Why do they stil make revolvers?

Feb 14, 2002
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Just for the style?

Isn't a semi auto pistol preferable to a revolver?

Holds more than six, easy to reload(clip fed) etc.

I admit revolvers are cool, and they tamed the west, but they seem outdated.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
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Because no matter how good you make a semi-auto, it can still jam.

Revolvers are still kings of reliability. Especially in very harsh weather/environmental conditions.

Plus, they are simple and easy to learn/operate for the beginner, or someone who doesn't have enough strength in their wrists and/or hands to work the slide.
 

Zim Hosein

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Nov 27, 1999
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superfluousmonkeys, most likely for two reeason, one, semi-auto's can jam, and two, police officers who don't use semi-auto's still carry revolvers.
 

Nemesis77

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Jun 21, 2001
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<< Because no matter how good you make a semi-auto, it can still jam.

Revolvers are still kings of reliability. Especially in very harsh weather/environmental conditions.

Plus, they are simple and easy to learn/operate for the beginner, or someone who doesn't have enough strength in their wrists and/or hands to work the slide.
>>



What he said :)
 

Orbius

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Oct 13, 1999
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Safety is a big reason for some people, a revolver is a lot less likely to go off accidentally, also the force needed to discharge a round means a child is less likely to do something harmful with it, a 3 year simply couldnt discharge a round, where they could with an automatic under certain conditions. Also in the case of a home invasion a revolver is marginally quicker in an extreme time pinch since you don't have to cock the gun to fire.
 
Feb 14, 2002
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<< revolver is marginally quicker in an extreme time pinch since you don't have to cock the gun to fire. >>




Yeah but if you don't cock the hammer, the force needed to discharge will most likely cause you to lose some aiming precision.
 

Mookow

Lifer
Apr 24, 2001
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A revolver doesnt jam like a automatic occasionally will. You try dealing with an auto when the casing doesnt eject properly on a consistent basis. Its not fun.

Its easier to make a revolver in large calibers due to the length of high powered cartridges, and subsequent effect on heft/ergonomics. Sure, the Desert Eagle is an automatic, but how many other 50 automatic's can you name? They were making them in revolvers looooooooooooooong before the Desert Eagle showed up. I've never heard of a auto in 454 Casull... and the 454 Casull delivers 1884 ft/lbs, compared to 741ft/lbs from the 44 Magnum (just with particular rounds, I looked it up on the web for general comparison. Different loads with varying bullet weight will effect the numbers. These numbers involved a 260gr bullet for each caliber).

I've fired plenty of both, and a revolver has a different heft to it. Some people like it, some dont, its mainly a personal preference. But, if you put your first 6 shots where you intend to, there are not many situations where you will need more than those first 6 shots. By and large, I like autos better, but I really like the groups I can make with my uncles S&W Highway Patrolman (357 Mag revolver).

EDIT: to clear up possible misunderstanding by a newbie.
 

BP

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Sep 20, 2000
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Wild West shows just wouldn't be the same with 9mm Barrettas.
 

AaronP

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Feb 27, 2000
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if I'm in an emergency, and I need to shoot some gang banger before he gets me, I'd much rather have a nice 6-shot ruger or S&W revolver than some semi auto that you see on tv and has a fancy name that could jam and have other problems. Revolvers are a lot safer, they're hella simple to use, and they never jam.

I can ALWAYS count on my .44 magnum Ruger Super Redhawk revolver, but my .22 semi auto (that wasn't cheap) doth jam on a not to irregular basis.
 

JonnyDuke

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Jul 24, 2001
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Okay, not to flame... but how many of you actually have some real world experience with either???

superfluousmonkeys, most likely for two reeason, one, semi-auto's can jam, and two, police officers who don't use semi-auto's
still carry revolvers. Text


Uh... duh, if it's not an auto the only other gun authorized by Police
Departments is a revolver. It's not like you can pack a Vulcan cannon! As much as one might WANT too!

Safety is a big reason for some people, a revolver is a lot less likely to go off accidentally, also the force needed to discharge a
round means a child is less likely to do something harmful with it, a 3 year simply couldnt discharge a round, where they could
with an automatic under certain conditions. Also in the case of a home invasion a revolver is marginally quicker in an extreme
time pinch since you don't have to cock the gun to fire.Text


I have personal experience that says otherwise, okay he wasn't three but I witnessed an accidental discharge of a revolver because this guy was startled!!! Fortunately it was during training and thus wasn't a live round! Not too many revolvers have saftey levers, most autos do... some have more than one. For pure saftey I would go with an auto, probably a Smith and Wesson. Drop the magazine and the gun goes safe.

But Mookow has got the reason for there still being revolvers around, POWER and lots of it.
 

JonnyDuke

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Jul 24, 2001
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I can ALWAYS count on my .44 magnum Ruger Super Redhawk revolver, but my .22 semi auto (that wasn't cheap) doth jam on a not
to irregular basis.


Well what do you expect, I have yet to see a .22 LR auto that doesn't jam. The .22 LR is a RIMMED cartridge, designed for a revolver! My Beretta .25 AUTO only jammed after shooting about 200 rounds without cleaning it. :D
 

Jzero

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Oct 10, 1999
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<< Drop the magazine and the gun goes safe. >>

Except for those guns which leave the round in the firing chamber.
 

Mookow

Lifer
Apr 24, 2001
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<< if I'm in an emergency, and I need to shoot some gang banger before he gets me, I'd much rather have a nice 6-shot ruger or S&W revolver than some semi auto that you see on tv and has a fancy name that could jam and have other problems. Revolvers are a lot safer, they're hella simple to use, and they never jam.

I can ALWAYS count on my .44 magnum Ruger Super Redhawk revolver, but my .22 semi auto (that wasn't cheap) doth jam on a not to irregular basis.
>>



But you can hide a glock 36 easier than that Ruger. The only auto I have every fired that consistently jammed is my uncle's 1911 Colt. That firearm has a pretty good excuse, though ;). Made in 1913 (or maybe 1914, I always forget), so its darn near 90 years old, and its been fired plenty. Other than that specific firearm, I havent experienced significant problems.

If you really want a super reliable automatic, get one of these. It will only set you back about $2K. It had an average 6000 MRBS on its service test...
 

AaronP

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Feb 27, 2000
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<< Drop the magazine and the gun goes safe. >>

Except for those guns which leave the round in the firing chamber.

EXACTLY! Too many num nuts think they can take out the clip and then the gun is unloaded. Semi auto's are very often portrayed that way on TV and in movies too. I don't have any statistics, but I bet the #1 cause if accidents for semi auto pistols is "gun stupid" people who think they're empty when there's one in the chamber.

There is NO WAY anyone can ever convince me that semi auto pistols are safer than revolvers.
 

AaronP

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Feb 27, 2000
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yeah, the power of revolvers is absolute! And let's not forget the intimidation factor, I don't think anything is more scary than having a .44 magnum with a 9 1/2 inch barrel pointing at you. Not that I've ever experience it, but I know it's scary!
 

JonnyDuke

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Jul 24, 2001
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As I said before, does anyone have any real world experience?

Except for those guns which leave the round in the firing chamber.

All Smith and Wessons made completely of metal have a magazine disconnector safety that is engaged when you drop the magazine from the gun. Even if there is a round in the chamber it will not fire. Smiths aren't the only ones with it but they have the biggest selection of guns that do.

Note: This doesn't apply to their plastic framed guns which have no such safety.
 

AaronP

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Feb 27, 2000
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real world experience? I wouldn't be posting if I didn't. I've fired many semi automatic pistols and several revolvers too.
 

JonnyDuke

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Jul 24, 2001
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EXACTLY! Too many num nuts think they can take out the clip and then the gun is unloaded. Semi auto's are very often portrayed
that way on TV and in movies too. I don't have any statistics, but I bet the #1 cause if accidents for semi auto pistols is "gun
stupid" people who think they're empty when there's one in the chamber.


Grrr...
 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
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<< Just for the style? >>

Sure, there are people who buy revolvers for the style.

<< Isn't a semi auto pistol preferable to a revolver? >>

To some people, yes. To others, no.

<< Holds more than six, easy to reload(clip fed) etc. >>

There are revolvers that hold up to 8 rounds. That's not a whole lot less than the current federally mandated 10 round limit for semi-auto magazines.

<< I admit revolvers are cool, and they tamed the west, but they seem outdated. >>

Revolvers are generally thought to be more reliable, the mechanism is more simple.

Revolvers and pistols are traditionally offered in different calibers. Revolver rounds are generally the more powerful and the revolver frame is better suited for more powerful calibers.

You can get revolvers in any pistol caliber, but you can't get pistols in every handgun caliber, or at least they are far less available. In order to offer a pistol in traditional handgun magnum calibers, you need an unconventional action (Desert Eagle) because the recoil from a common revolver caliber such as .357Mag will destroy a conventional pistol in short order. Feeding and extraction is also more problematic with longer rounds, requiring an unconventional action.

Revolvers are generally more accurate to a greater distance than pistols because they are available with longer barrels, the barrels are rigidly fixed to the frame, and the bullets leave the barrel with more velocity.

Technique is more critical for firing a pistol. If you limp wrist a semi-automatic, you run the risk of feeding and extraction problems. No such problem is inherent in a revolver.

All semi-auto pistols except double-action only demand greater diligence and training because, although revolvers typically don't have a safety, a semi-auto that is "cocked" only requires a few milimeters of trigger pull to discharge and it automatically loads and cocks itself for the next shot, whereas revolvers have a long and heavy (comparatively) trigger pull each round unless you manually cock the hammer.
 

JonnyDuke

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Jul 24, 2001
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real world experience? I wouldn't be posting if I didn't. I've fired many semi automatic pistols and several revolvers too.

Sorry, but it's not obvious.... not if you have Jzero's TV land perspective

Edit: I just mean that to some who know about firearms you who comment as though you do appear foolish... no personal offense intended.
 

AaronP

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Feb 27, 2000
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well, Johnny, feel free to take a random semi auto pistol off the street, take the clip out, point it at your nuts, and pull the trigger and see what happens.
 

Mookow

Lifer
Apr 24, 2001
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<< yeah, the power of revolvers is absolute! And let's not forget the intimidation factor, I don't think anything is more scary than having a .44 magnum with a 9 1/2 inch barrel pointing at you. Not that I've ever experience it, but I know it's scary! >>



A 12 gauge barrel, IIRC, is .768". If its a pump, you can also get the noise from working the action involved, too. Personally, I think the 12 gauge would be worse, but there isnt a very easy way of settling ourm disputes in opinion, either. Some might be more distressed by hearing the bolt come forward on an M16. Who knows... though the 18" cannon from the Yamato... just a joke.... really, lets not get into a little contest here.



<< Uh... duh, if it's not an auto the only other gun authorized by Police Departments is a revolver. It's not like you can pack a Vulcan cannon! As much as one might WANT too! >>



Hey, real police officers carry this around. Heh, if some actually did, maybe they might decide to work on accuracy. Though I think giving them Colt Liberators would also be funnier than hell :D



<< EXACTLY! Too many num nuts think they can take out the clip and then the gun is unloaded. Semi auto's are very often portrayed that way on TV and in movies too. I don't have any statistics, but I bet the #1 cause if accidents for semi auto pistols is "gun stupid" people who think they're empty when there's one in the chamber. >>



Some autos wont fire when there is no magazine in place... but if you think I'm not going to work the action and make sure there is no round in there, you're nucking futs. The #1 cause of all gun accidents is people being "gun stupid". Period.
 

AaronP

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Feb 27, 2000
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yeah, like that idiot former basketball player Jayson Williams who was twirling a 12 gauge he "thought was empty" and it went off and killed that limo driver. Of course, anyone who would stay in the room and not get the hell out of there when he started "twirling" his 12 gauge isn't the smartest of people either.
 

JonnyDuke

Senior member
Jul 24, 2001
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well, Johnny, feel free to take a random semi auto pistol off the street, take the clip out, point it at your nuts, and pull the
trigger and see what happens.

Gee Aaron, why would I do that? But even if I did there is about a 98 percent chance that I would know if it is one that will fire or not... but your point that people do stupid things with guns is not lost on me. It simply wasn't the point I was making.