Advantages Of Using A Revoler Over A Semi Automatic.
- Thread starter RNWMP
- Start date
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- Kumankissmyass, BC
I just shoot better with a revolver....more ammo capacity with a semi auto..
Revolver Positives:
-You never have to worry about your brass getting away from you.
-No manual safety to engage/disengage.
-It will fire even if a force is applied to the muzzle.
-Most "powerful" pistol cartridges are always available for revolvers.
Revolver Negatives:
-Barrel replacement generally can't be done by the end-user.
-Revolvers hold less bullets (although with our 10-rnd rule it's not such a big deal.)
-Revolvers can't be silenced (again, not an issue).
-Revolvers have much more felt recoil than a semi-automatic.
-You never have to worry about your brass getting away from you.
-No manual safety to engage/disengage.
-It will fire even if a force is applied to the muzzle.
-Most "powerful" pistol cartridges are always available for revolvers.
Revolver Negatives:
-Barrel replacement generally can't be done by the end-user.
-Revolvers hold less bullets (although with our 10-rnd rule it's not such a big deal.)
-Revolvers can't be silenced (again, not an issue).
-Revolvers have much more felt recoil than a semi-automatic.
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In the case of a bad primer & the round not going off, just pull the trigger again & go on to the next round .
The double action trigger pull is heavier than most self loaders. That usually means a more deliberate action to pull the trigger. To go single action you still have to #### the hammer and then pull the trigger . To a lot of people this means it is safer.
The double action trigger pull is heavier than most self loaders. That usually means a more deliberate action to pull the trigger. To go single action you still have to #### the hammer and then pull the trigger . To a lot of people this means it is safer.
Revolvers are more accurate and easier to shoot. I've got a S&W 27-2 (357) along with a 1911 Colt Commander (9mm) which has been set-up for PPC.
The 27-2 has a better trigger (though both are target quality) in single action mode. The trigger is easier to adjust. The revolver will cycle a dud cartridge by pulling the trigger so you don't need to do the misfire drill that a semi-auto needs to chamber a new round.
The revolver usually has a longer sight line that makes aiming easier.
The revolver is easier to clean. To some, it looks more aggressive.
The 27-2 has a better trigger (though both are target quality) in single action mode. The trigger is easier to adjust. The revolver will cycle a dud cartridge by pulling the trigger so you don't need to do the misfire drill that a semi-auto needs to chamber a new round.
The revolver usually has a longer sight line that makes aiming easier.
The revolver is easier to clean. To some, it looks more aggressive.
I have to disagree with all of those.
All things being equal a semi is rare to jam, no more/less accurate or easy to use.
No safeties to worry about on some autos, triggers are generaly lighter and have less travel out of the box (giving more accuracy) and I can remember two 'jams' on my autos in probably the last 10k rounds.
All things being equal a semi is rare to jam, no more/less accurate or easy to use.
No safeties to worry about on some autos, triggers are generaly lighter and have less travel out of the box (giving more accuracy) and I can remember two 'jams' on my autos in probably the last 10k rounds.
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
All of the things that have already been mentioned with emphasis on my Redhawk 44 mag has never jammed. Also, the barrel is short enough on mine to see light through the pipe. If I've had a pop instead of a bang, it takes 1-2 seconds to verify if it made it out of the pipe or not.
Sorry to all of the 1911 lovers here, but to me, revolvers just look cooler than anything with a slide.
Sorry to all of the 1911 lovers here, but to me, revolvers just look cooler than anything with a slide.
Less moving parts, less parts to break.
Recoil is straight back into your hand, it doesn't twist in your hand like a pistol. Easier recoil management.
Revolvers with 5,6 or 8" barrels are more accurate then a 4" barreled pistol due to the lenght of the barrel and the longer sight radius.
Easier to train novice shooters on.
Aren't as affected by dirt and crude as a pistol.
Recoil is straight back into your hand, it doesn't twist in your hand like a pistol. Easier recoil management.
Revolvers with 5,6 or 8" barrels are more accurate then a 4" barreled pistol due to the lenght of the barrel and the longer sight radius.
Easier to train novice shooters on.
Aren't as affected by dirt and crude as a pistol.
Max Owner
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Easier to train a DA with a revolver then an autoloader.
For a law enforcement type of thing?
Also autoloaders recover quicker from recoil. Recoil can be dampened by adding a heavier recoil spring. But makes it also tougher for weaker hands to rack the slide.
For a law enforcement type of thing?
Also autoloaders recover quicker from recoil. Recoil can be dampened by adding a heavier recoil spring. But makes it also tougher for weaker hands to rack the slide.
Here's why, 158 grain +p, thats got some great knockdown power. From a LEO standpoint, it comes down to quantity over quality, when the change over happend for most agencies the frontline officer went from 18 rounds to 45 on average. That being said if I'm competing I'll take my revolver fro accuracy, if I'm going to a gun fight give me quantity over quality any day. Now, a revolver will almost always fire, very rare for mechanical malfunction if properly maintained, i qualifed last year with a 38 that came into service in 1946, thats reliablility. A semi can be fussy, more maintance, not too mention some are picky about the ammo they eat. Semi's are great for busting rounds off in a hurry, revolvers not so much. All in all I think it comes down to what you want to use that firearm for. For me, from a LEO view I'll take a semi everytime, but when I'm doing some tight accurate PPC type shooting, it's a revolver.
Except for Dan Wesson's, which come with multiple brrels and are easily changed.
Not all revolvers can't be silenced
These are rare examples though.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
If you ever take a water dunking while wearing a holster, a revolver is much faster to bring into action, after you are out of the water, as opposed to a semi-auto.
No magazine loss to put you out of action.
Much easier to train, "manual of arms" and faster too, with a double action.
With novices, if they limp wrist it, the gun will not jam.
If using a common magnum, IE-357 or 44, even 10mm to, one has more ammo to choose from, if one ran out of thier own ammo, 38 Special, 44 Special and 40 S&W.
No power ratio to meet to operate action, if it fits in the chamber, you can shoot it.
A broken extractor is more likely to happen with a semi-auto.
No safety to fail, or forget about, at least on all North American revolvers.
The ultimate safety is you.
Even Jeff Cooper THE 1911 Colt guy of the US of A, admitted late in life, that the best handgun for self defence was a double action, revolver of adequate calibre.
PS: I hate to use it but, society in general is more accepting of a "cowboy sixgun" as opposed to an "evil" automatic thingy! Ick sorry.
No magazine loss to put you out of action.
Much easier to train, "manual of arms" and faster too, with a double action.
With novices, if they limp wrist it, the gun will not jam.
If using a common magnum, IE-357 or 44, even 10mm to, one has more ammo to choose from, if one ran out of thier own ammo, 38 Special, 44 Special and 40 S&W.
No power ratio to meet to operate action, if it fits in the chamber, you can shoot it.
A broken extractor is more likely to happen with a semi-auto.
No safety to fail, or forget about, at least on all North American revolvers.
The ultimate safety is you.
Even Jeff Cooper THE 1911 Colt guy of the US of A, admitted late in life, that the best handgun for self defence was a double action, revolver of adequate calibre.
PS: I hate to use it but, society in general is more accepting of a "cowboy sixgun" as opposed to an "evil" automatic thingy! Ick sorry.
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" Heavy is a sign of quality...If it breaks you can always hit him with it"
-Boris the bullet dodger, SNATCH-
I love wheel guns...S&W .357 are the real goods imho. So are the 'airlight' .38spec
That being said I was to choose in a shtf deal (with the 12.6 crap factored) I would take my Glock 22 as I have trained with her the most. My Colt 1911 is ###ier and has a crispy, definative trigger but is to complicated for me to consider CCW. Not the gun, just me as cocked and locked 1911 require alot attention.
My Ol' man sure has some 'snappy' little wheel guns but due the current legislation I can only do drills when he comes to visit.
I hope one day that will change.
I think that balance is the key to a happy life. That being said it is best to have one of each! I don't think any of you fine gents would disagree.
-Boris the bullet dodger, SNATCH-
I love wheel guns...S&W .357 are the real goods imho. So are the 'airlight' .38spec
That being said I was to choose in a shtf deal (with the 12.6 crap factored) I would take my Glock 22 as I have trained with her the most. My Colt 1911 is ###ier and has a crispy, definative trigger but is to complicated for me to consider CCW. Not the gun, just me as cocked and locked 1911 require alot attention.
My Ol' man sure has some 'snappy' little wheel guns but due the current legislation I can only do drills when he comes to visit.
I hope one day that will change.
I think that balance is the key to a happy life. That being said it is best to have one of each! I don't think any of you fine gents would disagree.
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Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Use your imagination.
Revolvers
limited magazine capacity
heavier than most autos
larger in overall dimensions than autos
As many parts as most autos and more parts than some autos
Most parts require a gunsmith to install, no "drop in" capability
Increased recoil due to magnum cartridges
long and heavy double action triggers
Many moving parts when trigger is pulled
No manual safety
No "out of ammo" indicator
Many revolvers have integral rear sights.
Many revolvers have no option for night sights
Cylinder gap blast can be quite severe
Timing issues
Blown primers cause firearm to fail indefinitely
Aligning six rounds with six holes requires fine motor skills and more effort than aligning one large magazine with one large hole
Cannot execute tactical reloads(top ups) with speed loaders.
Cannot execute tactical or emergency reloads without rendering the firearm useless
Partial reloads(less than full cylinder) can result in dropping the hammer on several empty chambers before the live rounds.
Cylinder gap blast destroys the top strap, eventually rendering the firearm unsafe
No ability to mount a light
Slower reloads
Failure for any ONE casing to fall from the cylinder renders a speed loader useless until all chambers are cleared.
Spare ammo(speed loaders) take up more real estate than magazines with fewer rounds
unable to surpress a revolver
Ejector rods back off causing the cylinder to lock up
Excessive firing and heat build up cause empty cases to stick in the cylinder
Excessive firing creates large deposits of carbon on and in the cylinder
High bore axis and magnum calibres combine to form a turning moment, increased muzzle flip.
Open action prone to debris
Slow follow up shots
Difficult to operate one handed
As far as accuracy goes. A single action trigger is a nice advantage for precision shooting. From a practical stand point, the revolver shooter will never #### the hammer when using the firearm in a high stress situation. Sight radius is neither critical nor required for accurate fire out to and including 25 yards. Proper training and practice can hone a persons ability to shoot naturally, also known as instinct or point shooting to the point where sights are neither needed nor depended on. The length of a handguns sight radius varies so little from handgun to handgun that the difference is a non issue. handguns are designed for close range and usually sport large chunky sights which reflect their intended usage. They're handy/convenient, and quick to bare. They are not precision instruments from a traditional precision stand point. As for operation, the slide does not begin its movement until AFTER the projectile has left the barrel. Slide movement as a cause for "inaccuracy" is usually a result of poor sight picture or operator error.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=834173228792370974
Some other points. Barrels and their lengths can be changed on a revolver, at the cost of other attributes. Namely weight and handling characteristics. Barrel length has very little to do with accuracy. Velocity is the key. An increase in barrel length can increase velocities which results in more consistent accuracy over greater distances. Again, handguns are designed for short range work, making an increase in velocity/accuracy of little gain. Even with an increase in velocity with a longer barrel, revolvers are still wasting much of their potential gain due to the cylinder gap.
Revolvers have 6(or more) open chambers for which debris can enter and cause problems. A plugged chamber could very well cause the revolver to detonate on firing. For most autos the only access points are the mag well and the muzzle. Beretta being one of the exceptions with its open slide design.
Revolvers are not necessarily easier to train novices on. Both autos and revolvers require three movements to operate. Insert magazine/shells, Cycle the slide/close the cylinder, pull the trigger. Many autos have manual safeties which may require operation. Revolvers require the shooter to mind the cylinder gap so as not to get burnt or get a gas cut. Other than crossing ones thumbs, the slide will not damage the shooter if they run their fingers against the slide during firing. With rapid heat build up on revolvers from sustained firing, the shooter must make contact with a potentially hot cylinder. This is not required by those who shoot autos. The slide does not heat up as rapidly, nor does it achieve the high temps a revolver can. Should the auto get extremely hot, the slide release can be used as an alternative.
There's probably some more points I've missed but I'm sure you get the idea. Most military's and LE agencies issue autos. The domination of autos over revolvers in both of these areas was not achieved by the offering of cheaper firearms or inferior firearms.
TDC
limited magazine capacity
heavier than most autos
larger in overall dimensions than autos
As many parts as most autos and more parts than some autos
Most parts require a gunsmith to install, no "drop in" capability
Increased recoil due to magnum cartridges
long and heavy double action triggers
Many moving parts when trigger is pulled
No manual safety
No "out of ammo" indicator
Many revolvers have integral rear sights.
Many revolvers have no option for night sights
Cylinder gap blast can be quite severe
Timing issues
Blown primers cause firearm to fail indefinitely
Aligning six rounds with six holes requires fine motor skills and more effort than aligning one large magazine with one large hole
Cannot execute tactical reloads(top ups) with speed loaders.
Cannot execute tactical or emergency reloads without rendering the firearm useless
Partial reloads(less than full cylinder) can result in dropping the hammer on several empty chambers before the live rounds.
Cylinder gap blast destroys the top strap, eventually rendering the firearm unsafe
No ability to mount a light
Slower reloads
Failure for any ONE casing to fall from the cylinder renders a speed loader useless until all chambers are cleared.
Spare ammo(speed loaders) take up more real estate than magazines with fewer rounds
unable to surpress a revolver
Ejector rods back off causing the cylinder to lock up
Excessive firing and heat build up cause empty cases to stick in the cylinder
Excessive firing creates large deposits of carbon on and in the cylinder
High bore axis and magnum calibres combine to form a turning moment, increased muzzle flip.
Open action prone to debris
Slow follow up shots
Difficult to operate one handed
As far as accuracy goes. A single action trigger is a nice advantage for precision shooting. From a practical stand point, the revolver shooter will never #### the hammer when using the firearm in a high stress situation. Sight radius is neither critical nor required for accurate fire out to and including 25 yards. Proper training and practice can hone a persons ability to shoot naturally, also known as instinct or point shooting to the point where sights are neither needed nor depended on. The length of a handguns sight radius varies so little from handgun to handgun that the difference is a non issue. handguns are designed for close range and usually sport large chunky sights which reflect their intended usage. They're handy/convenient, and quick to bare. They are not precision instruments from a traditional precision stand point. As for operation, the slide does not begin its movement until AFTER the projectile has left the barrel. Slide movement as a cause for "inaccuracy" is usually a result of poor sight picture or operator error.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=834173228792370974
Some other points. Barrels and their lengths can be changed on a revolver, at the cost of other attributes. Namely weight and handling characteristics. Barrel length has very little to do with accuracy. Velocity is the key. An increase in barrel length can increase velocities which results in more consistent accuracy over greater distances. Again, handguns are designed for short range work, making an increase in velocity/accuracy of little gain. Even with an increase in velocity with a longer barrel, revolvers are still wasting much of their potential gain due to the cylinder gap.
Revolvers have 6(or more) open chambers for which debris can enter and cause problems. A plugged chamber could very well cause the revolver to detonate on firing. For most autos the only access points are the mag well and the muzzle. Beretta being one of the exceptions with its open slide design.
Revolvers are not necessarily easier to train novices on. Both autos and revolvers require three movements to operate. Insert magazine/shells, Cycle the slide/close the cylinder, pull the trigger. Many autos have manual safeties which may require operation. Revolvers require the shooter to mind the cylinder gap so as not to get burnt or get a gas cut. Other than crossing ones thumbs, the slide will not damage the shooter if they run their fingers against the slide during firing. With rapid heat build up on revolvers from sustained firing, the shooter must make contact with a potentially hot cylinder. This is not required by those who shoot autos. The slide does not heat up as rapidly, nor does it achieve the high temps a revolver can. Should the auto get extremely hot, the slide release can be used as an alternative.
There's probably some more points I've missed but I'm sure you get the idea. Most military's and LE agencies issue autos. The domination of autos over revolvers in both of these areas was not achieved by the offering of cheaper firearms or inferior firearms.
TDC
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