first centerfire pistol Revolver V.S. Auto?***Thanks All!

Bobby Ironsights

Bobby Ironsights

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Hi, so I'm shopping for a centerfire pistol.

I'm fond of target shooting, but doing mostly ten meter olympic style airpistol and ten meter air rifle. It suits me, as I'm in university and rather poor right now. I also really like to shoot my flintlock rifle, for fun, rather than competitively

I always assumed that someday I'd move up to centerfire, when I had more money, but precision target pistols in centerfire are even more horrendously expensive than airpistols, if that's possible. But now with the libs talking trash about handgun bans I knew it was time to buy one, just in case things went really bad politically, and I needed to own one, to keep myself grandfathered in.

So, I went out, took the two courses, and put in my application for my PAL and RPAL. I've been looking at purchasing a pistol and am torn between revolver and automatic.

I want a double action revolver,

-because I won't have to chase brass, I'm a paraplegic, and a high volume shooter, so I expect to do alot of reloading and don't want my brass ten feet away, and on the ground. This is almost the single most important thing to me.

-because they can be loaded with a greater variety of ammo, since I don't have to worry about cycling problems with underpowered stuff, or battering, with stiff loads

-because I can shoot in single action, with a very nice trigger pull

-Because I won't bruise my thumbs loading magazines.

-Because moon clips look to be a hell of a lot cheaper than magazines

I don't want a revolver

-because of timing issues that seem to be common with many affordable revolvers.

- Because it seems more difficult to change out barrels compared to a auto, and also more expensive.


I want an automatic

-Because they might be one of the classes that I would need to be grandfathered into to shoot bullseye (1911), or if I ever wanted to IPSC (maybe someday)

-Because it looks extremely easy to swap out match barrels in an affordable 1911 for increased accuracy at home, whenever I wear one out.

-Because a Norc. 1911 looks like a fun affordable .45 S.A. Auto.

I don't want an automatic

-because I don't want to chase brass, or pick it up out of the snow, or grass.

Is there anything I'm overlooking? I've also been thinking of picking up a cheapo tokarev to keep me legal for auto-pistol, and a double action revolver and progressive reloading press, to actually shoot regularly. That's kinda painful $$$'wise though, and might result in my eating alot of KD for many moons.

UPDATE!!!!
I'd like to thank every one who replied to this thread. A couple posts in particular cemented my decision.

I decided, in the end, to purchase a Dan Wesson, stainless steel, 6 inch barrel, in .357 magnum. Being competitive, and focused on accuracy; I was heavily influenced by the large number of top shooters in silhouette who use Dan Wesson's revolvers despite it being a "boutique" manufacturer. I very much liked the fast barrel change system, adjustable cylinder gap, and barrel shroud tension system that results in a very stiff barrel setup and reminds me of post-tension cables in architecture.

I was lucky to find one used, as the price of a new one would be prohibitive for me.

DanWesson357.jpg
 
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I'd buy a S & W 686 for about $650 for a good used one and you won't need to put any money into it, just enjoy shooting. Maybe some grips, spring kit and some polishing of internal parts. I like autos, esp 1911's, but its going to chuck brass and there will be numerous upgrades you will probably want to do to get the gun up to the same kind of accuracy as the revolver, and far less changes needed to the revolver to make. Just make sure you buy one from someone who hasn't abused it by shooting magnum plus loads. But, since its all for fun, get the one you always wanted.
 
Re: chasing brass...
You can always either make or buy a large tripod-mounted brasscatcher and then place it alongside.
 
Looking at the cons (listed) of both, I'd say you're way better off with the revolver. Timing might or might might mot ever be an issue, just like you may or may not ever need to change the barrel. You will need to chase down, or find a way to catch every single piece of brass you shoot with the auto. It can be kind of a fun game, especially once you start reloading, which way the brass going to go. My glock, as I work up it starts throwing brass straight to the side, and by the time it's max load time, they are going pretty much straight up, and back, I've had a few land on my hat.
So I think you'd be happier with the revolver based simply on the brass issue, but by all means, get a cheapo auto as well, if grandfathering is a concern. Are you a member of CSSA? If we want the ban talks to go away, the only way is to become the biggest strongest group we can. I know it's $$$$, but we all love KD, right?
 
As everyone said, a 586/686 in 357mag is a perfect revolver, get a good used one for about $600 and you all set. brass wise is easy to come by, one brass can reload many many times. As for 1911, initial investment may be a little more because the brass are like treasure, not easy to get. 9mm can be cheap enough because reload them are easy, everytime I go range and went home with three four hundred roundsonce fired brass. some gun like Glock is cheap to buy and cheap to maintain. Parts are very inexpensive and easy to get.

Trigun
 
I think a revolver is probably a better choice an auto will fling the brass about ten feet or so. As for grandfathering you could purchase a frame here or at marstar or where ever a frame is a gun as far as the law goes. I would not worry about timing on any revolver made after the second world war. Barrel life is just about forever with low pressure rounds.
 
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