Think revolvers are "outdated" and gone for good?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

8535 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Think revolvers are "outdated" and gone for good?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It's often said by most people, cop and civilian alike, that revolvers are "outdated" and are "a thing of the past" Most of these people don't realize that the Double Action Revolver Pistol and the Semi Automatic Pistol are not too far apart in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 If an idea is over 20 years old, it's "outdated".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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Will44

· #101 · Oct 23, 2013

Real Needs vs Dreams

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.

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Will44

· #109 · Oct 28, 2013

Boge said:
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.

First, Moose Jaw is in Saskatchewan. Next, do people in your department often get in shootouts with flash mobs?

As for the 10mm, it is my favorite semi-auto. I have a S&W 1006. I never understood why it didn't gain more popularity. I heard that not many places carry ammo for them because they didn't sell a lot of them. I also heard that they didn't sell a lot of them because not many places carry 10mm ammo. This makes no sense.

I once ran ito a huge bear at very close range just outside of Sitka, Alaska. I was carrying a S&W Model 29 in a shoulder holster at the time. The bear stood up facing me. It occurred to me that if I were to shoot that bear with the revolver he might take offense. I just froze for a few seconds and the bear got down on all fours and ran off. I ran the other way and changed my pants.

My choice of firearm in that case would not have been a revolver or a semi-auto. It would have been a Holland & Holland double in a caliber large enough for me to stick my thumb down the barrels.

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