Single Action revolvers for self-defense?

[Love Life]

I wouldn’t laugh at a guy if he drew a single action revolver on me...

[rfd]

it's just a matter of speed of rate of fire and gun size - and yer comfort level with such a weapon. totally not my choice, but better than CCW a stick.with

[RogerDat]

Not surprising the number of people that say "better" than nothing and if your comfortable with it then use it. Seems simple to me in a flat out fire fight the SA is at a disadvantage in term of only one thing. Suppressing fire. Me I don't want to spray gunfire around for innocents to get hit by. I want to engage, and if warranted terminate a threat. 44 mag, 45 colt, even 357 mag can do that termination with efficiency. What is more in a dark house the cocking of a large single action is second only to the snick-snick of a pump shotgun to turning a bad guys bowels to water.

I'm pretty sure no one but a crazy person would come down the hallway toward our bedroom while we call 911 after hearing that loud revolver cocking. Crazy people might stop for a few 9mm hitting them or might not but the 45 was designed to put them on the ground 5 feet back from point of impact. Seems shall we say sufficient even for the cranked up crazy person deterrent.

[Walks]

A .45 Caliber 280gr SWC at 950fps or a .44 Caliber 265gr FP at 1000fps, makes a pretty good argument.

[Crash_Corrigan]

I wonder why that weapon was stored whilst not loaded? What is the point of having a firearm if it is not ready for instant use? They have these electronic boxes where you can store your gun and get to it in about 2 seconds. You can screw this box to the underside of the hall table and leave your favorite h==handgun loaded and ready for social discussions at all times.

[Crash_Corrigan]

The choice of a defense handgun gets more critical as you exposure to danger increases. We are living through some dangerous times down here on the Texas/Mexico border and we have begun to take the choice more seriously.

Gone are the days where you will be facing a punk kid with a knife looking to steal a few bucks for a fix. We are looking at groups of people doing home invasion robberies in the dark of night. You will hear a crash and have a gang of individual in your home.

In these circumstances the number of rounds you have available might well mean the difference between living and dying. Such events will be fast furious and over in a short time.

Last week we had a homeowner with a hangun kill three gang banger home invaders, just a few miles from where I live. Each dead thug was armed with a handgun and had multiple bullet wounds in his body. There is no handgun on earth that can be counted on to stop an adversary in their tracks with one shot unless the central nervous system is shut down.

I have retired my beloved 1911s (45 ACP) in favor of the Glock 17. The Glock have the soul and character of a chalking gun, but it is the best tool for the task. It is the ugly junk yard dog of defense pistols. That is why it is the most popular police/military handgun in the world. It just gets the job done.

I have a 17 round magazine in the pistol loaded with +P Golden Sabers and a loaded 32 rnd. mag. close at hand. The pistol also have night sights.

I detest Glock handguns, but it is what I want close by these days and times. I like rifles and shotguns, but the pistol is more likely to be in hand when the brown noxious stuff hits the fan. That is just the cruel truth and these things happen when least expected and without time to get something more effective. These days I am never more than a step away from the Glock.

I have some really nice classy SA and DA sixguns and some nice autopistols but when things turn serious I want the Glock. We would all like to think we are steely eyed gun fighters who can cock back the hammer, take careful aim and put the one round exactly where it needs to go to carry the day. But that is more romance, chest pounding and wishful thinking than reality.

I gotta agree there Car Gar. What works for me are handguns: Taurus 1911 .45 ACP with green tube sights, Browning Hi Power Model 35 Semi Auto pistol in 9 MM and using 15 rd meg gar magazines, Charter Arms Bulldog Pug .44 Special blued, no hammer spur very light and concealable 5 shots with two 6 rd speed strips in pocket, Smith & Wesson Model 57 in 41 Magnum caliber, 6 shots, recessed chambers, pinned barrel, target hammer and trigger with 4 inch barrel and orange insert front partridge sight on ramp on partially lugged barrell.

The 1911 comes out at night under a light jacket in a shoulder holster by Andrews Leather of Florida. The weak arm has a magazine carrier that holds 6 .45 acp mags and my Ka-Bar knife of small size. The Model 57 in a another Andrews Leather shoulder holster along with the Ka-Bar and 3 speedloaders filled with Remington GS 185 Gr sizzlers that move at about 1050 FPS. The Browning has a spring clip on the side so I can clip it onto a belt and carry IWB either strong side or crossdraw when driving. It also can fit into the 1911 holster but ammo is spotty here. The little .44 goes anywhere. I have two holsters for it. One is a combo ss/cross draw dealie which I kinda like the other is a very well done pancake holster by Simply Rugged Holsters. Either one provide concealability and decent access to this strong defensive calibred revolver. This is accompanied by two 6 rd speed strips carried in the right front trouser pocket.

[RGrosz]

When I got hired as a LEO in a small town pn Iowa, all I had was a 6" Ruger Blackhawk in 357. Never felt 'underguned'. Traded it for a Security Six w/ 5" that I still have. Wish I had the Blackhawk back too.
Rob

[RogerDat]

Still I think a 255 grain pill in RFN configuration delivered BMC will pretty much end that persons participation in a robbery. If the perps are persistent enough to not leave dragging the first wounded/dying one with them I would be somewhat surprised. Hallway to my bedroom isn't really that long unless I happen to be shooting down it. Then I imagine it looks like a tunnel to peak of Mt. Everest. And letting go with the bedroom shot gun sure ain't going to make it look shorter.

My area is fairly rural and while we do get home invasion type crimes once in awhile it isn't nearly as likely as some bone head trying to steal lead stash or lawn tractor from the shed. Pole barns are another popular target. Stealing where you ain't is just easier.

[rfd]

there's no question that a robust cartridge in an s/a revolver will get the job done with one shot. if that one shot is good one. i guess more firepower could be added by fanning the hammer. nah, that's all silliness. a d/a just makes more sense. some will argue that a 17 round pistol will make even more sense. this is all conjecture and the rubber meets the road out there in the real and sometimes wild and scary world ....

[Drm50]

I have a few handguns and tend to go DA revolver even though I use them in SA mode. At self
defense ranges I can point shoot anything I own well enough to solve the problem. you can chew
the fat all you want over caliber and model of gun and it don't proove anything. The main thing is
to have a top shelf pistol and learn to be proficient with it. How well you can shoot on range means
nothing when lead is flying. I see guys buying a lot of second rate **** to use for CCW. If you are
worried about your life buy something decent, buy something that is comfortable to carry. S&W,
Ruger, Colt or a good foreign make like Glock or Sig. If you want to carry brandX more power to
you, it's your choice. I don't want to carry a 3lb gun and if you aren't a above average shooter a
SA would be way down on my list.

[charlie b]

I do get tired of the 'one shot stop' proponents of larger calibers.

ANY bullet of ANY caliber that hits the proper spot with enough penetration will be a one shot stop on ANY perp all the time. 99% of the time that means a shot that stops the nervous system. It is not a body center of mass shot.

There have been one shot stops with .22 rimfire to the leg or arm of a perp. It all depends on the perp. A .45 does not mean you will get a one shot stop. You still have to hit a vital spot or the perp has to 'voluntarily' react to being shot.

FWIW, the .45 ACP came about due to military use of FMJ round nose ammo, not the self defense ammo of today. And they were still not one shot stops.

When you hit 'center of mass' you will inflict a wound that is probably terminal unless treated immediately. In some cases it is terminal even if treated. BUT, the perp may take many minutes to die. Many perps have continued to inflict harm on others after being dealt multiple, center of mass, terminal wounds.

This does not even consider if the attack is from more than one person.

In short, the most important part is the person using the gun under VERY stressing conditions.

[jmort]

A hit most anywhere with a .44 mag/.45 Colt/.460/.475/.500 from a single action will be decisive.

[charlie b]

That is just not true.

[dbmjr1]

I Open Carry for work, in a Small Gun Shop. On occasion I'm known to carry my Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt. It's an ornate revolver, with gold inlayed engraving.
Doesn't really matter what you carry, if'n you know how to use it.

[Dave W.]

In my opinion, it's what every you are comfortable with, proficient with and will carry. The latest whizzbang in some monster caliber does no good setting at home. nuf said.

[Chev. William]

Residing in California with all the Anti-Firearms and Anti-Self Defense Laws, Regulations, Rules, and Ordinances limits my "Self Defense" Capabilities Tremendously; however I did Vote the 'third option'.

My early training was with a M1911 45ACP and I was Fair to Good with it, later Qualified with it and a .38 Revolver.
Nowadays I am more comfortable and at home with a .30 M1 Carbine for my 'Self Defense at home' Firearm, along with my two dogs.
I am Hoping eventually California will return to Sanity so I am Sticking here to help with the 'Fight against the Creeping Socialistic Dictatorship' that current ly has its Grim on This, my Native home.

Chev. William

[RogerDat]

In the dark, under stress, at a target moving toward you. BMC is your only real target. Only question in my mind is how hard you going to hit that mass and with how much weight. I would use a DA with say .38 at 158 grains or 9mm at 124 grain as an acceptable choice but I'm reasonably certain the heavy 45 or 44 would be more effective in one shot. Now is that a guarantee of one shot DRT results? No it isn't. Does it guarantee a serious wound and major shock to the attacker? Yes I think it does. A 9mm might pass through like a nail. The 45 is more like getting hit with the hammer.

Fanning takes practice and is likely to damage the pistol. So one wouldn't want to practice. Without practice it would be an unfamiliar technique and so a poor choice of how to expend ammo in a critical situation.

[jmort]

If you use the SASS two handed technique, your rate of fire goes up significantly

[lazs]

There is actually a pretty good book called 'Street Stoppers' that takes police and coroners reports and says what works and in what percentage.. what it uses is 'one shot stops' they consider only shots in the 'vital' zones of chest or head. There is indeed a difference in caliber and velocity between the rounds. And yes.. unless you are using a .357 mag with a 125 grain HP... you are better off with the biggest caliber heaviest slug you can manage. Not many actual 44 mag or 45 Colt shootings (modern) were sited but.. no one ever returned fire from a chest hit from a 44 mag for instance.. they may have crawled 20 feet but they did not live and did not present a threat.. 9mm? not the same. Yes.. anything will work. a 25 auto you have on you is better than a 44 mag at home but.. reality is what it is. Exceptions to the rule are just that.....exceptions.

Yes.. 18 rounds in the mag and two more mags of 18 rounds you can load in 2 seconds tops is kinda cool but.. again.. ugly reality.. name one street confrontation between civilians that lasted more than 5 rounds. and no.. home invasion or pawn shop gunfights do not count. You are confronted by someone who means you harm for no reason other than he sees you as a victim. 5 rounds of 44 spl in a SAA will always do the job if you half way do yours.. If you don't? they will most likely just run away anyway.

lazs

[charlie b]

Since the book was published in 1996 I would agree with those statistics. IIRC some of that material was used to develop the FBI testing when they deviated from the 9mm.

From what I have read recently the new 9mm ammo now performs to the FBI standards imposed back in those days.

Now, if the authors could bring their data up to date it would be very helpful.