Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 5-shot revolver vs. 15-shot auto for carry/defense

Allow me to set the record straight. I have never been in a handgun fight. That might make a big difference in how I'd react and how well I shot. I have been in some "whites of their eyes" gunfights while holding a rifle or on a machine gun. And I'm still here. If there's a handgun fight in my future - well, I went to two gun schools and learned a lot. I'll rely on that training and my inner steel.

I try to tread the narrow line between blas� and paranoid with my gun choice. I choose to carry a revolver with fewer shots but bigger cartridges as opposed to a pistol with dozen small rounds. I can fully understand the rationale behind a hi-cap pistol, but just don't like them. I'm a revolver guy.

FAC-A....ballz of steel.....grin

Dan, and Montana, it is a curious fact that all combat types think they are fairly safe and those other guys are flipping suicidal nuts. I had ground guys literally whimper in my plane - and even one F-4 driver. When I was on the ground or in a chopper, I was the one whimpering. When the action gets hot, there are many bangs - and whimpers.

We all make our choices.

I had a couple of 357 Magnums (2.25" SP101, and 4" GP100). I moved away from them, in favor of the Glocks. I have a Glock 17, 21, and 22.

Most times the G22 is bedside, and I carry the G17. The G21 spends most of it's life in the gunlocker, but I can't bear to not have a 45ACP.

The only revolver I keep nowadays is the 44 Mag, 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk. Had it since I was sixteen. I recently hit fifty......groan......(grin)

Rocky, I guess when things get sporty, it helps to believe someone has it worse....grin.

I was pretty damn sure they did. At least I had a bar, a hot shower and sheets at night. It was that four hours a day getting hosed that got sporty - and made me rush to that bar every night!

Sorry for the diversion, guys. It was 40 years ago exactly, and it tends to pop into memory a lot.

I always pity'd those poor bastardz who drive the amtracs.

Anyone who goes to war in a dumpster, is immediately at a disadvantage......grin

You need a G20.....

Piss on those things, from a considerable height. I at least want to be able to turn and return fire, and see what's coming.

Oh, and NOT have my guts shook out..... and roast..... and be asphyxiated....

They are horrible.

I'm not at all familiar if this is true or not. But a local cop I know only carries a revolver for his job. Says he's seen a semi auto fail to fire after being caught up in someones clothes in a struggle in which the other officer was knocked to the ground and suspect tried getting his gun.. I dunno?

R R: I'm very glad you're here AND have a memory.

I'm not prejudiced against Revs, it's just the semi autos fill my needs and have 2 or 3 cylinder capacities w/o reloading.

I've killed does (deer) w/Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag. IMPRESSIVE results. I have just gravitated away from deer hunting w/a handgun.

I personally S A L U T E all of our men who serve and have served in the military. I've had the opportunity more than once to tell CROWDS that America owes every soldier who served in Nam a GREAT BIG APOLOGY for the way some were treated when they returned stateside.

Keep up the good work guys! !

JWALL
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VEGETARIAN.........Indian Word For Poor Hunter

only for military/paramilitary/police work where one may intentionally chose to confront...

in civilian life, all efforts to evade confrontation have passed at the point where one might need a concealed weapon... the tactics of a civilian confronting a criminal element are typically simpler than those used by military/ paramilitary operators...

it's not that extra magazine capacity isn't desirable, in a confrontation...
it's that the everyday fractional odds of confrontation, multiplied by the fractional odds of a civilian encountering a complex tactical situation multiplies out to some pretty thin justification for advanced personal weapons...

most here at the "fire" are gun enthusiasts... the quickest way to cure that type of enthusiasm is to overcompensate it...
i've known a few who were eager to carry a weapon in their everyday lives... swear them in as a police officer, and require them to carry and, within a few months, most can find a rationale for leaving their off duty weapon locked in the vehicle, at least situationally...

Well Folks,
I'm a big wheel gun guy from way back. I just plain shoot them better than any thing else. That said, I have a serious question. Am I the only CCW guy on this board that carries 2 loaded revolvers and shoots with both hands? I thought someone else would have said something about this but maybe not. Opinions?

Flower Child

The jailer in my mom's home town, ages ago, was a little fellow with a cherubic face, a tired old .38 revolver, and a stutter.

He awed his "guests."

"I c-c-carry a b-b-big p-p-pistol," he'd intone ominously as he solemnly patted his holster. "Shoots a z-zig-zag r-ramblin' ball. When you z-zig, it z-zigs. When you z-zag, it z-zags. C-c-can't miss!"

Never heard of an auto that'd shoot like that!

JWall, President Reagan thanked us and that was good enough for me. Ford and Carter had about 6 years to do so and did not. Ford might have tripped on something and hit his head and Jimma is still lookin' for his balls I guess. Cased closed on that saga as far as I'm concerned.

Gotta say one last thing about this discussion. It really doesn't matter a lot what you use, it's the shooter that matters. If you're still upright and self propelled after a gun fight you done good. Doesn't matter if it's machine guns at 100 meters or Colts at 7 paces.

My Judge is very comfortable and comforting.

Six of one, half dozen of the other. The real question is: Can you hit what you're aiming at under pressure?

I've got a Springfield XDM 45. It fits me well and I have confidence in it, and that makes all the difference to me.

Rocky, I would suggest a small modification to your tactics.
Don't try to shoot each Bad Guy twice in the chest.
What I found is that it is too easy to unload in a shooting. You'll think you will fire once, but you will shoot twice. Try to shoot twice and you'll easily become target fixated and empty your gun into no. 1. That will leave you with an empty gun to deal with the others....
I've talked to others with experience with this. They've had the same thing happen to them.
Hit the first dead center then deal with the others.
You may not stop one or more of them with one hit, but it might slow them down. Far better to deal with a wounded assailant, then one that isn't. Especially if your gun is empty.
That's why I "train" on multiple targets. Trust me, it sucks to have an empty gun and active Bad Guys.
And, yes, I prefer semi autos for self defense. E

If you have to ask whether a 5-shot revolver or a 15 shot pistol, maybe you have your priorities misplaced.