a revolver is more reliable than an autoloader. It trades one set of problems for another (go read Kuhnhausen's book on the S&W revolver). You may get more reliability under range conditions for the first cylinder, or maybe not if conditions are bad. If that were the case, then why would anyone use a semi-auto?
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People use a semi auto because they need lots of rounds since they never learned how to shoot properly.
All of the "I saw a revolver once malfunction" comments bring home how rare that actually is. I believe there are no documented cases of revolver malfunctions during an actual combat situation.
Semis can and do malfunction often. And by malfunction I dont just mean the gun jamming. I mean also operator error. Fail to seat the mag and you've got problems. Fail to hold the gun properly and you've got problems. Mags fail, ejectors fail, extractors fail. safeties fail--all of it irrelevant to a revolver. If a round doesn't go off on a revolver, pull the trigger. Time spent: .25sec. A round fails in an auto, tap rack bang. Time spent: up to 4 seconds. With the average gun fight over in 5 seconds you'd be well behind the curve.
Now, if you're a thug or a football player then you gotta have what all the home boys have.
:neener:
 
All of the "I saw a revolver once malfunction" comments bring home how rare that actually is.
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Considering that revolver malfunctions often render them useless until they're fixed, malfunctions really aren't that rare.

Out of curiosity, I did a simple search to list any threads on the THR and TFL revolver subforums that use the word "problem". 356 total hits.

To be fair, not all are malfunction-related, but many are. Had I spent the time to go through the entire THR and TFL archives 1 thread at a time, I'd probably still come up with as many. Bent ejector rods, ejector rods unscrewing, dirt under the ejector star, gunk tying up the action, crud in the chambers, bullets unseating during recoil or bulging primers tying up the cylinder, broken firing pins, grips pinching the mainspring, peened cylinder stops, broken hands - it's likely all there (and more) and it's good reading

To re-iterate - revolvers are among the more reliable handgun platforms available, but they have their weaknesses too. When choosing a reliable SD gun, then, a revolver would be a fine choice, especially considering their versatility, but the user ought to understand that "six-fer-sure" and "just pull the trigger again" are cliches, not guarantees.

http://www.thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=5362691
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/search.php?searchid=2675381&pp=25
 
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