The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - The inherrent superiority of the revolver

Jack Malloy · January 5, 2006, 10:45 AM

While either can have a problem revolvers are more reliable for one simple reason.
Look at how they operate.
Cylinder rotates, bolt locks into place, hammer fires. Repeat.

Now look at the bottomfeeder and count the actions
Firing pin falls and gun fires.
Gun unlocks as slide moves rearward.
Shell is extracted.
Shell is ejected.
New round is chambered as slide moves forward.
Gun locks into battery.
Repeat.

Now, compare that.
Rotate, lock up and fire.
Or
Fire, unlock, extract, eject, reload, lock up, fire.

Now, you do the math and you will figure out why the wheelgun is the real un and the bottom feeder is for the loss leader crowd.

Do we even have to go into things like stopping power and accuracy too?

If you have been followin' the stats on real world gunfights they have not changed much in something like thirty years, IE they happen at ten feet or less and are over after about three rounds are fired.
So, unless you have a J frame you can get into two gunfights a week before reloading.
Thats reality.

I like 1911s myself and I am sure they are great for shooting matches.
I carry a gun to shoot badguys in the event I get attacked not pepper plates on steel poles. The two things are ENTIRELY different.

January 5, 2006, 10:45 AM	#23
Jack Malloy Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2005 Posts: 791	While either can have a problem revolvers are more reliable for one simple reason. Look at how they operate. Cylinder rotates, bolt locks into place, hammer fires. Repeat. Now look at the bottomfeeder and count the actions Firing pin falls and gun fires. Gun unlocks as slide moves rearward. Shell is extracted. Shell is ejected. New round is chambered as slide moves forward. Gun locks into battery. Repeat. Now, compare that. Rotate, lock up and fire. Or Fire, unlock, extract, eject, reload, lock up, fire. Now, you do the math and you will figure out why the wheelgun is the real un and the bottom feeder is for the loss leader crowd. Do we even have to go into things like stopping power and accuracy too? If you have been followin' the stats on real world gunfights they have not changed much in something like thirty years, IE they happen at ten feet or less and are over after about three rounds are fired. So, unless you have a J frame you can get into two gunfights a week before reloading. Thats reality. I like 1911s myself and I am sure they are great for shooting matches. I carry a gun to shoot badguys in the event I get attacked not pepper plates on steel poles. The two things are ENTIRELY different.