One of the more frequent questions I am asked as a firearms instructor is, “Should I buy a revolver or a semi-automatic pistol?” Both can be good choices… but what is right for you?
Revolvers are simple machines by nature, they rarely malfunction. You load them and pull the trigger, end of story. Revolvers normally don’t carry a large round capacity, usually 5-6 rounds in a typical .38/.357 offering. Revolvers tend to be loaded more slowly. Yes, there are exceptions to caliber, round count, etc., but you can use this as a general rule.
Semi-autoloading pistols often take on a slimmer profile, making it easier to carry and conceal, on one’s body. The round count of most semi-automatics is a bit higher. In many 9mm, .40 cal, .45 acp, etc. offerings, the pistol will hold 7-17, if not more, rounds of ammunition on hand. Add a magazine change and you are up to 34 +/- rounds. Semi-automatics can be finicky, need more maintenance, and can be particular about the ammo they will cycle.
Since statistics show that most gunfights occur at closer distances (let’s say inside of 15 feet) and seldom involve more than 2-3 rounds expended on average (the exception being law enforcement incidents where multiple officers are involved) one would be inclined to believe that a revolver will “get the job done.” If the average gunfight entails 3 rounds, shouldn’t my five round snub nose suffice? Are there times when 10-15 rounds would be nice to have on hand, just in case? Sure. So, how does one sift through all the statistical information and come up with an answer? But wait there’s more…
The question becomes what do I want vs. what do I need? From here on out, it becomes conjecture, an educated guess, a roll of the dice. What will your gunfight look like? No one can say. Any weapon available in a crisis is better than having no weapon at all, so now it becomes a discussion of how much inconvenience are you willing to go through in order to be prepared? In reality, a long gun of some sort would be the go to weapon in a gunfight, however it is not feasible to keep an AR-15 or a tactical shotgun slung in case of such an event. Enter the defensive pistol/revolver argument: How much gun do you want to lug around on a daily basis to be prepared for defending ones’ self and others? The smaller you go, the easier the gun is to carry but the less rounds it holds and the harder it becomes to shoot and manipulate. On the other hand, a larger pistol shoots better, carries more ammunition but is heavier and more difficult to conceal.
Semi-automatic pistols tend to be a bit more difficult to operate than revolvers and require some extended training in order to become proficient in their operation and manipulation. Revolvers are, indeed, simple but only slightly less training is usually required for a cylinder weapon. I find that many folks don’t want to invest the time, energy or money in seeking that training. This is a most serious mistake and I would strongly caution against it. I’ve heard too many times, folks say, “I’m just going to pick up a revolver and then I’ll be okay.” It is as if a revolver automatically trains the shooter in its usage because it is so simple. This is a dangerous trap in which to fall.
So, here we are, back where we started. Do I need a full size pistol that will hold 17 rounds? Is my five shot revolver enough in a fight? How much gun is too much gun? All are valid questions to which the answer lies in “what have you shot?” Have you trained with anything? Do you have any experience to compare it to? How will you dress? How will you carry your weapon? Try everything you can get your hands on before making a decision and remember, you can always start over, but to begin, again may prove quite expensive. Give me a shout and we’ll learn together and maybe save you some money along the way.
