One thing I really like about them is that you can actually do the majority of your practice dry fire, and it translates perfectly into improving your actual shooting skills. With an auto pistol, you have to recock it each time during dry fire, which is a really bad habit to develop, so should not be done, which means it's much cheaper to develop a very high skill level with a revolver than with an auto pistol.
And take a buddy to the range with you and have them load the revolver for you each time and have them mix in some spent cases to see how bad you jerk the trigger!
If you know it may be an empty you will squeeze it much more cleanly
Bankcardrep1: I am not being contrary here but I have lived long enough to watch first hand the "popularity" of revolvers be replaced by the "popularity" of semi-automatic pistols. I am certain there are MORE semi-autos are sold these days than revolving pistols! My local pawn/sport shop got in a Browning Hi-Power in 40 S&W about week ago and during the interim 5 days that "minty" Browning was scooped up by someone! I had eyes on it myself but am recovering from a 3,200 mile Big Game Hunting season diesel bill! I have used both semi-auto pistols and revolving pistols for 40+ years in professional/life and death circumstances and would be hard pressed to defend either as "the best" or the most "popular" for professional use. I own both and enjoy using both types of pistols - immensely. It would be nice for you to have BOTH a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol on hand in case you were ever in need to teach or demonstrate their use/function to another new "pistolero". Yeah, that in itself is good enough reason to buy a revolver. Good luck to you. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
Did any one mention that with a revolver you don't have to hunt all over the ground for your empties.
did anyone mention the sound of a SA , old model Not the boom, the walk and talk of a well tuned SAA or Ruger Old Model. It just speaks quality side arm.
"wanna hear God laugh? Tell Him you have complete control now!"
I guess its mostly personal preference, but the wheelgun is far from outdated for me.
While its not really beneficial to have twenty different loads to try to hit with, the revolver can eat all without hesitation in a fix. I can't say that for the majority of autos I've seen, even the ones the owners say "never" jam, some costing a pretty penny.
Also, the idea of an endless plethora of bullet moulds and scrap lead can feed one with recyclable, functioning bullets for a lifetime.
The grip shapes and styles also allow more flexibility for acurate hitting and as someone brought up, finding a case in the palm of your hand is not a bad thing.
Reloading speed clips is also pretty quick compared to loading a mag stack. Duplicity or even triplicates of cartridge ammo can be housed in one gun. While the odds of needing, heeding or really wanting that can be argued, its there (firing 38 special ammo from a giant Dan Wesson 357 SuperMag is like shooting a BB gun).
I do like a 1911 type gun, the Woodsman and the Hi-Standard HD, and will not say autos are not worthless, I just like wheelies better.
When I was growing up, hardly anybody used autos. Of course, handguns, as a whole, were much, much less popular than they are today. Many men had one, but wouldn't even own up to it. Lots of guys would tell you, "that thing will just get you into trouble, son".
By far, the most popular autos were 1911's. (Talking centerfires only here.) Occasionally, the Browning Hi Power would be around and some people shot war-trophy Lugers or Walthers. The Smiths had reputations for jamming and were not seen much. All .25's and .380's were considered "Saturday Night Specials" regardless of price. The 1911 itself had the reputation of not being able to hit the broad side of a barn due to its "looseness" for milspec purposes.
So most of my generation grew up seeing the revolver used and our Fathers and Grandfathers eschewing the use of anything else. Again, .22's are not a part of my statement.
Lots of guys would tell you, "that thing will just get you into trouble, son".
True. A teacher's aid said to me yesterday that she hates guns, and added this as just another reason why, i.e., you're more likely to be shot with your own gun if you try to defend yourself with it. I cannot imagine where such stupidity could have originated. If that were the case, we would need to disarm police officers, bank guards, and military personnel.
PS This conversation took place in the context of one of my students being annoyed that he could not do internet research at the school on his research paper on the history of snipers. Every time he did a search he was blocked because it involved guns and gun related websites.