Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
There are many ongoing arguments in the gun world. We have Glock vs. 1911, 9mm vs. .45 ACP, and revolver vs. semi-automatic. Which is better?
The arguments typically won’t end because the answer isn’t easy. It’s complicated and nuanced, and we live in a world where nuance is dismissed for more emotional reasoning. With that in mind, today, we will dig into the weeds and inject some nuance into the conversation.
Table of contents
First, we all need to understand the terms of the discussion and break down semi-autos and revolvers.
What’s a Semi-Automatic Handgun
A semi-auto, also known as an automatic or autoloader, is a weapon designed to fire one shot per trigger pull. Semi-automatic handguns feed from a box magazine and use a portion of the energy created from the fired cartridge to operate.
Most utilize a slide that reciprocates back and forth, which allows for the extraction, and ejection of the spent casing as well as loading the next cartridge and potentially cocking a hammer or resetting a striker. Semi-automatic handguns vary widely in size and design, with numerous variants falling under one umbrella.
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Semi-automatic handguns are popular across most use cases. There are semi-autos for hunting, concealed carry, duty, and various defensive uses. When selection is a criterion, semi-autos tend to be the more plentiful option.
What’s A Revolver
Revolvers gain their name from the revolving cylinder that houses the ammunition the gun uses to fire. Each cylinder has several chambers, each holding one round. The cylinder revolves to align a chamber with the barrel and fire the weapon.
The cylinders revolve by manipulating the trigger or the hammer. Revolvers are an older design with a long history. They come in various calibers, sizes, and capacities, but tend to be more limited in selection than semi-autos.
While revolvers are still popular in niches like concealed carry and hunting, they’ve fallen out of favor with police and military forces.
Which Is Easier to Use?
Most people trying to choose between a semi-automatic and a revolver will typically be new gun owners who will likely be trying to figure out which gun will be easier to use. Unfortunately, there isn’t always a clear answer. Let’s break down both systems and discuss the pros and cons of each.
The Revolver
Caleb Giddings, a revolver expert, created this ingenious horseshoe method to illustrate the simplicity and complication of a revolver. Revolvers offer some advantages that make them very easy to use. First, it’s easy to look at a revolver and see if it’s loaded.
The rims and cases will be apparent. It’s also very easy to unload a revolver and visually confirm that the weapon is unloaded. Without a magazine or separate chamber, there is much less risk of a faulty clear.
Revolvers also have simpler manuals of arms than semi-automatics. Most revolvers don’t have safety ties, and there is no need for a magazine release, decocker, or similar controls. It’s typically nothing more than a trigger and a cylinder release.
In most cases, malfunctions are easy to fix; just pull the trigger again. Revolvers’ simplicity makes them fairly easy to use, but there are some downsides.
The main downside for most shooters will be the heavier double-action triggers on modern revolvers. Mastering any double-action trigger takes some practice and effort.
Reloading a revolver takes more effort than an automatic. It requires more steps and practice to be fast and intuitive. You’ll also have to use a speed loader or speed strip to be anything close to fast.
Additionally, revolvers tend to have more pronounced recoil. The user absorbs all the rearward recoil energy, which gives a 9mm revolver more recoil than a 9mm handgun of similar size.
The Semi-Automatic
Semi-automatic handguns have some advantages that make them easier to use. The pros of the semi-automatic address the cons of the revolver. Namely, the weapons tend to be easier to reload and more intuitive.
Semi-automatic handguns utilize a removable magazine in nearly every modern gun. Reloading is as simple as removing the empty magazine and inserting a new magazine.
Handguns have softer recoil due to the reciprocating nature of the slide. The energy absorbed to operate the slide takes some perceived recoil out of the gun. Most semi-auto handguns offer a lighter trigger pull than revolvers, outside of DAO semi-autos, which are somewhat rare these days.
Semi-auto handguns also have their downsides. Namely, they are harder to unload and clear. It’s more complicated overall and requires more attention to detail to be done safely.
It’s also not immediately obvious if a semi-auto is loaded. They have an enclosed design, and their condition cannot be established safely at a glance.
They can also be more difficult for those with weaker hands, specifically when operating the slide. Clearing malfunctions can also be more difficult with an automatic than with a revolver.
The Reliability Argument
Many will claim a revolver is more reliable. Revolvers have fewer avenues to fail since they don’t rely on a magazine, a moving slide, or an operating system that relies on the cartridge. However, modern handguns and handgun ammo are extremely reliable and consistent.
Semi-autos have more points of failure, but that doesn’t mean they fail more often than revolvers. When a semi-auto fails, it tends to be easy to fix. When a revolver fails, it fails big, and parts break or become unscrewed.
The deciding factor in a reliability debate isn’t whether it’s a semi-auto or a revolver. The factor comes down to the quality of the manufacturer and the product they produce. Any comparison between revolvers and semi-autos needs to be an argument between specific models and manufacturers.
Capacity
Semi-automatic firearms will outclass revolvers as a whole. In most situations, a semi-automatic handgun’s magazine can hold anywhere from seven to 21 rounds in a flush-fitting design. Revolvers tend to tap out at six but can hold five or up to ten, depending on caliber and design.
Size Options
While both genres have a variety of sizes, the semi-auto handgun tends to have a greater breadth of size options. Semi-auto handguns include micro-sized pocket pistols, micro compacts, single stacks, compacts, full-sized, beyond full-sized, and more.
Revolvers have several size options, but don’t vary nearly as much as modern semi-autos. Most revolvers tend to be snub-nose guns, with a smattering of medium and large frame guns. This is where revolvers are most often used in a concealed carry role.
Revolver Vs. Semi-Automatic Accuracy
From a mechanical standpoint, there is likely very little difference in accuracy. The person behind the gun will more or less decide its real accuracy. However, there is a difference between the easier-to-shoot options for the average person and the advantages of both platforms.
Newer shooters will likely find a semi-auto easier to shoot. Semi-autos tend to have more intuitive sights than most modern double-action revolvers and often a lighter trigger pull. Less recoil also tends to help newer shooters overcome their fear of shooting.
Of course, single-action revolvers can also provide a very light trigger pull. Pair that with the fixed barrel design, and you have the potential for a very accurate firearm. Revolvers tend to house more accurate rounds, for whatever reason. Calibers like the .44 Special and .32 S&W Long are beloved for their accuracy.
If we dip our feet into the world of red dots, revolvers tend to have a distinct advantage. With a semi-auto, the red dot reciprocates with the slide, while with a revolver, it sits still. A still dot is easier to track and makes for faster follow-up shots.
Caliber Selection
Revolvers offer you a higher degree of caliber options. It’s easy to make a revolver that fires a round traditionally meant for automatics, but it’s quite difficult to make an automatic shoot a round designed for revolvers. That’s why 9mm revolvers are plenty common and easy to find.
Additionally, revolvers offer a great selection of projectile types. Since they lack feed ramps and remain stationary in the gun, the projectile’s shape and design won’t create any feeding issues. Wadcutters, semi-wadcutters, all-lead rounds, soft points, and more aren’t a problem in these guns.
Revolvers also offer a wider variety of cartridge use cases. They have everything from rimfire rounds to the mighty magnums. They can be used for self-defense or to hunt big game. While the semi-auto world has some magnum-level guns, they are somewhat rare, expensive, and tend to be ammo-picky.
Recoil and Control
Semi-autos are easier to control and have less recoil than most revolvers. However, this isn’t always true. Some blowback-operated guns, like the Walther PPK series, seemingly have more recoil than a .38 Special revolver.
While revolvers tend to have more recoil than automatics, they can be loaded with various cartridges and run reliably. This includes lower-recoil cartridges that would potentially cause a semi-auto to fail. There are ways to reduce revolver recoil, but it takes some careful planning and ballistic consideration.
Ultimately, the semi-auto will be the lower recoiling platform for a new user.
Concealment With Semi-Automatic or Revolver?
Semi-autos will offer you a wider variety of firearms aimed at concealed carry. Micro-sized pocket automatics and microcompacts are different in size but still concealable and easy to carry.
With revolvers, you’re largely limited to the compact frame guns. Most are snub-nose designs with barrels two inches or shorter, but there are some 3-inch variants in the compact world. We have the micro-sized NAA-style guns outside of those few guns, but those wouldn’t be my pick for a defensive revolver.
In terms of concealment, I don’t see a huge difference when you compare two similar-sized guns. The main advantage of automatics will be their ability to be a fair bit smaller and flatter than a revolver. Your method of concealment can make a fair bit of difference.
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I prefer to carry a small revolver in my pocket. The cylinder presses against my body, centering the gun in my pocket, making drawing easier.
Semi-autos are flatter for OWB carry and, to me, more comfortable for IWB carry.
There Is No Better
Semi-autos aren’t inherently better than revolvers, and revolvers aren’t inherently better than semi-autos. The end user must determine their needs and research which gun will fit them best. Some guns excel at certain roles, and it’s your job to determine which will excel for you.
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Travis Pike is a dedicated firearms writer, a Second Amendment Advocate, and a subject matter enthusiast for all things firearms. He is an amateur competitor with dreams of one day not coming in 4th place at a local defensive match. If he’s not putting text to word processor, he’s likely spending time with family, enjoying Florida’s Nature Coast, or drinking hipster beer. As the resident Florida man he has a preference for obscure guns and calibers.
Experience
- Hunter – Long time deer and hog hunter in the swamps of Florida
- Instructor – Volunteers to teach basic firearm safety classes to kids, adults, and cats
- Wannabe Competitor – Has recently dipped his toes into competitive shooting and has happily discovered an expensive hobby.
- Marine – Served five years with the infantry before transferring to the First Civ Div.
Great write-up! Really appreciate the balanced take — too often it’s just people yelling “Glock!” or “1911!” without nuance.
I’ve been on both sides of this debate myself. Started with a small revolver for simplicity, but eventually moved to a 1911-style semi-auto once I got more comfortable. I recently picked up the Girsan MC1911 Liberador II https://gritrsports.com/eaa-girsan-mc1911-liberador-ii-9mm-pistol-391053 and have been really impressed — great fit and finish for the price.
Definitely not saying it’s better than a revolver — just that modern 1911s in 9mm can be super manageable, even for newer shooters. At the end of the day, like you said, the “better” option depends entirely on who’s using it and why.
Where can I buy .32 long ammo?
And for matter 38-55 rifle ammo???
Travis, while your article is well done I believe you should refrain from reserving the term “handgun” to semi-auto pistol only, as we are on the impression reading your lines. I am sure I am not learning you anything and I am tempted to believe it is a “new tendency” in your editor’s world but you should resist.
Myself I prefer a strong revolver for the added power and to not leave brass behind. I chose to learn to live with a more cumbersome platform and it is doable.
Talking most generally on these issues, here: If a “new shooter” is that concerned (rattled, frightened) when learning to shoot, that the difference between a small revolver and a semi-auto causes them to essentially be unable to function safely, then they ought not to carry at all. That said, any/all “accidents” that I’ve seen and been involved with in my many LEO years, plus read about, have been with semi-autos, and nearly all from assuming/thinking they were unloaded, not knowing (how) to check for that, or simply forgetting to check for one reason or another. To the “more ammo with semi-autos” issue…yes, if you’re likely going to be in or expect to be in a firefight then maybe the semi plus extra mags is for you, but that’s not 95-percent of ordinary citizens wanting to carry some protection, just in case. If ever having to use their weapon, it’s going to be just one or maybe two shots…very few…that’s needed, and they’re not going to be able to chamber or remember (how) to chamber that first round, or to keep the safety on and then to take it off before firing. Again…most all people, most all situations…taking into consideration the other points of total operation. Therefore, I’ll argue/debate ’til the cows come home that the revolver is by far the better choice for the average citizen wanting some protection for them/their family just in case, both to learn with AND to carry…to feel more/most safe/secure with…and when/if the time comes to use it…not to over-simplify anything…but to just pull the trigger.
Not that a single action .22 LR revolver is ever a good carry choice but I have seen some in current production with a 12 round capacity.
I have fired a fine assortment of both semi-autos and revolver handguns for 60 years now for a variety of military, LE, business and pleasure. My bottom line is revolver for large game hunting and semi for everyday use. I like the piece of mind my large bore six plus inch barrelled revolver in a chest holster provides.
The Borchardt was the first semi auto that worked but was hardly “widely successful.” It was a clunker and the reason most examples of the 130 year old pistol are near pristine is because they were just unwieldy and not used much. The first widely successful auto pistol was the C96 Mauser “Broomhandle.” Soon to follow was the Mauser based on some of the Borchardt that is called the “Luger” where we have a gun identified by the man who developed the cartridges it fired rather than the model or manufacturer. Strangely, Mauser was tormented by it’s inability to produce semi auto rifles and Peter Paul Mauser lost an eye experimenting with a failed prototype.
I believe it is all a matter of personal preference .
One type does not fit all users , and I’ll not belittle ones
choice in the matter . The important thing is to keep those
rounds ” in the ten ring ” , and whatever weapon allows
a shooter to do it , that’s the way to go .