Why pick a revolver?

[anonymous individual]

I have seen some policmen and soldiers use revolvers. What are the advantages choosing a revolver over a pistol, if there are any?

[b33f]

Revolvers (usually) have a higher reliability than pistols (very simple operation, no spring (to chamber a new round)).

[PhillyMobster]

Revolvers (usually) have a higher reliability than pistols (very simple operation, no spring (to chamber a new round)).

also, they tend to be safer on the whole. Unless you're walking around with it cocked in your pocket, its not likely to go off.

[CMEPTb]

In addition to above stated reasons, if you have a dud in an automatic, you have to pull the slide back to eject the round, with a revolver you just pull the trigger again.

[Laconian]

For a long time, the revolver was THE choice of law enforcement, usually in .38 Special. The revolver was considered more reliable, easier to shoot (or to teach people to shoot). Refinements in the pistol over the last 20 years or so have negated these concerns. However, there are still many good points about the revolver for not just shooting in general, but in the self-defense arena as well. First, cost. Revolvers tend to be a little more affordable. A S&W .38 Spl or .357 Mag is not as expensive as a Glock, SIG, COLT or even S&W pistol.

Second, for a new shooter the constant double-action trigger is easier to learn to operate than a traditional DA/SA trigger (of course the newer designs like Glock or double-action-only pistols somewhat can negate this). Include in here ease of operation. There's no failure drills to learn with the revolver: Pull trigger, gun goes bang. If it doesn't, pull trigger again.

Third, ammo self-consciousness, if such a phrase exists. Sure you get more rounds in double-stack pistols, but since the transition of LEAs to the pistol, the hit percentage among LEOs in shoot-outs has gone down; spray & pray, if you will, as opposed to, "I've only got 6, I better make'em count." For LEO/LEAs that buy everything a round hits, that can be a concern. Not to mention you buy a .357 Mag wheel gun, shoot .38 SPL out of it for practice (cheaper than .357 & 9mm) and you save some cash. Of course you have to practice with some .357 to manage recoil & get used to your carry round. Finally, for a long time the caliber options were .38 SPL, .357 Mag in revolvers or 9mm in pistol (Almost no agency carried the .45 as an issue weapon in LE back then), so ballistically it was a draw. As far as a .38 snubbie or a .380, I'd take the .38 everytime.

Yes, the FBI Miami shoot-out brought the advent of the 10mm, then the .40 S&W. The advent of the Glock, the adoption of the Beretta 9mm by the US armed forces and cocaine wars of the 80s brought the pistol to the forefront of LE.

But the wheel gun is still a great choice. I'd gladly carry a .357 Mag or .41 Mag S&W or Colt or Ruger as a primary sidearm with some Safariland speed loaders (I like 'em better than HKS). I carry a S&W 640-1 as a back-up w/a couple of Bianchi speed strips and it is great. Hammerless, I can get rounds off, while the thing is still in a pocket. Can't do that with a pistol.

[HoboWithAK]

I think the higher hit percentage was not due to the mentality of "I only have 6 rounds" but because of the huge front sight. Really, just place that on the chest of a Bravo Golf and pull the trigger. The bigger sight and lack of any real rear sight really makes up for the nature that your sights must be perfectly aligned and aimed perfectly before you pull the trigger. It's just natural, and it takes a lot of time and practice to get over it with the small sights of an automatic.

http://www.firearms.smith-wesson.com/userimages/164401_large.jpg

Bigass front sight vs

http://www.port-orange.org/police/images/glock.jpg

http://www.replicgun.com/Beretta%202.jpg

Smallass front sight.

[Name Taken]

I think a revolver would be better to keep loaded for home defense etc etc (don't start a war over that) over a glock. Would the spring in the magazine wouldn't feed correctly if you kept it loaded for months on end? I'm not talking about a full 17 rounds, maybe just 10, would that help?

[FallenAngel]

in addition to the above, revolvers don't leave brass behind when you fire them, which can be a good thing depending on what you're doing with the revolver.

On a slightly related topic.

Anyone else think the 1873 Colt Single Action Army (aka "the peacemaker") is the sexiest revolver ever? :D

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/images/large-344151.jpg

[Aerosoul]

Why pick a revolver?

To emulate Dirty Harry and Charles Bronson. Doh.

[Name Taken]

A Bravo Golf? BG.... is that like an O G? ;)

[TacoDelRio]

Simplicity, more powerful rounds usually, reliability, no jamming unless you are unbelieveably stupid, accuracy is usually high, durability, etc etc etc.

[supercontra]

It's good for home defence sinc you can have it loaded for years without slackening of springs and such

[TacoDelRio]

What he said.

[Nelson]

Magazine springs don't wear out from keeping them loaded. The wear out when you load then unload them repeatedly.

[Werewolf01]

I believe in using what you are comfortable with. I grew up shooting mostly semi-automatic pistols, ergo, I am more comfortable with them. Both types are capable of remarkable accuracy. I wouldn't feel ill armed with a revolver, especially if I had half moon clips or speed loaders. I will admit to a fondness for single action revolvers. I have a little Ruger Single Six that has been my plinking companion for so long I know what its favorite ammo is and in all honesty I can drop rounds accurately in on a target at 100 yards plus.

[RFSU]

simple, Bigs boys use auto, little boys use 6 shooters.

[Frens]

Revolvers (usually) have a higher reliability than pistols (very simple operation, no spring (to chamber a new round)).

+1 thats why some swat teams like GIGN use revolvers.

my father was a cop (carabiniere) and he always used to carry a S&W .38SPL as second gun ;)

that little revolver rocks! woot

[BadKarma26]

less moving parts, less likelyhood to rust or break down in salt water or severa environments. I think I read somewhere that SEALs use SS .357 Smiths for those reasons amoing others.

[Steve Andrews]

in addition to the above, revolvers don't leave brass behind when you fire them, which can be a good thing depending on what you're doing with the revolver.



;)

[Werewolf01]

On the other hand suppressing a revlver is very difficult without a gas seal, and the MK23 has the capability of firng a shot without moving the slide by bleeding out all of the gas.

[PhillyMobster]

in addition to the above, revolvers don't leave brass behind when you fire them, which can be a good thing depending on what you're doing with the revolver.

On a slightly related topic.

Anyone else think the 1873 Colt Single Action Army (aka "the peacemaker") is the sexiest revolver ever? :D

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/images/large-344151.jpg

Hmm...good choice, but I kinda like the S&W Military and Police. An old gangster era pistol... ;)

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/sw-mp_5in.jpg

[yiorgo]

Smith and wesson 340PD scandium 357/38sp weights 11oz.......guys this little revolver rocks if you EVER get the chance to shoot 357 out of an 11oz revolver.....try it, you will never ever ever forget that day at the range LOL, going to make it my concealed carry gun once I get my permit in and just load it with the new speer 38+P loads

[sergey31]

cool revolver video....
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/speedshooter.wmv

[Dennis G]

The revolver vs. auto debate goes on and on like the Weaver vs. Isosceles and the 9mm vs. .45 vs. .40, etc., etc., etc.

Bottom line; use what you have confidence in. I think spirit is more important than equipment.

One of my all time favorites for SD is the 640-1 .357 mag 5 shot.

Easily concealed with a Berami (sp?) hip grip anywhere on the waistline [usually carried at 3:30 or 1:00 positions] dependant on what I'm wearing that day.

It feels like it's "not there" until I need it. A little slower to access with the hip grip as it sits so low in the waist but really conceals well with light summer clothes and has enough punch to get ones attention when necessary.

Another one of the favorites is a cobra colt 38 lightweight 6 shot on a "D" frame like the old "**** special" carried Mexican once in awhile as the second gun to the 640-1.

I don’t carry a wheelgun at all anymore; I just got out of it… But I like them a lot and will always have a few available. They are not obsolete for me. Respectfully, a revolver with six rounds has gotten the job done longer than the automatic has even existed in someone's ideas.