[Archie]

Short History lesson:

Until about 1975, all police officers and agencies carried revolvers. The military had semi-autos and a very few local departments had free-thinking policies, but revolvers were the mainstay.

The Practical Pistol Course, or Police Pistol Course was introduced in the early 1950s as a training and qualification course. It later developed into a competition format. Because an autopistol could reload so quickly with extra magazines, the FBI limited autopistols to one magazine. Obviously an artificial requirement, but it made sure revolvers would beat out autos in the general scheme of things.

Then Jeff Cooper struck. Probably the advocate of the autopistol in those days, Cooper started competitions 'free' from artificial rules, like only one magazine. Of course, he threw in his own artificialities, like a reload every other shot. Okay, not every other shot, but enough to where a revolver could not compete on an even basis. I think Cooper was originally trying to make a point. It got out of hand.

This tradition carries on in the 'thirty-round-burst' syndrome of IPSC and the emphasis on reloading mandated in IDPA. Even in modern PPC shooting, one may load no more than six rounds in a magazine - so every reload is from slide lock.

At some point, one of the major 'academies' may actual start concentrating on defensive use of the sidearm under real world conditions. That is, a preponderence of scenarios wherein a competent shooter could solve his problem with less than six rounds. (Take a look at how many hits are made in a typical self-defense shooting; not shots fired.) When that happens, a revolver will be every bit as suitable as an autopistol. As long as shooting schools presume IPSC or IDPA mirror reality, this won't happen.

If any shooting schools already have this mindset, my apologies to you. And a salute.