Revolver or Semi Automatic

[Iman74]

Now I am not talking about ridiculous situations like in Lethal Weapon. Read the following, please try to be realistic in your thinking for this I will take into consideration when I finally decide on my higher caliber gun.

Chances are because of who you are, and what you do, and the situations you put yourself as well as keep yourself out of, you will not have a need to be in a gun fight where having a semi-automatic pistol is necessary for quick reloads.
Now with that said, if you are someone that might carry for whatever the reason, shoot at the range, and carry for protection, would it make more sense to carry a revolver?
Why I say this; well I have a few reasons.
1. I get burned a lot by shells that exit my semi a lot of the times I shoot.
2. When I go higher caliber, when I rented I found it a bitch to get the last 3 to 4 rounds in the mag. It really does a number on your thumbs. Yes I could buy a quick loader.
3. It just seems easier to load a revolver when at the range than a semi. Granted if you are used to it, and do it regularly I can see you finding no difference.
4. Then there is I like the feel of the trigger on a semi.
Now for awhile I have been looking at 9mm and 40 caliber Beretta. Then I have to admit, I do like the feel and look of Glocks even though many would disagree with me on this site. But then again I have shot a revolver before, and while I like the quick trigger pull on a semi, revolvers have their own advantages as well as disadvantages.

I would really like to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

 

[mikes4runner]

Your in luck I have a Glock 22 40. cal with the 15 round clips(pre ban) and a S&W 357 cal.

Semi auto Glock wins hands down.

Look at it this way every law enforcement agency carries semi-auto's. for a reason.

Capacity,ease of trigger pull, reload ability.

Try pulling the trigger on a revoolver 100 times and you won't mind a stray hot shell every once in a while.

 

[Kanab]

For a CCW I would go with a revolver. Reason average gun fight 2-3 rounds. won't jam. I would look at a S&W 340 PDsc. They weigh 12 OZ's very easy to carry and conceal and no hammer to shag, can shoot from a pocket and they fire 357 mag. , you can also get them with lazer sighting that works from the grip, way cool . Now it will cost you with the lazer sight grips around $1000. The frame is some kind of high tech material that is stronger than steel and the cylinder is made of Titanium.

 

[dancojgl]

I prefer a semiauto; but to your points:

1. If you actually have to draw down on another human being, the adrenaline level will be so high, you won't feel hot shells landing on you...also, you won't need hearing protection either—your brain will tune out the noise of the shots.

2. Personally, I don't cram my magazines full, in an attempt to save the springs. And if I can't stop an assailant with 12 rounds, 14 probably ain't going to do the trick either...

3. I'm more familiar with my semiauto than with revolvers, and I find it a snap to drop a mag, pop in a fresh one, and let the slide go.

4. Revolvers do seem to have smother trigger pulls than semis, but I'm so familiar with my old S&W 59, that I know just how much force is required to get that first DA shot off, and how sensitive followup SA shots are.

The one complaint I have about my 59 is that it has a magazine safety, and will not fire without a magazine in the well. This makes a defensive snap-shot impossible during magazine changes until you get the new mag seated...

Luckily, I've never actually had to carry or use a weapon for self defense.

—Dan

 

[bluewolf]

I can't say that I like one over the other.

I like revolvers 'cause they're simple, reliable, sturdy, and easy to load & unload. If you keep a gun loaded for home-security (that is, if you believe in that sort of thing) you don't have to worry about a clip-spring being under tension for long periods of time, which can cause malfunctioning (jams).

I like semi-autos for their speed, trigger-sensitivity, capacity, etc, but lets face it... unless you're in the military, law enforcement, or experiencing armegedon most of us don't NEED a semi-auto for practical self-defense purposes. We like them because they're cool.

So... I guess I won't vote. I don't prefer one over the other.

 

[SteveM]

Abstaining because I like ALL guns and have no preference between auto or wheelgun.

 

[NoRaSS411]

I am definately a fan of my NCHP 92fs for its smooth feel and the 30 rounder will put out a few more than a six gun haha

 

[DjGorilla]

I prefer muzzleloaders. You never have to worry about hot shells.

 

[Iman74]

LMAO...okay I would like to see how long someone would last with that thing in a gun fight, against those with modern guns. LMAO.

 

[bluewolf]

LMAO...okay I would like to see how long someone would last with that thing in a gun fight, against those with modern guns. LMAO.

You only need one shot with a 50 cal ball

 

[brywards]

Interesting that my first post on an automotive-related site is not automotive-related at all!

Anyway, I'll chime in on this since I love the subject so much. I own both types of firearm; a S&W 642 in .38 Special and my baby, a SigSauer P229 in .40 cal. Which one I carry depends upon what I'm wearing that day, but I usually take my Sig with me wherever I go. I started out carrying a .357 Magnum, but the larger you go in caliber with a revolver, the larger the cylinder has to be to contain the higher pressures produced, so I quit carrying that behemoth around and switched to my baby.

Some things to consider with revolvers:
plus: they are definitely more reliable than semi's
plus: they can fire while still in your pocket
plus: my little 5-shot S&W 642 only weighs about 14 ounces
negative: like I said before, with larger calibers comes larger cylinders = hard to conceal in some situations
negative: limited capacity
biggest negative of all: unlike semi's, revolvers shoot fire out the end of the barrel AND out the breech/cylinder face!!

I can't tell you how many times my left index finger strayed too close to the cylinder face and got burnt as a result of it! Also, in a self-protection situation at night, that fire shooting out the side of your revolver is going to flash-blind you, thereby disabling you for any type of follow-up shot...so capacity is a moot point when you're blind!

Wow, one hell of a first post, eh?! PM me if you'd like any further info on guns for self-defense...like I said, I love the subject!

-Bryan

 

[Iman74]

You only need one shot with a 50 cal ball

If you miss, then what?

 

[Kanab]

Bryan, have you looked at the S&W 340PD, it is a 357 mag. made of scandium aluminum alloy with a titanimum cylinder, it's a J frame and only weighes 11 oz's. I understand it is as strong as steel and has the best of both worlds with a large caliber and light weight? I don't "think" it is any larger than your 642???

 

[bluewolf]

If you miss, then what?

Miss? What do you mean?

 

[brywards]

Bryan, have you looked at the S&W 340PD, it is a 357 mag. made of scandium aluminum alloy with a titanimum cylinder, it's a J frame and only weighes 11 oz's. I understand it is as strong as steel and has the best of both worlds with a large caliber and light weight? I don't "think" it is any larger than your 642???

No, but I did have the 640 in hand (same thing as what you mentioned, just not made out of scandium) but I put it back and stuck with the 642 -- much less $$! I'm glad I got what I did, because with a hot load of .38 Special +P, that little gun rattles around in my big monkey hand and actually starts to hurt after a while! .357 Magnum is just too much power for such a light gun...you need some good 'ole steel mass to absorb some of that recoil.

Also, and not to bad-mouth S&W, but I've heard of those scandium-framed revolvers in higher calibers going KABOOM! Once guy even shot his barrel off...no sh!t, he saw his barrel fly down the range!! They may have worked the bugs out by now, but I still say that's too much power in a little package.

 

[Kanab]

No, but I did have the 640 in hand (same thing as what you mentioned, just not made out of scandium) but I put it back and stuck with the 642 -- much less $$! I'm glad I got what I did, because with a hot load of .38 Special +P, that little gun rattles around in my big monkey hand and actually starts to hurt after a while! .357 Magnum is just too much power for such a light gun...you need some good 'ole steel mass to absorb some of that recoil.

Also, and not to bad-mouth S&W, but I've heard of those scandium-framed revolvers in higher calibers going KABOOM! Once guy even shot his barrel off...no sh!t, he saw his barrel fly down the range!! They may have worked the bugs out by now, but I still say that's too much power in a little package.

I hear you, I was looking at the 340PD and I think I will buy a used 342PD, it's the same as the 642 but instead of the steel cylinder it has titiniumin (sp). weighs 11 oz's and shoots 38 spl +P's. I figure if you load it up with some 125 gr. gold dot's in the +P it should be a good defensive weapon for CCW. Plus a local dealer has two like new 342's for around $375-395. If I want the 340PD it will cost me $600 and like you I would not want to shoot a 12 oz gun full of 357 mag's based on what others have written.

 

[brywards]

Pitbull, that's a real good price for the 342...get it.

No, get both and send me one as a "welcome to the forum" gift!!

 

[Tim-in-TX]

It depends

It depends on the situation. For a CCW I carry a Ruger P94. The auto has a thinner frame than a wheel gun and is a little easier to conceal...but it does require more frequent cleanings than a wheel gun.
In my runner, I keep a S&W 357 in the arm rest. I keep it there because it is difficult to get to the auto on my hip with a shirt covering it and a seatbelt on. It gets a little dusty and dirty inside the truck so I know that the revolver will be far less likly to jam under those conditions. The revolver does get regular cleanings...just not as often as the revolver!

 

[Kanab]

Well I went ahead and got the S&W 340PD. 12 oz's and it shoots a 357 mag. ended up costing me $630 out the door. Hey it's only money Plus I love the technology, scandium alloy frame and titanium cylinder.

 

[brywards]

So Pitbull, I guess I don't get my welcome gift, huh? Bummer.

Enjoy your new gun. Post here to tell me how it shoots...that is, just as soon as you can type again after shooting Magnums from that little hand cannon!