Think revolvers are "outdated" and gone for good? Or will they make a big comeback

8580 Views 108 Replies 48 Participants Last post by Will44, Oct 28, 2013

Doug.38PR

Discussion Starter · Sep 11, 2013 (Edited)

Think revolvers are "outdated" and gone for good? Or will they make a big comeback

It's often said by most people, cop and civilian alike, that revolvers are "outdated" and are "a thing of the past" Most of these people don't realize that the Double Action Revolver Pistol and the Semi Automatic Pistol are not too far apart in terms of age. Furthermore, many of these same people will respond by saying "well we have high capacity guns now" not realizing also that high capacity guns have been around since 1935 with the Browning Hi Power (and it didn't even have any kind of market in the US until the 1950s and didn't gain any kind of real following until the 1980s). They'll then say "well criminals are better armed now" forgetting that criminals have been armed to the teeth in the past with gangsters like John Dillinger, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow and mobsters with Al Capone and other mafia thugs armed with BARs, Tommy Guns and 1911 pistols. Much more than I can say for the average crackhead of today.

All things considered, nothing has REALLY changed in terms of weapons technological effectiveness (although bullet designs have in some ways improved....but then the "old school" FBI Load in .38 Special still reigns king compared to "modern" .38 hollowpoint bullets). The only thing, as I see it, that has really changed is the culture. This mindset of "more means better" and that the style needs to look "new" and we take our model off of what we see and experience in movies and television. If an idea is over 20 years old, it's "outdated". Doesn't matter if it's right, just that it's "old".

Well, one day the world I think will swing back the other way and realize that speed kills, old people are wiser, history has more to teach than we think and revolvers means Six for Sure and the polymer semi-automatic fad will die out or at least retract into moderation.

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Boge

· #54 · Sep 21, 2013

Unless someone has "seen the Elephant" I think it a little unrealistic (if not delusional) that they can whimsically state that they feel confident they can survive the melee with a mere five or six shots that they really "feel" that they can deliver with Camp Perry precision in said circumstances.

Far better to error on the side of caution and assume the worst as truth be known most people are lucky to hit a bus at ten yards under duress, let alone a moving and unpredictable assailant at night in a strange location.

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Boge

· #107 · Oct 26, 2013 (Edited)

Will44 said:
Automatics are superior for military purposes and this won't change. As for police. If a selection is based on real experience rather than cop shows on TV, a revolver is definitely superior. Today's police seem to confuse their situation with what they see in the movies. A real need to fire more than six shots is extremely rare and a skilled person can reload about as fast with speedloaders as with a magazine.

An automatic, if well built, maintained, and used by a person with good training and experience is somewhat reliable. A cheap revolver, abused for years and cleaned every decade, is very reliable. Many police go for an entire career without ever drawing their guns except for qualification. Most departments have not seen a firefight lasting more than six shots per person and if someone cannot hit their target in six shots they probably can't do it in 12.

As for handgun hunting, there really isn't a place for automatics at all.

Suppose you were in Alaska carrying a handgun for defense against wild animals. What automatic would you choose?

Revolvers will be around for a long time.

Lots of LE engagements go over six shots and it's not always due to bad accuracy but many times due to circumstances as most criminals don't stand still like a Silhouette target on a bright sunny day or involve multiple criminals, e.g., "flash mobs". Obviously, if a person lives in Moose Jaw, MT their needs are different than someone in say Chicago.

FWIW, some today are carrying Glock 20 10mm semi-autos with 200 gr. hard cast bullets for bear, cougar, etc., defense. It may not be for everyone, but we cannot deny that several are doing so basing their choice that with more shots they have a better chance of getting a "golden BB" shot off in a sudden encounter as it goes to reason that few in a scenario with a surprised Grizzly would be able to calmly place a perfect brainpan shot. I understand their reasoning whether I agree or not.

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