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Revolvers: Perfect or Out-Dated for Personal Defense?
Am Shooting Journal ^ | 7/16/20 | C Baker

Posted on 07/16/2020 7:32:42 AM PDT by w1n1

Are revolvers ideal or out-dated for personal defense? Not many gun enthusiasts debate this, they rather speak of comparison between 9mm vs .45 but its still worth a discussion.

Chris Baker from Lucky Gunner asked that question a while back and came up with some really good points about revolvers while attending a defensive revolver training class.
The class was conducted by Darryl Bolke and Wayne Dobbs of Hardwired Tactical. Other instructors to help lighten the teaching load were Chuck Haggard and Claude Werner. Each instructors taught different topics related to the defensive use of revolvers.

Some of the sentiments were:
“…the guys at the revolver roundup came across as being a lot more pro-revolver.
The prevailing sentiment…was that the revolver are kind of like the every man gun.
It should be the go-to firearm for the average civilian who wants something for personal protection and semi-autos are probably best reserved for more dedicated shooters.
People who say revolvers never malfunction never shoot their revolvers.
These perspectives might seem pretty incompatible on the surface, but I think there's a lot of merit to both of them.

-this paradox of how revolvers can be seriously flawed but also maybe the ideal self-defense tool for most people.
-He is quick to point out, however, that the revolver is not without its flaws.
-It never ceases to amaze me just how many people are under the impression that revolvers are incapable of malfunctioning.
The fact of the matter is that even though revolvers can be very reliable, they’re also prone to some pretty serious issues that don’t affect semi-autos. Just in the past year, had I’ve had plenty of revolvers malfunction on me and I’ve also seen people on the range have problems, too.
Problems like…
A frozen cylinder from debris under the extractor star or from out of spec primers.
An extractor rod backing itself out preventing the cylinder from opening.
Multiple light primer strikes...Read the rest of revolvers perfect or outdated.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: banglist; blogpimp; clickbait; momsbasement; moreclickbait; revolvers
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To: w1n1

Is it OK to like them both? Also like single shots.


21 posted on 07/16/2020 7:49:16 AM PDT by yarddog ( For I am persuaded.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

I disagree completely. If you can get sufficient cover (or at least concealment), your best bet is to keep the baddies away from you and your family until the police arrive. Let them deal with whoever is in your house. Tough to accomplish that (since police will take 5-10 minutes at least, sometimes much longer depending on where you are) with 5 or 6 rounds. Clearing the whole house room by room is for cowboys. Never go looking for trouble.

Still, for a novice, a revolver will usually be the most simple tool. However, I’m a huge fan of doing lots of training and maintaining proficiency at the range. Know your weapons and know yourself. It could save your life or the lives of those you love some day. Nobody in the house should be a novice unless you have small children around.


22 posted on 07/16/2020 7:49:38 AM PDT by 2aProtectsTheRest
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To: w1n1

Revolvers are easier to reload properly.


23 posted on 07/16/2020 7:52:39 AM PDT by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: w1n1

And revolvers shoot cast lead bullets with less issues than automatics.


24 posted on 07/16/2020 7:53:16 AM PDT by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: w1n1

A lady cop almost died the other day when her semiauto jammed at the worst possible moment. She managed to clear it just in time and take out an armed attacker who got way too close.

I’ll stay with my revolver in the car, though I keep a semi at my bedside.


25 posted on 07/16/2020 7:53:22 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Prediction: G. Maxwell will surprise everyone by not dying anytime soon.)
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To: 4Runner

Me neither ‘till I read the Cold Mountain novel. Been a fan ever since.


26 posted on 07/16/2020 7:53:57 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: w1n1

5 or 6 shots is often too few.


27 posted on 07/16/2020 7:55:58 AM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: w1n1

I own a S &W Model 66 - .357 Magnum. It is accurate and easy to shoot. I was at the range last week and two guys shooting in the booths next to me were amazed at the fire power from a revolver.


30 posted on 07/16/2020 8:00:17 AM PDT by EC Washington
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To: w1n1

Just so happens I had to run into town for a DR app, grabbed the little 44 Bulldog Pug and threw it in the console. I trust revolvers over semi’s.


31 posted on 07/16/2020 8:05:10 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: KC Burke

Bingo. A clean revolver will not jam.

My go to is the Taurus Public Defender loaded with 000 buck shot (4 pellets) or #6 bird shot (about 225 pellets).

5 rounds with 000 is 20 projectiles
5 rounds with #6 is 1,125 projectiles.


32 posted on 07/16/2020 8:06:21 AM PDT by Texas resident (Remember in November)
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To: w1n1

Lee Harvey Oswald was unavailable for comment.


33 posted on 07/16/2020 8:09:26 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Levy78

Talk about ignorant.

95% of the population is barely capable of pulling the trigger during a traumatic event.

Semi’s have magazines, springs, pull the slide, release the safety.

Get real BOZO.


34 posted on 07/16/2020 8:10:32 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie (All I know is The I read in the papers.)
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To: SaxxonWoods

“A lady cop almost died the other day when her semiauto jammed at the worst possible moment. She managed to clear it just in time and take out an armed attacker who got way too close.

I’ll stay with my revolver in the car, though I keep a semi at my bedside.”

You’re leaving out the fact that the gun jammed most likely because the bad guy made contact with it (as could happen if someone grabs your cylinder), she cleared the malfunction in about 1 second, and most important, it took about 12 rounds to put the guy down. If she had been shooting a 6 shot revolver she may very well have killed. I have no interest in getting into a revolver/semi auto debate, but your description of that video was not accurate.


35 posted on 07/16/2020 8:11:24 AM PDT by suthener
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Yeah,because when I’m faced with multiple assailants, I really wish I had LESS AMMUNITION.

Said no one, ever.


36 posted on 07/16/2020 8:11:43 AM PDT by This_Dude
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To: 4Runner
I can re-load a wheel gun pretty damned quick. So why would I be limited to six shots in any scenario at home?

You may be very fast, but a crowd of 500 or more is faster.

37 posted on 07/16/2020 8:11:45 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (I'd rather be anecdotally alive than scientifically dead...)
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Comment #38 Removed by Moderator

To: w1n1

I believe an argument can be made they are (generally) inherently safer than a magazine fed firearm, especially with those unfamiliar with how an automatic pistol operates.

There are quite a few dead people, who thought that removing a magazine means the weapon is empty.

Hot hand loads might be a factor in raised primers, is my understanding. Commercially loaded ammunition, even at max SAAMI standards should not ever cause this.


39 posted on 07/16/2020 8:13:02 AM PDT by Freedom4US
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To: EC Washington

I am with you my friend, but I was always for my semi automatic until it got a jam condition that the gun smiths could not fix; Now I don’t feel the same about it and in a pinch, I would grab the S & W. (I still think the Colt is sexy but after getting thrown out of a self defense class for having an unsafe weapon I am going to own both firearms.


40 posted on 07/16/2020 8:13:12 AM PDT by KC_for_Freedom (retired aerospace engineer and CSP who also taught)
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