Semi-Auto vs Revolver

[TMB 1]

Revolver is best for new shooters. Everyone should have both eventually. Both will do things better than the other or things the other can't.

[SloChicken]

I wouldn't be so sure. The reason being that most people are shooting semi-autos at the range these days, thus you don't have a large enough sample size of people out there using revolvers to make a judgment on their overall reliability. I haven't seen a revolver fail at the range in a long time, but I have NEVER seen a Glock fail either. Hang around long enough and you will see both have problems.

I disagree. There has been a century or more of regular revolver use. And well over 50 years with most popular double actions revolvers out today.
It is very very rare to have a failure with a revolver. Most anyone here has a had a failure to fire, or a failure to eject with most any semi-auto we own, myself included.
I have had my revolvers get a little sticky in the rotation of the cylinder vs. the forcing cone but this is due to lack of cleaning and very rare to see.
On the other hand, failure to eject or feed with semi-autos happen much more often than all problems with revolvers combined. Further, many of the correctable problems semi-autos encounter can be perplexing to a novice shooter (dbl feeds, etc.)
Also with revolvers becoming more and more expensive in relation to semi-autos people are less likely to be purchasing budget models when it comes to revolvers. Thus the perceived reliability of the overall design is distorted because you are seeing only very high quality pistols of that type in comparison to polymer semis that are half priced.

Bottom line, if your semi-auto or revolver can shoot over 1,000 rounds without a malfunction you are approaching the territory of the odds being greater that there is a ammo malfunction than one with the weapon.

See notes in blue above.
I will add, that my main bedside gun (and most of my HD guns) is a semi-auto, particularly for capacity (Beretta M9, M&P 45), and the lamp than anything on a couple of them.
When out backpacking or hunting I usually carry a revolver in either .357magnum, or in 454casull.

[ChuckDizzle]

See notes in blue above.
I will add, that my main bedside gun (and most of my HD guns) is a semi-auto, particularly for capacity (Beretta M9, M&P 45), and the lamp than anything on a couple of them.
When out backpacking or hunting I usually carry a revolver in either .357magnum, or in 454casull.

That's pretty crazy that someone would let a revolver get dirty enough to interfere with cylinder rotation.

When it comes to a first gun I prefer a revolver simply for the ability to load empty chambers to check for anticipation and proper technique.

However, I still feel the reliability of revolvers has been greatly exaggerated. When comparing to old semi-autos like 1911's and the Hi-Power, it was no contest, but with modern polymer autos you can do a quick Google search and find people shooting 1,000+ rounds out of semi-autos with few or no malfunctions of any kind. Considering reloading a low capacity weapon like a revolver is more cumbersome than clearing most common malfunctions in modern pistols the ultimate reliability question is a negligible one when it comes to revolver v. auto.

[ScottsBad]

I have both, but truthfully I prefer semi auto.

A beginner can be trained on a semi-auto. I was. Here is what I like better about semi-auto.
1. Larger cap mags
2. Faster mag reloads
3. I prefer single action or striker fired triggers, and do not like DA for fast shooting or accuracy.
4. Larger variety of pistol types/calibers/brands to choose from.
5. Slimmer profile.

I like revolvers for the ultimate in reliability (Although some might argue otherwise) and the magnum calibers that are quite powerful. Also, if you use a revolver as single action the trigger can be fantastic, but then you have to cock the hammer.

[smittty]

That's pretty crazy that someone would let a revolver get dirty enough to interfere with cylinder rotation.

Then you haven't owned enough revolvers!

My Single Six used to get pretty stiff after only a few cylinders worth of shooting. I'd have to clean it to continue shooting. Their MKII/III goes a lot further before needing cleaning.

[ChuckDizzle]

Then you haven't owned enough revolvers!

My Single Six used to get pretty stiff after only a few cylinders worth of shooting. I'd have to clean it to continue shooting. Their MKII/III goes a lot further before needing cleaning.

I guess I should take it back then, I've experienced the same with my Single-Six, especially when shooting Winchester.

I notice that the cylinder gap on my double action revolvers is a good deal larger than on my Single-Six and I've never had any problems with my 19-6 or 637 going hundreds of rounds.

[Lead Waster]

Both are awesome.

But if it were for "duty" or self defense, I'd go with a semi, no question. (for me).

Recently I was reading through some shootouts on wiki (and youtube has a nice interview with surviving agents of the 86 miami shootout).

One thing that made a difference or lost lives was people trying to reload their 6 shot revolvers under fire.

Look up the 1986 miami shootout, the 1970 Newhall Massacre...

[Gem1950]

Again - I think that a distinction needs to be made as to what the purpose of the pistol is. If it is purely defensive, and you are teaching a novice (uninitiated/beginner) shooting technique, safety, etc, then there is no contest - a DAO revolver is the least complicated, most reliable pistol, and we're not talking thousands of rounds at the range either. This is 110 lbs. woman, bad guy, in your face, make him turn around, no means no or else.

Personally, I would rather carry/depend on my 1911 rather than my Model 19, but that's my preference.

[CSACANNONEER]

For home defense, if a handgun is the right choice for one's needs, a revolver is much more reliable than a semi auto. It is far easier for a gun owner who is not a regular shooter to use a revolver in a panic situation than a semi auto. for a regular shooter, it boils down to personal choice and the environment that one will be using it in. For me, I use both depending on the situation. During snake season, I carry a 5 shot revolver with two shotshells followed by three rounds of 38 spl. If I am just carrying for big kitties and two legged snakes, I tend to carry a 4" 1911 that I've put +30K rounds through and feel very comfortable with using it while in panic mode. Now, if I was planning on being in some sort of mass shooting where I was going to need to reload, I would opt for a long gun instead of any sort of handgun.

[saudadeii]

All I can say is I take more time cleaning and "fondling" my GP100 (4", SS), than I do my semi's. Not because it needs it but because I like it.

Having said that I'd prefer 8 rounds of .45 over 6 rounds of .38 +p or even 10 rounds of 9mm if I had to defend myself or my family.

[ChuckDizzle]

For home defense, if a handgun is the right choice for one's needs, a revolver is much more reliable than a semi auto.

Wrong again, it isn't MUCH more reliable. It is slightly more reliable and far more cumbersome to use.

Would you rather reload by opening a cylinder, turning the weapon upwards while removing your firing hand and slapping downward on the ejection rod, then turn the gun downwards, insert a speed loader (if you are lucky enough to have one), turn it correctly while holding the cylinder in place with your non-firing hand...

You have to do this every 6-8 rounds with a common revolver. This is more complicated than clearing any common malfunction from a semi-auto. So essentially with a revolver you are stuck clearing a malfunction every 6 rounds. Instead of simply pressing a button, shoving a new magazine up there, and getting the slide forward like you've done hundreds of times at the range.

[TMB 1]

Again - I think that a distinction needs to be made as to what the purpose of the pistol is. If it is purely defensive, and you are teaching a novice (uninitiated/beginner) shooting technique, safety, etc, then there is no contest - a DAO revolver is the least complicated, most reliable pistol, and we're not talking thousands of rounds at the range either. This is 110 lbs. woman, bad guy, in your face, make him turn around, no means no or else.

Personally, I would rather carry/depend on my 1911 rather than my Model 19, but that's my preference.

DAO? Never start on a DAO if your next one is going to be a 1911. DAO might be good training for the excellent triggers Glocks have though.

[ChuckDizzle]

DAO? Never start on a DAO if your next one is going to be a 1911. DAO might be good training for the excellent triggers Glocks have though.

I don't know, after learning how to properly use the sear reset I feel like a Glock isn't that much different from a DA/SA semi.

[TMB 1]

Wrong again, it isn't MUCH more reliable. It is slightly more reliable and far more cumbersome to use.

Would you rather reload by opening a cylinder, turning the weapon upwards while removing your firing hand and slapping downward on the ejection rod, then turn the gun downwards, insert a speed loader (if you are lucky enough to have one), turn it correctly while holding the cylinder in place with your non-firing hand...

You have to do this every 6-8 rounds with a common revolver. This is more complicated than clearing any common malfunction from a semi-auto. So essentially with a revolver you are stuck clearing a malfunction every 6 rounds. Instead of simply pressing a button, shoving a new magazine up there, and getting the slide forward like you've done hundreds of times at the range.

You sure do make operating a revolver sound a lot more complicated than it is.
Why do you have to remove your firing hand?

[Gem1950]

DAO? Never start on a DAO if your next one is going to be a 1911. DAO might be good training for the excellent triggers Glocks have though.

And where did I state that I (or anyone else for that matter) was going from a DAO revolver to a 1911?