Revolver or Pistol

[Mack The Knife]

Lets just say that all revolvers are pistols but not all pistols are revolvers.

I agree with the second half only.

[dev]

Ruger Blackhawk if you can find it in 45 long colt. My other preference would be a Beretta 92F but are we talking wishfully or real world? Mine is a wishful preference only. I hope not to offend any one.

Regards,

Dev

Jefe,

Incidentally, in a different topic, I happened to have said that a Manhurin is on my wish list.Korth is never out of consideration.Both are fantastic revolvers and very expensive and I like them in .357 magnum.After them, I would like to have a nice Ruger Blackhawk in .44 magnum.Did I mention, a Freedom Arms' .454 Casull with nice shiny buckhorn grips?


Best-Vikram

[jonahpach]

Heh heh heh got a good argument going here. (Hope some good samaritan clicks me more points) Now it looks like if somebody votes on the pistol it could also mean a revolver!

[Mack The Knife]

somebody votes on the pistol it could also mean a revolver!

I thank you.

Talk about being hoisted by one's on petard!

[horribleharshad]

Somewhere on the handguns magazine website, was an article I happened to read. It said that in a real life situation, most confrontations could be solved by firing less than 6 shots, ie. a cylinder of a revolver. So easy reloading doesn't figure too high on my list. I am assuming that a concealed carry weapon would be used for self defense.
So I'd choose a .32 pistol. A weird choice I know, but I'm a 5'6" guy and weigh just 56 kgs. I can't handle recoil and most double pull triggers would probably kill me. Also I don't relish having to cock the hammer for every shot in a single action revolver. Of course a .32 has not too much stopping power and I'm open to suggestions.But my contention is that it isn't actually necessary to shoot him dead as it is to scare him..... he's probaly not going to come after me as determinedly if he sees i'm armed........ clawed and fanged prey isn't often hunted.

[Vikram]

While the dictionaries say revolver a pistol with revolving chamber, look at what good ol' wikipedia says

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolver

A revolver is a multishot firearm, usually a handgun, in which the rounds are held in a revolving cylinder that rotates to fire them through a single barrel

.

Oxford dictionary says

noun a pistol with revolving chambers enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.[/

b]

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/or ... er?view=uk

What do I think of the nomenclature, I really don't care. Gimme both anyday and I keep on shooting them.

Best-
Uno Pistelero ( a colt.45 revolver shooting cowboy) ino Sano Antonio

[penpusher]

Oxford dictionary says

Quote: ? ? Select ?? Expand ?
noun a pistol with revolving chambers enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.[/

I rest my case

penpusher

[Grumpy]

Crumbs. Some hoary old chestnuts here. All handguns are pistols however some handguns are revolvers and some are pistols. In other words revolvers are pistols and pistols are pistols. The distinction only really exists in the UK and India it would seem as for some reason the British Government decided a long time ago that revolvers and ( semi-automatic ) pistols needed to be differentiated. The term `revolver` is a convenient abbreviation as the more accurate and original term was `revolving pistol`- note: PISTOL.
The term `gun` is also generally misused in Britain - and, it would seem again, in India. I was brought up to use the term `gun` only for shotguns - smoothbore - and field pieces. However that is a British convention as all firearms are guns and it was a universal description even in Britain until late in the 19th Century. Anything that fires a bullet, shell or pellet is a gun.
The convention that the hammer in a revolver should rest on an empty chamber in the interest of safety relates only to early revolvers. All commercially made revolvers ( for decades ) have hammer bars and if the hammer is down the pistol ( ! ) cannot be fired. That applies even if the gun ( ! ) is dropped or even if the hammer is hit with a hammer. When the hammer is down the gun is safe which is why modern revolvers have no separate safety catch and no need for a safety catch. You can mount a revolver in a vice and hit the hammer with a sledge hammer and all that will happen is that the ( revolvers` ) hammer will break.
The debate as to whether - if one could only have ONE handgun ( just to assuage your sensibilities Mack The Knife ) - it should be a revolver or a semi-auto has also raged for years but is easly answered when the question is precisely broken down. If you can only have one handgun and your life - whether for the purposes of hunting or self-defence ( defence against human or animal attackers ) has to depend upon it then the gun HAS to be a revolver.
Even the most reliable semi-auto can jam. The FBIs Tactical Response pistol ( initially developed and built by Les Baer with the contract currently held by Springfield armoury ) is a highly developed 1911A1 .45ACP designed for maximum reliability and ease of use ( effectively a Modified Class PP ) has to be used with specified ammunition. If ammunition other than that specified hard ball is used the pistol cannot be guaranteed reliable. In the real world where the ammunition used is what is available to buy a revolver offers maximum reliability.
For that reason any revolver that has to use half moon clips in order to function - ie/eg .45 ACP - has to be rejected as loading the clips is fiddly and time consuming.......and what happens when you`ve lost your last half-moon clip on the jungle floor ?
Calibre selection also enters the equation. When a reliable man-stopper is required the .357 mag is almost certainly the best choice. The use of heavier calibres provides difficulty both in the ability to get off a second ( or third, or fourth..... ) shot and with the sheer size of the gun........and - real world again - the availability of ammo.
The selection of which revolver is down to personal choice. I`ve had a Manurhin - an MR73 .357 mag - and rate it as the best revolver I ever owned. Beautifully made and accurate. The Korth is superb but offers nothing that the Manurhin doesn`t and costs a heck of a sight more.
If this debate is just a matter of personal preference - what handgun I`d like to own without the above criteria then I`d have a 1911A1 in .45 ACP. In fact, the FBI Tactical Resonse Pistol detailed above would do nicely - not fussed if it`s by Baer or Springfield.

[to_saptarshi]

Both Revolvers and Pistols have their own advantages though I support rajat's views and personally I will like to go for revolver and specially in Indian Context where I have no other than .32 as caliber choice and where my choices are limited between an IOF or old foreign make ones. At this scenario I will be definitely go for a revolver probably colt.32 Police Positive with 4'' Barrel

[pwm]

before Samuel Colt comes on the market with his produkt the more or less sophisticated predecessors was named in german "Drehpistole" what mean turnpistol, such very early revolver's make in the 16/17. century before

[antismuggler]

Hi folks !

I have voted for revolver though at present I dont have one,(but waiting) Its purely on the reasons stated in favour of revolver over here

Cheers
antismuggler

[Bhargav]

Anytime a semi auto pistol.

well one cannot ignore the power of .357 Magnum or a .44 Mag but still i like semi autos

[Aymen]

Pistol is good according to these times but the beauty of a revolver can't be relished with a pistol.

[TC]

Gentlemen, I love my two pistols but this is the one I just die to show off in my shoulder rig......this is the one that scares the hell out of people....and puts holes at 25 mt exactly where I want them to be

[Satpal_S]

Briefly, a Pistol is better overall if and only if:

It is maintained in pristine condition.
Reliable and fresh Ammo is available.
The shooter practices the loading/reloading/firing sequence at least 6-7 times a year(couple of magazines at least) .

Since these conditions are impossible in the Indian context, the obvious choice is a Revolver.

Elsewhere, as in the US. a pistol wins hands down.