Why a Revolver?

[amprecon]

I'm interested in your reasons for owning a revolver. As there are so many reliable pistols out there that are more than enough for most encounters, what are your reasons for sticking with the "old faithfuls"?

I currently own only one revolver, a circa '64 S&W 4"bbl Model 10. My reasons for owning it are that it isn't for me primarily, although if it's all that was available when I need it I'd not hesitate to grab it up. But it's primarily for the other members of the household to use if necessary.

You see, as much as I have tried to get my wife and daughters into guns, I just cannot ignite their interest to my level. So upon realizing my futile efforts and testing them on their knowledge and efficiency with auto-loaders time and again I have realized that the safest, simplest most reliable and recoil friendly handgun they could effectively use was the revolver.

I also can't discount the fact that I just have a personal liking towards them, there's just something about them that makes you feel "empty" without one.

Now that I have divulged my reasons for owning a revolver, what are yours?

 

[SGW42]

I'm not sure why I got a revolver. Just Because for me.

You could go on and on about pros and cons, there is just something intangible about them that made them more appealing to me than an autoloader.

Glad I got one.

 

[DawgFvr]

amprecon: I'm curious...which pistols do you think are reliable? Mine work ok if I just target practice at the range...with only an occassional malfunction or two. Try carrying a pistol in the field for a week or two...the elements take their toll. I have to find that photo of my Dad carrying his .38 special in WWII...

 

[MrTuffPaws]

You for got "I'm getting older". I still like autos, but as I get older, revolvers just have more "gun" than anything else.

 

[Rule556]

I bought a revolver because I already had, and know how to use, automatics. I didn't posses any revolvers and hadn't ever practiced with them. Caliber, tradition, looks, etc. didn't really play any part in my choice. I want to be moderately familiar with as many styles and models of firearms as possible. In order to get familiar with a revolver, I had to buy one.

 

[MCgunner]

All of the above and probably more if I sat and thought about it more.

 

[Brian Williams]

Six shots from a pocket, moonclip, speedloader even a speed strip...
No magazine for some doofus lead foot to step on...
Ammo goes in, brass comes out into my can or box...
Fixed barrel...
Simple, put in ammo, close cylinder, shoot, empty brass, repeat...
etc...

 

[Bendutro]

The ergonomics of revolvers are the best if you like big-bores. Sure the Desert Eagle works... but it has no elegance to it. The 'I just like it' factor is in there too.

 

[GEM]

Concealability of the snubbies in pockets as compared to semis of the same power range with better reliability.

 

[Bob_P]

Six shots from a pocket, moonclip, speedloader even a speed strip...
No magazine for some doofus lead foot to step on...
Ammo goes in, brass comes out into my can or box...
Fixed barrel...
Simple, put in ammo, close cylinder, shoot, empty brass, repeat...
etc...

+1

Simplicity & Reliability

 

[DevilDog0402]

Concealability of the snubbies in pockets as compared to semis of the same power range with better reliability.

Ditto.

 

[Iggy]

I grew up with revolvers, carried one during a LE career, went through my auto phase, and returned to revolvers..

When you get old you start regressing don'tchaknow!!

 

[Eightball]

"all of the above,", minus the "intimidation factor." I don't care about that, but all the other reasons are spot-on.

 

[Cloudpeak]

Reliability, simplicity and much more concealable than my 1911. Plus, shooting a double action revolver is a skill that I hadn't acquired, yet, and I looked forward to the "challenge."

So, I bought my first double action revolver in 30+ years, a SP101 and have had a lot of fun shooting it. I can actually hit better and faster with the Ruger than I can my M&P 9mm full size (but still shoot my 1911s better.)

Cloudpeak

 

[Wedge]

Simple, put in ammo, close cylinder, shoot, empty brass, repeat...

That is too still too complicated with all this cylinder opening and closing...my revolver has a loading gate

 

[the fool]

i got mine because i got a good deal on it

 

[Fishman777]

Here are my reasons...

I'm only 35 years old, but I prefer revolvers over autoloaders.

1. Reliability/durability - no need to go into a lot of detail on this. Stainless steel revolvers can last several lifetimes without any reliability issues. Revolvers are a great one-time investment.

2. Simplicity - Revolvers easy to load and operate. My wife is comfortable with revolvers. She doesn't feel comfortable with autoloaders. I wouldn't want to force her to ever use a weapon that she didn't understand and feel comfortable with. She might be more of a danger to herself and other innocent people if she had to use a weapon that she was not intimately familiar with. My wife is pretty damn smart, but she just doesn't want to take the time to learn a lot about guns. It is not very high on her priority list. If a person is a casual shooter, I don't think that they should even own autoloaders. Just my opinion, of course.

3. Ammo Flexibility - .38/.357 and .44 special/.44 magnum. Enough said.

4. Accuracy - I shoot revolvers better than autoloaders.

5. Safety - Several months ago, there was a poll on how many people on this forum have had negligent discharges. I was shocked to see that about 30% of forum members had *at least* one. There are a lot of very experienced, responsible people that admitted to having made at least one mistake leading to a discharge. I recognize that while I'm very careful, I'm not perfect. I think that revolvers are safer than autoloaders, because it is easier to see if a revolver is loaded or not. It would be pretty easy for someone to remove an autoloader's magazine and forget that they had a round chambered if they got distracted. Revolvers also don't have the light triggers that seem to be very popular in auoloaders these days. One mistake is all that it takes to injure, maim, or kill someone that you love (incuding yourself). A former NFL player recently accidently shot and killed himself while cleaning his guns. This can happen to anyone. I personally will always favor reliability and safety over capacity in a home defense gun.

 

[H2O MAN]

I have a wheel gun for another reason...

My lever gun shoots .357 mag and I wanted a .357 mag pistol to match up with it.
I don't shoot them, I just have them.



I prefer semi auto Glocks

 

[nwilliams]

I believe in a well balanced gun collection because I can't seem to convince myself to maintain a well balanced diet!

I want a little bit of everything and even though I may be more partial to autos I still feel it is necessary to have at least one high quality revolver otherwise it just feels like something is missing. Having a massive collection of guns like I do and not having at least one decent revolver just doesn't seem right, besides revolvers are fun to shoot, reliable and accurate, why not own one!

 

[ArmedBear]

I have semiautos. I shoot them. They're fun toys, and as a relatively frequent recreational shooter, I currently trust one as a HD handgun because I've used it enough to be able to operate it under stress.

However, we bought a revolver for HD, so my wife and I could each use it comfortably and be sure it will work.

The revolver has fewer controls, and they're intuitive if you've tried them once. There's no manual safety, and no DA/SA trigger pull difference to worry about.

There are few variations among brands or models. If you know how to operate a revolver, you're done learning and can start shooting.

Nobody ever jammed a revolver because his/her grip wasn't correct or strong enough, or because the gun was being held in an odd position.

Revolvers don't have a slide that can hit your hand if you don't hold them just right.

You don't have to "clear" a revolver if a round doesn't fire.

Revolvers can be loaded from loose rounds.

The revolver won't fail to work to defend you from an assailant because you forgot to chamber a round, nor do you have to empty the chamber to render the gun safe.

Revolvers don't have magazine catches that can be partially-engaged without you noticing it until it's too late.

Revolvers work when dirty.

It's easy to collect your brass for reloading with a revolver, even at a crowded indoor range with piles of empty cases all over the floor.

That said, I just plain like revolvers, and I always have.

 

[sloppyjoec]

I voted style, my one and only firearm is a 4" gp100. I chose based only on the way it looked/felt in my hand(and easier sell past the wife). A few months after I had a chance to shoot a m&p .40 and i am very glad i chose a wheel gun, the way all the clockwork comes together to bring up the next cartridge and fire it makes the gun feel almost alive compared to an auto


Oh and I hadn't realized age played a factor, but I am 27 and my wife (who is lusting for a high capacity .22 like a Taurus model 94) is 24

 

[Snubster]

My main reason is reliability. I have semi-autos that have been 100% so far. But, I feel they are still too dependent on the quality of ammo. Sure, bad ammo can tie up a revolver too, but I think the margin for error is better for the wheelgun.

 

[Evyl Robot]

All of the above, and...

I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but a good revolver is prettier and more romantic than an auto. Even people who hate guns feel a little more at ease around my .44, even though it would take a leg or head off far easier than a 9mm. Revolvers just have style and class to them that can't be matched by a pistol. --and that's coming from a 29-year old!

 

[Hawk]

None of the above.

"Easier to keep the brass" isn't listed but is my number one reason for liking the things.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

SIX-FER-SURR