revolvers vs semi-autos

[John Galt]

Contrary to what some may think, revolvers are not necessarily less complicated mechanically than semi-autos. It’s just that that the revolver doesn’t have to depend on recoil to operate and all of the cartridges are already chambered. Each design has its advantages and disadvantages.

In my opinion, what most people forget is that semi-autos come with extra training luggage. If a revolver fails to fire, which is unlikely with factory ammo, most people, even without much training, release the trigger and pull it again - thus moving a fresh cartridge under the firing pin and more often than not solving the problem. If a semi-auto malfunctions, you must have mastered two clearance procedures to get it going again – and I do mean “mastered”. Semi-autos are more prone to malfunctions simply because there are more things that can cause them to malfunction; unseated magazine, weak grip, weak magazine spring, deformed magazine, light primer strike, failure to extract (often called a double feed), not fully in battery due to slide contact, restriction or target contact – I am sure there are more.

That being said, semi-auto are generally easier to shoot accurately because of less trigger travel, usually offer more rounds, and unless you are JM, can usually be reloaded faster. Spare magazines are easier to carry than speed loaders. Depending on the caliber, semi-autos normally deliver less felt recoil than a revolver. However, the revolver does take, in my experience, more trigger time to learn how to shoot it accurately (if fired in DA, which is the way it was intended to be used if needed quickly).

As with most things, it is a personal choice, and many things have to be considered. How much time are you willing to spend leaning the pistol, how to shoot it well and what to do if it quits on you. What does surprise me is the number of people who carry a semi-auto, but no spare magazine, thus giving up one of the semi-auto's best features – that has always been a puzzler to me.

Well said.

[LSUTiger]

I'm no Jerry Miculek, so for serious social purposes it's semi auto's for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLk1v5bSFPw

Revolvers are a 6 and done throw the gun at them deal if the threats aren't neutralized by then.

Semi auto's really aren't that hard to learn and doesn't take that much more effort, not for me anyway. But I've seen it be a problem for some.

I have had a revolver jam on me once, brass case was stuck in cylinder so bad I had to knock them out with a wooden dowel and a hammer. It can happen. Only happened with Magtech .357 mag ammo. Never happened with any other ammo. But it happens.

Now I am trying to let my nostalgic side come out and get another wheel gun, maybe a 4" Stainless Ruger GP100 or S&W 686 or 686+, my Taurus Tracker is OK but it has a ported barrel which I hate, but the wife loves. It's my in case untrained peasants need a loaner gun.

[stroo]

Carry what you are comfortable with. It is better to have a gun you can shoot with than a gun you can't work.

Having said that, while semi-automatics jam a little more often than revolvers, when a revolver jams, not just doesn't fire, you are not going to clear the jam during the fight. You might be able to clear a semi-auto during a fight.

I have had two revolvers jam on me at the range. One of them I had to take to a gunsmith to clear. The other one routinely gets dirty and jams after 40-50 rounds. It has never been a problem in the first 30 so I still feel pretty comfortable with it. Once it jams however, I have to clean it to clear it. That would work during a fight.

I typically carry a Browning Hi-power, a S&W M&P 9c or a J Frame. I feel comfortable with any of them and have never had a problem on the range with any of them. I also have two 44s in a safe in my bedroom. I feel comfortable with both of those in case of a home invasion. So again carry what you you feel you can work.