SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR REVOLVER?

The Great Revolver vs Pistol Debate | The Marksman Indoor Shooting Range

SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR REVOLVER?

 

So you’re thinking of purchasing your first handgun. The question is whether to purchase a semi-automatic pistol or a revolver. Neither of them are considered better than the other, but it will be beneficial to educate yourself as to the benefits of each which will in turn help you make a decision that will be the best for you.

 

 

The Differences?

 

If you are totally new to handguns, you would first want to educate yourself in order to understand the basic differences between the revolver and semi-automatic.

 

The revolver got its name from the revolving cylinder that the cartridges are loaded into. The firing mechanism rotates the cylinder before each shot, and then positioning the next round in front of the hammer. Revolvers are available in both a single or double action. Single action means that pulling the trigger only engages the hammer to fire the single round. You will then need to manually cock the trigger again in order to fire the revolver again. On the double action model, pulling the trigger will both cock the hammer, advance the cylinder and then fire the round. Basically this means that when pulling the trigger all three actions are carried out.

 

Semi-automatic pistols are equipped with a magazine instead of a cylinder. Individual rounds are loaded into the magazine which is then inserted into the firearm. The slide is racked which will load a round into the chamber. A real plus is that when the magazine is in place, there is no constant thumbing of the hammer. You can effortlessly plink away until the magazine is empty. Each time the pistol fires, the next round automatically loads into the chamber.

 

Semi-autos share a common feature with revolvers in that both styles are available in single and double action variations. The single action has a positive feature in that the hammer isn’t manually cocked before every shot. Rather, the movement of the slide cocks the hammer. On the other hand, when firing a double action, as you pull the trigger this will both cock the hammer and fire the pistol. One thing to remember is that single action handguns generally have a shorter trigger pull which will make them easier to shoot, but it can also increase the chances of accidental discharges. However, a double action can be useful for those who conceal carry. It reduces the chance of the trigger getting caught and negligently discharging which reduces the risk of accidentally harming yourself.

One way that you can completely prevent negligent discharges is with the right holster. Using a custom made holster for your gun is a wise choice when considering safety. The holster can be made so that the trigger is completely covered, thus minimizing the chances of a negligent discharge.

 

 

And then there is the hybrid which allows for a single action firing option in addition to a double action firing option. With these, the firearm rests with the hammer uncocked. This means that while the gun is holstered, you will have the safety benefits of a longer trigger pull. After the first shot, it fires like a single action.

 

The last main type is striker fired handguns. These are self-described and use a striker, like a pin for the firing of the round. They do not have a hammer at all.

 

So you can see that when it comes to choosing your handgun they all have their own pros and cons. Each person will develop their own preference over time.

 

 

Capacity

 

Perhaps the major advantage of semi-automatic pistols over revolvers is the magazine capacity. The typical revolver will generally hold 6 rounds in its cylinder while the magazine of a semi-automatic pistol will typically hold somewhere between 7 and 15 rounds. Of course this will depend on the firearm as well. The smaller framed pistols which are popular to carry as concealed as possible will need to have a smaller magazine due to its size. The round or caliber that the pistol fires will also be a determining factor. Naturally you can fit more 9mm rounds in a magazine than you can .45 ACP rounds, as well as more .380 ACP rounds than you can when using .40 S&W. 

 

 

Simplicity

 

I guess you could say revolvers are simply mechanized apparatuses than the semi-automatic handguns. Naturally since they have fewer moving parts they will incur a lower risk of the firearm having malfunctioning issues.

 

Due to their simplicity, the revolvers are also easier to maintain. As a rule, cleaning a revolver only involves opening or removing the cylinder and using bore brushes to clean the barrel and cylinders. A quick wipe down of the rest and it’s good to go. Semi-automatic pistols have more moving parts and can require a bit more work. After removing the slide, the barrel, action and smaller parts have to then be removed and cleaned and then reassembled. Since there is a different process involved in cleaning each individual firearm, learning how to disassemble and reassemble your particular semi-automatic handgun is always a learning process and will usually require a bit of you-tubing!

 

 

Ammunition

 

You can purchase both revolvers and semi-automatic handguns in a variety of ammunition. Because many revolvers are heavy and built on a larger frame, the heftiness of their parts allows them to shoot the larger calibers and withstand more force. There are a few semi-autos that shoot the extra large rounds, like the .50 caliber Desert Eagle, but typically, if you’re wanting to shoot as large a round as possible, you’ll probably want to lean toward a .44 or a .357 magnum revolver. As with the gun style, your choice of caliber will come down to your personal preference as you consider the kind of firepower and recoil you will be comfortable with.

 

Of course reloading is generally easier with semi-automatic handguns. It is highly recommended to purchase a custom made magazine pouch to have your extras right there at your fingertips. Just release the empty magazine and pop in a loaded one. However, a revolver’s cylinder requires each chamber loaded one by one. There are speed loaders which help on the loading time but still seem cumbersome. The semi-auto pistol magazines have to be loaded by hand, and at times could be considered tedious as well but their benefits really shine in self-defense situations. The ability to quickly load a new mag is a huge advantage in carrying a semi-automatic pistol over a revolver. 

 

 

Shooting

 

Both types of handguns are a blast to shoot (no pun intended!). They both offer slightly different experiences though so you may consider collecting one or two of each to load up and carry with you to the range.