Stress Degrades Performance EH
This is a great topic. Essentially it boils down to the essential decision. Will my wife be a blonde or brunette?
My pick for a carry gun would be a revolver based on 45 years of lots of pistol shooting with both self loaders (Browning HP bought in 1963; Colt Gold Cup 1978) and revolvers (S&W M&P 1961; S&W M-29 1978)
In between I have alternated back and forth. Fired thousands of rounds through both types.
Yesterday I did my four hour NROI stint where fifty shooters showed up to the match with self loaders; when I shot later in the day around 1700hrs I was the ONLY revolver shooter with my minty S&W Model 27 (1954 era) with H&K speedloaders.
After 130 shots, not a single malfunction; slower reloads than usual because I wanted to compare reload speeds to my S&W 625 with moonclips. Conclusion is this: have Model 27 cylinder modified to take 6 shot moonclips. A J frame modified for moonclips wouild be fun too.
I like my Gold Cup and stock Colt 1911A1 for standard class in IPSC or a S&W Model 39-2 for IPSC Prodcution. Fired the Model 39-2 in DCRA NSCC Service Pistol and Practical Pistol 200 plus shots and it never failed to function.
HOWEVER, IF I was to chose a pistol that would "always work" for six shots from -30 degrees celsius to 110" in all condiions it would be a REVOLVER.
A N frame S&W in 44 or 357 or a Colt Python or Colt .357 .
The S&W N frame 8 shot would be my pick for IPSC against all comers in Production or Standard. TOO BAD IPSC Revolver Division only allows for SIX shots.
Yesterday as NROI RO I saw competitors with $100 magazines that would not fucntion in thier $2000 1911's.
1911A1's failed to feed when competitors shooting weak hand didnt lock wrist and elbow as hard as they did either strong hand or free style. Slides in recoil rubbed on barricades or hit door frames in recoil
DA revolver shooting is fun and in a Wilderness Handgun context potentially life saving eh. A 4&1/4" brl N-F rame 8 shot in 357 would be a great all round carry gun-IPSC revolver-Wilderness Handgun-IDPA Comp oiece.
Meanwhile I will keep my Stainless 1911A1 Colt. It works okeh at -30C in a 20mph wind if you lube it with graphite and you can replace any part on it. It would survive a mud bath or water immersion as it is easily cleaned.
Six shots quick..no fuss no muss- A 1920's Colt Official Police (C.O.P) is all you really need.
Mine will have high visibilty sights and will be in IPSC Revolver this fall.
I like both. I just prefer a revolver for six accurate DA shots FOR SURE based on my experience with BOTH types.
HITS COUNT. IF you have six key hits and still have a problem and cant solve it with another 6 or 8 or 10 well, you have a "real problem".
The "problem" I witnessed yesterday with IPSC Self Loader competitors is that the skill level required to really handle and hit with a 45ACP 1911A1 at 20 metres in plate targets or classic targets or the relatively massive pepper popper is "considerable".
It is one thing to be a "piano owner"; quite another to be a REAL "piano player".
In 1940s the USA issued 5 million m-1 Carbines because US troops especially front line officers with the 1911A1 as their only armament along with GI's working in the vehicle pool or cooking chow were considered "essentially unarmed rear echelon troops" when overrun IF all they had were their hardbucking .45ACP's.
