By Grant Cunningham
The revolver is generally more reliable than an autoloader of similar quality. This isn’t to that malfunctions can’t occur with a revolver, only that they are less common. What malfunctions do occur are almost always a function of improper reloading technique or poor quality ammunition. A malfunction that needs clearing is quite rare. The most common problem, a failure to fire, is usually solved by stroking the trigger again and using better ammo. Another common malfunction is a case caught under the extractor, which renders the gun inoperative until fixed. It is prevented by proper reloading techniques.
There is a malfunction clearing process for the very rare instances not covered above, but needing to perform the drill is quite rare. Because of this inherent reliability, less training time is expended in malfunction drills, which means more for learning the important task of shooting.
A revolver doesn’t need just the right grip to keep it running; there are no “limp wrist” malfunctions with a wheelgun. Shooting from disadvantaged positions or while injured won’t stop the gun from operating.
During an actual defensive encounter, the revolver is more resistant to induced failures. The revolver isn’t jammed by clothing or incompletely ejected cases. With an autoloader, slight contact can actually slow the slide enough to induce a malfunction. That’s not an issue with the revolver, making it ideal for close-quarters defensive duties. The shrouded or concealed hammer models are about as immune to such problems as can be imagined.
It is also possible to fire a revolver from inside a pocket without fear of malfunction. Shooting the revolver from inside a purse holster is also doable. An autoloader wouldn’t be a reliable under those circumstances.
A revolver is easier to fit to the hand. An autoloader, even one of the few that feature interchangeable backstraps, is still limited by the dimensions of its magazine well. A revolver’s grip can be easily changed to be longer, shorter, deeper, shallower, wider or thinner. The angle at which the gun sits in the hand can even be altered on some models. In most cases it’s easy to make the revolver fit the hand perfectly.
One overlooked feature of the revolver is that it operates without ammunition. While I’m not a big proponent of extensive dry fire, the fact that the revolver is fully functional without ammo means that dry fire training is more useful than it is with an autoloader. There’s no interruption in the firing cycle, so trigger control is learned faster that if you had to stop to constantly rack a slide.
The revolver is not only less expensive to purchase, it’s less expensive to operate as well. The gun itself tends to be less expensive than an auto of equal quality, but that’s just the start. If you have a defensive autoloader, it’s imperative that you test its function with the ammunition you plan to carry. Recommendations vary but the most common is that you shoot 200 rounds of that ammunition through one gun. If you’ve priced ammunition lately you know how much that can cost.
With a revolver, you need to test your ammunition primarily to adjust the sights or to verify that the bullet impact matches your non-adjustable sights. A couple of cylinders are all that takes and you can then substitute cheaper practice or range ammo.
There are no expensive magazines to buy. If you shoot your autoloader a lot, most authorities recommend that you have a half-dozen magazines for that gun. That’s a lot of money and magazines are disposable parts: they wear out or can be damaged relatively easily. That’s an expense the revolver doesn’t have.
Speaking of magazines, on of my favorite revolver attributes is that there are none. Sometimes I go to the range with several guns and when I’m dealing with autoloaders, more than once I’ve forgotten to bring a magazine. The revolver doesn’t have that problem because the magazine is part and parcel of the gun. Even many years from now a revolver bought today will still be operational, while I’ve run into many autoloaders over the years that are missing their magazines.
I know I’m picking on the magazine issue, but another point is that it’s impossible to load rounds into a revolver backwards. I’ve seen more than one person load a round into a magazine backwards, and that causes a heck of a jam. Admittedly the incidence goes down with the familiarization but I remember one match I shot where a seasoned competitor loaded a round backwards into the middle of his magazine.
There is another advantage: should you need to pick your gun up from a table (or even the ground), the protruding cylinder makes a small gap between the gun and the surface on which it is resting. This makes it a bit easier to retrieve than an autoloader that rests flat on the surface. A small difference to be sure but one that could prove valuable in the event you must pick up yours in a hurry.
Many people say they pick a revolver because it’s easier to manipulate: no confusing buttons or levers, and a direct and unambiguous loading and unloading procedure. This makes it a superb choice for a home defense gun in those cases where one person is an enthusiast but his or her partner may not be. Any one can pick up a revolver and shoot it. For the overwhelming majority of double-action revolvers in circulation, all of the controls are in the same place and do pretty much the same thing. If you know how to run a Ruger, being handed a Smith & Wesson is not going to make you stop and scratch your head in confusion.
Since the revolver has a heavy trigger it’s more immune to adrenaline-induced accidental discharge. While most trainers (including me) stress that the finger should be outside of the triggerguard unless actually shooting, we must acknowledge that not everyone does this. In such hands, after being startled out of bed or in a stressful confrontation, it’s probably better that the gun require significant effort to shoot.
While many revolvers today have built-in locks, it’s a simple matter to lock up any revolver: simply open the cylinder and hook a padlock through the frame opening. If you have a long-shackle lock, you can even run it through one of the chambers. It’s a simple matter to lock the gun into something immovable, making it safe from accidents and from theft as well.
One benefit that doesn’t seem like a benefit is that the revolver isn’t an easy gun to master. I’ve said for many years that the revolver is the easiest gun to shoot but the hardest gun to shoot well. There is a personal satisfaction to shooting a revolver well, and it’s magnified when you can do it to the point that you can beat people who insist on using those newfangled self-shucking things.
I’m a partisan of the revolver yet the revolver isn’t right for every shooter or every application. First, there are those situations where capacity is important. The double-action revolver is a great tool for personal defense but the limited ammunition capacity makes it unsuitable for military use. While many people tout the revolver as being a good choice for those with limited upper-body strength, I’m not sure it’s always practical. Those people I’ve encountered who have strength issues with their arms or hands, such that they can’t operate an autoloading pistol, often lack the strength or range of movement to operate a revolver’s heavy double-action trigger. While gunsmithing can help this to some degree, I’ve observed many folks who just couldn’t handle the trigger weight. With proper technique those same people often were often able to use an autoloader and for them it was a better choice.
Revolvers aren’t well suited to the mounting and use of weapon lights. The presence of the ejector rod generally requires that the light be mounted very far forward where it is difficult to actuate with the hands in a shooting position. There are revolvers on the market with mounting rails near the muzzle but the ease of operation issues has limited their popularity.
A revolver does recoil more with any given level of cartridge power than an equivalent autoloader. There have been revolvers chambered in 9mm, for instance, and they display markedly more recoil than that same cartridge in an auto of equal weight. This is because there is no reciprocating slide and recoil spring to use up any of the recoil energy. With a revolver, it’s all transmitted straight into the shooter’s hands. For those who are recoil sensitive, or whose hand strength presents control issues, the revolver is much less pleasant to shoot.
By Dave Workman
Taurus introduced this awesome five-shot revolver in 2008, and it is gaining traction among people who want a close-range fight-stopper. Built from stainless steel with a matte finish, fiber optic front sight on the 3-inch barrel, it is a double-action wheelgun that chambers both .45 Colt cartridges and 3-inch magnum .410 shells. By no coincidence, I suspect, Federal Cartridge had just introduced a couple of Personal Defense .410 shotshell loads for use in a handgun—and this being the only .410 revolver around specifically designed for that purpose—it seemed like a good combination. One load fires a charge of No. 4 shot while the other is loaded with four 000 buckshot pellets. At close range, either round will make an immediate impression.
On the other hand, if this revolver is loaded with .45 Colt cartridges, it can put an abrupt end to a criminal attack. Some people load up with a shotshell and a .45 in alternating chambers, and my experience at the range involved shooting with just such a setup. This seems to be a smart way to load up. I noticed immediately how advantageous alternating rounds would be in the event of an emergency situation.
There are other models with 2 1⁄2-inch chambers for standard .410 shotshells that will still handle the .45 Colt round, in blue or matte stainless finish. There is one model made from Ultra-Lite alloy. Taurus offers the Tracker version with a 6 1⁄2-inch barrel, also in blue or matte stainless. Depending upon the model, guns weigh anywhere from 22.4 ounces to more than 36 ounces. One model has a very deeply blued finish, almost a royal blue/black that is one of the more handsome models in the line.
To my liking, Taurus has fitted The Judge with its famously comfortable ribbed rubber grip, and this really tames the recoil. This Ribber grip also fits the hand very well.
I loaded up and cut loose at targets from about seven yards, and the Judge held on target very well. The shot patterns it produced were convincing. Taurus cuts the barrel with six lands and grooves on a 1:12-inch twist on a couple of models, while others have smooth barrels with no rifling, according to the company website. According to Taurus publicity, this handgun was dubbed The Judge because several judges now carry it into the courtroom. This does not surprise me, considering the occasional tale one hears about a suspect going berserk in court. Taurus designed this gun with a transfer bar so that an accidental discharge if the revolver is dropped with the hammer down is virtually impossible.
The hammer is checkered for positive cocking while the trigger is smooth to allow for a gliding trigger stroke when shooting double action. A traditional thumb-type latch is located on the left side of the frame to release the cylinder. The rear sight is a notch on the frame, but the Judge is not designed for long-range target shooting, so the sight setup is quite adequate for its intended purpose.
The Judge is not awkward, and should be an easy firearm for even an amateur to master. For home defense, hiking or backpacking, roaming around in snake country, and even taking a grouse at close range, The Judge certainly has what it takes. Loaded up with .45 Colt loads and either soft lead or JHP bullets, this is one defense handgun that is a stout piece of defensive hardware.
DAVID B. PETERSEN /SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Historical Notes: This was introduced, in 1873, by Colt’s as one of the cartridges for its famous Peacemaker single-action revolver. Both the cartridge and the revolver were adopted by the U.S. Army, in 1875. This served as the official handgun cartridge of the Army, until 1892 (some 17 years), when it was replaced by the .38 Long Colt. The .45 Colt is one of the cartridges that helped civilize and settle the American West. It was originally a blackpowder number, loaded with 40 grains of FFg powder and a 255-grain lead bullet. Testing has demonstrated that muzzle velocity of the original loading almost certainly exceeded 900 fps in the original revolvers. Various importers offer excellent Italian-made replicas of the original Colt’s model, and Ruger and several other makes of more modern single-action revolvers are currently chambered in .45 Colt.
General Comments: This is one of the most famous American handgun cartridges and still a favorite with big-bore advocates. It is extremely accurate and has more knockdown and stopping power than nearly any common handgun cartridge, except the .44 Magnum. It is a popular field cartridge and can be safely handloaded to velocities in excess of 1000 fps with 250-grain cast bullets. Blackpowder revolvers should not be used with any load developing more than about 800 fps muzzle velocity. Although the .45 Colt has a larger case than the .45 Automatic or the .45 Auto-Rim, it is not quite as efficient with factory-duplicating loads using smokeless powder. Using special revolvers, some very heavy loads have been established for the .45 Colt case. These put it in almost the same class as the .44 Magnum. Such loads should not be attempted except by an experienced person who fully understands what he is doing and who will ensure that those loads are only used in a revolver that will withstand the pressures generated. This is another cartridge that has developed a rebirth of interest. Federal, Remington, Winchester, Black Hills Ammunition, CorBon, and others all offer .45 Colt loads.
Historical Notes: Though gun and load selection are somewhat limited, the .410-bore (12mm) is a perfectly good dove and quail chambering and can be argued to be the ideal small-game shell. A light, handy, .410-bore breech-break shotgun is a pleasure to carry on long hunts, and top three-inch loads deliver all the punch necessary to cleanly anchor rabbits and smaller species. Many use this diminutive chambering for breaking clay pigeons. Interestingly, it is possible to fire .410-bore shells in .45/70-chambered rifles. There are also a slug load and one in 000 Buck (a three-pellet load in the three-inch shell) as alternate home-defense rounds. The .410-bore follows the 12- and 20-gauge in popularity. Many young shooters have learned to shoot with a .410-bore, and that tradition continues. The .410-inch bore would be called 68-gauge.
