pistol or revolver

azzeater

What is the best for defense, pistol or revolver?

hey all!

Big Sky Redneck

Which ever one you can shoot well. Each has its pros and cons, the final decision is 99% personal preference. Revolvers hold 6 shots(most common) and pistols can hold anywhere from 6 to 15, you can shoot a DA revolver almost as fast as a pistol although the pistol will be more accurate for follow up shots due to trigger pull. It's all up to you and what you like, as far as caliber, then again, it's up to YOU, everybody has a favorite and will swear it is best, maybe for them but is it best for you.

budmott

You left out 12gauge pump shotgun.
Long trench coat[black].
Leather strap over shoulder.
Works for me.
When you need the VERY best...
bud

If it weren't for lawyers, I wouldn't need a lawyer.

idsman75

A skilled six-gunner can be just as effective with a revolver as a typical pistoleer.

n/a

For shooting.. I prefer the revolver... but for carrying something in my purse for protection.. its the pistol... also works better in tight blue jeans.. *LOL

gunpaq

Carry both types at different times for different applications. Most comfortable with the revolver but really like the advantage of 15 rounds over 5 or 6.

Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.

offeror

Many revolvers and even pistols have double-action trigger pulls of 12 pounds or even more. I prefer a trigger pull for a defense gun between 5 and 9 pounds max, so my choice is the semi-auto, but not with the traditional double action/single action setup. I'll go with any semi-auto wherein once a round is chambered every shot will require the same light trigger pull.

- Life NRA Member
"If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Gordian Blade

Offeror, let me understand what you are saying. Do you mean that you are going to carry a weapon around ready to fire with a light trigger pull? Or that it will be in that condition once you work the slide to chamber a round? If the second, won't most traditional DA/SA pistols work that way with the safety-decocker off?

offeror

Gordian --
Maybe I should have said "lighter." Three pounds or less is a "light" trigger pull to me. That's not what I carry. 5 pounds is an average cocked-and-locked 1911 trigger pull, and 5.5 is a standard Glock pull. My Glock with a New York trigger, though it now comes in a variety of tensions, is the standard one, at an 8 pound pull. My PT145 comes in at 9 pounds. I would carry either gun chamber loaded in higher risk situations quite confidently. I find it easier to deal with than a full double action and a bit safer than a cocked-n-locked 1911 at 5 or an out-of-the-box Glock at 5.5.

A handgun doesn't exactly have a "light trigger" at 8 or 9 pounds, nor do the New York police think so -- even though I usually carry in "Condition 3" (round not chambered) when I judge the risk to be lower.

It is my understanding that most who carry the double/single models with a round chambered do so with the intention of firing the first shot double action, thereby making their first shot a 12 pound pull, which is the same as a typical double action revolver pull. That's a bit heavier than I like, even though subsequent shots from those guns are a single action pull. That's why I like Para's new LDA concept so much, by the way. It gives the 1911 fan a 'ready' option other than cocked-n-locked with a 3-5 lb. trigger.


- Life NRA Member
"If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Edited by - offeror on 06/02/2002 11:00:14

WyomingSwede

I am a revolver guy...less ammo ...but less to go wrong also. I have never seen a revolver stack a round. If you hit with your first shot, then size of the magazine will remain inconsequential. swede

WyomingSwede

Dyer_Maker

I'm comfortable with either one. When I'm going light, I carry my Taurus 85 ultra lite. When I'm wearing something heavier I carry my S&W 6906 or Browning HP. When I'm going real heavy, I carry my taurus Tracker .357 mag with a 6 in barrel. It hides real nice in my shoulder rig lol.

William81

I am comfortable with either. The main thing is to find what works for you.

Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....

11echo

The original question is "WHICH IS BEST FOR SELF DEFENSE"... AND the answer is REAL simple, the weapon you can shoot the best! When I was up in Alaska, bear protection was a real concern for sportsmen. Most everybody was leaning to a 44mag, like a SW 29. BUT it takes a damn good shooter to put rounds from any handgun where they can do some good on a target that can run at 35 mph, weights 1200#, and is going to eat you alive! I can shoot a 5" group free hand with my 1911/45acp, but that's NOT what I carried for protection! OR is what I have for self defense at home. I suggest your self defense weapon of choice is one that you can shoot VERY well, and you are willing to bet your life on! ...my choice? Win Mod. 97 12ga.!!! My 2 cents. ...Mark

"FEAR the Goverment, that fears your ARMS"

nunn

Swede nailed it. Back when I was toting a revolver and nearly everyone else had gone to the auto, I could shade most of them on draw and fire drills, against the clock.

Now, we all have the same pistol, and I am somewhat at a disadvantage.

The best for self-defense? The one you will PRACTICE with until it becomes an extension of your arm.

Never worry about the competitor with the $2,000 pistol. Watch out for the one with the old blue worn pistol that has digested $2,000 worth of PRIMERS.



SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net