Revolver vs. Auto Decision...

Auto vs. Revolver decision (see below)

  • Keep the revolver.

    Votes: 68 81.9%

  • Get the auto.

    Votes: 15 18.1%
  • Total voters
    83
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seeker_two

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Dec 26, 2002
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Let me describe the situation:

About 18 mos. ago, I purchased a Ruger Security-Six .357 2.5" for my "truck gun" when my wife & I travel. I keep it loaded w/ .38spl+P JHP's and have +P & 158gr. magnum hollowpoints in speedloaders. My rationale at the time was that, if SHTF, my wife would be able to handle the revolver more easily than an auto. (She's not an avid shooter, but she handles her Taurus 94 .22lr & my Romanian .22lr very well. She dislikes anything above that, but can shoot my K-38 6" well). I also thought that the revolver would be more versatile & powerful (w/ the magnums) than any auto.

Now, after reviewing ballistic tables, I've found out that .357mag loads out of a 2.5" bbl. aren't much better than 9mm rounds from a 4" bbl. In addition, my wife's gun handling has improved to where she can handle autos (i.e. Buckmark Camper) well (she still dislikes anything more powerful). And, to make matters worse, I've seen some good deals on Ruger & S&W 5900-series 9mm's lately (i.e $200-300 range).

Taking everything into account (including the usual auto-vs.-revolver pros & cons), would I be better served by trading in my Security-Six for a 9mm auto or by keeping it as my truck gun?

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
To be honest I have to tell you up front I'm not a 9mm kind of guy.

But the revolver is the better choice. First of all, you say this is a "truck gun" and your wife may use it. How will you keep an auto pistol in the truck, Cocked and locked? Or will you go with a DA pistol. If the former, there is a possibility of accident. If the latter, it will take a bit of training before your wife can master it. You can keep the revolver as ready as anything else, and your wife can already shoot it.

Next, the .357 is a very versitile gun -- as you show when you say you load it with .38 Special +Ps and keep .357s for a reload.

Third, revolvers are very shootable -- a person with less than top notch skills can usually do better with a revolver than with an auto pistol.

Now, my carry gun is a Kimber Classic -- a M1911 clone. But the gun I keep in the bedside table is a Colt Model 357.
 
Buy the auto and keep the revolver.

If after a few months you can't stand having two guns, sell the one you like least.
 
Second keeping the revolver and buying an auto. Get and pistol with a decocker if you are going to use it as a truck gun.
 
Keep the revolver. I keep a revolver around the house because my wife would have to use it too. I have autos but the revolver is better for my wife. She doesn't shoot real often so I would worry about jams, safeties and decockers with her. With the revolver she can just point and shoot. Mark
 
Keep the Security Six. If your wife can handle your K-38 then she can handle your Security Six loaded with .38 special loads. I would use Federal 125 gr. JHP+P or Remington 125 gr. SJHP+P. A little better .38 load is the Winchester 158 gr. lead hollowpoint but it will recoil more. If she can handle the 158's then maybe try the Winchester .357 magnum 110 gr. JHP because felt recoil is about the same.

I bought my wife a Ruger P-95 (9mm) because she had trouble pulling a revolver's trigger. The revolver was my first choice for her. The 9mm does work better on the streets than a .38 special.
 
Keep the wheelgun. You have a damn-near "universal" handgun with that .357. You can feed it a wide variety of ammo, from very mild .38 Special to screaming .357 Magnum. It is totally ammo-insensitive, and easy to operate and make safe. The Magnum loads out of that short barrel are still hitting with authority.

Get the auto later on, but keep the revolver.
 
Keep the Revolver.

I was in the same boat few years back, after the wife feels comfortable with the auto, I trade my Ruger in with some lost for an auto, then I day, I loaded an empty shell in a full mag and let the wife try to clear them out, she have has a heck of a time to rack that slide, after that I ended up get another wheel gun for her, of-course I took the Auto back for me :D .
 
Keep the revolver. I keep a revolver around the house because my wife would have to use it too. I have autos but the revolver is better for my wife. She doesn't shoot real often so I would worry about jams, safeties and decockers with her. With the revolver she can just point and shoot. Mark
Click to expand...
Yeah. What Mark said.

You want it for protection, right? A 9mm s/a is not going to protect you any better than the .357 wheelgun.
It MAY however, introduce additional opportunities for failure into the equation. Keep it simple.
 
I voted for you to keep the wheel gun.
Since you are using it in your truck I tend to think this way. Trucks are dirty. Anything kept in them will be subject to dirt.
In this enviroment I would trust a revolver more than and auto.
Caliber is to me a non choice. I am not a 9mm fan at all, I would prefer to carry that Ruger with a good stout .357 load.

Just MHO
 
Keep the wheel gun--never get rid of wheel gun

If you want a semi, get one. basic rule of firearm purchase. Gun has to fit shooter, be reliable , in a platform of large enough caliber that shooter attains consistent hits-accurate.

Gun magazines and tables and charts are great. but you gotta handle and choose for YOU...oh shoot dirt to see what ammo does. load shoot repeat-often

my .02
 
Keep the .357...

and buy her a SP-101 first chance you get. This has got to be the best ladies' .357 ever built, the grips seem to fit most gals just right and the dang things shoot like a 4" revolver.

I USED to have a real nice SP/.357/3" until the little redhead got ahold of it- guess whose gun it is now? Can't say as I mind though.... but back to your question. While the paper ballistics may favor the 9, 'car guns' may need to be employed from cars, against other folks in or behind cars, and I'd take a good .357/158 for THAT job over a 9, any day of the week. The other problem you might run into is finding a 9 that'll fit her hands, so if you do decide to swap for or buy an auto, let her try a few rounds through a couple of different models, and find something that feels right to her. 39 series Smiths also seem to work out as 'girl guns', if that's any help.

Take it easy amigo-

Sarge
 
It can never be repeated enough. Never sell a gun. You liked it to begin with or you wouldn't have bought it. You get rid of it, there will be alot of times you will regret it. You fancy an autoloader? Save up and get one. Gun specific comment: the security six is just about the best .357 you can get. It doesn't matter that they are not produced anymore, they are still better workhorse guns than just about anything else. And they are an excellent value.
 
Keep the revolver.

Buy a Marlin lever gun in .357 Magnum as a back up. Same ammo.

If either of you shoot the six rounds from the Ruger and haven't solved your problem, you are no longer in a handgun problem.
 
A snubbie revolver is best for a "get off me" gun.

Punch the BG in the gut and pull the trigger. Most auto pistols will not reliably function that way.
 
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