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October 11, 2009
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I was present at a very heated discussion on which is better if you only owned one handgun, auto or revolver. And of course all the old arguments for each came to light. Auto's are faster to reload, they carry more rounds etc. Revolvers are more versatile in the ammo they use. Especially .357's. More reliable, more accurate at longer ranges etc. Most of you have heard all of these comparisons. And each are viable. But the one thing that everyone seems to keep overlooking is an auto's magazine. I brought this up and the auto boys had to stop and think. If the magazine is lost or damaged in an auto it is at best a single shot. Where the revolver is totally self contained. Now this is a Survival SHTF situation only. So what are your opinions on this? I like a lot of you own several of both styles. But if you could only have one in the middle of "No Where" which would it be?
February 16, 2016
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We've all heard the old stories about the reliability of revolvers being vastly more than semiautos, but that's exactly what they are ... old stories. These days semiautos are so reliable it's really a moot point and becomes a personal preference or choice.
Possibly semi's run longer dirty than a revolver, before fouling causes operational issues. Regarding component failure, the highest by far is Springs and both firearms use them. Ammunition is probably more prolific in semiauto rounds than revolver, due to overwhelming public preference, LE and DoD contracts.
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Most old guys (and I'm one of them), or anybody who really spends time in remote areas (one of them also), will always look for a no clip/magazine option. Nothing worse than a single shot due to mag loss... or worse, no shot due to magazine disconnect.
And don't ask me why, but for a guy who has more than his share of 15's -- I always grab the W-12 for the woods--It's tough and reliable.
SHOOT
February 21, 2011
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Revolver because they don't jam if you fire them in a pocket!
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
February 16, 2016
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Anybody who carries a semi and does not have at least one spare magazine, has not thought things through ahead of time.
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May 2, 2009
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Stinger said
Anybody who carries a semi and does not have at least one spare magazine, has not thought things through ahead of time.
that leads to the "spare gun" debate 🙂
February 16, 2016
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SHOOTIST357 said
that leads to the "spare gun" debate
No, not really .. it leads us into the spare ammo debate. Who is not going to carry spare ammo? The magazine is just a convenient carrier for the extra semi ammo. How do the revolver guy's carry their extra ammo ?
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Stinger said
SHOOTIST357 said
that leads to the "spare gun" debateNo, not really .. it leads us into the spare ammo debate. Who is not going to carry spare ammo? The magazine is just a convenient carrier for the extra semi ammo. How do the revolver guy's carry their extra ammo ?
In that bad ass holster rig with belt loops 😉
SHOOT
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Only one handgun (I'm assuming the choices are among the handguns I currently own)?
Easy choice for me, and maybe not a popular one here:
S&W Model 59
DA/SA, 15+1 capacity in 9mm. a I have a couple of great holsters for different needs and a total of 6 magazines. This particular gun is 100% reliable, has the less commonly seen fully adjustable rear sight, maintains full function with minimal (often no?) cleaning. 9MM is widely available in many styles and types.
Guys, if you can lose a magazine, you might be capable of losing a gun
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
February 16, 2016
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Steve said
Guys, if you can lose a magazine, you might be capable of losing a gun
Quoted for the Truth !
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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For me it would be a 715 with a 4" barrel. Easy to carry, resistant to the elements, packs a good punch for stopping nasties, and nothing to really lose except the gun itself. As to extra ammo, speedloaders in belt packs.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
February 16, 2016
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Dantanna58 said
But if you could only have one in the middle of "No Where" which would it be?
Sorry, forgot to pick ... Glock G17.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I was actually thinking of "Favorite NOT DW" handgun topic, this one pretty much hit it for me, Thanks
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
March 25, 2008
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all reasons are right for the individual involved. that said I prefer the simple function of the revolver over the semi. as to caliber, that is personal preference, but if I am carrying for a safety reason I'll want enough poop to drop it in it's tracks, the revolver has more options than semis. I would think .357s and 44s are just as available as 9mm or 45acps anywhere you go. Dayton
August 29, 2009
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Answering the original question referring to a handgun....."if you could only have one in the middle of “No Where” which would it be?" This......
WITH my SBR Tax stamp so it looks like this..and of course a couple full ammo cans.
August 29, 2009
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Steve said
Only one handgun (I'm assuming the choices are among the handguns I currently own)?Easy choice for me, and maybe not a popular one here:
S&W Model 59
They certainly are popular over here in this corner. Gotta love those 1st-3rd Gen. S&W auto's. - they were some of the best ever made. They were a real workhorse of an auto. I searched for about 4 years for the right Tactical 9 and one came along just a couple weeks ago - I'm more than pleased with it. It even has the seldom seen adj. sights that aren't much larger than the original fixed sights, numbered box, paper and fired case as well. It's a real gem. Still waiting for the right 639 as well.
Here's also a nice article and reference guide on all the Gen. 1-3 models
http://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/guide-smith-wesson-semi-automatic-models/
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February 22, 2009
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kind of out of the box, but if I were in the middle of nowhere, there would probably be an ammo supply issue. I'd go with this:
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I am still searching for my preferred handgun. When I find it I may sell about a hundred other extra guns. Haha. Not. I do have several Revolvers that shoot Semi ammo with moon clips. My truck gun is a 9mm SP 101. I have about a dozen loaded moon clips with an assortment of rounds, mostly Hollow points with heavy bullets, in the carry bag the gun is in. And two holsters. One for pocket and one for belt. So, I solved the ammo /mag problem. That gun is just to give me time to reach the Keltec Sub 2000 in the door. I have a 9mm Taurus, a Colt 1917 and a DW 460 Rowland that also use moon clips. I also have a bunch of Semis that have a reputation for durability. I seem to have a fondness for all steel wondernineslike the S&W 59. Don't have one of them yet but probably will before long.
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May 2, 2009
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rwsem said
kind of out of the box, but if I were in the middle of nowhere, there would probably be an ammo supply issue. I'd go with this:
The kids and I take them on every camping trip and shoot the tin cans leftover from dinner. My youngest is deadly with his...
January 12, 2017
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If I could only have one, it would be the Glock 19. It is simple, proven, rugged, light weight and somewhat reasonable cost and replacement parts are inexpensive and available. For magazines, as another member pointed out, if you have a Semi, and don't have at least 1 spare mag, you really haven't thought things through.
Why 9mm? Its the most common cartridge in the world, used by just about every military and law enforcement agencies. Many of you will note, LE agencies are switching back from .40 S&W and 357 Sig to the 9mm. It's easier to be accurate with due to recoil reduction over the other caliber's, Ammo is widely available at a cost much less than the other 2. Bullet design has vastly improved the terminal ballistics of 9mm. Additionally, you typically get a few more rounds and a lighter overall package weight.
Additionally, I can field strip the 19 with one hand, I can't do that so easily with any of the other pistol. I do love my revolvers and see them as a great back up option. I believe their down fall would be if you were in the middle of the desert, they have too many moving parts and MIGHT be susceptible to dirt, sand preventing them from operating. I have no 1st hand knowledge of this, it is just a theory. Its much easier to strip a G-19 than it is to disassemble the action of a revolver.
Just my 2 cents.
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