What am I missing by not owning a revolver?

Otis

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I had a K-17 Masterpiece as a kid and got bored with it (wish I still had it). Have been shopping around mostly out of boredom and I have halfway talked myself into getting a 586 357 magnum but then read about crooked barrel issues with Smith and Wessons, checked the price of 357 ammo, don't reload, and then kind of talked myself back out of revolvers.

I have a full size Glocks in 40 and 9mm and a 5.56 rifle...what is a 357 going to bring to the mix?
 
I shoot 38 special as my range loads in my .357. I also reload, but it's still a cheaper option if you buy it. I've just got a little Taurus 605 snubbie. It's a lot of fun. I carry mine for a fishing, hiking, woods gun.
 
You'll miss limp wristing, magazine failures, FTF, FTE, and more. Also, that Tap, Rack, Bang drill you practice, you'll eliminate the Tap and Rack and go directly to the bang. Revolvers are cool.
 
You're missing lower ammo capacity, slower reloads, extra weight, etc. Revolvers are cool but they pale in comparison to Glock, honestly. A nice hunting revolver or a larger caliber woods revolver are nice to have.
 
Revolvers are the Roses of the shooting world whereas Glock's are the pile of poop you accidentally step in and can't get off your shoe so it still stinks.
A good revolver is usually more accurate that any of the plastic pistols. The most common calibers being .22, 38 and 357 and every hardware store in America will have ammo. Revolvers don't jam and if you have a failure to fire due to bad ammo just pull the trigger to bring up a fresh round. Revolvers are usually more sturdy and less prone to parts breakage.
To me.... A revolver is easier to shoot and there's no need to wash your hands afterward...... they don't smell...
 
If you do buy a .357, get one with an L frame like you mentioned (586/686) or bigger, if you actually do decide to shoot .357 (versus just .38 spcl).
If I buy another it will be an N frame.
 
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Seriously though...outside of my .44 Mag that I'll someday take a deer with, all of my revolvers are purely an aesthetic choice. I like them, i shoot them well, to me they feel good in the hand, etc.

But as to utility, they're not better than a good semi-auto.
 
I have a Ruger Blackhawk which is one of my favorite firearms and one I am most accurate with . I enjoy the slower pace of loading/unloading and the look of a cowboy gun.
 
Honestly your not missing anything,
but cool is cool

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You'll miss limp wristing, magazine failures, FTF, FTE, and more. Also, that Tap, Rack, Bang drill you practice, you'll eliminate the Tap and Rack and go directly to the bang. Revolvers are cool.
Nailed it. Also you can do Dirty Harry impressions in the mirror. Dont limit yourself to S&W nothing wrong with a security six, GP100, SP101, or any Ruger for that matter. Hell get a Rossi or charter arms.
 
I carry a revlover and if i put two 357 in your chest did i do somthing less than a man with a glock putting two 9 40 or 45 in there? If there are multiple targets is the only time a revolver isnt the best choice.
 
Just go buy a revlover and a box o bullets. Then find out for yourself what you've been missing.
 
You're missing diversity. See, in order to prove that you are a tolerant gun owner you must allow guns of all types, colors and country of origin into your house. If you see that one type is over-represented you must seek out something different in order to avoid the appearance of bias.
 
You're missing diversity. See, in order to prove that you are a tolerant gun owner you must allow guns of all types, colors and country of origin into your house. If you see that one type is over-represented you must seek out something different in order to avoid the appearance of bias.
you also need to go down to the corner and buy something from the local street thug... so you can be a sanctuary home to an undocumented firearm. :D
 
There is something satisfying by occasionally throwing 357 down range and making plate racks fall with authority.

If you do get into reloading, you don't have to chase your brass all over the range.

You can't shoot .410 out of a semi-auto? :)

I've done basic safety/operational training for some utter noobs and it's always handy to have a wheelgun around to show them how they work and many end up preferring them because they're "easy".

I sold off my S&W 686+ and ended up keeping an old Taraus. Works well enough for my purposes and at 1 box a year through it, it will last forever.
 
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The main thing you are missing: big power possibilities.

A gun that can shoot bunny farts or loads that will put a deer on its ass!
 
I had a 38 special snubbie long ago, and will never forget how much energy it transferred to my wrist, like any small gun . so I say bigger and beefy has to be better. my arthritis will tell you different...
 
I felt that pain with my S&W 500mag 4". After 15 rounds, I was done with it. Forever.

I recall one day I woke up and decided that if I didn't get a 454 Casull TODAY that I would just curl up and die!! So I ran down to my LGS and before 10 am I was the proud owner of a Freedom Arms 454. I was sitting at the range by 11:00 and fired the first shot shortly after that. I had a little lunch around 11:45 or so and was back in my LGS before 12:30. Probably the shortest ownership period in history. However I did feel lighter when I left the weight of the gun AND my money behind. Thank you very much but I'll stick to the lowly 44 Mag and just learn to live with less....
 
When I was a LEO we were issued S&W 686's. Loved that gun and even used it in IPSC matches. I wouldn't mind having one again but not at today's prices. But for everyday carry, you can't beat a slim profile semi with more capacity. I carry a SHield 9mm with a 9round mag (Magguts installed) that hides under a t-shirt without a problem.
 
You're missing diversity. See, in order to prove that you are a tolerant gun owner you must allow guns of all types, colors and country of origin into your house. If you see that one type is over-represented you must seek out something different in order to avoid the appearance of bias.

...unless it is French. :rolleyes:
 
History! You're missing your piece of history.

Wheelguns always felt "right" to me, and I love to shoot 'em, but I own both and carry a semi auto.

Then again, I also own a BP blunderbuss, so that may take me out of the "valuable opinion" category...
 
Revolvers are the Roses of the shooting world whereas Glock's are the pile of poop you accidentally step in and can't get off your shoe so it still stinks.
A good revolver is usually more accurate that any of the plastic pistols. The most common calibers being .22, 38 and 357 and every hardware store in America will have ammo. Revolvers don't jam and if you have a failure to fire due to bad ammo just pull the trigger to bring up a fresh round. Revolvers are usually more sturdy and less prone to parts breakage.
To me.... A revolver is easier to shoot and there's no need to wash your hands afterward...... they don't smell...
You really are getting old, aren't you? :p
 
Call it misguided or whatever, but it's been a good indicator over the years...

If I see someone come out to shoot, and they bring a revolver or three, it gives me the impression that this person can probably shoot anything I put in their hand.
Had one guy come up with several wheelguns, and all of them were worked. Triggers, grips..smooth as buttah. Yah, turns out he has his FFL and Class 3 and has all kinds of suppressors, full autos etc.
But with all them high-speed toys, what does he bring?
A bunch of revolvers.

If someone offered to let me drive a new Stingray, or that cherry '68 Hemi Cuda, I'd probably choose the Cuda.
Revolvers are like the muscle cars of handguns. They have style, they have personality. The motor is in your face. They have few or no buttons. Just press the pedal and start jamming gears. It's raw and it's fun.

It's highly likely that you just might shoot a revolver better than your semi's. And that's when the revolver has you forever.
 
If you do buy a .357, get one with an L frame like you mentioned (586/686) or bigger, if you actually do decide to shoot .357 (versus just .38 spcl).
If I buy another it will be an N frame.
Yes, was also looking at the 27...thanks for validating the bigger frame! But then I think...why not .44 but I'll save that for another thread.
 
What are you missing? The beauty of Magnum pistol cartridges....they are AWESOME! To truly enjoy them you really need to reload though.
 
If someone offered to let me drive a new Stingray, or that cherry '68 Hemi Cuda, I'd probably choose the Cuda.
Revolvers are like the muscle cars of handguns. They have style, they have personality. The motor is in your face. They have few or no buttons. Just press the pedal and start jamming gears. It's raw and it's fun.

I was thinking along those lines but the words didn't sound so poetic and picturesque in my head.

It's highly likely that you just might shoot a revolver better than your semi's. And that's when the revolver has you forever.

This is the very thing that made me buy another 1911 this weekend after selling them all off...1911 also has me forever unfortunately...that trigger.
 
You'll miss limp wristing, magazine failures, FTF, FTE, and more. Also, that Tap, Rack, Bang drill you practice, you'll eliminate the Tap and Rack and go directly to the bang. Revolvers are cool.
Says the guy who carries a Glock 19 in his pocket.

but there's just something nice about owning a revolver. To be honest if I could only own one caliber it wouldn't be 9mm, it would be 357 mag.
 
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Was once in the same boat. Was in West Germany doing a 3 year tour and only took over my 1911 in .45 ACP and Coonan Model B .357 mag auto. Bought a dozen of CZ pistols, some Makarov's and a Luger P08. Missed the round gun. Went up to Munich and bought a Webley MkIV in .38 S&W. Later when I went home brought back my Smith M58 in .41 mag. Enjoyed shooting those wheelguns in the German Alps. Love my single action revolvers too. I learn to master the DA trigger and shoot those guns that way. Only thumb cock on SA guns only. Means I hunt using DA too. Another advantage revolvers have is when coming to loads. Mix full wadcutters, shotshells, WFN and JHP all in the same time and they all go BANG! I roam the swamps and keep first two chambers with shotshells.


CD
 
I learn to master the DA trigger and shoot those guns that way. Only thumb cock on SA guns only. Means I hunt using DA too.

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This guy gets it!!!
 
@James

You don't have your location listed, but I'm sure somebody near you would let you shoot some wheel guns to see what you think. I didn't own any until maybe 6 months ago, and now I have 5.

22LR
.357/.38
.45
.40
9mm
 
What am I missing by not owning a revolver?


Your man card!
 
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