Small Revolvers
When someone decides to get a self-defense firearm, obviously the first question is what kind of gun to get. Honestly, there really is no first choice. There are just too many variables as all people and all potential situations are different. There is one choice, though, that is usually the most recommended by many people who are familiar with guns - or those who say that they are - and that is some type of small double-action revolver.
Revolver means the gun has a cylinder that holds five or six cartridges. Double action means that the gun can be fired just by pulling the trigger. Most of these revolvers also have an external hammer than can be pulled back with the thumb, it's then "cocked," and the trigger pull will be much less because with the hammer back, the gun's mainspring (or hammer spring) is already compressed and the cylinder has been rotated into position. Using the trigger alone without touching the hammer, the trigger must compress that spring and also rotate the cylinder so that the falling hammer will ignite a new cartridge.
In a defensive situation, these guns are generally fired double action, which is why some of them have a covered hammer since the hammer is not likely to be needed and an exposed hammer can get caught on a pocket or inside a purse. These revolvers have small grips and barrels of about 2" in length. The vast majority fire the 38 Special cartridge. Some have heavier steel frames, others have much lighter alloy frames making them easier to carry but recoil is correspondingly greater.
Why are they popular? These little revolvers are easy to understand and use. Pushing or pulling (depending on the manufacturer) a small lever on the side of the frame lets the cylinder swing out of the frame, so it is easy to see if the gun is loaded, and it is easy to drop cartridges into the cylinder. These guns can be left loaded for years and still be picked up and fired. Unlike a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver does not require that the pressure generated from a fired cartridge to chamber the next cartridge. If a revolver's trigger is pulled and the cartridge does not fire, just pull the trigger again. The cylinder will turn to the next cartridge and the hammer will drop. No other manipulation of the gun is needed. Regardless of what you eventually end up carrying as your defensive firearm, if you start with something like a Smith & Wesson 5-shot 38 Special with a 2" barrel, you'll always find a use for it.
These revolvers do have a few shortcomings that should be recognized. Note that I say "recognized" and not shortcomings that should dismiss these guns out of hand (I have four of them, which should be recognized as a strong personal vote in favor of these guns). They can be relatively difficult to shoot well due to their usually heavy trigger pull when fired double action. Practice is important. While these guns are much more accurate than most people give them credit for, that heavy double action trigger means repeating that practice is important. They hold five or six rounds, and usually five because the Smith & Wesson models are so popular. The six shot small revolvers were most often made by Colt and are now collectible enough that they are not often found or carried. Since the five shot is most common, that means at about the time the gunfight gets interesting, the gun may need reloading. Swinging the cylinder out and pushing on the ejector rod leaves you with a cylinder full of empty cartridge cases as the ejector rod is not quite long enough to push them all out. This can be sometimes mitigated by how hard the ejector rod is struck, but plucking empties out is still a likelihood. Reloading is slow at best, even with accessories like "speedloaders." It's just not possible to empty five spent cartridges and get five new ones into a cylinder at the speed that one can grab an empty magazine out of a Glock 19 9mm semi-automatic pistol and shove in a full 15-round magazine.
The answer, as usual (and I realize I am beating the flies off a dead horse), is to take the little revolver and practice with it. Understand its limits but realize its potential. Since you have few cartridges, it is extremely important to make them count. Fight your way to cover if possible so you have protection while reloading. A giant advantage of these guns, especially those with a covered hammer, is that you can fire them right through a pocket or purse. Use that ability to your advantage. Get the gun running, surprise your adversary with good solid hits and get to safety. If you're likely to carry the Smith & Wesson while leaving some big, heavy semi-automatic pistol at home, then it's the revolver that has the potential to save your life. While there are most assuredly better pure combat handguns, a small 38 caliber revolver is a fine choice for a first handgun and will continue to be a trusted companion no matter what you eventually decide on as your primary carry gun.
Revolver means the gun has a cylinder that holds five or six cartridges. Double action means that the gun can be fired just by pulling the trigger. Most of these revolvers also have an external hammer than can be pulled back with the thumb, it's then "cocked," and the trigger pull will be much less because with the hammer back, the gun's mainspring (or hammer spring) is already compressed and the cylinder has been rotated into position. Using the trigger alone without touching the hammer, the trigger must compress that spring and also rotate the cylinder so that the falling hammer will ignite a new cartridge.
In a defensive situation, these guns are generally fired double action, which is why some of them have a covered hammer since the hammer is not likely to be needed and an exposed hammer can get caught on a pocket or inside a purse. These revolvers have small grips and barrels of about 2" in length. The vast majority fire the 38 Special cartridge. Some have heavier steel frames, others have much lighter alloy frames making them easier to carry but recoil is correspondingly greater.
Why are they popular? These little revolvers are easy to understand and use. Pushing or pulling (depending on the manufacturer) a small lever on the side of the frame lets the cylinder swing out of the frame, so it is easy to see if the gun is loaded, and it is easy to drop cartridges into the cylinder. These guns can be left loaded for years and still be picked up and fired. Unlike a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver does not require that the pressure generated from a fired cartridge to chamber the next cartridge. If a revolver's trigger is pulled and the cartridge does not fire, just pull the trigger again. The cylinder will turn to the next cartridge and the hammer will drop. No other manipulation of the gun is needed. Regardless of what you eventually end up carrying as your defensive firearm, if you start with something like a Smith & Wesson 5-shot 38 Special with a 2" barrel, you'll always find a use for it.
These revolvers do have a few shortcomings that should be recognized. Note that I say "recognized" and not shortcomings that should dismiss these guns out of hand (I have four of them, which should be recognized as a strong personal vote in favor of these guns). They can be relatively difficult to shoot well due to their usually heavy trigger pull when fired double action. Practice is important. While these guns are much more accurate than most people give them credit for, that heavy double action trigger means repeating that practice is important. They hold five or six rounds, and usually five because the Smith & Wesson models are so popular. The six shot small revolvers were most often made by Colt and are now collectible enough that they are not often found or carried. Since the five shot is most common, that means at about the time the gunfight gets interesting, the gun may need reloading. Swinging the cylinder out and pushing on the ejector rod leaves you with a cylinder full of empty cartridge cases as the ejector rod is not quite long enough to push them all out. This can be sometimes mitigated by how hard the ejector rod is struck, but plucking empties out is still a likelihood. Reloading is slow at best, even with accessories like "speedloaders." It's just not possible to empty five spent cartridges and get five new ones into a cylinder at the speed that one can grab an empty magazine out of a Glock 19 9mm semi-automatic pistol and shove in a full 15-round magazine.
The answer, as usual (and I realize I am beating the flies off a dead horse), is to take the little revolver and practice with it. Understand its limits but realize its potential. Since you have few cartridges, it is extremely important to make them count. Fight your way to cover if possible so you have protection while reloading. A giant advantage of these guns, especially those with a covered hammer, is that you can fire them right through a pocket or purse. Use that ability to your advantage. Get the gun running, surprise your adversary with good solid hits and get to safety. If you're likely to carry the Smith & Wesson while leaving some big, heavy semi-automatic pistol at home, then it's the revolver that has the potential to save your life. While there are most assuredly better pure combat handguns, a small 38 caliber revolver is a fine choice for a first handgun and will continue to be a trusted companion no matter what you eventually decide on as your primary carry gun.
Comments