Why revolvers?

5548 Views 59 Replies 43 Participants Last post by Mark40, Sep 10, 2018

basco

Discussion Starter · Aug 25, 2018

Well, it must have been asked before. But it's a nice topic anyway, so here we go. What draws us to revolvers? with so many, almost countless semi-automatic pistols around from very small ones to the many manufacturers of 1911s. And don't we all know at least one person would never buy or carry a revolver?
I for one do like the more rugged yet at the same time so timeless elegant look of a revolver. Are there "just" revolver guys and "just" pistol guys? Who hasn't read the famous "I am a Glock guy", but that's another topic of course.

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grayman

· #2 · Aug 25, 2018

I like It because of the simplicity, pull the trigger "BANG" with good ammo they rarely If ever jam.
Also easier to tech new shooter's how to shoot with a revolver(my opinion).

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TonyC2639

· #3 · Aug 25, 2018

Yep simplicity. Easy, low maintenance and mostly trouble free.

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Doctordeere

· #4 · Aug 25, 2018

basco said:
Why revolvers?

Because I like them better.
Simple as that.

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kruizer

· #5 · Aug 25, 2018

I don't know. I can swing either way.

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Czechbikr

· #6 · Aug 25, 2018

I suspect that it's the romance of the wheel gun for a lot of people, then add in the more perceived simplicity of operation and reliability. I say perceived simplicity because those who think that they are probably never took off a side plate.

I currently have three in my collection and am considering of selling one, really don't have any on my wish list.

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NativeTexan

· #7 · Aug 25, 2018 (Edited)

2

basco said:
Well, it must have been asked before. But it's a nice topic anyway, so here we go. What draws us to revolvers? with so many, almost countless semi-automatic pistols around from very small ones to the many manufacturers of 1911s. And don't we all know at least one person would never buy or carry a revolver?
I for one do like the more rugged yet at the same time so timeless elegant look of a revolver. Are there "just" revolver guys and "just" pistol guys? Who hasn't read the famous "I am a Glock guy", but that's another topic of course.

Umm, well, that would NOT be me. I just shoot a DA revolver better, especially point shooting at very close range. It's fast and it's accurate and it's powerful in a small package.

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Trotline

· #8 · Aug 25, 2018

Would CC a 1911, but it is too big and heavy. Snub nosed revolvers, for me, conceal easily, and, God forbid, if a need arises, five shots of 38 or 357 are faster out of the pipe than five of 45ACP out of a 1911. I can hit with it. Light enough, concealable, powerful, fast to action, and accurate, is the right solution for me.

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glenwolde

· #9 · Aug 25, 2018

Because when I started shooting, revolvers were the rule rather than the exception. I got used to them first.

Because I hate picking up my brass.

Because you can use a really broad selection of bullets and powders, and not worry about function.

Because I don't have to worry about the availability of spare magazines.

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SharpStick

· #10 · Aug 26, 2018 (Edited)

There are various scenarios I think about for a defensive weapon and one of them is getting attacked or ambushed at close range. In a struggle, the semi-auto slide can get pushed out of battery and potentially jammed so the revolver is more comforting in that situation. There are also more external mechanisms that can potentially disarm the semi-auto, such as the safety or mag release (at least in some models). The revolver brings fewer concerns like that to the table allowing you to focus on the task at hand. Having said that, I do own both.

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Sekol

· #11 · Aug 26, 2018

I love revolvers, too, but have remained open minded enough to enjoy some nice semi autos....but genwolde speaks truth with regards to magazines.

We have some very old revolvers that still function fabulously and we really enjoy shooting them, but some of our very old semi autos we will not shoot often because mags are no longer available and what do you do when the only mag you own for your precious old pistol gives up the ghost???

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glenwolde

· #12 · Aug 26, 2018

SharpStick said:
There are various scenarios I think about for a defensive weapon and one of them is getting attacked or ambushed at close range. In a struggle, the semi-auto slide can get pushed out of battery and potentially jammed so the revolver is more comforting in that situation. There are also more external mechanisms that can potentially disarm the semi-auto, such as the safety or mag release (at least in some models). The revolver brings fewer concerns like that to the table allowing you to focus on the task at hand. Having said that, I do own both.

All you have to do to disable a revolver is grab the cylinder. Anybody with their hand around the cylinder has a mechanical advantage over the trigger-puller. Try it.

SharpStick

· #13 · Aug 26, 2018

glenwolde said:
All you have to do to disable a revolver is grab the cylinder. Anybody with their hand around the cylinder has a mechanical advantage over the trigger-puller. Try it.

Agreed, I have tried it and there is no doubt about it. But a struggle is not all or nothing event; If I wretch it free, I can fire, however, if I free up a semi-auto it might fire or not, and if it doesn't, the shooter has to figure out what went wrong. Not a good situation to be in.

Echo40

· #14 · Aug 26, 2018

It really depends on what you're looking forin a defensive firearm.

Both Revolvers and Semiautomatic Pistols have their own inherent strengths and weaknesses which are well publicized. The quick/easy version is that Revolvers are generally more reliable and can fire more powerful, whereas Semiautomatic Pistols are generally smaller/slimmer and carry more ammo.

You pick the one that suits your needs best. Personally, I could go either way, but generally prefer Semiautomatic Pistols for primary EDC whereas Revolvers are more of a Backup, Home Defense, or Wilderness Carry thing.

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jtg452

· #15 · Aug 26, 2018

'Cause I shoot them better than bottomfeeders.

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Buckeye!

· #16 · Aug 26, 2018

Dang .. I used to be a revolver only guy... Over the years I went to the dark side , Glock .... But I still carry a revolver every once in awhile.... Im looking hard at a Taurus 685UL at this time .. Trying to put back a few frog skins

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Mark40

· #17 · Aug 26, 2018

Many solid and valid points have been offered here so far.........

I'm more confident and competent with a revolver for CCW duty. Confidence and competence are the two things that put the revolver at the top of my list. Simplicity, reliability and ease of concealment are plusses too. The opportunity to improve capacity recently prompted me to sell off my two model 85 revolvers and replace them with six-shot revolvers, a Ruger LCR in 327FM and the new Taurus 856.

While I do own a Glock 19X and 42, they are not intended for carry. Both are fun at the range and are a part of the home defense plan.

In my mind it boils down to what ends up being the best fit for the individual be it a semi-auto or revolver, as quite a few of you have intimated so far.

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taurustoter

· #18 · Aug 26, 2018

Doctordeere said:
Because I like them better.
Simple as that.

Lol. I don't know if I like them better, but I do like them as much as semi-autos.

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guesser

· #19 · Aug 26, 2018

My revolvers outnumber my semis about 10 to one. Some of them turn CCW, some turn CW, some are SA only, some are DA only some have hammer spurs, some don't. Some have target style hammers, or triggers, or triggers with a shoe. What do semis do.....the go back and forth, every one of them goes back and forth. some of my revolvers will chamber at least 4 different cartridges with a history spanning almost 150 years and powered by holy black until they successfully transitioned to smokeless. All revolvers were soft lead bullet shooters that transitioned to jacketed, no semi was a soft lead shooter first, they will with judicious hand loading and very, very particular attention paid to bullet shape and contours. In my mind there are so many more revolvers with so much more character than there are semis. I'm not denigrating the 1911 , Hipower or Walther PP or even the original Ruger Standard Model, which I have at least one of each. But when I load up to go shoot, it is 5 or 6 revolvers. That's all......Carry on!!

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Bruntson

· #20 · Aug 26, 2018

Revolver are much simpler to operate and it's very intuitive to fire. There is no slides to rack or safety to disengage. Being woke in the middle of the night, you might be a little groggy or forgetful about a pistols safety. A DA revolver is simply point and shoot. I keep a revolver at my bed stand.

After loading, revolvers operate with a single hand. Most folks have to use 2 hands to rack a slide and then some folks with weak hands have difficulty with that.

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