Author Topic: A MINI CONFESSION (Read 3066 times)

williamlayton · « **on:** April 23, 2011, 05:34:11 AM »

I was goaded into a revolver by two friends?? about 6 months ago. I will admit it was not a new experience--revolvers were/are a part of my growing up.
I have found that I shoot them better than the semi's ina lot of instances. thisis not to say that I have abandoned my semi's--they carry easier and are much easier for double taps. The accuracy is not a whole lot better but easier.
I have also found I shoot the better off handed, and, one handed--mattter of fact that has also carried over to the semi's.
Don't know the answer to this though.
The two hand hold is now part of the past.
I do enjoy shooting much more now, with the changes and I do really enjoy the revolvers.
maybe I am just getting old.
Blessings

coyotejoe · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2011, 06:37:41 AM »

Getting old isn't so bad untill you find yourself getting really old. I've always favored revolvers for their versitility. I handload everything with a centerfire primer and often work up special purpose revolver loads which would never funciton through any auto pistol. Revovers also seem to "fit my hand", balance and point more naturally than autos. As an all out combat handgun the auto certainly has advantages but that has never been a primary interest to me. For personal defense I feel the five or six rounds in my revolver will handle any situation I could ever get into.
But even that is a side issue to me, it is very, very unlikely I'll ever need to fire a shot in self defense. I'm far more likely to pull my .44 Bulldog to pop a sitting rabbit or grouse while hunting with a shotgun, or to put a final round into a deer or elk knocked down but not quite out by my flintlock. But 99% of my shooting will be on paper or at cans and such and for that the revolver is tops. I've owned quite a few auto in the past but at present my only auto pistol is a .22.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2011, 10:08:02 AM »

William, my past is the opposite of yours...revolvers came first, and until I was about 60 they were the only pistols I used, except for the odd .22 cal. auto..even then, the .22 revolvers were my first choice..and they still are...BUT I like autos..now I have 3 myself two 1911's and an xd...haven't shot the xd for several years, but plink pretty often with the 1911's...my girl friend has a 9mm and a 40 in autos...we were shooting them the other day..both surprised me with the accuracy...since I am not a profession law officer, I feel any confrontation I have will not call for a 14 shot semi auto...I find I am more accurate with my revolvers and they are easier to get into action and point more naturally than any auto I have handled...I also have a hang up about clips left loaded in my autos...I visualize the spring getting weak, and when I most need to rely on it, FAILURE $:-\$

.. So although I have them and like my autos, the revolver will always be first in my hand...I enjoy shooting of all types, but revolvers in the pistol world fit my needs best.......

rawhidekid · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2011, 12:35:53 PM »

Another thought, when you get older bending down to pick up the brass will hurt more the next day! Been there, done that!

williamlayton · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2011, 01:14:38 PM »

Revolvers were my first also--but were put aside a long time ago.
Blessings

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2011, 05:20:19 AM »

Welcome back to the wheel guns williamlayton. I have shot and own both semi and wheel guns and never been with out both. They both have there place with me.. Wheel guns for hunting, and semi for my carry.

williamlayton · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2011, 08:06:30 AM »

Why did I know Redhawk would get in a word?

Blessings

Mohawk · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2011, 02:35:40 PM »

Actually, wheelguns still have their place for duty/carry. Not the mainstream but neither am I. (:

MGMorden · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2011, 06:08:06 AM »

You seem to approach the topic in a sensible manner. Revolvers are fun to shoot, and for those that prefer them are a perfectly adequate and sensible carry option. My home defense gun is a revolver (S&W Mod 64) as I just feel a certain sense of relief knowing that it sits there ready and loaded at all times but with no spring tension to worry about. I've got 3 more revolvers as well (a Nagant, an FIE E15, and a Pietta Remington 1858 BP clone - hey I never said they were show pieces

) that I enjoy shooting on the range.

All in all, good fun. The only thing that irks me is the attitude of some revolver shooters that look down on those that prefer semi-autos, as though they have discovered some essential truth that the semi-auto guys have yet to discover.

In all honesty there are excellent, reliable handgun options in either flavor, and nobody is doing anything wrong in choosing either.

greenrivers · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2011, 02:28:06 AM »

A quality handgun in either an auto or wheel is a pleasure to handle. Aside from an old .22 High Standard that my Dad past on, all I own are wheel guns and mostly single actions. If going into battle the auto would be a reasonable choice. But can you really beat the dependability and versatility of a single action? A dirty auto can get darned finicky while the singles just keep going. A buddy has me looking hard at a Smith stainless with tritium sights that I can actually see and hit well with.
Baiting is just not fair!

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2011, 02:36:05 AM »

Said it once will say it once more BENDING OVER PICKING UP BRASS STINKS ! Ya shoot better because you are not thinking about bending over to pick up brass and looking all over the range for it !

.

drdougrx · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2011, 03:49:21 AM »

Yeah....but....lookit the exercise ya git......

greenrivers · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2011, 04:33:15 AM »

The bending over part is rough but o.k., but if I have to get down on hands and knees, make sure there is a tree nearby to pull myself back up with!
There are always cases that get lost too! Ah the beauty of a single action.

williamlayton · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2011, 11:17:22 AM »

Shootall never heard of a trash grabber---want to find a better, way give the problem to a lazy man.
Well, any who, I am up to my old ways with these cockers.
Blessings

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2011, 12:05:05 PM »

Been going that way myself ! Trash ?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2011, 12:18:51 PM »

Trash ? I shoot Rugers and factory loads are way to lite !

MGMorden · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2011, 09:11:50 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on May 31, 2011, 12:05:05 PM

Trash ?

Trash-grabber. It's a little stick with a set of spring-loaded "jaws" that can be used to grab stuff off the ground without bending over.

GunByte · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2011, 11:26:20 AM »

After trying 17 carry guns and 40 holsters in ONE year I ended up with a Ruger LCR mostly in a Nemesis Pocket Holster or Don Hume IWB. Pocket carry is the most comfortable for me and gives me no excuse not to carry. I am waiting to receive an OWB Pancake holster as pocket carry is not so good when you are sitting down a lot like driving or eating out. I ordered 5 Hawaiian shirts one size lager and can hide my LCR and Kahr PM9/P40 very easily on a nice and comfortable OWB holster.

Despite trying all the popular semi autos out there I just felt more comfortable with a revolver despite competiting (perhaps because of it) with semi autos for many years. Never had a revolver jam and shot those much mor than semi autos. Cannot say the same about the semis though.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #18 on:** June 02, 2011, 12:29:24 AM »

I have seen jammed revolvers. S&W being the most commen. The cylinder pin comes loose and unscrews enough the cylinder won't open. Another is reloaded bullets that lead the forcing cone stopping the cylinder from turning. Lets not forgst the old light load that stops a bullet between the forcing cone and partway in the cylinder. Working on a range three years you see them all.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #19 on:** June 02, 2011, 10:01:52 AM »

Quote from: MGMorden on June 01, 2011, 09:11:50 AM

Quote from: SHOOTALL on May 31, 2011, 12:05:05 PM
Trash ?

Trash-grabber. It's a little stick with a set of spring-loaded "jaws" that can be used to grab stuff off the ground without bending over.

That sounds good . I have a nut harvester it works ok on some cases

williamlayton · « **Reply #20 on:** June 02, 2011, 03:23:43 PM »

Shootall
You just aint lazy enough yet.

Blessings

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** June 03, 2011, 04:56:21 AM »

Yea but I try

rockbilly · « **Reply #22 on:** June 05, 2011, 10:31:14 AM »

Ah…the revolver. There is just something about the image of the cowboy and his revolver that makes them attractive to many of us. Since I was old enough to buy I have owned a revolver of some type, today there is something in the neighborhood of 40 in my safe, I don’t carry them as often as I do an auto, but they are still fun to shoot. You can bet every time I go to the farm one goes along and gets a few rounds put through it, might be a .22 or .44 mag, just depends on how I feel that day.

Yep, we didn’t grow up watching Hoot Gibson, Tom Mix, Gene and the rest of the good guys packing an auto, so we just follow suit……..and keep on spinning that wheel.

Dee · « **Reply #23 on:** June 05, 2011, 12:35:08 PM »

Quote from: williamlayton on April 23, 2011, 05:34:11 AM

I was goaded into a revolver by two friends?? about 6 months ago. I will admit it was not a new experience--revolvers were/are a part of my growing up.
I have found that I shoot them better than the semi's ina lot of instances. thisis not to say that I have abandoned my semi's--they carry easier and are much easier for double taps. The accuracy is not a whole lot better but easier.
I have also found I shoot the better off handed, and, one handed--mattter of fact that has also carried over to the semi's.
Don't know the answer to this though.
The two hand hold is now part of the past.
I do enjoy shooting much more now, with the changes and I do really enjoy the revolvers.
maybe I am just getting old.
Blessings

william, I have marked only one part of your post, and it is not to pick, but "point out". In the early 80s after almost, already, a decade of police weapons instruction, I began teaching the "double tap". When "INSTRUCTOR TRAINERS" started teaching us this method of training, (in the early 80s) it was for one reason, and one reason only. That reason? Sufficient data had came into the FBI police shooting stats nation wide, that showed the 9mm parabellum that was gaining popularity in police departments was an anemic fight stopper, and the DOUBLE TAP, was THE NEW CRUTCH, to make up for a "poor police caliber performer".
It is my belief, thru my own "actual experience" and other officers whom were "actually involved" in fights that, if one wants a fighting pistol one should choose, power, reliability, and controllability above VOLUME. Volume is what got the police officer world off on the "wrong track" concerning the 9mm in the first place.
Some will take issue with my statements here. So be it. I will take fact over opinion any day, and no, before it's brought up, do the latest "computer designed" hollow points make up for the lacking in the 9mm stopping power issue. Hollow points work on hydraulics, and if clothing or other substances disrupt the hydraulics, (and they do) you are automatically back to "square one".
As for you judgement concerning your age. Perhaps a reverting back to something that was working very well before it was replaced, can be attributed to "old age wisdom". i.e. It wasn't broke, so why did they fix it?

williamlayton · « **Reply #24 on:** June 06, 2011, 01:33:56 AM »

Dee---of course you are correct in all that you say.
My only point was that double taps were easier/quicker + being an easier carry--not necessary for a terminal hit but quicker for a terminal miss---which sounds a lot like my shooting these days.
Blessings

Dee · « **Reply #25 on:** June 06, 2011, 02:44:11 AM »

I understood what ya meant, my post was more for a historical look at the double tap than anything else. When I was notified of some new training methods, I was curious, and took the first class offered to instructors I could. When the FBI agent arrived at the range before the class, I was glad that I knew him, as I had questions. My first of course was why a double tap, and his answer was the obvious with the 9mms. I laughed and said, if it's that bad why carry it, and he handed me his. They had already started issuing them. At first everyone was happy with the magazine capacity, and then it occurred to most, that that many rounds was almost never necessary, and the weak ballistics, made most veterans nervous. I'm old enough to remember when the FBI took the 308 Model 70 Counter Sniper rifles away from the SWAT agents and gave them 223s. That caused some complaining.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #26 on:** June 06, 2011, 03:20:28 AM »

Gee guys 9mm's are like little pick up trucks ya got to make several trips to carry a load !

Dee · « **Reply #27 on:** June 06, 2011, 03:36:04 AM »

Excellent comparison!

HAMMERHEAD · « **Reply #28 on:** June 06, 2011, 02:08:29 PM »

Now that I'm over 50 I want to go back to revolvers, after all that's what's expected of us older shooters, but I just can't.

Compared to autos, revolvers are expensive, noisy, dirty, have more recoil and are far more likely to have broken parts or other 'issues' in my limited experience (roughly 20 years of handgun shooting).

Only my Freedom Arms model 97 .357 has really satisfied me, but even that has been down with a broken cylinder lock spring.

When I want to have a good day at the range, or if things go bump in the night, I'll grab an auto loader.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2011, 03:26:38 AM »

interesting as I have experinced less trouble from revolvers . They seem to be much stronger for size , look at a 44 mag revolver vs a 44 mag auto or any auto with equal power. And ammo selection is not critical with a revolver .