Concealed Carry Corner: Pros of Revolvers and Semi-Auto Carry Guns

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week we talked about the carry guns of TFB. With so many writers carrying a concealed firearm, it was a fun list to throw together just to have various perspectives of the gun community. If you happened to miss that article and want to check it out, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to look at some of the positives when it comes to both semi-auto carry guns and revolvers.

So many people get stuck in one category and don't see the benefit of both weapon systems, to understand why one style may be better for someone than another. Both revolvers and semi-auto pistols can serve the role of a self defense pistol, but how do they differ? Let's take a look at some of the pros of revolvers and semi-auto carry guns.

Revolvers

When it comes to small compact carry guns, one of the first original handguns to carry was the snub nose revolver. These small revolvers were oftentimes cut down versions of larger service revolvers, but with modern machining and metallurgy, it's possible to have a pocket rocket 357 Magnum snub nose that weighs 13oz. With modern technology, it's hard to beat the weight of a revolver since there are fewer larger parts and the overall simplicity of the revolver design. The barrel is fixed so there's no worries about the gun malfunctioning from hitting the barrel on your threat. It's one of the easiest firearms to manipulate and fire if you're in a rush.

They may not be the best when it comes to shooting at distances, but up close, a small revolver is some of the most reliable and bulletproof carry guns around. You don't need a perfect grip when it's point blank and if you press the muzzle of a revolver into someone and pull the trigger, you won't have a single issue firing all 5 or 6 rounds into your target without worrying about your handgun malfunctioning. It may have a heavier trigger but a small snub nose revolver is a fantastic option if you want an incredibly rugged handgun that will go bang almost every time.

Semi-Auto Pistols

When it comes to carry guns, everyone is used to having their polymer 9mm pistols. It's become the gold standard in carrying for a few different reasons. They are often times more ergonomic and easier to shoot with a higher capacity. Some of these pistols like the Glock 43X or 48 can be carried with 15+1 capacity while being thinner and have less of a profile than something like a lightweight revolver. It's hard to argue with the massive capacity increase when it comes to semi-autos over a small revolver. Having triple or quadruple the capacity cannot be ignored here.

When carrying a concealed pistol, oftentimes it's not the length of a pistol but the overall thickness that can be a problem or create hotspots. These hotspots can wear your skin and start to become incredibly uncomfortable if given enough time. Having a thinner handgun with less of a footprint allows for a much more comfortable carrying experience, which ultimately leads to being able to carry longer without a ton of effort. When it comes to accessories, the semi-auto pistols have a massive advantage over something like a small snub nose revolver. When looking at attachments like red dot sights, weapon lights and lasers, it’s way easier to find options for semi-auto pistols than revolvers. Combine that with holster availability and semi-auto pistols are really your only option for people who want to carry with any sort of accessories on their gun.

Which One Fits You Best?

The biggest question is deciding whether or not one of these handguns is a better choice for you over the other. If you want consistency and enjoy having accessories on your gun, the easy choice is clearly a semi-auto pistol. For the vast majority of people, having a Glock 43X with a small light and red dot is absolutely perfect for them. I’ve seen some incredibly interesting arguments from people like Raul Martinez from Rogue Methods, who's a younger trainer with new methods, but still believes a revolver is a tool that is drastically under utilized as a tool to protect yourself.

I agree with Raul and think people often times write off revolvers too quickly because they seem antiquated to the people looking at their options. The heavier trigger on snub nose revolvers is sometimes a positive because you can throw them in your waistband or coat jacket with no holster in a tough spot. I would never do that with a semi-auto but feel comfortable throwing a double action revolver in my pocket and going on with my day. Look at the options you have and choose from there. Most will be fine with a semi-auto but revolvers have a distinct advantage, which just naturally works better for some than a semi-auto pistol.

Overall Thoughts

If you already have a semi-auto pistol and want to test out how things go with a revolver, I strongly encourage you to do that just to see how different they are from other options like the Glock 43 or 48 pistols. If you are looking at a first time handgun, the semi-auto options will always be easier to shoot with higher capacity and often times less felt recoil due to the slide recoiling and absorbing recoil over time. There's never a one answer solution for every situation and I hope people start to look at their life critically to see what kind of gun fits their needs best.

Let me know what you carry and what you prefer down in the comments below. If you have questions about revolvers or carry guns in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK