I am 50 years old. I am a combat veteran. I have been trained to use semi auto hand guns. The older I get I am just more comfortable with a revolver for a regular carry weapon.
Same here. 53, 4th ID vet, actually ran as my units armorer for a year. I can work with about any weapon...carried a Glock 26 with a 17 or 19 mag backup for 12 years....now I'm moved to a pair of revolvers for my edc. I still love all my Glocks...but honestly, the older I get the more I want the simplicity of a revolver.
I'm almost 40. Lots of experience with duty semi autos. But I'm starting to get into revolvers again. Reminds me of my childhood shootIng with my grandfather who was a Korean war vet. He loved S&W snubs. Wish I could have one more day shooting at squirrels on his back porch.
I'm not young, but I'm not that old either... but I think it's understandable why people like, carry and prefer revolvers. Don't consider myself to be a revolver person, but if that's all I had I would be happy. I think revolvers especially make good backup guns too.
Comfort is important. Not just comfort in the hand, but comfort for piece of mind. Having a gun you feel better in packing is generally a better gun to pack. Confidence in the tool is an often overlooked element.
Indeed. Aesthetically, no autoloader is ever going to compete with a 29 or Python...ever. It is like comparing a gen-2 or 3 VW Jetta [i.e. any Glock] to a Talbot-Lago SS. There aren't enough drugs on earth to make me see it the other way 'round :D
Yeah, it is very hard to make a good revolver (think "S&W"?) jam. I was often publicly chided by our CHIEF Range Safety Officer for being "TOO SLOW" on the range with beginning students. Well, he also had beginning students shooting our club-owned semi-autos, and HE had to sort out the malfunctions on almost every class! Some things are just not to be hurried in a gun class.
I feel extremely confident to donate my 4 3/4 629 with Speer got dot is just what I need well placed i will even help the dude pick up his arm for the EHS staff after the confrontation. Thats not if my blue tick dog gets it first to know on it outside in the back yard for some sustenance.
I agree some S&W revolvers look beautiful. Not all of them though. And most other revolver manufacturers guns honestly look like crap. Looking at you Ruger and Taurus, lol. I haven't seen a Colt in person but from pictures the Anaconda and Python look about on par with S&W L and N frames.
Carry what works for you. I love my old S&W revolvers, but carry a 4” 1911 in .45 ACP. My wife carries a small revolver (or two). When she was a cop in the mid 90’s she wore a S&W Model 66, and did in fact permanently retire a child rapist after he’d stabbed her. The .357 works, and so does the .45 - so carry what gives you the most confidence.
Americans working temporarily with the French Intelligence Service (DGSE, the Directorate-General for External Security - Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure) on several cases linked to US interests, it was noted that the 9mm HPs used by the French took between 9 and 14 hits to bring down armed combatants with no body armor and 72% of the time, the combatants who were shot multiple times with 9mm didn't perish. When US personnel fired their sidearms (restricted by the French to revolvers), in this case, the .357 Magnum S&W Revolver with 125 gn. JHP or 158 gn. Hardcast, only one to (rarely) three rounds per enemy combatant was sufficient with a 69% fatality rate. For a comparison, look at the US-based police shootings available for public review to see a direct correlation of this data and comments like the one from Name, below. 9mm, for all its ratings and hype (a great deal of which is financially motivated), is not at all as reliable at stopping combatants as the .357 Magnum. Anyone with more experience than just a few gunfights knows two things: Revolvers are far more reliable than even the very best semi-auto, and that 9mm is not as effective as .357 Magnum. Congrats Elmer Keith. Great work, as always, Gun Sam. www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/27/upshot/deadly-bullets-guns.html 45 is basically 9mm with a slight buff.
@@mmabagain The article is about police shootings fatality rates by handgun caliber. 9mm is 58%, 45 is a couple of percentage points higher and 357 has a 72% fatality rate.
17:09 yep! Racking the slide is a big problem for my tiny wife too. She's terrified of slide bite, and will not let me teach her. We're both happy with her snubbie revolver.
I am amazed at how many little-women students who THINK a Model 1955 S&W 45 revolver at 45 ounces is T-O-O B-I-I-IG will actually perform well after trying, with good instruction. (But, still would not suggest actually carrying it, just confidence-building).
HOLY COW!!!!!!! I JUST HEARD YOU SAY .327 MAGNUM!!!!!!! I own a Charter Arms Patriot in .327 and any time I tell people about it, even among some fairly knowledgeable gun owners, they say "you mean .357?" Thanks for throwing it in there, it made me smile!
Also, one HUGE Plus that I forgot to mention. If you reload it's easy to police your brass with a revolver. Just open the cylinder and dump the empties into your range bag. No need to bend over and pick up cases that are thrown all over the place. Love the channel, keep up the awesome work.
Thanks. Yeah I reload most of my brass, once in awhile I do a demonstration video where I dump them but all my other shooting and ballistic tests, I dump into my range box. I used a huge plastic box with a lid for all my gear, makes a nice big target to dump into.
As a hand loader, this is the primary reason I prefer revolvers. They also just fit my hands better that 80% of semi autos. Lastly, revolvers allow weird bullets that semi autos just don't allow. Show me a 9mm that can use a full wadcutter or a double round ball load. (The double round ball is my new pet load for 38 special.)
Final note: Revolver "staging"...that point at trigger pull when the cylinder stops just before the hammer releases...takes practice but gains accuracy...
Another talking point to your malfunction clearing item, one that for some reason is not often mentioned when discussing self-defense: when you are attacked, there will likely be no time to establish a nice stance, grip, and aim. You may have to fire one handed while trying to resist with the other. Any kind of malfunction at that point, a stovepipe, failure to fire, failure to eject, anything that would require a 'tap and rack' could get you dead.
I agree they fire everytime like 99.9987 percent of time semi autos varied data as low as 94.6 to 99.09 % . sorry 1out of 100 or 5 out of 100 or me ill take 1 out of 1million.
@@tulsavol6653 No idea where you are coming from with this, but "1 out of a million" would suggest 300 shootings (or stabbings, or other aggravated assaults) annually in the US. I think you should get new talking points.
At least for me, I prefer a large semi auto over a large revolver. But I prefer a small revolver over a small semi auto. With the ease of hiding a small gun I find myself very rarely carrying anything but my Charter Arms Undercoverette in 32 H&R Mag. 32 cal is great in snubnoses, It gets very controllable recoil and 1 extra round.
I wanna get that black 3” Charter Arms 32 H&R mag with the wood grips(I forgot what it’s called?) You get 7 shots of 32 H&R magnum which is a lot better than 5 shots of 38 special imo. 👍🏻
@@michigunsanta8680 ME TOO! That extra inch adds one hundred foot pounds of energy. After being out A YEAR now not a single gun magazine has reviewed the Charter Arms Professional, and not a single objective reviewer has put up a RU-vid vid! Even their website does not have many photos? I need a companion for my 3" six-shot S&W!.............................elsullo
@Marion Hamer I disagree. There is a threshold of minimum effectiveness. And there are some cartidges for pistols that provide a better lethality than others. But there are plenty of videos or people taking multiple hits from 9, 40, and 45. At least in my thoughts I think the capability of follow up shots is more important in a close range defensive situation. Happy Easter as well.
The 1st Pistol I learned to shoot was my Dad's WW 2 - Korean War 1911 Colt .45 automatic pistol. I had one when I was in the U.S. Coast Guard, It Jammed numerous times due to Government Issue Ammo. I like my .38 + P Revolver, Never Jams !
When I was a member of our SWAT team , we did some exercises with the LAPD SWAT team. The LA officer had a 2" .38 revolver in his pocket, he had me point my service revolver at him with the hammer back and my finger on the trigger (all guns were loaded with plastic .38s with only a primer). I was directed to tell him to take his hand out of his pocket, I would shoot as soon as I recognized the threat, "I died". The pocket draw is quite effective.
I like the new stuff that wasn't around when I was a kid like airsoft. Can do a lot of drills like this with a lot of makes and models of guns. They shoot about 300 FPS with a 24 caliber less than one grain plastic BB and they hurt, but don't penetrate skin.
"Vee ask der Fuhrer if vee ist der Master Race, und he say "Yah vee ist der Master Race" so vee say "Heil pfft heil pfft heil pfft" right in der Fuhrer's face!" - an American hit from circa 1942 or so, it just happenned to come to mind when I heard the above song, I know not why.
I kept buying small semi automatics for EDC, but after a while of carrying each one I’d find myself gravitating back to a .38 snubbie anyway. So, I’ve settled in on carrying a 642 every day and the pistols mostly stay in the safe or in small lock boxes staged around the house just in case.
This was a very good video. One thing I noticed if I carry my snubby in my winter jacket pocket and stick my hand into the pocket and grab the snubby I always get a perfect grip so that when I pull it out of the pocket, I do not have to make any adjustments to secure more or to align my finger on the trigger everything is completely in alignment and all I have to do is present it forward instinct, fashion, and it is always on Target. I cannot do that with any semi autos. If I put it in my pants pocket, the same situation occurs. This is the main reason I bought a snubby. Sometimes I carry a medium size semi inside the waistband and need. A little adjustment in my grip before presenting it in an instinct manner. Now that could affect accuracy to some degree for sure. It’s a little short on confidence with the semi. And I practice a lot. Only problem with a revolver is if you get into a firefight or three or four bad guys, and they are relatively close. You may not be able to reload fast enough before they are on top of you. I have read about police shootings in which officers were killed trying to reload revolvers and these guys are very highly trained so that can happen. That’s the only drawback. Everything else you said is true from my experience too.
@@mmabagain granted, the Yankee is a weird creative spirit, but he is well educated and knows his revolvers very well. What you got against the Yankee marshal?
I have been collecting firearms for 30+ years, my first handgun purchase was a 6" GP100, I shoot it well. I went semi-auto for years. Lately I have been drawn to revolvers more and more. I really enjoy the platform from SA, DA, DAO and SA/DA. currently hunting for a 10mm revolver and an 8 round S&W 357 for my collection
I love the precision machining of revolvers, and mastering the single action trigger is a skill that will serve you well no matter what handgun you're shooting.
My sentiments exactly! My Taurus 605 resides on my belt wherever I can legally carry it here in Wyoming. PS: you missed one of my favorite reasons for revolver carry, especially in the magnums. You have the choice of very soft recoiling "target" rounds, all the way up to some pretty rip-roaring magnum rounds, especially in my .357 and .44 magnums! They do provide some degree of comfort here in the woods of Wyoming, both for the local critters and the two-legged sort, as well! God bless you and yours, and keep up the good work!
Being a very practical person myself, I agree with all that you said, especially reason #15. Even f you do put yourself in a situation where you have multiple assailants, there will most certainly NOT be 14 of them. Typically it's not more than 4 of them and they are looking for easy prey that doesn't fight back. Once you shoot the first one or two, the rest of them will realize they made a big mistake and will hightail it out of there.
A light, comfortable snubby in a pocket holster is my good companion. It is more than sufficient protection in my corner of the nation. Whatever you choose to carry it still comes down to practice for proficiency.
I'm right there with you. Most gunfights end with only about 5 shots fired. I'd take 6 rounds and a speedloader of .357 Magnum than 20 rounds of 9mm. Great video as always!
One would argue that capacity is compromised by carrying a revolver instead of a semiautomatic pistol. After the first shot into a bad guy I haven’t seen very many bad guy’s stick around and ask for another one.
Well thought out video. When I carry I weigh out safety, accuracy and capacity; as well as comfort of carry. Too, there is an emotional trust factor. I've certainly had more feed issues with semi-autos than revolvers, and even with a semi-auto I've found uber-reliable it is still hard to shake that "what if" nagging at the back of your mind. Ultimately it is a personal choice.
I got my first gun 26 years ago, it was a 38 special. Over the years I got many semis and now with age comes arthritis. I have a real hard time gripping and racking the slide on a semi. But I still have that little 38 snuby and I can shoot that just fine. I found 26 year later that my first gun is my best gun. Thank you for this video. I can relate to your girlfriend and the slide issues.
my little charter arms 38, fits right in my pocket, is powerful, and DOESNT have a hair trigger like an automatic does, and it is more likely to NOT jam up!
@@WillyK51 This so true! I tell my wife and daughter (and sometimes myself), you maybe can touch your eye ball with your finger, but any more than that a S & W will fire. My daughter carries a M34 due to small hands and recoil adverse. She too has a light weight Tarus 38 if she feels the need to carry heavier. I refer it as her truck gun, as if stolen, can be replaced.
@Marion Hamer most revolvers are more likely to fire than an automatic, and i dont fire this one very much, i have 4 other revolvers for fun, i just fire this one enough to get the feel for it, for when i need it, good church gun
You briefly touched on this, but, you can also use things like snake loads for serpents and small game, down loaded rounds for small game and +P rounds for large dangerous things. Its more versatile as a tool. Btw, you can get more life from your brass by annealing the cases. Just passing it on.
I have been trained on a semi auto platform and having carried same for the past 24 years on and off duty. I was recently gifted a Smith and Wesson Model 19-4 with a 4inch barrel by a great friend. Held that gun and fell in love with it. Its ergonomics and aesthetics are amazing. The intimidation factor on that gun is also up there. Greetings from S. Africa
I carried a revolver for the first 22 years of my 38 year LE career. For concealed carry I still prefer a small revolver because in my hands they're more dependable and accurate than a pocket sized semi-auto. I agree that many "experts" chant endlessly that "all handguns suck", but my experience has been that it isn't that they fail from time to time in real shootings. It's that they are so effective such an amazing percentage of the time when the chips are down. If you hold up your end and shoot straight, you can far more often than not depend on a handgun in a good fighting caliber to get you out of an unexpected jam.
My (early) Christmas present to myself this year was a Ruger SP101. Picked it up a few weeks ago and already have 200 rounds through it. I’ve had it with me every day since. I feel adequately armed and it’s much more comfortable to carry than the Sig P320 I’d been dragging around.
I carry my S&W Bodyguard 38 spl. +P (non-laser version) more than any of my other handguns. It's light weight, reliable and accurate. With 125gr +P loads it also packs a pretty decent punch at defense range.
I fully agree , it is simple and reliable exactly what you need in a high stress situation! I like the mechanical sophistication of the semi auto,but the reliability of the revolver has an even greater appeal for me!
I feel a different vibe for autoloaders than I do revolvers. I used to jokingly describe it as 'autoloaders are what you go to war with and a revolver is what you use to execute their general after you win.' That's a joke, btw. I never go to war unless paper targets count. What I mean is, autoloaders are just really well designed stone cold killing machines but revolvers have a personality, almost like some swords supposedly did in days of old. Maybe even deserve a name, some of them. They reek of history. Incidentally, I own both. Each have their place.
I just carry a revolver because I like everything about them. I feel more connected to the process of operation, loading and shooting in general. I have more confidence with a wheel gun. Another big plus, especially in this ammo shortage, is you don’t lose your brass for handloading.
Yeah I love shooting and hand loading the revolver. Very nice process and my favorite thing to do is get a nice hot/fast powder and just reload .38+P's at the max listed charge and shoot them in my .357's. Typically with 125 gr we're talking 1,000 FPS, just perfect for range work.
@@GunSam one of my favorite 38spl loads for a lazy man’s dual purpose is a 158 lswc going about 650-700 fps out of the snub, and getting about 800-850 out of a 4 inch k frame. That way I can practice with the ammo I carry. It’s not a barn burner, but in my tests it gives good straight line penetration thru bone and various media and still give enough penetration where you don’t have to worry about it.
@@everythingdefensivecarry1108 I like Speer TMJ or plinker bullets when I can get them as it makes cleanup easy, but I do also shoot 158 gr lead bullets sometimes.
Yeah you definitely have a point here I had a S&W Highway patrolman and that gun out of all my guns would alway get comments like oh man look at that cannon or something in regards to Dirty Harry movie even though the Highway patrolman wasn’t a 44 lol but yeah a full size revolver is definitely a unique shape that people remember and know what it’s capable of
Nah. The sawed-off 12g pump shotgun wins this one. [Or the Serbu or Liberator.] a) More powerful than any pistol. A common 1oz 2 3/4" 12g slug can deliver about 3,000 efp, and a magnum 3 1/2" much more still. The .500 S&W doesn't come close. b) Offers a greater range and variety of ammunition than all of the pistols ever invented can shoot.... _in one gun_. In the same magazine I can have slugs, birdshot, buckshot, shorties, incendiaries. c) You may not even have to show it. The racking sound alone can sometimes scare a (relatively sane) perp away. d) Has the added "i don't give a phuck if this is illegal" factor as soon as you DO show it. Obviously a shotgun is not a pistol...but you claimed "nothing is more intimidating" in the context of a carry weapon.
@@jma3586 Our enemies will attack the 2A no matter what we do. I don't break any gun laws but I honestly appreciate those who do. The government has no authority to tell us which guns we can or cannot possess.
Outstanding! I agree with everything you said. I own autoloaders and revolvers, but the autoloaders sits unloaded most of the time and the revolvers gets carried. I have the option and I usually choose the revolver for all the reasons you mentioned as well as spring compression. All it takes is owning one autoloader that is not reliable and you see the immediate advantages of the wheel gun. I had to laugh when you mentioned a revolver being more comfortable to carry. Today I had my model 28 S&W K frame four inch barrel with target grips in an IWB holster all day and hardly noticed it.
Thanks for watching. I don't carry large guns in general anymore, but maybe I will start again! Love my .44 too much to leave it at home as much as I do.
17:14 My wife has trouble racking the slide in either of my .45 autos. Surprisingly, she preferred to shoot my Colt Anaconda .44 mag over the .45 even with the harder recoil because she could hold it and understood how to operate it. When I introduced her to my S&W model 60 .38 spl, it instantly became her favorite.
I have carried my handgun in a IWH appendix carry for decades now. Back in the 80s I had four coats modified so I could slide my hand through an opening inside my pocket to my gun. I always chose jackets or heaver coats with large pocket openings so it would slide up my arm as I pushed the gun up and out. This came in handy twice, one time I was getting gas at a station along an interstate late at night and I was the only car at this exit. Just as the pump clicked off I could see two men walking up about ten feet away and told me that they were taking my car. My wife was in the car along with a bunch of other things including a loaded rifle. One man had a knife so in just a split second I had my gun up and they looked absolutely stunned then ran. My point is you can do the same thing with any handgun it just takes a little time and effort. You made some very good points and I can see you have put a lot of thought into this video thank you.
I can deploy a full size handgun very fast without it being in a pocket. I think that having a handgun in a pocket is a disadvantage not a plus. I did like your video by the way. @@GunSam
Great info as always. I like your practical realistic approach to civilian concealed carry. I teach a CCW class and I’m always suggesting small frame revolvers to the elderly, women and novice shooters.
@@GunSam Like you, we don’t do politics. Just like to see good sane stuff about what all our members love, revolvers (with some necessary semi-auto stuff thrown in). And, as a retired coroner with over 25 years of examining gunshot wounds and other deaths, I can tell you, placement of bullets are critical. I saw many people killed with a .22. Anyway, keep up the great work.
Reason number 16. Most revolvers, if not all, can operate with black powder. Reloading components are scarce. I can, and do make my own black powder with three simple ingredients. That means there's one less thing I need to worry about when reloading. Semi-autos won't function with BP.
Great video and great information, I've been shooting revolvers since 1982. We carried the s/w 13 for almost 10 years before getting the M9. I still shoot and carry the revolver during the winter months. The capacity wasn't an issue, we had speed loaders and it only took 2 or 3 rounds to get what you needed done (if you k ow what I mean) people say 6 rounds isn't enough but carry semi autos that holds 7- 8 in the mag like that makes a difference. They are great guns
Yup, on some occasions I'd carry a 31 Wells Fargo model as an off duty weapon. A 31cal pocket pistol is on par with a 380ACP's punch. Never felt unarmed when I went out the door with the 31.
I've always been a revolver fan. I guess watching Dirty Harry movies when I was a kid got me hooked on them. Plus I don't like things that are complicated. I prefer the basic easy reliable function of revolvers. Also revolvers are more intimidating looking. Autoloaders look like poptart guns.
The intimidation factor is something that has been talked about before and though I must say that I don't really respond differently myself, since I see them all as deadly, the fact that some do fail to get intimidated by smaller bores means it's a factor with some and therefor is a real thing. Even the ammo, while deceiving by size for the noobs, doesn't really equal the power of the round yet obviously a little 9x19 is not all that threatening looking compared to a .38 Spl. and being almost as long as the .357 it gives the impression of so much more power than what it actually has. A .44 just seems to say "Take me seriously!" to everyone lol.
Simple is always better when things drop in the pot. That's one of the things I like about revolvers. There are way more points of failure with an auto-loader. Something as simple as not seating the magazine well enough can cause the gun to stop working. Something that has happened to even well trained cops. And that is the tip of the iceberg of everything that could go wrong.
Revolvers functions are more simple yes but the firearm itself is incredibly more complicated. I can take every single part out the slide and frame of my Glock in about 45 seconds with one simple tool. Open the side plate of a revolver and it’s a damn Swiss watch in there. That being said I carry a j frame about 90% of the time
I'm a former LEO with a lot of autoloader experience, and my main concealed carry is my 4" BBL S&W 64 in .38spl. Super accurate, amazing dbl action trigger, and is accompanied by a pair of Safariland speedloaders. Can't beat it!
I can easily beat it: a Glock with 3-4 magazines. Malfunction: clear with tap rack or reload. A revolver jams, you’re down for the fight. If you can’t get that cylinder out, you’re screwed. Just saying 🤷♂️. I like how the guy in the video chooses one of the most anemic, horrible semi autos that even semi auto people hate to demonstrate his point. Just goes to show how disingenuous and biased he is for his antiquated platform. Are revolvers cool? Sure. Are they powerful? Sure. Are they ideal for the modern age where the opponent may be armed with a semi auto with 17+ rounds of ammunition and 2 backup magazines?… no. Hell no. As James Yeager once said: it’s easier to put one thing in one thing, rather than 6 things in 6 things. Might I also mention that revolvers absolutely suck for single handed weapon manipulations. Good luck reloading a revolver with one wing down. How are you gonna stabilize that cylinder with one wing down? Simple answer: you’re not. With a semi auto, you can simply put your gun in the holster, and stick the magazine in the gun with one hand, and rack it on a table side or belt… revolvers just suck.
I have 4 semis and 1 revolver. My revolver is more comfortable to carry. Easier to draw. More accurate. And most importantly, NEVER had a malfunction. Plus.... 357mag is the still the reigning street king 😎
Excellent expression of the pros and cons of revolver EDC! Well done, friend. The S&W mod 36 with a 3” barrel has never let me down. Nothing wrong with the J frame 😎
I agree that three inches is about the perfect barrel length for a defensive revolver meant to be concealed. I own nine revolvers that fit J-frame holsters and the best-feeling ones so far are the two three-inchers. Incidentally, both of them are older Taurus revolvers in stainless, an 85 (.38 Special) and a 941 (.22WMR.)
You’ve stated your case very well and I completely agree. I’m not a cop any longer, my daily travels are pretty tame so a J Frame is all I need. Lots of newbies go out and buy a Glock only to discover it’s heavy and bulky. That will eventually be left at home (don’t EVER leave a gun in a car) when reality sets in. The one consistent problem I’ve had w/the LCP & the S&W Bodyguard is the mag popping out in a pocket holster. I’ve tried a plastic pocket holster that covers the mag button but it comes out w/the gun when I draw it.
I get that for sure and discovered that in the first few months of carrying a gun. I just prefer to look at what i'm going to do, what I can always do, then pick the best gun for that setup. For me it's the LCR .327 Federal. Pocket carried like a .38, has the power of .357 Mag but the recoil of 9mm, plus 6 shots in a 5 shot sized gun. Perfect.
@@GunSam I had to carry my service revolver off duty (a job requirement in ‘68) until I could afford an off duty gun, and that’s when I learned just how difficult & uncomfortable concealing a service size weapon could be.
My antiquated revolver is 10 ounces lighter than my 1911....a lot safer than carrying cocked and locked. Just as easy to conceal and carry. And the first 3 out are Federal 410 X 2 1/2 000 buckshot, followed by 3 Hornady .45 Colt...Sometimes antiquated is OK...
Have to write that revolvers will digest a wider variety of ammunition ( given same caliber and case seating ) energy wise compared to auto loaders. Put simply, auto loaders are more finicky as to which loads as to power and bullet shape that they'll feed, fire and eject reliably. There's a place for auto loaders, particularly military applications. That's due to the limited, specific cartridge type selected for use combined with the sidearm chosen for combat field use by tens of thousands of troops.
I started my pistol shooting with a semi-automatic for target bullseye shooting. Then I got involved with using a revolver in PPC competition and started favoring it. Then, they came out with the larger capacity 9mm pistols, and went back to semi-autos for self defense. Then, when the state reduced the magazine capacity of semi-autos to 10 rounds maximum, the semi-autos lost a lot of the reason for my choice, especially when compared to the increased power from revolver cartridges. Now I am back to a revolver as my defensive handgun of choice. Couple that with the difficult that the Mrs. has in racking a slide on a defensive power pistol, the choice is a no-brainer when it comes to the choice of the home defense gun. I've got nothing against semi-autos -- I still own and use them regularly -- they are just no longer my defensive handgun of choice.
I've always strongly preferred semi-autos over revolvers, so much so that they outnumber my revolvers by something like 10:1. Lately though, the thought occurred to me that - with a semi-auto - if you lose the magazine, or if it breaks in some way, that renders the firearm virtually useless, until/unless you can source another magazine for it, and sometimes, that can be very difficult to do for certain firearms.
I agree with everything you have mentioned in this video. And actually I have just started a new chapter in my firearms life. Thing is I truly love all guns both autos and now revolvers.
I've had a carry permit for going on 12 years now. I've had the shield, sold that one. I still have the lc9s and the lcp2 in .380 and carry them sometimes. But when it comes to small guns for deep concealment, like something you are gonna shove deep in your waistband or in your pocket (even with a pocket holster). It still to this day makes me a little uneasy carrying an auto with a light trigger and no manual safety. And if you carry with no round in the chamber, you might as well not carry at all. If you think you are gonna have time to rack a slide or have 2 hands readily available to do that, you will probably be mistaken. The bad guy already knows what his plans are and whats about to go down, and you are just going about your day and most likely have no idea about what's about to happen. So he has the element of surprise and you are already at a disadvantage with that without adding extra steps like taking off a safety or racking a slide. You need to have something to carry that you can yank out as fast as possible and just pull the trigger. And for me, a snub nose revolver is one of the only guns I feel comfortable stuffing into my pants loaded and not being afraid that im gonna shoot my dick off because with that trigger pull, theres no way its gonna happen by accident. I also love the .327 federal magnum and just picked up my first one last weekend. (An LCRx). There's not much to hate about it except for ammo cost. That is the major downfall, but when things settle down, I am going to start reloading for it once components are readily available again. It really is the perfect snub nose caliber. With .32 H&R mag, you get at least .38 special +P if not better performance, with the same or less recoil. And with .327 fed mag, you get close to .357 mag performance, but with significantly less recoil. And on top of all that, you get a 6 round capacity instead of 5. In a full size gun, a difference between 15 or 16 isn't much and wouldn't be a factor. But in a snub nose, going from 5 to 6 and getting near the same power is a game changer. That 6th round could very well make a difference and it's a 20% increase in capacity.
I started hand loading the .327/.32 6 months ago, but I have hand loaded for 6 years. Pretty easy to load, but true magnum power really is hard to achieve on hand loads, but you can pretty easily send a 100 gr bullet at around 1,000 FPS in .327 or an 85 gr at 950 FPS in .32 H&R Mag with typical powders, and they make great range rounds.
I agree about feeling uneasy with carrying a chambered semiauto without a serious manual safety in use! Some of them, like the Taurus G2-G3 family, ARE FULLY COCKED when racked to chamber a round, and there IS NO decocker. Yet most macho guys do not read the owner's booklet insisting on using the manual safety at all times. They think that long trigger pull means that it is double action like a Glock. No, it is a built in safety feature from Taurus to save the lives of fools who do not read..........................elsullo
Sam I love you're channel. I used to do armed security on the side part time, I started with a semi auto 9 mm but quickly went back to a revolver due to the same reasons you listed. I stopped doing part time guard work probably 20 years ago, but I always carry my revolver everywhere.
Agree overall, but with a few caveats. The advantage of that long double-action trigger pull for safety reasons is obviously not the exclusive province of revolvers. For synagogue security, I carry a full-size IWI Jericho 941 F9, and one of the main features I like about that pistol is the DA/SA design so that my first shot must be made as a deliberate decision, not as the result of an accidental adrenaline-fueled nervous twitch….but followed if necessary by up to 15 more shots. But that said, the madman active synagogue shooter scenario is the only place where I am carrying a firearm of that type. In that situation I can’t break contact and I would have to do my best to defeat what would probably be a very well armed and determined attacker, so I would likely be best served by a firearm with which I can put out a higher volume of fire. But in my day-to-day life of driving to and from work, going grocery shopping, meeting up with friends for lunch, etc., I’m unlikely to have to employ deadly force at all, and if I do, it will probably be against a garden variety thug who only is targeting me because he thinks I’m not armed at all. In that instance I expect that the two guns that I alternate between for just general bopping around town EDC purposes - either a 7+1 Springfield Armory 911 .380 or a Charter Arms Undercover 5-shot .38 snubbie - should be plenty adequate to the task. I like them both a lot for different reasons. and it would be difficult for me to definitively say which one I really prefer. I certainly agree that the overwhelming majority of us are never going to have to face some doomsday scenario of multiple opponents requiring a high capacity weapon. I would say to anyone who argues that one has to have such a weapon because “what if you get jumped by three guys”, etc., that if such a possibility is a real thing where you live…maybe you should consider moving…? Who the hell wants to live like that? But I guess if, for whatever reason, you can’t move and you’re stuck in a place like that, you may need that higher capacity auto. All that said, though, the argument for quality over quantity in terms of the power of the individual chambering certainly has merit. With that in mind, I don’t always carry the high capacity nine to my synagogue; sometimes I carry a full-size single stack eight-shot M1911A1 and other times I carry a five-shot Ruger SP101 .357, the latter especially when it’s real hot and I don’t want to wear a sport jacket cover garment for OWB carry. These latter two weapons, with the ammo I use, each deliver 450 foot pounds of energy versus 400 foot pounds for my nine; not overwhelming but it is 20% greater and that is significant. But speaking to your point about the power you can get from a revolver versus an automatic of comparable size, with the custom-made leather pocket holster I got for it, I can easily pocket carry my SP101. Now, what automatic out there can you pocket carry that lands a 450 foot pound punch? I don’t think there’s any auto that offers that level of power which you can slide into your front blue jean pocket, no way. And on the reliability issue, I pretty much have to agree as well, also based on personal experience, at least where handguns are concerned. I’m 62 and I’ve been shooting since I was seven, have been buying guns since I was 23, and am a U.S. Army infantry veteran. I have never owned an automatic that didn’t fail me at least once in a while, sometimes due to being finicky about ammo, sometimes due to a mechanical issue with the magazine or the gun itself, sometimes due to simple user error (e.g., inadvertently hitting a mag release or not seating the magazine fully). Some are more reliable than others; my M1911 that I referenced above is extremely reliable, only very rarely has hiccuped on me. But I have two revolvers - an S&W 686 and a Ruger SP101 - that have never ever failed me, ever, period, regardless of ammo, how often they were cleaned, whatever. And even my CA Undercover has only occasionally balked on hard primers which were promptly addressed by a second strike on double action anyway. No, one cannot deny the reliability advantage of revolvers; it’s not “Fuddlore”, it’s what any honest and experienced shooter knows as a fact. Anyway, great video, keep up the good content.
I used to own quite a few Glock-19's until my daughters got their CCW permits and asked me for my Glocks, which I gave them gladly. What Dad does not want to see their daughters armed and able to protect themselves. As such, the only thing really at home left for me to carry concealed these days is my S&W 29 4 inch, and as big as I am (6'5" 300#) it pretty much disappears underneath my shirt.
I am glad you talked about contact shots. I actually have something planned relating to that, but I thought I would ask if you would do a Jugornot test between contact shots and non contact shots to see what they would do to ballistic bologna.
That's a pretty cool idea I never thought about. I would imagine that the bologna would be really messed up more than typical, but to really test it I think maybe some FMJ .38's would be the way to go, as non HP low powered .38's won't blow the pack to pieces, so it would be an easy way to see if the contact shot would blow it to pieces.
I LOVE that idea. I think it would be best to compare a few things like HP's vs FMJ's and maybe some lower powered rounds such as pocket gun rounds (intended for closer ranges) vs more mainstream SD calibers. I can also see this becoming a series including clothing with more layers and other factors. I might have to kick in a few more bucks for ammo and materials. Yeah! Do it Sam!
@@GunSam Very interesting. How about simple standard pressure 148 grain full wadcutters? For those of us with problem hands, a low recoil snubby round is something that we rely on (i.e., LCR and/or J-frame). Both 38 AND 32 long, would be interesting. Aww, heck, why not 32 H&R too? Seriously. I don't mean to be greedy, but your tests are GREATLY appreciated!!!
@@GunSam Hey Sam. Just giving you a heads up. I just got back from the range with my attempt at contact shots. Got a bit of sharpnel in my thumbs. Be careful!
Reason #16, your brass can be cleanly emptied into your hand for reloading. I am still using 30 year old Midway 357 brass because it does not get lost.
Like most everyone else, I own both semi auto and revolvers and enjoy both, but I love my revolvers. My first handgun was a S&W .38 snub, and I carried it for years. I had it from 1992 until 2002. In 10 years time a guy can get pretty good with a DA trigger. I tried semi autos and learned how to become fairly proficient with them, but I just believe 100% that revolvers are more accurate...Anyone can disagree, and that's fine, but before disagreeing, please fire a 4" in SA from 10 yards and see for yourselves. Well, DA is just the same accuracy, just a much heavier trigger pull. I've learned a thing or two in all my years of shooting. You can become proficient with whatever you have if you spend enough time with it, AND if you become proficient with a DA revolver trigger, you will shoot it more accurately...JMO. All good points Sam. Sorry for writing a book.
100 percent confidence is a must. a lot of combat pistol and revolver shooting i practice is not using the sights at all because truth is you may not have time to . I don’t say you have to be a master gun fighter . most defense situations is done on flat floor, sidewalks, streets, parking lots . I have been doing this longer than a lot reading this is old . but iam a old dog that can be taught new tricks. we’ll use the tried milk jug method. my home is small 32 ft long and 32 feet wide. standing i the middle and some one in the house two feet inside door frame. that means the farthest I have to shoot around 11 feet. now go to where you shoot best outside. hang empty jug from tree limbs or long stink drove at angle with jug hanging down so shoot stick into. hang jug around the vital area height you want to start with. now with your trigger finger point at jug doing this several times. we’re not using our sights at this close we don’t need them . now load up. keep trigger finger straight in line with outside of gun . practice pointing gun a little while. now take your time put pistol somewhere around a high as your ribs any now you can easily get the fell shooting the gun remember no sights you should easily hit the jug. shooting slow you shorty hit jug every time not using no sights. when you can hit it every time now work a little faster with your shooting sessions. it won’t be long it will be like you were born doing it because it’s so natural. practice. practice, practice. it worked for grandpa, daddy, and me but it’s only just a part or shooting ing , nana and papa aka the hunter wishing well . enjoyed your video it was a good learning tool.
Being able to use single action or double action on a revolver is something I prefer. When drawing with a hammer you can put your thumb on it as it's being drawn to keep it from snagging on anyting. I like the advantage of being able to use single action trigger pull for a more precise shot.
I've had a couple rounds of 44 that the primers were not seated properly and caused my ruger super blackhawk to lock up and I had to remove my cylinder, to be able to remove the round. It was bad factory ammo , and I had a problem with steel case 357 magnum ,sticking in my taurus 605. Besides my ammo problems I haven't had any issues. When I go out hunting, fishing and camping I like carrying a revolver and having the heavy trigger pull
My EDC is a Ruger SP101 which is chambered in .357 Magnum. The cylinder holds five rounds and that is enough for me. Plus, it is great to practice with .38 Special. Thanks for the tip about .38 Short Colt.
Agree 100% You've always got that doubt if you're going to jam with a semi-automatic compared to a revolver Five rounds are more than enough if you have placement !
Obe shooting session with my buddies PPK ...I got 2 !! DOUBLE FEEDS !!!..get a Double feed in the middle of a self D situation..takes quite a bit of time to Clear & get back in action .. especially with a PPK with no manual external slide stop to hold slide open ! ...with revolver as long as you load WELL CRIMPED JACKETED AMMO ..revolver will never lock up !
I love my vintage J, K & N frames. I’m confident carrying a 5 shot J frame snub. Or a K frame 6 shot snub. I also love my PF9SS (G43), 43x + S15 mags and all my G19 sized guns but I can carry a J frame and nobody would ever know.
Great video! Awesome and knowledgeable delivery. My Father just handed down his old S&W .38 12-2 air weight K-frame to me his first boy and namesake. And i started carrying it. I used to carry 17 round CZ P-01 or a Ruger 9 mm , but they are both uncomfortable when driving and holstered at 3 O’clock. The snubby is something i can pocket carry or sticky holster in the small of my back and have the confidence needed to retrieve it in a hurry. Thanks Sam.
I love both autos and revolvers, and have carried both extensively during my nearly 30 year career in law enforcement. There are a few downsides however, with revolver carry. 1. Carrying extra ammo (off duty, street clothes) is a pain in the ass. Speedloaders are not easy to conceal. Spare mags are a snap to conceal, due to their flatness. 2. Unless the revolver is a J-frame sized gun, it’s very difficult to conceal due to the thickness of the cylinder. Autoloaders tend to be much flatter, therefore easier to pack. 3. Muzzle blast. Any .38 Special and especially .357 Magnum loads are LOUD due to their cylinder/barrel gap. Forget firing a .44 Magnum indoors. Autoloaders are not nearly as loud, by and large. I’m not degrading revolvers by any means, I’m just pointing out observations on my part. I still love my revolvers….. I just purchased a 1974-vintage Colt Detective Special and a 70’s era S&W Model 67 .38 👍🏻 Great video!
It all boils down to what YOU can best defeat an attacker with. If you can do it better with one over the other it’s best to chose the one you’re best with, obviously. If you can do it with either then you get to enjoy the luxury of choice. I’m glad I get to enjoy the choice. Nice job demonstrating the differences.
