automatics vs wheel guns

mr00jimbo

mr00jimbo

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I have heard from a lot of old timers that revolvers are the simple in design and it makes them more reliable than automatics. I know times have changed, bellbottoms and 28 foot Lincolns are no longer in style, and autos are just (if not more) as reliable. I have heard many a case where somebody has had a malfunction with an automatic. It hapens.
But what about revolver problems? I'm curious as to whether anybody has encountered one, and if they're a lot more serious than a malfunction with an automatic. One would hate to fire a revolver where the timing was off and the pin hit the primer where it was not aligned with the barrel! :eek:
Am I wrong to assume that revolvers do not fail as much, but when they do it seems to be more severe than an automatic failure?
Somebody talk some sense into me!
 
The only problem I have encountered with a revolver was the ejector rod on my S&W M19 tend to unscrew to the point where I could not open the cylinder. I would have to tighten it back up before it would open to unload. This was fixed with loc-tite and checking it became a part of my pre-firing routine. This was never an issue with my M29.

I have seen reloads that had the primers back out and jamming up the works but that was because of the load/brass being used.
 
I am always an exception. Why? I have had more problems with my revolvers than my pistols. Once a break in period (200 rounds) is over my semiautomatic pistols give me little grief. My revolvers always seem to have a screw loosening up a sight falling off, or the cylinder binding etc. Regards, Richard :D
 
The auto pistol may carry more rounds than a revolver, and can be reloaded quicker. Revolvers tend to point more naturally, most folks find autos point low. This might be truer of revolver shooters switching to an auto, than it is of a novice shooter who, with no basis to form a preference, complains that the auto points low.

Generally the more complex the intsrument the more trouble you might expect from it. Revolvers are mechanically more complex, and in my experience, are more prone to failure than autos. For example, a double action revolver may suffer from a sprung crane, where as the less complex single action revolver will not - because it doesn't have one. The revolver must align the cylinder squarely in the frame, and the cylinder stops working in synchronization with the arm, must rotate each chamber to line up precisely with the barrel. The auto's chamber is always in line with the barrel, and there is no cylinder gap to bleed off pressure during firing. lAutos require "perfect" ammo for proper functioning, but in reality, this is a minor difficulty as most ammo these days is pretty good. A revolver can digest almost any ammo that can be chambered but, if a bullet jumps it's crimp it can be difficult to clear in some cases, and ties up the gun completely in all cases. Generally, if there is a failure to feed or fire with an auto, simply pull back the slide - release - and you are back in business. Revolvers can be knocked out of time, where the chambers do not line up perfectly with the barrel, and some end up with firing pin dents around the chamber mouths, making the chambering of rounds difficult. Auto pistol magazines can be bent or damaged rendering them useless.

For the most part, revolvers are found with more powerful chamberings, and are unfussy concerning the style of bullet they are fed. Auto's can be made less expensively, and can be made from non traditional materials. The auto's are also owner freindly in that in many cases any broken or worn pieces can be simply replaced without the gun going to a gunsmith.
 
The major difference is that you can load a revolver & stick it in a drawer for 40 years & it will function & fire if the ammo is still OK.

With an auto pistol there are the magazine springs & feed lips to worry about... in addition to improperly sized cases which won't feed.

ALL of my revolver problems have been ammo related (high primers & poor crimps), with the exceptions of:
- the afore mentioned ejector rods (S&W)
- my COLT MkIII which doesn't always light D/A. (I believe that it "skips" chambers.) :cry:

Abuse will damage any gun, for example:

My Colt SAA which was previously the property of a "fanner" :roll: Who did his own "gun-smithing" :evil: needed:
- Locking bolt spring replaced
- Hammer notches recut. (if you look at the gun wrong it goes off...someone got carried away with a FILE!)
- Firing pin shortened (why am I punching primers??? My loads aren't that hot!)
- New endshake bushing fitted
 
mr00jimbo said:
One would hate to fire a revolver where the timing was off and the pin hit the primer where it was not aligned with the barrel! :eek:
Click to expand...

This is fairly common. However it is a function of wear (the hand mainly)or abuse (flicking the cylinder closed like you see in the movies & TV bends the crane). Functionally it is not dangerous to the shooter because the firing pin & locking bolt are fixed positions. Bystanders are often not so lucky. Usually the result is just a stinging welt.

When you hear a revolver shooter talking about "shaving" this is what he is refering to. A small amount of lead/jacket material is broken/shaved off when entering the barrel from the cylinder & flies out at an angle to the cylinder. In extreme cases this could result in cracking the barrel "forcing cone" (the slightly tapered area ahead of the cylinder at the face of the barrel).

D
 
We have had lots of problems here with revolvers, though moreso with the magnums than lesser cartridges. Boomer covered most of the common stuff. Ejector rods backing out can make reloads really slow. Cranes being bent keep the cylinders from closing, and short stroking the trigger when in a rush causes many revolvers to move out of timing, and fail to fire.

I don't dislike revolvers, but I don't see them as being more reliable than "good" semi autos either.
 
Lee Enfield said:
mr00jimbo said:
One would hate to fire a revolver where the timing was off and the pin hit the primer where it was not aligned with the barrel! :eek:
Click to expand...

This is fairly common. However it is a function of wear (the hand mainly)or abuse (flicking the cylinder closed like you see in the movies & TV bends the crane). Functionally it is not dangerous to the shooter because the firing pin & locking bolt are fixed positions. Bystanders are often not so lucky. Usually the result is just a stinging welt.

When you hear a revolver shooter talking about "shaving" this is what he is refering to. A small amount of lead/jacket material is broken/shaved off when entering the barrel from the cylinder & flies out at an angle to the cylinder. In extreme cases this could result in cracking the barrel "forcing cone" (the slightly tapered area ahead of the cylinder at the face of the barrel).

D
Click to expand...

So most likely will not cause extreme harm to my hand or other people?
 
I shoot a S&W 686 which I put 357 mag loads through almost exclusively. I have never had a failure or a problem.

My wife has a Rossi 22 revolver in stainless that the casing would stick in the cylinder after a 100 rounds or so. We had to get the cylinder polished by the local gunsmith and this removed the problem.

Shooting the 686 is a blast! :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
I started with an issue Colt revolver in `61. When I was in the Army, I carried a 1911. My next department issued an S&W. My last department allowed us to buy our own so I bought and carried a Python for 20 years. In `85, I was forced, kicking and screaming, to transition to a Sig. I carried a Sig 220 for five years and bought it when I retired. I carried it for an additional 4 years when I worked for the courts.

I still have the Python and the Sig but my "always" gun is the "beast", my Smith 340SC. In my old age, I find that the light weight of the Sc/Ti makes it very easy to carry. It does kick like a mule but I can control it.

I started with revolvers went to autos and now, nearly 45 years later, I'm back to a revolver. I have autos that I can carry when the mood hits me but I have complete confidence in a revolver. It's accurate, uses a potent caliber, and conceals very easily. A reload consists of a Bianchi speed strip that is more easily carried than a spare magazine. (I do realize that a spare magazine is faster to use than speed strips.)

If 10 rounds of .357 don't get me out of trouble, I was in a place where I shouldn't have been and was there at the wrong time. Fortunately, now that I am retired, I can, hopefully, avoid areas/problems that I could not avoid when I was working.

It boils down to being comfortable with what you have and having the confidence in your ability.

John
 
You could get a Webley .455 auto revolver and have the best of both worlds :lol:

Most of the revolver problems I have seen were ammo related
 
I never had a problem with a revolver - 5,000 or so rounds through a 686, at least 10,000 through a model 10, 1,500 through a ratty old (supremely accurate) model 28. Mostly reloads, no problems. The only problem I ever had with an auto was ammo related, a double feed caused by a bullet setting back into the case and driving the pressure through the roof (commercial ammo too!) so I don't really think there's much of an issue. It's much more of a preference.
 
I find that the main problem people have with autos is they do not know the proper proceder for when something goes wrong they do not bother to learn thier weapon.
 
CanadianPackRat said:
There's just something about shooting a revolver. It is really nice and has a good feel what you're holding something substantial.
Click to expand...

100% big fella!! I have a ruger auto (gift). I have had more jam from that ruger than from a jar of "Smuckers". I have a awesome CZ-75....very happy with it! When it comes to life and death, ie what will be close at hand for my family and I incase of the unthinkable; is the simple, deadly accurrate, unfailable reliablity of the S&W .357 modle 686. I can crack seven .357 125grain JHP off in rapid succession and with precission. Less moving parts then any glock, HK, Berretta...or whatever semi-auto. Less springs and stuff, less statistical chance of malfunction. As far as cylinders not alighning and all that bla bla bla, maintain your firearms gentlemen. Your families may depend on it! Lets face it, any out of the box revolver vs. semi-auto will shoot malfunction-free longer vs. any semi-auto out of the box.

stevr
 
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