Do you feel under gunned with a revolver?

[Old Fuff]

Reliable? Get 1000 rounds and a service grade revolver. I bet a Glock 17, ANY Glock 1-3 gen, goes 100 percent but I won't bet a duty revolver like a M10 or M19 smith will.

While the Glock is very reliable, it it still ammunition dependent when it comes to functioning, where a revolver is not. We get many more threads and posts on The High Road concerning pistol functioning issues then we do concerning wheel guns.

That said, 1000 rounds is less then 100 per month during a full year. Neither quality revolvers nor pistols have any problem doing that.

Isn't Glock supposed to be up to Gen-4?

 

[skidder]

There is an air of confidence

I was hunting one time and ran into a big black bear in the trail. I had my 30-06 but not a bear tag. I looked at him he looked at me and then that bear began to grin (just kidding old song). Really.... We had a showdown on the trail. We stared at each other and I started yelling, "move, shoo, go away". That big old bear would not move, so finally I opened and closed the bolt on my rifle; the bear did not like that, and he took off.

The moral of the story is when we are armed we have a confidence that we would not otherwise This confidence can prevent an incident in certain cases. When I'm out hiking and I have a good sidearm I feel more confident and a 4 legged animal or 2 legged hippie can sense this and see the difference. You can avoid what could be an encounter with this air of confidence.

Now I don't know about hippies, but animals can sense fear.

 

[GLOOB]

With a 357 or 44 mag, I actually feel almost over gunned. The power of revolvers are unequaled in comparison to pistols. IIRC, most 45 ACPs are single stack and don't provide much more capacity than a good 357 six shot revolver. Between the two, I'll carry the 357.

Unless you're carrying a 4+ inch barrel, .357 isn't any more gun than a 40SW. For a small CCW, a revolver just doesn't offer much advantage, unless you actually shoot it much more accurately, for w/e reason.

I wouldn't feel undergunned, but I might change my tactics. I might not practice triple taps. That would be half my ammo.

For reliability, anything works if you maintain it. I don't count my Smith revo quite as reliable as some of my autos. I mean, I expect it to go bang when I pull the trigger, but I'd rather take my chances with a Glock if push comes to shove. I've had the mainspring screw and cylinder screw back out on me, and I've also had light strikes when the innards weren't well lubed. With maintenance, this isn't an issue, but I just don't much like fiddling with it to keep it in top shape, and I haven't gotten around to Locktiting the ejection rod and mainspring screw.

 

[Prosser]

Couple things.

SFPD still has a few dinosaurs who are smart enough to carry the old S*W 59,
that's in .41 Magnum. The guy I know that carries one uses it because one, SF gang guys tend to carry big hammers, and, barriers are better breached with a .41 then 9mm.

The advantage, even in small guns, is bullet weight, and more velocity in snub nosed revolvers. With a heavier .357 snub, you can carry much heavier bullets, at higher velocity then the 9mm, or the other service calibers.

9mm maxes at 147 grains, maybe 950 fps. My snubbie will shoot 1 148 grain
HP at 1131 fps.

With lighter bullets, the gap narrows.

 

[Manco]

We get many more threads and posts on The High Road concerning pistol functioning issues then we do concerning wheel guns.

I don't think there's any arguing with this point, except to say that some specific autos are practically as reliable as revolvers when using specific loads. I trust my defensive auto as much as my revolvers because I've tested it extensively with the pricey defensive ammo it is normally loaded with, but in the general case, autos malfunction a lot more, without a doubt.

 

[easyg]

When I consider the possibility of being attacked by two or more assailants (a very real possibility these days)...

And when I consider that "one shot stops" are the exception and not the norm...

And when I consider that even the best of shooters miss their targets sometimes (guys who are much better shooters than myself)...


Yeah, I admit that I don't feel all that warm and fuzzy about a 5-shot snubbie.

 

[skoro]

No

I feel very confident with my S&W 642.

 

[txhoghunter]

Depends on when and where....

While bear hunting?....no, I would be content with 5 rounds of .500 S&W

Walking around a shady area at night? Yes, I would much rather have a minimum of 8 rounds with an extra mag... (i.e. 1911, Sig 220)

(and no, not an 8 shot revolver, I am not comfortable enough with reloading them)

 

[357 Terms]

I have never felt under gunned with my 6shot or my 5shot revolvers. One speed strip and I am good to go. No worries.

 

[joeq]

I carry my J frame 442 everyday and have practiced enough to become very proficient with it. It's actually become one of my favorite pistols I have to shoot. For home defense my first choice would be something with more capacity because size and weight don't matter when I'm not carrying. Bottom line is, I don't feel under gunned with a revolver I am proficient with.

 

[DesertVet]

Not "undergunned" if you know how to shoot!!
I have carried Colt Detective Special, Smith &Wesson model 60 .38spl, Smith & Wesson 640 .38 spl, Ruger SP101 .357 Mag, Smith & Wesson Model 342 AirWeight Titanium .38 spl, 2 inch Smith & Wesson Model 64 .38 spl+P, 21/2 inch Smith & Wesson Model 66 357 mag, 4 inch Ruger GP 100 357 mag, 4 inch Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357Mag, and 4 inch Smith & Wesson Model 629 44Mag.....never am "outgunned" with any of them!

 

[Drail]

DesertVet hit it on the head. If you know how to hit your target a revolver will serve you very well. Most of the people that "think" they need a 17 round magazine fed handgun don't know how to hit a target. They actually believe they can "scare" it to death. I have carried small "low cap" .44 Spl. revos for many years. I only intend on firing maybe two rounds at a target. That target will have a serious problem. I grew up in an age when every cop carried a revolver. They could have carried any kind of gun they chose. I wonder why they never thought they "needed" a high cap pistol?

 

[scottishclaymore]

Reliable? Get 1000 rounds and a service grade revolver. I bet a Glock 17, ANY Glock 1-3 gen, goes 100 percent but I won't bet a duty revolver like a M10 or M19 smith will.

I have a Smith & Wesson Model 64 that has been through several thousands of rounds of target practice and competition. No malfunctions of any kind. The gun hasn't loosened up any. Mostly reloads, some of the shelf ammunition as well.

Last night at IDPA on the other hand, I saw two ammunition-related Glock failures. In both cases the the users experienced case bulging that locked up the guns to the point that the shooters were unable to continue the stage. And yes, both shooters were shooting reloads (which the Glock manual states you should not do, I know). My point is that those failures would not have been experienced with a revolver.

Do I feel undergunned with a service grade revolver? No. Do I think a service grade semi-automatic pistol would be an inferior choice? No.

That said, I have four double action revolvers that I rotate through depending on my carry needs. They all function the same and they are all 100% reliable.

 

[MtnSpur]

Outgunned or Undergunned?
Let's reflect: Target shooting at the range (for example) will certainly increase your odds of hitting something whether you use a revolver or a semi-auto. Basic, Intermediate and Advanced handgun courses will help with assessing threats, decision making, target acquisition and marksmanship.
Nothing will prepare you for someone aiming a gun at you threatening to end your life.
Professionals (military and police for example) all had that "1st time" scenario and I'm willing to bet they did not have steady hands no matter what type of firearm they held.

Practice a LOT so you develop muscle memory. Know how to assess the situation. The old "spray and pray" of the semi-auto won't win over a prepared "one and done" from a revolver carrying veteran.

Lastly, let us all hope and pray that none of us are put into these situations.

I will opt for a revolver due to reliability to fire when I pull that trigger. All the above is IMHO and subject to some interpretation

 

[Prosser]

I love my revolvers. However, I have a couple 1911's that I would bet my life on, as well.

I just don't see the difference in capacity being all that important. Part of that is Kali doesn't allow over 10 rounds in a mag. They like to give the advantage to the criminals.

Anyway, that puts me in a spot where I'd like to carry two FA 83's. That would give me 10 rounds. My 1911's carry 6-8, depending on which gun.

When I think about it, I would rather have a caliber that I have confidence in, rather then a lot of rounds I don't have the warm and fuzzies for.

 

[Deaf Smith]

While the Glock is very reliable, it it still ammunition dependent when it comes to functioning, where a revolver is not. We get many more threads and posts on The High Road concerning pistol functioning issues then we do concerning wheel guns.

That said, 1000 rounds is less then 100 per month during a full year. Neither quality revolvers nor pistols have any problem doing that.

Isn't Glock supposed to be up to Gen-4?

Whoa... revolvers are not ammunition dependent?

Sorry but high primers and badly seated bullets play havoc on revolvers. Powder under the star extractor jams revolvers. Squib loads stick in barrels and if you are lucky they are still in the forceing cone jaming the cylinder, if unlucky they are in the barrel and the next round will send that cylinder sky high on most wheelguns.

Revolvers were tested after WW2 along with simiautos of various makes in bad climates (as in rain, mud, sand, freezing temps, oceans, etc...) and the revolvers failed more often than the simi-autos.

Now with that being said, a clean good revolver is quite reliable, it's when it is exposed to very bad climates or is not cleaned after extended firing that it suffers problems.

But revolvers, like simi-autos, do have their faults.

And I say this owning as many revolvers as simi-autos. My two carry pieces are a Glock 27 and Smith J .38. So it's not like I hate revolvers!

Deaf

 

[Old Fuff]

I didn't say that revolvers never had problems, but that at least on this forum there are more reports of functional issues (not limited to ammunition) with pistols then revolvers. Also the environmental conditions you cited do matter in a military context, but not in ordinary civilian carry. A revolver is completely functional even if it is unloaded (though of course it won't shoot). A pistol requires a loaded cartridge in the barrel to do the same. Without the cartridge the slide won't cycle. That makes any pistol "ammunition dependent."

 

[Black Butte]

If it was good enough for Inspector Harold Francis Callahan, then it's good enough for me.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Dirty Harry didn't do squat. Jim Cirillo, on the other hand, did.

Now Cirillo used a revolver (or actually THREE of them) as part of the NYPD stakeout squad. And he sent many a felon to the big jail house in the sky.

But do note, he carried three of 'em. Most of the stakeout squad used wheelguns (but a few did use 1911) and they carried at least two of them and many times a long gun.

Oh, and this revolver .vs. simiauto isn't new..

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=6571


Deaf

 

[PabloJ]

If I lived in say small town Montana, North Dakota,..... I would carry pair of 18th century French dueling pistols. Ooops, I just pinched my nares and it hurt! On a serious note it's pretty much mind games. If one feels inadequate with only 5 or 6 shots they are mentally under-gunned and this is truly serious issue. I one needs more then cylinder worth they will be at disadvantage against adversary with double stack "KoolAid" gun. This is likely a mute point as unless they're LE people or military in war or occupied zone most people do not need a handgun to be perfectly safe.

 

[Manco]

If one feels inadequate with only 5 or 6 shots they are mentally under-gunned and this is truly serious issue.

It also depends on what scenarios one envisions possibly being in. Against a single adversary, 5 or 6 shots should be sufficient, if not plentiful. On the other hand, against more than one adversary who may take cover (which often happens in store robberies, for example), perhaps not.

This is likely a mute point as unless they're LE people or military in war or occupied zone most people do not need a handgun to be perfectly safe.

Regarding "perfectly safe," put it this way: if nothing bad ever happens to you, then you're perfectly safe, but if something bad does happen, then you're not safe at all. The problem is that even outside of law enforcement and war zones, we don't actually know what will happen, although we do know what can happen, and based on that nobody is perfectly safe. Those who are armed are prepared to handle more bad things than those who are not, and those who have more rounds at their disposal are prepared to handle an even wider range of possible scenarios. Some feel the odds are such that they feel fine with fewer rounds, while others feel differently about it. And confidence in one's own shooting ability may play a role in the decisions of some, but not at all in the decisions of others.

 

[socal44]

I'm sorry, but these types of posts are funny. So much advice on which caliber is best, how many rounds it would take, shot placement, blah...blah....blah.
When I read these, I have a picture in mind of the people with all of the great advice. It's something like this:



or



I bet I'm more right than wrong

 

[fmcdave]

I carry a S&W 325pd (.45ACP) revolver from time to time and I don't feel undergunned at all. Accuracy beats ammo capacity for civilian work. Also, I think that looking at a cylinder full of .45 hollowpoints is pretty darned intimidating.That said, I also think you shouldn't draw until you are ready to shoot.

 

[granthog]

I feel that being able to hit where you aim is much more important than how many shots you can take. I carry a 5 shot smith and wesson 38 +P airweight revolver, and feel well armed, I do practice often at a range and feel very prepared, and my revolver will never jam. Even the best autoloaders can jam...............granthog...............

 

[harmon rabb]

I'm more of a semi-auto guy, but I would NOT want to piss off a man armed with a .357 who knows how to use it.