Semi-automatic vs. revolvers

The debate involving semi-auto vs revolver has been going on for a very long time. In my opinion; I think it's all about what either are used for.

The Revolver

The first revolver was created in the early 1800s by Samuel Colt, and they are still around today; they come in both Single Action and Double Action. Single action requires less trigger pull therefore making them easier to fire compared to double action. Revolvers have a lot of intricate parts and everything must align up perfectly for them to work, loading and unloading takes a bit of time. Police agencies across the nation used revolvers as they were the first pistols introduced to Law Enforcement. As crime increased, police agencies felt the need to match the fire power of criminals, semi-automatic pistols were already on the streets of America.

Most revolvers hold either 6 or 8 rounds of ammunition in their cylinder, and any additional ammo must be carried on a belt or some other type of carrying/loading device. Single action revolvers are loaded one round at a time usually from the right side of the cylinder, Double-action pistols ammunition can be loaded all at once by opening the cylinder and loading the ammunition. A speedloader can also be used with double action revolvers.

The Semi-Automatic

In the late 1800’s came the Semi-Automatic pistol. This pistol was created with the idea of more ammunition and quicker reloading. Semi-Auto pistols are Single-Double action guns. In my opinion, they are far more reliable than revolvers. They have less moving pieces, are easier to reload, and they can store more ammunition.

Many Law enforcement agencies adopted the Semi-Automatic pistol in the 1980’s. Semi-Automatic pistols have magazines that are removable, this is for quicker reloading. Some of these magazines can hold up to 17 rounds of ammunition and multiple magazines can be carried at once depending on the need; i.e. those in law enforcement, security work, target practice, or personal defense, etc.

What's right for you

Depending on your need will be a key factor in your decision in picking which one is better for you, both have their advantages. I myself will always pick the semi-automatic because of my work in the security field and my military experience. You'll definitely have to figure out your needs. Speak with individuals in your field of work or if you want something for everyday carry then seek out those individuals as well, but remember the final decision yours. You must be confident with your pick. Do your research!