The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Tactics and Training

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 29, 2005, 10:13 AM   #1
roy reali
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2005
Posts: 3,248
Revolver Or Pistol

This topic is a take off of one on the shotgun section.

If a person was to have an arm or hand injured during a confrontation, would he be better off with a revolver or a semi auto? Assume that the person will have to operate and shoot one handed.

Which would you prefer in such a scenario?
roy reali is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 11:08 AM   #2
psycho nut
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 3, 2005
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 480
I would rather have a revolver because you wouldn't have to rack the slide one-handed. You might be able to do it if you practied though.
__________________
I can't spel.
psycho nut is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 11:16 AM   #3
azredhawk44
Junior member
 
Join Date: September 28, 2005
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 6,465
I can't think of a way to clear a jam in an auto with one hand... I could re-load and I might be able to release the slide to chamber the next round... But how would you clear a jam?

I'd rather have a wheelgun in that situation.
azredhawk44 is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 11:32 AM   #4
AAshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 5, 2001
Posts: 379
You can usually clear a malfunction by snagging the rear sight on a belt, shoe or other item. Clearly not a task done quickly.

If you are planning on having a malfunction, a revolver is definately the way to go. When it comes to reloading one handed, I think I will take my chance with a semi-auto.
__________________
Play hard, shoot often, leave well worn guns!
AAshooter is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 12:06 PM   #5
The British Soldier
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 2005
Location: England...that green and pleasasnt land.
Posts: 295
Always a semi-auto pistol, I can't imagine ever wanting to pick up a revolver!
__________________
Mike

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains
And the women come out to cut up what remains
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.

Rudyard Kipling.
The British Soldier is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 12:07 PM   #6
Glock35JHP
Member
 
Join Date: November 9, 2005
Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
Posts: 89
Yeah the instuctor in my CHP class showed us how to clear it on your shoe if you can get on one knee. I've practiced dropping to one knee and clearing it many times. I'll have to try it on my belt.
__________________
"The great object is that every man be armed and everyone who is able may have a gun." Patrick Henry, in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the Constitution.

HK USP.40
Sig P239.357Sig
Mossberg 500 Cruiser
Rock River Arms Standard A2
Glock35JHP is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 12:36 PM   #7
model 25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 27, 2005
Location: out west
Posts: 892
I prefure the auto. If the fight goes till the revolver is dry and you need to reload your spare ammo carrier and haveing the cylinder open becomes an issue. sure you can swing open the cylinder and rub the ejector down your leg to get the empties out but you have to tuck the gun in your belt with the cylinder open to reload it.

Being able to do this under fire will be a good trick and speed loaders will be hard to line up with cylinder in this position. Single rounds will be fumbled and will take a long time to load into gun

If you try to reload with your bloody hand then you are filling the action with crap and you may not get the cylinder closed.


Autos with an American mag release, as long as you can get to the spare magazine with your good hand you should be able to hold the gun somewhere (between your legs, in your holster, under your other arm ect) to have the butt accesible to charge the gun. I hook the rear site on my belt and push straight down to rack the slide (keep your finger off the trigger )

25
model 25 is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 09:36 PM   #8
Boss Spearman
Registration in progress
 
Join Date: March 23, 2005
Posts: 319
For the average citizen, if the fight goes beyond emptying a revolver, you're probably in deeper than you can get out of in the first place.
Boss Spearman is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 09:40 PM   #9
gfen
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 3, 2005
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA
Posts: 817
But these are global citizens of the Internet, Boss, they're under siege by legions of terrorist zombies 'round every corner!
gfen is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 10:24 PM   #10
model 25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 27, 2005
Location: out west
Posts: 892
But these are global citizens of the Internet, Boss, they're under siege by legions of terrorist zombies 'round every corner!

No not under siege but a free man that can walk the planet and have confidence that under most conditions I can defend myself. That confidence has led to a great life for me as I come and go without fear that I can't handle what may come.

Yep I may get killed but it will be as a free man and not someone so inadaquate they fear to tread on what land God has given them. I am not a warrior or a wannabe I am just a proud American and happy I have the freedom to bear arms.

25
model 25 is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 11:13 PM   #11
Boss Spearman
Registration in progress
 
Join Date: March 23, 2005
Posts: 319
Now, myself, I have never ever seen a zombie in my life.....
Boss Spearman is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 11:29 PM   #12
Garand Illusion
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,278
Quote:
Yep I may get killed but it will be as a free man and not someone so inadaquate they fear to tread on what land God has given them
Many of us feel this way even when unarmed. A .45 will not take the place of a set of cojones ...
__________________
Lots of idiots in this forum. I think they must breed here. Enjoy!
Garand Illusion is offline  
Old November 29, 2005, 11:58 PM   #13
threefivesevenmag
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 8, 2005
Posts: 406
Wheelgun. I can fire it from any position and from odd positions of cover. Also, if you could in this situation...get away as quickly as possible with cover.
threefivesevenmag is offline  
Old November 30, 2005, 12:06 AM   #14
model 25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 27, 2005
Location: out west
Posts: 892
Many of us feel this way even when unarmed. A .45 will not take the place of a set of cojones ...

I better let you go you have suffered enough embarassment.

25

Last edited by model 25; November 30, 2005 at 12:45 AM.
model 25 is offline  
Old November 30, 2005, 04:03 AM   #15
pax
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2000
Location: In a state of flux
Posts: 7,520
It is not difficult to reload or to clear a semi-auto jam one handed. Even taking care of a double-feed isn't hard once you know how to do it.

If you don't know how to do it, get yourself to a good class to learn. It's quite dangerous to try if you don't know what you're doing.

Oh, original question? You're best off with whichever weapon you're most familiar with, but have to add that if you're going to be working one handed, I think it's considerably better to have a gun that'll shoot more rounds before you have to do a reload.

pax
__________________
Kathy Jackson
My personal website: Cornered Cat
pax is offline  
Old November 30, 2005, 10:58 AM   #16
Pistolenschutze
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 243
I can only say that the weapons I actually keep loaded in-house for home-defense (with the exception of a shotgun) are all revolvers with speedloaders as backup. A revolver, as I see it, has several distinct advantages in that particular scenerio. First, virtually absolute reliability; second, no safeties or slide racking to worry about when your head might not be entirely clear; and third, no springs under constant compression for a weapon that may remain loaded and untouched for months at a time.
__________________
--Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt, tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt. (When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults.)
Pistolenschutze is offline  
Old November 30, 2005, 07:29 PM   #17
Dwight55
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 18, 2004
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,568
Ehh, there British Soldier, . . . gotta remember that them revolvers are just great for turning around and nailing up wanted posters, . . . and in a pinch, you can use that .45 Colt to re-set the nails in a loose horse shoe.

Beyond that, . . . make mine 1911 in .45 ACP flavor, 8 in the mag, one in the tube, 2 spare 8 rd mags on the belt or in the pocket, . . . cocked & locked.

My 1911 is every bit as reliable as any wheel gun (more reliable than some I know of) and anyone who starts out with the "racking the slide", or "compressed springs" arguments, . . . need to take some simple classes in firearms.

Yes, . . . most people who don't care about their abilities, . . . will be better off with a revolver. But for those who are willing to take some time to become more familiar with their firearm, . . . do a little practice, . . . spend some time on the range, . . . maybe do a little IDPA shooting, . . . the auto is by far the superior handgun.

Reloading a wheelgun with one hand is a no win situation, . . . with a 1911, it is a snap: thumb drops out empty mag, . . . place new mag between knees, between feet, in the front edge of a shallow drawer, wherever, . . . and get the grip over top of it. Slide the hand down so it is holding the mag and the grip, push down on any hard surface, . . . re-grip the weapon and punch the slide release, . . . voila, . . . reloaded. The beauty of the auto is it also allows you to do a tactical reload if you get the opportunity to do so.

Wheelguns do have their place, . . . but with the advances made by HK, Glock, Springfield, Sig, and a host of others, . . . wheelguns' real place may just be up on the mantle, in the hunting arena, in CAS and SASS, and in the history books.

May God bless,
Dwight
__________________
www.dwightsgunleather.com
If you can breathe, . . . thank God!
If you can read, . . . thank a teacher!
If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran!
Dwight55 is offline  
Old November 30, 2005, 08:34 PM   #18
Harley Quinn
Junior member
 
Join Date: August 30, 2005
Location: State of KALI
Posts: 1,531
Clearing is easy with one hand just need to practice...

I would go for the automatic in this day and age of many rounds and multiple magazines. No contest.

Clearing/reloading is something they teach today. Both right and left hand shooting is now in the order of training. Has been for quite a while. Some of the Depts have so many different pistols they are having problems that are worse than just the shooting of them. Quite time consuming and not something I think should be done.

One gun and one gun only is my thought. Go for the 40 S&W cal. In a good gun and stick with it. Smith or Sig would be my choice for LEO's. One or the other and I would go for the full size and the compact for off duty or not.
90% of the time most inner city guys and girls pack more than one gun when on duty, plus knives and other trick things.

I like my Glocks, but I would pick something else for LEO work. I would also make sure the people learn how to fire it without pressing the Mag disconnect. I would go back to the opposite hand protecting the bottom of the Mag. Some styles don't cover that important item.
MHO...
edit: There is an article in the new AR Mag about a 45 1911a1 sitting for 50 years with the gunloaded and magazine full. Fired flawlessly...
Good article.
Harley
Harley Quinn is offline  
Old November 30, 2005, 08:57 PM   #19
model 25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 27, 2005
Location: out west
Posts: 892
Revolver or automatic? doesn't really matter as long as you carry it in 22 LR. It's the only way to be sure. I got this from an expert so don't yell at me

25
model 25 is offline  
Old December 2, 2005, 06:40 PM   #20
tinkanting
Member
 
Join Date: April 17, 2005
Location: peoples republik of kalifornication
Posts: 84
wheelgun is the proper choice for me
tinkanting is offline  
Old December 2, 2005, 10:09 PM   #21
springmom
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 26, 2005
Location: Houston area
Posts: 1,823
darn, I am hopeless then

Quote:
Many of us feel this way even when unarmed. A .45 will not take the place of a set of cojones ...
However, brains trumps them ever time.

And now on to substance....

Quote:
I would rather have a revolver because you wouldn't have to rack the slide one-handed. You might be able to do it if you practied though
Yikes. THAT is one I never thought of. And of all things to consider, I certainly should have... I have occasional troubles working the slide on the Bersa and the XD-40 when my arthritis is bad. If somebody had actually (God forbid) SHOT one arm or hand and it was utterly useless.... there is NO way I could do it (safely). I can just see it now.... BG shoots me in the arm, and I end up shooting myself in the foot trying to insert another magazine....

THIS is going to take some rethinking, at least for concealed carry. At home, at the range, in the woods....different story, but the CCW???? Thanks for the food for thought.

Springmom
__________________
I will not be a victim

home on the web:
www.panagia-icons.net (my webpage)
www.nousfromspring.blogspot.com (Orthodoxy)

"I couldn't hear you. Stop firing the gun while you're talking!" Frank Drebin, The Naked Gun
springmom is offline  
Old December 3, 2005, 09:12 AM   #22
Jkwas
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 2005
Location: Mouth of the Rat, Florida
Posts: 1,778
For close in combat, like arms length, the snubnose revolver all the way. If I'm farther than that, I'm running away. And if I'm not, I'm shooting, then running away!
__________________
I grew up in New Jersey, but later moved to Florida and made a complete recovery.
Keltec: The BIC lighter of handguns
http://jkwasblog.blogspot.com/
Jkwas is offline  
Old December 3, 2005, 10:43 AM   #23
pax
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2000
Location: In a state of flux
Posts: 7,520
Quote:
Yikes. THAT is one I never thought of. And of all things to consider, I certainly should have... I have occasional troubles working the slide on the Bersa and the XD-40 when my arthritis is bad. If somebody had actually (God forbid) SHOT one arm or hand and it was utterly useless.... there is NO way I could do it (safely). I can just see it now.... BG shoots me in the arm, and I end up shooting myself in the foot trying to insert another magazine....
SpringMom ~

Don't panic yet. Get someone who knows how to do it safely to show you how to rack the slide one-handed. You might find that it is physically easier for you to manage than doing it the normal way.

pax
__________________
Kathy Jackson
My personal website: Cornered Cat
pax is offline  
Old December 4, 2005, 11:40 AM   #24
gb_in_ga
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 15, 2005
Location: Pensacola, Fl
Posts: 3,092
Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Autoloaders typically have greater capacity, and since 1 handed reloading is going to be a time consuming ordeal either way, that extra capacity could be a lifesaver. But, if you are weakening due to blood loss, and/or if you are having to use your weak side hand that most people just don't practice as much with, you may end up limp wristing. And if you manage to limp wrist yourself into a failure, clearing that failure will be another time consuming ordeal. Also, if you are having to shoot left handed and have a pistol that does not have ambidextrous controls, you are potentially faced with fumbling with those controls in a less than optimum manner.

Revolvers don't have the capacity of most autoloaders, therefore they will face the need for reloading sooner, and reloading speed will be compromised -- and most shooters (like myself), can't reload a revolver as fast as an autoloader even under the best conditions, even using speedloaders. OTOH, they are just not prone to limp wrist failures, or feeding failures at all, hence the need to clear them under adverse conditions like that is just not going to happen. And since revolvers have only 1 "control" to worry about in the first place and that one is only used when reloading, there is less fumbling around.

In summary, while you will have fewer shots available with a revolver, there is a higher probability that you will be able to use those shots effectively when using a revolver. Reloading speed will be severely compromised either way. With that in mind, and realizing that I'm talking about "typical" SD situations facing 1 or 2 BG's, not one of those "Zombie Army" fantasies, I'll opt for a wheelgun.
__________________
COME AND TAKE IT
http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/batgon.htm
Formerly lived in Ga, but now I'm back in Tx! Aaaand, now I'm off to Fla...
gb_in_ga is offline  
Old December 4, 2005, 12:52 PM   #25
axslingerW
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 8, 2005
Location: St. louis
Posts: 249
I'll take my auto. I practice reloading one handed, as well as shooting off hand. As far as racking the slide, I do that before I leave home. It locks open for reload, However I usually don't carry spare mags anyway. If 14 rounds isn't enough I will use them to get me to cover or distance to run away. As far as jamming, The chance of needing my pistol is slim to none, and the chance of it jamming at that one in a million time is about zero. I carry to be prepared, but I am not going to worry about it that much.
axslingerW is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.13072 seconds with 10 queries