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In our previous blog we started up the age-old debate about which is better, revolvers or semi-autos. In previous decades, the choice was almost always revolvers. But there’s no doubt that semi-automatic pistols have gotten better. Still, that didn’t stop us from bringing up many scenarios in which we’d rather deal with a revolver and a speedloader instead of a semi-auto and a bunch of clips.
After all, when a gun gets muddy, it’s much easier to field-clean a revolver, especially since there are fewer moving parts to deal with. Plus, losing your clip means that the semi-auto is pretty much worthless. Losing a cylinder on a revolver isn’t really something that happens.
But those aren’t the only reasons we love our revolvers. Sure, we like shooting with semi-autos, but it’s hard to beat a revolver in the hand and a bunch of moon clips at the ready. Speaking of which…
Alright, here’s a difference between semi-auto and revolvers that really put revolvers ahead of the game.
Here’s the scenario: you’re out at the fishing hole and start shooting at a tin can with your Ruger LCR and a bunch of 9mm moon clips. You fire your rounds and reload. Where is your spent brass? All five fired casings are in your hand, ready to go in your pocket or tackle box so that you can take them home and reload with your bullet press.
Now let’s imagine you’re out shooting with a similar-sized yet semi-automatic Ruger, the LCP. After you fire your six shots, where are the casings? One went into the brush, two are lost in the rocks, one is in the water, and, oh good, you found two! (One got nicked when it hit the rocks, though.) Even if you don’t reload your own cartridges, you know that spent brass is worth something if only for the metal alone. In this case there’s no doubt that saving your casings gives a huge advantage to the revolver.
Revolvers are more likely to accommodate large rounds. After all, when most people think of a .44 Magnum, they’re not thinking about the Desert Eagle…they’re thinking of a S&W Model 29. Most people find the large caliber semi-autos to be impractical, and those big-grain rounds are almost always found in revolvers.
No doubt about it, semi-automatic pistols are more picky about bad ammo. Mispress a reload? You might get a jam. Choose a round that isn’t powerful enough to kick the slide back? Hope you like pulling it back yourself. Choose a round that’s too powerful? You’re semi-auto might suffer undue wear and tear. Oh, and you’d better choose carts with the right bullet geometry or the feed might get screwed up.
Revolvers, on the other hand, will shoot just about anything that fits in the cylinder. While you don’t want to be putting anything too powerful in a smaller frame (even if it fits), they’re simply much more forgiving of the bullets that end up going down the barrel.
Like we said, revolvers are pretty accommodating when it comes to ammo. Since they were invented, people have been trying to get the wrong ammo to shoot in their revolvers. “I wonder if I can reload this .410 shell to shoot in my .44?” Don’t. Just don’t.
But for every cartridge/bullet combination that doesn’t work, there are those that were made in heaven. If you have a 9mm revolver and have rimless ammo for your 9mm semi-auto, just buy some 9mm moon clips and you’re ready to go.
One of the most fun aspects of a revolver is to mix the rounds. If you’re comparing six different types of rounds, you can get all six into your revolver at once. Take the Smith & Wesson Governor, for instance. We have both six-shot full moon clips and 2-shot moon clips so that you can reload it quickly with any combination of .45 ACP, .45 Colt, or .410 2 ½” shotgun shells. Try doing that with a semi-auto! (Actually, don’t try doing that!)
Look at that, five more reasons we love revolvers and we’re still not done! Looks like you’d better come back one last time to find out why revolvers prevail.
