I honestly appreciate the conversation. I really like revolvers and carry them so easily. I’ve carried everything from 1911’s to Glocks but have settled on revolvers after 2+ decades. I get why people carry semiautomatics but I just like revolvers. Thanks for the cool content.
Revolvers in my opinion are fine … 1st off like everyone says your not going to war 💁 and you can get a quick reloaded and practice a bit and be more the. Efficient enough
@@boogitybear2283 I agree. Most times I've felt the adrenaline pumping in a confrontation or fight, my brain switched off. Training to clear a malfunction under stress is not a resource available to everyone, and some people barely have the money to fire enough rounds necessary to learn at all. That being said, I would trust myself better with a revolver. I trust professionals with semi-autos.
Revolvers have some pretty unique advantages if you think about it. They can be fired from inside a pocket, bag, etc without causing malfunctions, won't drop casings unless you empty the cylinder, are braindead easy to use in a high stress scenario, not to mention certain Rugers and Tauruses come in 9mm and are super lightweight. Outside of lacking capacity and reload time without a speed loader, I honestly recommend revolvers to any beginner or someone who wants something simple.
i think the 5" 460s&w is one of those wheel guns where if a very bad person had armor on, it would stop them, where a 9mm would not, even if it they had level 4 chest plate, there is no helmet on earth that would stop the energy of the 460.
I think they can be practical though especially if your a handloader a .357 can shoot .38 and u can load about anything I can imagine like a shotgun u could do duplex loads u can mold balls . At the end of the world u could carry a lee loader and hand load while walking forever if u were into that mind set!!
Yup, I gave the 686+ with a 4” barrel and a 2.5 lb single action trigger pull. One of my favorite guns that I have, second only to my .500 which also has a 4” barrel. I also collect those little heritage .22 revolvers that the Sporting good stores sell for 100 bucks every year on Black Friday, just good clean fun.
I have a 65-3 which is almost exactly the same as a 686, but it has steel sights and a 3” bull barrel. Accurate af. I love that thing. Put hogue combat grips and painted the front sight red.
@@melissasmess2773 I plan on picking up a 686 6inch at some point. Gonna wait because I just bought a model 10-8 38spl. The gun was a movie prop gun that was being sold off in a small lot of old guns the prop company was getting rid of. The gun is in decent shape with the finish showing some wear, but the bore is pristine having only ever fired blanks.
Ballistically a 4 inch barrel is a good choice IMO. I’ve heard that .357 is optimized at 6 inches but 4 inches is easier to carry and is where .357 really starts to pull away from other calibers like 9mm, so it makes for a good middle ground for barrel length for that caliber.
A revolver is not useless in my hands. Bought my first one when twelve years of age.Mule deer and elk have ended up in my freezer because of a close at hand revolver. Not useless at all.
@David B .44 mag with hardcast Elmer Keith type semi-wad cutters. Those bullets smack hard and then drill on through leaving a good blood trail. Especially elk can take a licking and keep on ticking but nothing can survive too much blood loss. Track em down, pack em out and then into the freezer. Deer mostly just hit the ground right there.
As a ccw citizen, I'm not executing felony warrants or engaged in hi risk activities. I don't believe statically that I will be involved in a shoot out with multiple assailants with multiple magazine changes. I carry a 3" 686 plus with good defensive 357 ammunition. In the chance I do find myself in a situation against an assailant, I feel confident in my shooting ability, the quality of my firearm and the foot pounds and performance of my chosen cartridge.
I'd say a compact revolver is good as a backup to your semi auto, but you're probably going to want more than an 5-8 round capacity as your main gun unless a revolver is all you've got.
I think they're worth having just to hold a piece of history. They might not be the best carry guns, but they offer a lot in terms of learning how we go to where we are. It's like saying, " you don't need to have a bow or crossbow or a sword because guns". Yeah I'm probably not going to carry a bow or a sword as a defensive tool in the modern era, but I will enjoy them as a piece of history.
The other point about a revolver is you can press the barrel into the target if they are that close and it will fire and not go out of battery. An autoloader will go out of battery if you press it into the target.
i think the 5" 460s&w is one of those wheel guns where if a very bad person had armor on, it would stop them, where a 9mm would not, even if it they had level 4 chest plate, there is no helmet on earth that would stop the energy of the 460.
I had jams with every pistol I ever shot so it's in my head to carry my 357mag in a snub-nosed Ruger Police Service Six. Never ever let me down at the range. I never had a revolver trouble after decades of shooting. But that's just me. Just make sure you are confident with whatever you choose for self defense.
The first time I watched the man run a revolver in USPSA was the last time I complained about running production. This man had perfect stage planning. His reloads were amazingly quick and he never shot outside the azone. (Update) I run revolver now
Smith& Wesson's scandium frames are not made of scandium. They are made from an aluminum alloy that has a very small amount of scandium added, which greatly increases the strength. Scandium is a rare and very expensive element.
I often carry a j frame for the easy concealment of the curved backstrap and the DAO trigger to make me feel better about junk protection. To each their own.
Revolvers may no longer be the premier choice for self defense, but if that is what someone is most comfortable and trained with they still may be that persons best option. And there is nothing wrong with enjoying them and even shooting the competitive events.
@@Scorch1028 keepe in mind alot of self defense revolvers are becoming polymer frame these days. And as someone who prefers revolvers they are way too snappy. +P rounds out of a Ruger LCR is a bit...much. Even 9mm in polymer revolvers is snappy. You dont think of 9mm as a snappy round..but it was designed for a semi auto , typically blow back where the intense pressures are gonna be suffiecient to rack the slide and keep you going. Throw that into a revolver with all that energy going back into your wrist in a polymer frame that weighs almost under a pound and.. ow. Speaking from experience. Disclaimer I do have arthritis but most people I know that have shot my polymer revolvers have had the same oppinion.
@@charlesstipes3726 My grip strength measures at 255 psi. So, I don't know what snappy is. For most people however, I'd suggest that they find a handgun that isn't snappy.
Love my J frame…I can slide it in front pocket and barely notice it. Love my 629 too…so much power and accuracy! That being said I also love my semi autos. No gun left behind!
I’ll never be as accurate with my semi at the range than with my revolver . Those .38 wadcutter are perfect for accurately punching holes in paper at 25 yards .
There are very good reasons why the reciprocating magazine-fed self-loader has taken over as the ideal combat pistol (in whatever context of engaging multiple assailants you would like to call combat). That being said, a bullet from a revolver will still shoot you just as dead and the revolver's function is insensitive to light practice loads (assuming there's enough powder to get the bullet out of the barrel).
Autos have taken over because stupid people think they need infinity bullets in case al quaida attacks with full auto AKs and you have to stop 20 guys by yourself with a handgun and 2 reloads. Sorry, a 5 shot 38 is one of the easiest to carry, always effective, and easy to shoot at contact distances. You literally benefit in no way in a real situation.
yet because an autoloader has to recoil off of hand resistance to cycle, if one "limp wrists" semiauto gun, maybe because of injury or fatigue, the gun can jam. Revolvers don't have that problem, no stovepiping. And if a round is defective and doesn't fire, the revolver just spins to the next round while the semiauto is going to need some TLC during which your attacker might kill you. So as rhetorical question, would a perp be better off after hit from a typical defense round or a .357 mag hollow point from my Python?
Keeping my snub nose. This old Marine knows what I need and where it the pistol type I need to own. Thanks you guys are great. I’m over here in. Aiken. Sc. Semper fi
I bought a snub nose in 9mm. Charter arms pitbull. Unbelievably fun to shoot and hold. Plus being able to pull out a revolved that can eject 9mm at the range always gets a few smiles.
I carry a S&W 642 because a snubby can be fired from a jacket pocket, will keep going bang if you limp wrist it(if you have to fire in an awkward position like being wrestled to the ground) as opposed to a sub compact auto loader and if you run into a bad primer all you have to do is pull the trigger instead of fumbling in a high stress situation
Appreciate the convo. I do have to say, if the left gets their way and all the semis are turned in, the "fudds" like me who've figured out revolvers are going to be positioned better. Whole lot of people won't have a clue what they're doing. It eludes my mind how someone can drop $750 on a gun and not be irate when it hangs up 14 times in one magazine. Y'all didn't even cover that there's a lot of gun/ammo options that just don't work together in semis whereas if it fits in the chamber of a wheelgun, it'll run just fine.
A 2-1/2" model 19 I can shoot and carry with out problems, but a 357 J-frame I won't even try to shoot. Why they are more popular completely escapes me.
A Ruger Old Army with a Kirst conversion cylinder is one mean 45 Colt. Unlike most cap and ball conversions, the Ruger will shoot anything, not just cowboy action loads.
Everyone forgets with a pistol you gotta decide if you want to carry one in the chamber with the safety on or one not in the chamber with the safety off. With a revolver, the heavy double action trigger pull is your safety. If I had to reach in my pocket or coat or holster and pull out a firearm and shoot it in a hasty moment, I would rather get the first shot off first by just worrying about a heavy trigger pull instead of safetys and racking slides.
I carry a smith and wesson 640 pro series with buffalo bore 125 gr 1700 fps(about 1400 out of my barrel) so definitelynot usless to me. I also love collecting smith and wesson revolvers m. The best kind of gun is a wheel gun!!
Only one scenario is necessary to prove the worthiness of the wheel gun. Hammerless revolver inside a woman's purse. Try shooting a semiauto inside a purse without the slide jamming after the first shot. That semiauto is now worthless. The revolver gives you at least 5 rounds and zero chance of jamming on fabric, lint, gum wrappers, etc. I'd prefer my daughter walking out to her car in the dark have a little .38 special that WILL go bang 5 times than a 9mm that shoots once and is then useless, even if there's another 19 rounds in the magazine. It's a paperweight stuck inside a bag. Is she now supposed to use her purse as a flail? Nope, wheel gun.
Revolvers have better Power, Accuracy, Reliability than a automatic in almost every case. but aside from that no Feed ramp, no Magazine to Fail, they cannot be pushed out of battery when pressed against the body, you cannot fail to disengage the safety, you cannot cause a malfunction by limp wristing it, you cannot get one bad round that forces you to stop and clear the weapon before the remaining rounds can be fired, The ammo selections are reversible within 38,357 and 44 special and Magnum. The Revolver is a Platform that almost completely eliminates User error and mechanical failure but simultaneously promotes Proficiency. I want something that I know will do what I need it to do exactly when I need it to do it without issue. If I fail to defend myself it will not be because my carry failed to do what I needed it to do in a ugly situation. I know IT will work and I know I will work. that is in its essence the key to successful self defense. if either of those two elements are missing, that is how people don't make it home. to assume you won't have to use your carry with someone Pressing against you or that the situation will facilitate a complete prevention of limb wrist or a guarentee that you are going to be in a physical position to Clear a malfunction is precarious as far as I'm concerned. and even that is giving the benefit of the doubt that you are in fact carrying with one in the Chamber (as you should) that you don't have a Manual safety to disengage and that you are carrying ammo that you know feeds reliability. I will always own a Semi automatic but I will always Trust my life to a Revolver.
I have have had many hand guns over the years and have used many different brands and types of ammunition, I have had jams with many semi auto hand guns, I have never had a revolver jam with any ammunition I loaded into it. Thats just something to think about when you are looking for a good self defense hand gun
At some point it would be great to watch an Iraqveteran8888 Cowboy action shoot inviting many of the content creators from RU-vid that like to shoot the Wild West guns like Tim and Chris Costa, and others etc. I'd watch that in a heartbeat. That would be fun for the participants as well if the schedules could align on a weekend.
I definitely appreciate this discussion a lot. I’m a fan of both styles of platforms and would shoot either. But my Smith and Wesson 4 inch 357 magnum will be my go to. It was passed down to me when I was 10, I am 36 now, and has rode with me from farm work to edc.
The only revolver I own is a NAA 22 magnum mini revolver because it is the gun I carry when I don’t really feel like carrying. Super easy to conceal anywhere. I also make my wife put it in the stroller when she goes on walks.
Yup, it ain't much but just having it on you means you have a chance, whereas leaving the house without any gun lessens your chance...it is that simple...
One thing that wasn't discussed is that revolvers won't jam with the ladies. My daughter was shooting her 45 GAP and she was getting at least one jam per magazine. I'd shoot the gun and no jams at all. Turns out she wasn't holding the gun firm enough so that the recoil could reliably feed the next round. She had much better results with the revolver.
My issue with the revolver vs semi auto debate is that a revolver seldom has any reliability issues, whereas a semi auto will have more reliability issues like failure to feed/eject/etc. HOWEVER in my experience, when a semi auto fails, it is 9/10 times a quick fix, but a revolver, its a 9/10 chance that it needs a trip to the gunsmith. I can clear a malfunction in a glock, but cant clear a slipped pall or broken mainspring in a revolver on the fly. This is a great series! Keep it up! Do one on 1911s!
My grandma keeps a stainless S&W .357 with a 5 or 6 inch barrel. It's the same model that my dad carried when he was a sheriff's deputy. I'm not a revolver guy, but I feel adequately armed when we go to town and I have that thing in the center console. Normally I EDC a little.380. I expect to still probably have to fight hand to hand if I pull that little thing. Same with my 9mm (granted I have a much higher capacity). I really don't think that anyone will have any fight left in them if they take one off of grandma's wheeler.
As a guy who likes DA/SA, but couldn't find a suitably small DA/SA gun for carry, I finally relented and sacrificed capacity to go with a ruger LCR. The heavy double action trigger just gives me a peace of mind that the pre-cocked striker in my P365 does not. If they made a DAO or DA/SA P365 sized gun I'd buy it in an instant, but all the subcompact DA/SAs are super thick and hard to carry at 3 o clock without a big jacket.
As a man who loves revolvers… there is only one reason to use a revolver. You want to send high caliber rounds at a target. Unfortunately, there really are no other advantages besides unmatched beauty
I may carry 9mm M&P or Shields now but am glad I really cut my teeth on a 686. The skills are sharper from those years. I got too old to keep carrying my 642 for concealed but still respect wheel guns.
Agreed. Reloading books are pretty straightforward turns out. Even if you never plan to reload, get a reloading manual. May need it in the dark ages when you're bored in the bunker.
I agree, as well. I used to carry a revolver, primarily, till a self defense incident occurred. No, I never had to fire, only had to brandish, and caught "the bad guys" (which they really were) with their weapons in their belts. I was better with speed loaders at the time, but was concerned if I couldn't convince them to simply leave. I was able to get across to the "leader" that should this get into a "shoot out," they may hit me, but he'd be dead. They left and the LEOs showed about 3-5 minutes after they left. All caught in film, with witnesses. I began carrying semi autos after that. If you practice reloads "under pressure," timed, you can be fast, but I'm more happy with semi autos, for self defense and reloading.
Revolver EDC for over a decade , always two , and one or both cc. Love my SA side arms , but once I found the right holster systems just liked the wheels better . I think it was what I grew up with and they are easier to clean than a Luger P.08 .
All I ever carry is a 38. I never felt vulnerable with 5 shots of 38+P. Now, if I knew I was going into a gunfight, it definitely wouldn’t be my choice.
@@bobbie4862I’m just saying… as a normie, I carry as a “get off me” type weapon. I feel that is more than adequate in most scenarios out and about. Robbery at gas pump, in line, etc… Now, if (or when) the nation collapses and you expect an actual gun fight, that is definitely not my weapon of choice.
If you knew you were going into a gunfight and it couldn't be avoided you'd be foolish to choose a pistol at all. Gunfighting is best practiced with a simiautomatic rifle.
I love my revolvers, Ive carried a few revolvers as an EDC namely my 4 inch model 19-3 and my 4 inch 586 they're mainly hunting/camp guns or range toys but I do enjoy carrying a revolver from time to time.
I have to say if I was forced to carry a revolver as a primary, no question would be the TRR8 with moon clips. I can't think of a more capable defensive revolver.
I’ve tried to carry mine, and it’s almost impossible to conceal because of its N (Large) frame. The weight is very nice, and the trigger is superb though. I’ve found that the moon clips bend very easy while walking and every day movement. I originally bought my TRR8 to hike with but it’s been relegated to nightstand duty as of late.
I fish in Grizzly country often, and a revolver is my protective weapon of choice when on the water. I have taken more than a few spills into the river while fishing rough water, and a revolver takes frequent dunking over time better than a semi-auto. Also, if I ever need to shoot with a bear planted on the end of my barrel, I know a revolver will still function. I'll accept the limited round capacity for the reliability I gain.
@@spencerhauck690 yes you do. No pistol reaches the required velocity that is needed for the permanent wound cavity to be greater than just the path left by the projectile. They are hole punches and relatively small at that .
@@Dcm193 what about the 500 s and w magnum that can deliver more than 2000 ft pounds of energy out the barrel. Look it up if you don't believe me. If you ask me that'll drop a grizzly dead in its tracks.
@@spencerhauck690 look at 44 magnum and 5.56 nato. Roughly the same energy. Then look at gel test meat test and hunting videos and see how the 5.56 will cut larger permanent wound cavities. Energy is important but not as important and bullet construction and velocity. A 168 grain eldm will produce a larger permanent wound cavity at 2200 FPS than a 180 grain core lokt will at 2600 FPS. Even thought the core lokt has more energy it will preform less than desirable. 500 magnum is really just a rifle in revolver form . It is very powerful but it will also recoil horribly and how expensive it is most won’t train with it.
My wife’s bedside protection is a wheel gun. I do not need my wife to have to think much during a crisis situation I need her to point and let God decide the criminals fate. She’s just gonna facilitate the meeting if needed.
Elmer Keith! With mag restrictions being threatened get a couple of revolvers. Faster to change guns than reload. Dress like Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven and carry multiples. LOL.🤙
I am old school. I much rather “hide the evidence” after shooting rounds. I can’t stand those shells flying all over the place after being fired. I like those speed loaders when I need to put in rounds. Different strokes for different folks.
My dad carried an owl head 38 pistol all my life he was the best shot with it I ever saw .I never saw it hang up between shots but my Glock 40 cal will hang up between shots if it isn't oiled and shot from time to time .but I like both types .
Another use for revolvers, my wife's night stand gun. Why? It's a .357 loaded with .38. Can she handle full power carriage, yes, easily, but she feels more confident with .38, which is of great importance in stressful situation. Simplicity is also important for the same reason, she is not going to fidget with a slide or safety on the gun and if she has a dud round all she needs to do is press the trigger again. In house speed loader is much less of a nuisance then on the belt and seven + seven bullets are more then enough for her to take herself and kids to safety. My bump in the night gun is a semi-auto shotgun, but it is her job to lead the kids, so empty hand is important in that scenario.
I disagree, they were more useful 100-120 years ago when most semi autos were relatively unreliable and underpowered. Glock 20 alone has basically made 357 and 44 magnums obsolete in my opinion. No hate for revolvers though honestly, they are still useful, just no longer the best tools for the job. That’s just how I feel about it
.357 has been identified by the FBI as being the number one round that is likely to eliminate a threat with a single shot. You don’t need 15+1 9mm if you can get 1 .357 on target.
I think the only self defense scenario where the upgrade in power trumps the downgrades in concealment (via barrel length) and capacity is specifically against large predatory animals
I will never, ever say a revolver is a useless firearm. A S&W Model 19 .357 saved my girlfriend from being raped and me from being killed by a gang (caught on film); LEOs showed about 3 minutes after I "convinced" the gang to leave. They'd raped 2 or 3 gals, per the PD, recently and had wished I'd fired on the leader+. They were all armed; I was lucky, in good form and surprised them. That's when I went to carrying a semi auto. That said, I have books about Ed McGivern, the '30s Jerry Michulek. Jerry said, in a video, he'd carry a Revolver, S&W, if he could have only 1 pistol. I'd love to hear Clint, Jerry and you 2 on a show. That would be phenomenal! Clint is in a class of his own, meant sincerely. Btw: Yes, revolvers are still useful.
As a backup or even a primary carry, if you’re wrestling on the ground, a revolver will still work pressed right up against a sternum, but your auto loader will not fire pressed up against anything that’s going to bring the slide back even a little bit
I don't want one...but a Ruger Red Hawk 357 with an 8 round magazine is an argument the assailant is GOING to lose. And there is one absolute true advantage to a revolver over a semi automatic. When your life absolutely is on the line...a revolver won't jam.
I know an older man who can dot shit out to 75 yards with a smith 686. He’s shaky as hell until he’s squeezing a trigger. Never doubt a man with a wheel gun.
I like to shoot revolvers. I'm working down in south Texas up on some hills and I'm carrying a chiefs special with the first two holes being snake shot. When I go to the city I typically carry a auto loader
This is by far IMO the best Gun channel discusion show around, Eric and Chad are like the Smith and Wesson of gun nut therapists. Think about it: you get talk about the effect of weight dynamics when throwing a revolver at a "baddy," to a cocaine inspirered Jack Nicholson downing a Bat chopper with a long barreled wheel gun, Mel Gibson Lethal Weapon style. It doesn't 'git' any better than that for gun enthusiasts.
Haven't watched the vid yet- initial reaction to intro: Agreed they aren't useless, there are some life situations that call for both styles of gun. I like an auto loader for concealed carry, but revolver for a homestead/working gun. Solid steel just handles the occasional accidental bumps that happen when working.
I thought the point of having a revolver on your ankle from Clint's point of view was when you are on your back point blank the gun won't dis engage when pushed against something. Vs a auto gun the slide would slide back pressed up point blank.
If you carry a certain gun for "when you are on your back".... sad. Do you also carry a parachute for when you are on a building and need to get down fast?
When you watch actual footage of people in deadly force incidents, you see the failure rate of semi auto pistols. I went back to a revolver because I kept finding the magazine release tripped on any of my three compact 9mm. I crawl around on the floor at work a lot No mag button to trip, leaving you with a low powered single shot
With S&W making 7/8 round revolvers, those of us who carry 1911s are about equal in capacity. I personally carry both, and in a defense scenario it's a moot point., Its a one in a million shot of having a Hollywood shoot out and 99 percent of the time you will only be faced with one or two perps. 7 rounds are plenty to take care of the situation if you practice a reasonable amount....with a revolver, you do not have to chase your brass is another advantage...and in real life, a 125-grain hollow point in .357 will take care of things as good as a .45 acp....if you need 15+ rounds, generally you need to practice more
Love revolvers actually looking at a .357 mag as a backup carry - shoulder holster with speed loader pouches. Should be good concealed in cold weather months under coat and/or long sleeve button up shirt. Just my mindset I won't have 2 semi auto malfunctions with the revolver as the 2nd gun! or easy for wife to use if active shooter gun fight breaks out and both of us need to shoot back in defense!
As a buyer in 2019. My colt python has had work and is still a paperweight. Smith annoyed me with their ez performance products so I swore them off for a while but their revolvers today are the best quality most reliable hands down
I’ve had several different Smith revolvers and have had trouble with a few of them. I’ve had 2 Colt 1911s and had trouble with both of them. I’ve never had trouble with a Glock, a SIG, or a Beretta. I think the old established American companies hope you stick them in a safe and never shoot them.
i live on a very rural property now. I carry my GP-100, 6 inch barrel, GP-100 .375 magnum that I have had since the mid 1990's when ever I go outside. I have Remington green and white box 125 gr SJHP rounds in it and two speed loaders. I trust it to always go BANG! when I pull the trigger every time. My hands got weaker so I put a Houge monopod grip on it. I can fire with control magnum rounds into center of mass at 25 yards with both strong and weak hand.
If you were walking with me in the woods where I live, unless you had a desert eagle in 429 or 50a.e., you'd be begging for a wheel gun (unless your carrying an 870 or similar). I carry 410 grain hardcast. I'm in northwest Montana. I only have 5 rounds. My first deer in Montana was with my Glock 31. 124 grain xtp. One round. Didn't perform to my needs either. Exploded inside. I run 147 grain now. 357sig. Or swap to 40 barrel for game getting.
