Why do they stil make revolvers?

[Mookow]

<< 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 assume you meant in a "real" caliber. I saw a revolver (I think it was a Ruger) that held 9 rounds, albeit in 22 cal.

 

[jjones]

as for reloading a revolver, speedloaders are the way to go. I love my .357 S&W.

 

[burnedout]

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

Yes, all the way up past Browning .50 cal HB MG. Additionally, taught Basic Rifle Marksmanship, Basic Pistol Marksmanship and was an armorer.

The primary issue some have with semi-auto is that they are more likely to jam than a revolver. Yeah, yeah, yeah, semi's have come a long way. Regardless, the reliabilty factor for a revolver is much greater. If more people would actually perform preventive maintenance (clean and maintain the magazines, check the spring tension, use quality ammo) on semi-auto's, they would definitely be more reliable. Problem revolves around the fact that Joe Gunowner buys a cool looking Glock or Ruger for home defense, pops a few caps then loads up the magazine and allows it to sit for two years. Then he either takes it to the range, back fourty or worse, attempts to actually use it in a real world situation and the thing jams because of the inherent design of the magazine. On the other hand, Joe "the cheap @ss" Gunowner uses low quality reloads from his buddy Fred "know it all" Reloader and they more than likely jam too.

For reliabilty, I'll stick with a revolver or bolt gun any day. I say that, but my favorites are still my AR15 HB Match, M-1A and Browning Hi-Power.

 

[Supahfreak]

A friend and I go shooting every once in a while and both of us use either of his 9mm/ .22. Toward the end of the day after reloading clips with very strong springs inside that make your thumb raw his .357 revolver starts becoming very popular. In the beginning I thought like you til I actually fired a revolver. Im glad my friend has a variety of guns so I can get experience w/ different calibres. The revolver is also more accurate at longer range because of the longer barrel so it has it's benefits.

FreAk

They all can kill you so be careful

 

[Supahfreak]

<<

<< 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... >>



Funny, I didnt even click on the link and I knew you were gonna say HK Mark 23. Official sidearm of the Navy SEALS, get um while you can. I dont think that gun has a safety though.

FreAk

 

[Mookow]

<< I dont think that gun has a safety though. >>



straight from the same webpage (emphasis mine):
"The frame mounted MK 23 decocking lever is separate from the ambidextrous safety lever. It allows the hammer to be lowered quietly and safely from the single action position. When the hammer is down, the ambidextrous frame mounted safety lever is locked in the fire position so that the pistol is always ready for double action operation. When the hammer is "cocked and locked" in single action mode with the safety lever on "safe", the decocker is blocked so that the pistol is always ready for single action operation. Even with the safety lever engaged, the slide can still be manipulated to load and clear the pistol. The extended slide release lever and the ambidextrous magazine release are easily actuated without adjustment of the firing grip using the firing hand thumb or index finger."

 

[johndoe52]

To put it simply...reliability and use with certain large calibers.

 

[Supahfreak]

I hate guns...

 

[Jzero]

<< 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. >>



Uhhhh....get off your little high-horse, red ryder.
You accuse me of having no experience and prove me right at the same time.

I said, "except for THOSE guns which leave a round in the firing chamber."
Did I say that ALL semi-autos do so? No. I did say that you can't be a moron and assume that if you drop the magazine out and assume that you've just made the gun safe.
You admit yourself:


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


Therefore, not all semi-automatic pistols have such a safety AND not all S&W weapons have such a safety, either.

I'm not spouting off what I see on TV, I'm spouting off good gun-safety sense. Don't assume the gun is unloaded just because you ejected the clip, which is what you seem to state. Mr. Real-World experience. Woopdeedoo.

 

[Alex]

<< 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. >>



LOL if ya want it not to jam use a hunting knife

 

[Alex]

<< Just for the style? >>



what style??!??!


LOL i know im gonna get ripped on for this!

 

[Mookow]

<<

<< 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. >>



LOL if ya want it not to jam use a hunting knife >>



Actually, a knife can jam when you try to pull it out of the other guys ribcage...

 

[DDad]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the real reasons (yes Jonnyduke, I have experience with both revolvers & Autos)

Simplicity- the revolver is perhaps the easiest firearm to load, carry safely, and fire with minimal training. For the most part- only 3 controls to operate (chamber release, ejector rod, trigger). Compare to some semis - 5 or more (My Beretta 92 has- Slide, takedown lever, safety, mag release, trigger)
Back when we'd carried S&W 38's, it would take 10-15 minutes training before shooting qualification started- with the Berettas- an hour

The other reason- some people simply prefer them.

 

[JupiterJones]

Why do they stil make revolvers?

Because there is still a market.

While I have been trained by the best on the 1911, I am more than not armed with the old Chief's Special.

Don

 

[SyahM]

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



does air/BB gun counts? I only fire those guns ..

 

[AndrewR]

General answer (as stated above): Ruggedness and power. Ever hear of .454 Casull? There are some larger ones as well, .475 and .500 Linebaugh, which are just monsters.

One note though: My 9mm has never jammed after firing thousands of rounds through it (5,000+). The other week I was at the range and put 300 rounds through it without cleaning, and it never had a problem. While jamming in autos used to be a large problem, modern designs are much less susceptible to it. Let's not overstate the problem.

 

[burnedout]

One note though: My 9mm has never jammed after firing thousands of rounds through it (5,000+). The other week I was at the range and put 300 rounds through it without cleaning, and it never had a problem. While jamming in autos used to be a large problem, modern designs are much less susceptible to it. Let's not overstate the problem

Nearly everything about autos has evolved. Wheels (revolvers) are still inherently more reliable by design.

My 35+ year old Browning 9mm Hi-Power has never jammed. Including shooting some of the most disgusting of the cheapest reloads known to man. Yet my 11 year old Glock 17 has jammed with quality military and civilian ball ammo using different magazines. Have personally witnessed Berettas, fresh out of the packing crates, jam. Springs are springs.

 

[Amused]

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



Really? Power is the main reason?

Then why are the lady smith (.38) and the S&W Undercover (.38) two of the best selling revolvers?

Revolvers are still around because of simplicity and reliability.

 

[Alex]

hmmm say what you want... im still stickin with hunting knives

 

[Mookow]

<< hmmm say what you want... im still stickin with hunting knives >>



You know what the preferred weapon (non-firearm) in hand to hand combat was of WWI and WWII? Shovels. A bayonet can stick in a man's ribcage. A sharpened entrecnhing shovel can practically cleave right through a man.

 

[im2smrt4u]

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



Simple = reliable. 'Nuf said really.

 

[Rallispec]

<< "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. >>




98% certain? are you willing to take that chance?

 

[KokomoGST]

Reliability and POWER... sure the Desert Eagle's got a big ol' 45 and there are some funky 10mm semiauto pistols out there...

But it seems that only revolvers can have enough material withstand the tremendous chamber pressures reliably.

 

[im2smrt4u]

<< << 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. >>



Oh, you think that's bad!? How about the idiots who play Russian Roulette (sp?) with a semi-automatic! Now THAT is stupid!

 

[Alex]

<<

<< hmmm say what you want... im still stickin with hunting knives >>



You know what the preferred weapon (non-firearm) in hand to hand combat was of WWI and WWII? Shovels. A bayonet can stick in a man's ribcage. A sharpened entrecnhing shovel can practically cleave right through a man. >>



damn!!!
i suppose a shovel is nice too.... but if we talkin style ive got to say knives have the upper hand!!!