Three-Five-Seven….. Part III the “Showdown”

The "automatics vs revolvers" thing is an age--old debate that isn't going away anytime soon.  Before we start, I want to make it clear that AGAIN,  I do not consider myself an "expert"...only as one who has collected and SHOT for 40+ years.  As with Parts I & II.......THIS one is also "my opinion only."

I'm not totally "biased" against the "auto-pistol", as you can see.  Fact is, I LIKE them, and  enjoy shooting them whenever I get the chance.

Whether a Mark II in 22 caliber, or a big robust 45 like this Springfield 1911, I love gettin' out there in the "boonies" with an auto pistol, but I don't TRUST them enough to "carry" one.

Paper targets don't shoot back.....bad guys do......so RELIABILITY is the first thing I look at in a defensive weapon.  Malfunctions are a lot easier to deal with at the range, than they are when it's your life at stake!

While they are of more modern design than revolvers, they are also very complex, and a lot of things have to occur inside an auto pistol between shots.  TOO many things to suit ME, anyway.

You CAN reload a magazine in an auto-pistol, faster than you can reload a revolver from a speedloader, and its mechanical action cycles faster than the average shooter can hand-cycle his revolver.  But you never know for sure, what an automatic is going to do, shot-to-shot.

Autos are HEAVILY "ammo-dependent".  Doesn't  matter if you're shooting a $200,00 Jennings or a $1400.00 Kimber, the first time you have a cartridge that for whatever reason, doesn't want to feed up that chamber ramp.............

You're STOPPED!

An underpowered load might send the bullet on it's way, but not have enough left to throw the empty case clear......and there's that one factor that even if you HANDLOAD your own------there's no way to check------the PRIMER!  If this hasn't happened to you, it WILL, if your shoot often enough......Doesn't go "bang".......just "click"....nice firing pin hit on the primer----it just didn't go off!

You're STOPPED!

A jam or hang-up at the range is one thing.  You've got all day to clear it.  At 2 in the morning and a bad guy somewhere in the house, 2 or 3 SECONDS can be an eternity.

In a revolver, there's no chance of a cartridge failing to chamber.  They already ARE, and they don't eject until YOU swing the cylinder out and eject them MANUALLY .

And if that "failed primer" happens in a REVOLVER??------there's nothing to "clear"------you simply squeeze the trigger again......cylinder revolves to the next loaded chamber and,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Revolvers work well.  Very, very well.  Not really much to go wrong with one.

Ya might have 15 rounds in that Glock (if they all "travel-function" ok), opposed to the 6 in my Smith & Wesson.........

But in a Magnum-calibered revolver.......................ONE is sufficient.

.......Yes.....I own and enjoy my auto-pistols............

But on my nightstand............................and when I'm travelling........or just "carrying" around town, Boise, etc.......when there is no margin for "malfunctions" or any other "surprises"........

..............I stand solidly with the ones that go "round 'n' round!"

(stay tuned for Part IV, which will deal with "types and safety")