Are Revolvers A Liability?

in Authors, Handguns, Revolvers, Robert Sadowski
are revolvers good for EDC

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Revolvers are not a liability. Revolvers have been and always will be an excellent option for concealed carry. I know what you are thinking, so I’ll caveat my statement by saying that a revolver is on a fixed budget for ammo capacity. Especially compared to some 9mm semi-automatic handguns that gorge on extended-capacity magazines. Being on a fixed budget or a fixed number of rounds is not necessarily bad. It’s good to be frugal with money and ammo. Make every shot count, right?

Rounds Count In Self Defense

Depending on the data you look at the average gunfight happens from 3 to 10 yards away with 3 to 6 rounds fired in a matter of seconds. With a 5-, 6- or 7-shot revolver, you have the ammo to get the job done. Certain malls and big box stores have 40 to 100-yard-long aisles. That distance is best suited for rifles and it makes sense to maneuver away from the threat because your errant shot might not just puncture a couple bottles of Tide laundry detergent. You could accidentally hit bystanders. A revolver or semi-auto pistol is not a distance weapon.

Revolvers have a limited budget when it comes to ammo capacity.
Revolvers, unlike most 9mm striker fire pistols, are on a limited budget for ammo capacity.

Compact Revolvers Are Easy To Conceal

Let’s face it. We all like to do things the easy way. Large full-size semi-automatics can be large and heavy. There may be days when we decide not to rig up and instead go without our concealed carry gun. Carrying a lightweight snub nose revolver can be the way to go. Snub nose revolvers typically have a 2-inch or short barrel.

With a small snub nose it doesn’t matter what type of clothing you are wearing–shorts and t-shirt in the heat of summer or heavy coats in the winter–a compact revolver can be dropped in a pocket easily if you are being lazy. Of course, even the smallest compact revolver will print in your back pocket, just like your cell phone, if you are wearing your skinny jeans.

Revolvers are an excellent choice for a concealed carry option.

Medium and large-frame revolvers with longer barrels require a holster. I carry larger format revolvers for defense in areas where there are no sidewalks, ATMs, or coffee shops on every block. Large revolvers in serious calibers, like the Ruger Redhawk, are good medicine against bears and other predators that don’t realize we humans are the apex predators.

Easier To Use

Draw, aim, squeeze, repeat. That is how easy it is to use a revolver. Revolvers have no parts to lose like a magazine dropping on the floor or in the snow or grass. There are no manual safeties to think about on the draw. There are no de-cockers, magazine release buttons, or slide stops to think about. The controls on a revolver are simple, just a trigger and cylinder latch.

Hammerless Revolvers Are Snag Free

Hammerless revolvers are typically Double Action Only (DAO). A press of the trigger fires the gun, you can’t thumb back the hammer and fire it single action. The hammer is enclosed inside the revolver’s frame on hammerless revolver designs like the Ruger LCR, Smith & Wesson Models 442 and 642 guns, Kimber K6, and Charter Arms Off Duty series. Taurus bobs the hammer spur on the Model 856 and Ruger does the same as some of the SP101 models.

The lack of a hammer spur makes it easy to draw from cover. You can also easily fire a hammerless revolver from inside a jacket or coat pocket without the worry of the revolver hammer jamming up inside the pocket.

Drawing revolvers with exposed hammers from concealed cover can be tricky. You can place your thumb on the back edge of the hammer spur while you draw, and the movement is slick and fast. The hammer spur can act like a fish hook if you are not careful.

Revolvers Are Chambered In Powerful Calibers

357 magnum ammo offers a variety of load options
You can’t get much better loads choices with the 357 Magnum; power and proven effectiveness.

Small compact revolvers can chambered in calibers that are mousey like the 22 Magnum rimfire and range up to wrist cracking calibers like 357 Magnum. Some are also chambered in semi-auto calibers like 380 Auto and 9mm, which can make them convenient since they can share ammo as your semi-automatic pistols.

READ MORE: Complete Guide (More Or Less) to AR-15 Magazines

Revolver calibers like 41 Magnum, 44 Magnum, 45 Long Colt, 460 S&W Magnum and 500 S&W Magnum are best left for Hollywood or hunting applications. Powerful calibers like these are found in larger revolvers and can easily over penetrate and cause collateral damage. Of course they also make good trail guns in the deep woods.

Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag
Where there is no pavement revolvers chambered in 44 Magnum are effective on four-legged predators.

Perhaps the most perfect compact revolver caliber is the 357 Magnum since it is so versatile. You can shoot 38 Special through a 357 Magnum revolver so you train with low recoiling ammo and then load up with 357 Magnum rounds for everyday carry.

Revolvers Are Better in Close Up Gunfights

If a bad actor in on you, you can jam the barrel of a revolver against his body and fire. With a semi-automatic, extreme close quarters can cause the slide to go out of battery and not fire.

Good For Conceal Carry

Revolver makes an excellent conceal carry weapon and like any EDC weapon it requires training to be effective and proficient. There are reason why revolvers have been around this long.

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  • Karl July 23, 2024, 11:51 am

    As a revolver fan, I have to mention what I consider a better cartridge than the 357 Magnum. That cartridge is the two larger 32 caliber cartridges. While I prefer the 327 Federal Magnum (90% the power of a 357 with 70% of the recoil), the 32 H&R Magnum is also an excellent cartridge. It has more power than a 38 Special, usually has less recoil, and being a smaller diameter, allows at least six rounds in a cylinder to the larger caliber’s five rounds. Neither cartridge has gotten as much support as it should but with the new Ultimate Carry versions of the J frame, I hope to see more people realize the benefits of this cartridge.

  • DL June 29, 2024, 1:16 pm

    It’s not usually mentioned, but in those averages, like 3 shots, 3 seconds, 3 yards, the 3 shots are total–per incident–not just from the person on the defensive end. So the average number of shots used to stop a threat is even fewer.

  • Grumpy June 28, 2024, 1:37 pm

    As a “senior shooter”, found that a pistol is now a problem to shoot. First issue is racking the slide, and then is the issue of cleaning. A quality revolver is also the original “point and click” interface. Found that opening the cylinder to reload is also easier than loading a magazine. While even into my Sixties shooting a pistol was not a problem, arthritis in my Seventies is now a serious problem. At the other end of the “age” issue, is younger or new shooters. Revolvers are also a better option for those beginners.

  • Robert Uhl June 28, 2024, 9:21 am

    Everything stated above is largely true. However, some alterations in dress habits can allow carrying a full size weapon. An untucked shirt one size larger will cover a full size auto in a cross draw carry. I love my vintage S&W 37 but I’m happier carrying my P30L.

  • paul I'll call you what I want/1st Amendment June 26, 2024, 11:30 am

    I can go either way on this but I must say that i like the convenience of having 14rds in the gun and 3 extra 13 rd mags at the ready over 6 and a couple of speed loaders.

  • David Smithj June 25, 2024, 11:04 pm

    I have a S&W 638 that I like real well because it has a shrouded hammer for ease of draw and I can cock it for single-action shooting as I choose. Good article!

  • Jerry June 25, 2024, 7:21 pm

    Women alone are very likely targets and my advice to novice shooters is the small revolver with a trigger and hammer job for easy operation. My experience with women/girls/guys is knowledge/safety first, then operation of the firearm. S&W model 37 Air Waight Ladysmith seem to fill that need very nicely. However, they must be able to manually cock the hammer and manually pull the trigger (DA of course). Lots of revolvers have very strong springs and hard for novice shooters to operate properly. This is very important for novice shooters to fix that problem on a budget. Spring kits can be purchased very reasonable from WOLF, WILSON, and others if one looks for them. Hitting the target is a whole different scenario. Just remember that a person with a firearm for protection is in a much better situation than anyone without one. Good article, and thank you.

  • Especially cranky today June 24, 2024, 3:12 pm

    Oh goody here we go AGAIN….Hey Sadowski, how about for your next article you bring back 9mm vs 45…I’ve missed the 80s…and 90s and half of this century so far. Carry a fuckin gun you trained with…keep your eyes open…thats it. That’s all there is too it. Whatever that gun may be…and who ever Mr Ninja instructor said real cqc pros know the revolver is king?? BULLSHIT….in my worst nightmare it’s a 9 with as many rds as humanly possible. On a better day it’s an M4 with an ACOG, 12 mags and 12-15 of my MARPAT clad buddies with me wearing armor a black tip 30’06 couldnt punch thru. Ask me how I know….I’ve had more than my fair share of those days where bullets flying at us were real…. Thankfully never within our borders. Stop beating dead 🐎.

  • Mike in a Truck June 24, 2024, 1:14 pm

    Sometimes I carry a revolver other times it’s a semi automatic. Depends on the “mission”. These days I don’t argue with or debate handgun platforms. Everyone is an expert( meaning anyone that reads the latest gun magazine). And it’s become tiresome. But if a new shooter asks what to get I tell them: a 22 LR Revolver. Best quality he/ she can afford. Yes we endeavor to turn new shooters into SAS operators in 7 days or less. But remember when we were young? Warm autumn afternoons traipsing hill and yon with a 22? Why deny new shooters that FUN…and memories?

  • Jack Frost June 24, 2024, 11:25 am

    Yeah, rounds do count, 6 may be enough if there’s only one threat. Why would you assume that r round will cover any situation???

  • Craig June 24, 2024, 11:04 am

    Let us not forget that revolvers are much more ” environmentally friendly ” since they don’t litter the surrounding area with all those unsightly spent cases .

    • Jack Frost June 24, 2024, 11:28 am

      Yeah, rounds do count, 6 may be enough if there’s only one threat. Why would you assume that 6 rounds will cover any situation???
      SORRY ABOUT THE FAT FINGERS AT THE KEYBOARD

  • Ed. June 24, 2024, 7:50 am

    Very interesting and spot on for considering the revolver for self defense as a daily carry option. I have been teaching pistol craft as a martial art for over thirty years. My focus is on self defense and fighting. Street in your face fighting. almost all of my advanced clients over the years have started with modern semi auto magazine fed fighting guns. However as they trained and advanced to CQC most have adopted small revolvers as a daily carry for close quarter combat. The reasons are well stated in this article and they are real life true. Situational awareness and training is the key to staying safe. With proper training you have options and the gun is your last resort never your first. Please remember this. Developing skill sets designed specifically for self defense means that you have acquired layers of defense where the gun is a last ditch finish. All else has failed. To the trained CQC professional the revolver is King; worth its weight in gold.

    • Pete Baber June 24, 2024, 4:21 pm

      Agree, 35yrs experience in many dangerous places. SA is #1. S&W model 12 is my go to, model 60 situation specific. Most of the time even micro semi stays at home.

      I’ve had safety swiped on, mags dumped, and even one mag base disassembled during ground fighting.

      If things go south in spite of SA, and avoidance/de-escalation. A small revolver works every time.

  • Quinn June 24, 2024, 7:46 am

    First firearm ever fired was a 38 revolver

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