I shoot revolver better than autos. Why?

Kirk1701

Kirk1701

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So I'm reasonably new to handguns. Been shooting them for roughly 2 years. I've only owned them for a couple months. But in my experience, I can't seem to hit anything with an automatic. My revolver skills, however, are just a bit behind my rifle skills.

I find automatics incredibly difficult to get a feel for. I was shooting my buddy's 1911, Luger, and S&W 5906, but I have trouble hitting at 10 yards even. I don't think my sight picture is that off. I just took my new Chiappa 1911-22 to the range today. I'm pretty sure it's shooting low, but I did feel the same issues. I can't seem to get a feel for it.

I also have a S&W pre-model 10 M&P 38 with a K-38 barrel. I feel very confident with it. The first time I shot it, I was able to hit where I aimed. That's says a lot for a newb, I think.

Is this common among newbie pistol shooters? Is there a larger learning curve with an automatic than a revolver?
 
1) SA revolver trigger is generally very light
2) Most (restricted) revolvers have a lot longer barrel/ sight radius than semis.
3) front sight is attached to the barrel on a revolver vs a slide.
 
I definitely shoot wheelguns better than Auto-loaders. Ruger MK 1 being the exception; but that shouldn't be a big surprise, it's designed to be a tackdriver.
 
I'm with you, I shoot revolver way better than any of my autos.

A 6" model 19 is my goto gun. When ever I get fed up with spraying targets with my autos I pull her out to regain some confidence. A revolver just seems to point better and the single action on the Smith is to die for. The extra inch of sight radius and a little more weight probably helps some. Maybe the fact that you have to slow down a bit helps to. Shot 95% on a 8" paper plate @25yds from a 4.2" GP100 yesterday. Mostly double action. I was truly impressed. I'm lucky if I shoot 70% with any of my autos, I always manage to color outside the lines with them

I usually finish a range session with a cylinder of 357's. That always brings a big grin to my face.

M
 
I was at the range on Friday and the revolver (shot as a single shot) was right on the money, the 9mm was all over the place. I compensate by leaving the revolver targets up longer and tearing down the semi-auto ones immediately...
 
What you start shooting with usually has a big impact too.

I am an auto guy, so it took a while to get used to revolvers.

Just focus on trigger control and sight picture for a while and you will get better.

Practise practise practise.
 
The more you work at it the better you will get with your semi autos but you are most right, it is for most people far easier to shoot wheel guns then it is to shoot autos accuratly.

Graydog
 
I am surprized no one has mentioned the obvious technical design and manufacturing superiority of the modern revolver as well as the major advantage that comes from being built from real steel and the fact that revolvers are just so much cooler they automatically instil a Dirty Harry'ish confidence in being able to make the shot.:p;):D
 
I think it's the OP's technique that's at issue here. With a SA/DA revolver, using it in DA means you MUST concentrate on front sight placement and smooth trigger action to get accuracy. If you do the same thing with an auto you should be getting similar results.

What I can't figure is why his skill set with revolvers isn't transferring over to semi-autos'?? Anybody got any ideas?
 
I can shoot way better with a revolver than a semi. The only exception was my old Smith and Wesson Model 52 - it was designed to shoot only .38spl wadcutters. I find I have a much cleaner sight picture with revolvers and can usually achieve fairly tight groups - I always shoot double action.
 
What I can't figure is why his skill set with revolvers isn't transferring over to semi-autos'?? Anybody got any ideas?
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I'd guess that he primarily shoots the revolver in single action.

Shooting with a bobbed hammer and a little bit of speed made me a better shooter.
No question.
 
There are no autos out there with the trigger pull as smooth as S&W wheelgun especially in DA.
All the "stages" on the autos may affect accuracy of the shooter that get used to the smooth, constant even heavy trigger pull.
I've heard that only SIG DAK and P250 have similar trigger pull. Maybe one day I'm going to verify that.
 
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Kirk, from your descriptions you're likely flinching with the semis but for some reason don't flinch with the revolvers. Either that or you're gripping the semis all wrong and are not giving them the sort of support the gun and you need to do better.

Like some of the others have posted I generally shoot my own revolvers tighter than I do my semis. But we're only talking about 1/4 to 1/2 inch difference in my groups at around 15 yards. It's not like I get a 2 to 2.5 inch grouping with my revolver at 15 yards and then can't hit the target at all with more than half the rounds in the mag of a semi.
 
Kirk1701 said:
Yes I am shooting in single action with the 38. But I also do okay with double.

I like the point that the front sight moves with the slide on an automatic. I can imagine myself trying to compensate for that.
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That would be a flinch. It's got bupkus to do with the possible meaningless movement of the sights during the recoil and everything to do with you anticipating the upcoming big BOOM!. Don't go looking for excuses to your problem. Look for solutions instead.

To get rid of this issue learn to pull the trigger of a semi all the way to the rear travel limit and HOLD it there for a moment. Ideally hold it there until the BOOM! and recoil is done. Only then AND WITH CONTROL ease off the pressure on the trigger and allow it to move forward. By focusing on the trigger pull with the goal being to build pressure to move it to the rear stop and hold it there during the recoil you'll be focusing away from the BOOM! and recoil and more correctly on the trigger pressure and sight picture.
 
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