[Will44]

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.

 

[Checkman]

The revolver is a dead letter in law enforcement, but I suspect you'd be surprised to know just how many revolvers are being carried concealed.
There was a flurry of CCW autos being bought when the police went to autos and the mini-autos come on the market.
After that a lot of people re-learned the utility and simplicity of a revolver, and this is born out by the huge numbers of concealable revolvers are being sold by S&W, Ruger, and Taurus.

S&W and Ruger wouldn't be going to the expense of developing revolvers made of new materials like the plastic revolvers if they weren't selling well.

You are dead on. A few years ago several of my fellow officers were buying the 380 Rugers and other pistols for their backups. In the past couple of years many of those same officers have quietly replaced their little pistols with Ruger, S&W and Taurus revolvers. Several have come to me with questions since I am known to be a revolver fan and I carry a 70's era S&W Model 49 as my backup. I get a kick out of seeing a twenty-four year old officer who is very cocky and wants only the latest and greatest carrying a S&W Model 38 Airweight Bodyguard as his backup.

 

[Checkman]

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.

While I don't disagree with you (being a fan of revolvers and therefore considered to be one of my department's eccentrics) the revolver is gone as the primary sidearm for officers. My department last authorized revolvers as a primary in 2004. The policy was changed at that time. We haven't had an officer carry a revolver as a primary since the mid-90's. He retired in 98.

 

[Cruiser RN]

I am the happy dinosaur revolver guy at the range.This being said I will give a balanced presentation of revolver -vs- Semi Auto in my Pistol Safety Course but tell the class I am biased toward revolvers and the reasons why.It seems that 75% of the class will buy Tactical Tupperware and 25% will go revolver.There will always be a market for the revolver as a CCW.As a side note my teaching partner and I came from opposite tracks when we became instructors.He got me into Semi Autos and I got him into revolvers.When he was asked if he had any regrets he said that he wished he had started with revolvers first.

 

[Ishouldknowbetter]

Having been around the block a few times in my life while living on the wrong side of the tracks, what I really want is a 20 second heads-up when a situation is about to go sideways.

Correction, now that I am old and decrepit, please give me a full 60 second's heads-up.

Revolver, auto loader, single shot, howitzer or cricket bat, whatever, pardon the pun, 'trips your trigger' or makes someone feel safe doesn't make one bit of difference to me personally.

Different strokes for different folks et al. Each has their place and purpose. The only advice I give those new to firearms looking for the best type of gun for them, is the same that was passed to me many years ago.

'Son, don't take on seven men when all you're packin' is a six shooter.'

Situational awareness and like I said, a minute's worth of lead time, I will like my chances if I were only armed with a plastic spork.

 

[coltle6920]

The revolver has earned itself a place in history taming the wild West. It should at least be remembered for that if nothing else. I read a saying that said "For most people History begins the day they were born." Our younger generations are no longer taught history the way we were and don't have an appreciation for how we got to where we are today.

When something new comes along like the semi-auto it doesn't necessarily mean that it is better. It means that a company has created a new niche in the market place to bring in more revenue. The company has created a need where there wasn't one necessarily. We have to be the most gullible of all of God's creatures. I laugh every time I see a pickup truck made by Cadillac or Lincoln pass me on the road. Haven't seen one yet with the back filled with rock or dirt.

Except for what will be a few collectibles the revolver will eventually fade away. The semi-auto's will also fade away although the replacement has yet to be invented. Everything dies sooner or later and is destined to be forgotten because "for most people history begins the day they were born."

One thing I believe the revolver holds over the semi-auto is the grip. The somewhat oval shaped grip on a revolver is the same shape your hand makes when you make a fist. I don't think the grip on a semi is as natural.

Just adding my two cents to the jar.

 

[Boge]

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.

 

[Sgt405]

The revolver was good enough in the "old west" because it was up against other revolvers. Not 15-18 round semi-autos.

I started as a cop in 1975 when all we had were revolvers. In my years with one there were many times our officers needed to reload. So please, we did need more than six.
Now we face criminals with money to buy better guns than our depts. can supply us with. It used to be shooting a cop was unthinkable. Now its a badge of honor to them. Off duty yes, on duty it is still a semi-auto. Sorry, and I am a died in the wool revolver guy.

 

[Will44]

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.