My Revolver Rant, Come get some

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by Blackjack, Dec 13, 2006.


  1. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    Here goes,

    I've been feeling a bit undergunned for years now, my main carry pistol is a Colt King Cobra 357 mag revolver (stainless,4"bbl). I have been considering a couple options for an auto, the Beretta 90-two, and the 1911. BTW I'd like to thank all on the forum for their help and advice concerning a 1911 for me.

    Lately I've gone to the range and used a 1911 a couple times and have come to the inescapable conclusion that I am just not as good with it as I am my revolver and I don't believe I ever would be as good with it.

    So I've been agonizing over this for weeks now (I always overthink things), and reading lots of articles on "stopping power" and various handgun defense topics. I've run into two things that really stuck in my head.

    One:
    "For the first six rounds, there is no better handgun in a fight than the 357 double action revolver"

    Two: from an article by an ex-cop:
    "The 9mm isn’t ok. Tell the fellow who took four 9mm soft point bullets and still managed to inflict a nasty wound that remains with me to this day, and gives my face ‘character’.
    I once fired a single .45 caliber hardball round on the move, quickly, and the effect on the target, struck in the ribs, was immediate. All motion ceased - and he fully recovered within a few weeks.​
    On another occasion I suffered a failure to stop with a much vaunted .45 ACP 200 grain JHP very much in the vogue in the early 1980s, the darling of gunwriters. It penetrated two inches and expanded to a full one inch. Nice but ineffective. The second round produced compliance.​
    I observed the effect of the .357 Magnum 125 grain JHP once over the top of my own sights. The effect was gruesome. A solid hit that produced a severe blood flow AND dramatic exit effect from the rear, including lung tissue thrown perhaps three feet".



    There's also the "long" range accuracy factor. Firing my revolver single action, I'm confident at 25 yards or so on a head shot. I would never feel that confident with an auto.




    So I've decided to stick with my King Cobra. It may be old technology, but I'm convinced now that I am much deadlier with it than any other handgun. It may only hold 6 rounds, but I ought to be able to stop any confrontation in less than 6 rounds. I'll buy me a speedloader and begin practicing with it anyway though.



    Anybody disagree? Think that revolvers are inadequate? I'd like to hear what you've got to say.

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  2. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    IMHO Not a single thing wrong with a .357 wheel gun EXCEPT Muzzleblast .
    I've always heard of the specs claiming 95 or 98% ones shot stops (125 g.jhp). But I'd rather be deaf than dead...
    They are just not the latest whiz bang store bought solution, popularized by fiction and ipsc gun games.

    I much preferrred the 1911 .45 to the m9 beretta 9mm. Especialy when all we were alowed to carry was fmj ball.( hydra shocks helped but we could only carry them on strictly criminal operations, no combat use).
    The military switch to 9mm was purely political. so we could be more like(and resupply from ) our European Nato "buddies".)
    Get a speed loader, practice with your carry rounds , I'd love to have a 6"gp100 or an older 4" mdl19...
    Beware the man with one gun , who shoots it.[winkthumb][winkthumb][clp].

    I am real big fan of trying to separate real life from fantasy( tinfoil theories not included) If you can't solve a problem with 6 rounds of .357 ; Directly .substituting a .45 wouldn't make an appreciable difference.
     
  3. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I prefer a 1911 but that is just what I learned to shoot with. I have a number of wheel guns that I carry occassionally, my favorite being a stainless .357 Smith with a 2" barrel or my Colt Diamondback in .38. I used to have a Pythion that I loved but someone thought to steal it a few years back and I haven't replaced it yet but that's definatly on the list of things to do (anyone got a 4" Python for sale or trade?). The bottom line is to shoot what you are most comfortable with, a hit with a .38 out scores seven misses with a .45 every time. As an aside, even a pocket of rocks out-weighs an empty hand, so I usually got a .25 or a .22 somewhere in easy reach too.
     
  4. Tracy

    Tracy Insatiably Curious Moderator Founding Member

    No arguments from me, Blackjack!

    Betcha' never had it jam on ya' either[winkthumb]
     
  5. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    Never, not once in the 12 years or so I've been shooting with it.
     
  6. magnus392

    magnus392 Field Marshall Mags Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I am a fan of .45ACP :D I have heard a lot of good things about it from too many vets. Now if you want a faster round with a lighter bullet, why not look at .357sig, or .40S&W, or even the 10mm, or maybe .38super? You can even get the 10mm and .38super in the 1911 frame.
     
  7. TailorMadeHell

    TailorMadeHell Lurking Shadow Creature

    I'll watch the commentary then decide which to buy myself. [pop]
     
  8. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Ahh man you better sell it to me :sneaky:
     
  9. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Well Blackjack I am not going to disagree perse' but I wouldn't give up on the autos or even a 1911 from just a few trips to the range .

    The 1911 is one of the most highly personal "Customizeable" weapons one can own . If the trigger feels to long or too short you can swap it out yourself for as little as perhaps $20 , the mainpringhousing comes in two different configurations also "Flat and arched" changing from one to the other will change the feel of the weapon in your hand and the way you point it . If you were shooting a full sized Government model perhaps a shorter Commander would feel better in your hand or vice versa .
    One big differnece between the two that stands out is the fact that most revolvers have a hand filling grip where a 1911 is very slim with standard grips and many will get there trigger finger too far around the trigger , this can be corrected greatly by using hand filling grips such as Pachmyer signiture grips with a palm or thumb swell . http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=528314

    Another option for you might be a Double Action Only auto like a Berreta or a Ruger or perhaps something like the Taurus 24/7 with a SA trigger yet a hand filling grip similar to that of a revolver .

    Could it be that part of the problem is the sights ? Your King Cobra no doubt has a white outline rear and an orange front did the 1911's you tried have simple black target sights , or perhaps combat dots that you weren't familar with ?

    I personally consider the 357 to be the ultimate home defense round as a reload is very doubtful in the home however , on the street you just never know what you may face so I always take an auto as a car gun and will use as a Carry weapon once I get my CCW .

    If you ever get a 1911 and find yourself in need of help please PM me , I am by no means an expert but am getting pretty good at fixing minor problems with them both gun and ammo related .
     
  10. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    Thanks BigO01, I will remember the offer :)
     
  11. jim

    jim Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I like them both and would not feel undergunned with either. Go with what works for you.

    jim
     
  12. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Blackjack, stick with what you have confidence in. If you shoot that King Cobra better than you do auto's then stick with it. It works. You can always buy speed loaders and practice reloading. Look at Jerry Miculek. He got off six shoots, reloaded, then fired another six shots in a little over two seconds. While I personally am a 1911 guy all the way, I wouldn't hesitate to carry a .357 Magnum. If I find a good deal on a SP101 3 inch Ruger I might have to pick one up, I really like them. Don't worry about having to have an auto, or a 1911, shoot what you enjoy, what you like, and most importantly what you hit with. That is what counts.
     
  13. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    The single most important thing in any definsive firearm is that you hit what you are shooting at. A good hit from a .22 short dose a whole lot more damage to an attacker than 30 misses from a .50 BMG (smelly shorts not withstanding). So while I suspect that if you got a good semi auto and put as many rounds through it in practice as you have the wheel guns, I figure you could likely hit just as well with them but I find it rather unlikely that in a civilian defensive situation that you would ever need more than 3 or 4 good hit from a .357 to neutralize the situation and if you did then I suspect any of us needing them would be dead or dieing before we could shoot more than 6 targets since if we had to shoot them they are most likely trying to kill us at the same time. So to kill 6 others before you get killed you would basicly have to be 6 times better or luckier than the last guy you shoot at. I may be fairly good but doubt Im that good and know I aint that lucky.

    The only reason I am considering a semi auto for a carry gun is that its a lot easier to find smaller firearms for better concealment while still haveing a suitable cal in the autos.
     
  14. MbRodge

    MbRodge Monkey+++

    Buy one of those newer 7 shot .357 mag revolvers like the Taurus 617B2...if the first six shots don't drop the BG, use the seventh on yourself....'cause if you can't drop him with six .357 mag rounds you're fighting a freaking werewolf and you should have brought silver bullets to begin with. Better to end it than roam the streets at night slaughtering innocents.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" />
     
  15. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

     
  16. BigO01

    BigO01 Monkey+++ Founding Member

    HMM i have no idea what happened to the above post when I hit post it delete half of what I wrote LOL
     
  17. jim

    jim Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I don't know the lead for pistol rounds out to 50 yds, but up to 25, just aim at their leading edge.

    jim
     
  18. poacher

    poacher Monkey+++ Founding Member

    what are your reasons for wanting to move to a 45? if it's just an extra round then I'd say forget it. If you are wanting to move up to a larger cal. but not sure you want an auto how about a S&W 45 revolver? You get the best of both worlds and if you want fast reloads how about going with moon clips?
    Just a couple of thoughts from the Left field.
    Take care Be safe Poacher.
     
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