Revolver Weekend
BY Herschel Smith
7 years, 10 months ago
Revolvers were in the news and commentary this weekend or recently. Sig Sauer has a new line of revolver ammunition called Sig Elite Performance V-Crown Revolver Ammunition. It’s nice to see manufacturers not forget about wheel guns.
Sam Hoober writing at Ammoland has a piece up advocating the .45 ACP revolver. Given the advantages of the revolver, which are: (a) reliability, (b) if enough time is available to run the gun in single action, the trigger pull is very light, (c) double action gun if it is needed, and (d) the pressure escape through the cylinder and forcing cone allows for much hotter loads than can be used inside semi-automatic pistols, thus giving higher muzzle velocity.
I’m not so sure about the idea of a .45 ACP revolver. I would use something like that only for inside-the-home shooting given its lower muzzle velocity.
Cheaper Than Dirt also has an interesting advocacy piece for wheel guns, where they observe the following.
A further advantage of the revolver is that the revolver can be placed against an opponent’s body and fired repeatedly as a contact weapon. The automatic pistol would jam after the first shot, tying up with blood or clothing material blown into the slide. It may also short cycle due to a less than perfect grip
I just happened to grab one of my wheel guns for shooting at the range this weekend.
I do love a good revolver.
On February 6, 2017 at 2:04 pm, Col. Douglas Mortimer said:
Nice. I and a semi-auto type of person, and I never saw the allure of a nice steel and wood wheel gun until the old lady got a S&W 36.
On February 7, 2017 at 9:22 pm, UNCLEELMO said:
Nice revolver, Herschel! I better look that one up. I love old Smith & Wessons, but I’m not too up on the newer models. (The newest one I own was made in ’72, I think.)
I have to admit stainless and wood make for a handsome combination. Thanks for the picture!
On February 7, 2017 at 11:09 pm, Herschel Smith said:
Ruger GP100 Match Champion. It’s as nice a .357 Magnum as I’ve ever shot. That said, S&W is still the undisputed king of wheel guns. I intend to trade up a S&W .357 magnum wheel gun for a S&W .44 magnum wheel gun so that the Alaska and Wyoming folks will stop making fun.
On February 8, 2017 at 6:36 am, UNCLEELMO said:
No wonder I couldn’t find it in a search! Thank you.
It sure had me fooled.
I wonder, would the Alaska and Wyoming folks laugh at a 41 Mag too?
On February 8, 2017 at 11:56 pm, TheAlaskan said:
Not if it was pointed at me.
On February 8, 2017 at 12:53 pm, Col. Douglas Mortimer said:
On a side note, my corner of Wyoming has a small black bear population, but I’ve never seen one out on my hundreds of miles worth of hiking. Lots of Moose though. Moose you need to give a wide berth as well.
If you live on the other side of the state where the Grizzlies are, carry a Ruger Alaskan in a chest rig perhaps…
Or a pump 12 gauge shotty.
On February 9, 2017 at 12:03 am, TheAlaskan said:
I carry mine under the left arm pit.
On February 9, 2017 at 10:14 am, Col. Douglas Mortimer said:
That works too! I have a shoulder holster for my M&P that I love to wear when hiking or camping.
On February 8, 2017 at 6:53 am, Louis Chapman said:
If i bought a new revolver, it would probably be .45 acp, if only to simplify my logistics. I already own a 1911, and that’s one less clambering to stock.
On February 8, 2017 at 11:40 pm, TheAlaskan said:
OK OK. I guess I wouldn’t mind having a 1911…again. But up here, it just isn’t a “bush” gun. Maybe if I lived in Anchorage…but I don’t. I hate Anchorage. I did once own an auto, two actually; a Colt commander 1911 and a Beretta 92sf. Sold ’em both. My go to handgun is a Ruger super-redhawk chambered in 44 mag or the Ruger Alaskan in 44 mag. I like the 44 mag because the rounds are available everywhere here in the bush…everywhere. And they have a wide range of factory loads. I have loads in 325gr…fucking hurt to shoot. Save them for bear medicine and only for the Alaskan….240gr for the redhawk. The Ruger’s are a heavy-framed revolver so they can handle all loads…and they leave no brass. Auto’s leave brass. Both guns are easy to conceal on account you are usually wearing a loose fitting coat (parka) or jacket. No permit required for concealed carry…car or person. My protection needs to handle that with four legs and that with two legs. Four-legged meanies are more likely for me, but I also carry for the two-legged kind. 44…make my day