Single-Action, Double-Action & Automatic Pistols

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 5/7/20 | J Dickson

[Tijeras_Slim]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUHZX7C_73o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWy1AiJ8lyE

A couple cowboy shooters who are pretty quick.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***The Colt Single Action Army (SAA) in .45 Long Colt (as opposed to the .45 Short Schofield) is the classic gun of the Old West.***

In one of the ironies of the Old West, the US cavalry used the .45 LONG Colt pistol as is. Then the Army tested the Schofield with used the .45 SHORT cartridge. It did not make the grade, but the Army continued using the Colt pistol with the short Schofield cartridge.

[Secret Agent Man]

Yeah that caught my eye too.

Like only in the movies does one bullet always incapacitate a person and you can just ‘move on to the next guy’ who hasn’t shot YOU yet.

[Hot Tabasco]

Ahh to smell the BS of an author. LOL

I'll take the advice of a known firearm professional and writer over the snobbish remark of a wannabe internet keyboard firearm expert any day.......LOL!

[Jack Black]

Yes, I agree too that, as you put it:

"A good auto is more reliable than a revolver, especially in dirty conditions. Note that I said a (good) auto."

Which is why every military in the world went to semi-autos starting in the early 20th century. Including the author's 1911 which was the year the U.S. Army adopted it to replace their revolvers.

But, what about a gun that isn't going to be used in mud-filled trench. I'd say that a new condition revolver is slightly more reliable than a new condition semi-auto, on average.

Every gun writer advises not using a new semi-auto for concealed carry until you've put a bunch of rounds through, usually a number between 100 and 500.

While it would be prudent to fire a box through a new S&W revolver, I've never heard of one that didn't go BANG! when you pulled the trigger every time when new.

The revolver "problems" he's discussing are what you see in 30 year old revolvers that have a lot of rounds through them, particularly magnum rounds. Yeah, they are machines, and like all other machines they wear out.

[old curmudgeon]

I had a “liberated” Luger after WWII and it was the worst, most unreliable weapon I have ever owned.

The Walther P-38 I had at the same time was far superior.

[leaning conservative]

Bkmk

[IronJack]

Before my canoe tipped over, I had a 92F Baretta. It was a fine pistol, but I had trouble finding mags that weren’t junk. With the right mag, it would shoot great. But at least every other mag I bought would feed improperly and it would stovepipe constantly.

[old curmudgeon]

And the S&W Model 28 can not be beat.

Who is this Jim Dixon? Credentials are everything.

[IronJack]

Just a reminder that with semi-autos, it’s not just the pistol itself that has to be reliable, but the components too. Even down to the bullets. A lot of autos don’t like semi-hollows or wadcutters.

[yarddog]

I changed my opinion around 1990. I was teaching skeet at a major Southern University. Our skeet range was on the old police shooting range.

Although they had a new one, the old one was still heavily used. Sometimes between classes, I would sit in the stands and watch various cop outfits requalify.

After just about every round of shooting, a cop would bring his disabled revolver to the rangemaster where it had to be cleared. It was usually something like an empty getting caught under the extractor star.

They were using what appeared to be S&W revolvers. After around a year they went to Glocks. I noticed there were far less malfunctions with the Glocks.

At this same time there were lots of used .38 revolvers at dealers. I bought an excellent Colt Official Police. It was the slickest, most accurate revolver one could want. Very close to perfection. Only cost $100.

[Magnum44]

Not to be picky, but its SEMI-auto, not automatic. Hard to read past the headline after that.

[treetopsandroofs]

Nice. :-)

[treetopsandroofs]

I never really got over the disappointment as a pre-teen when shooting my first “automatic”, and disovering I wasn’t going full auto down range.

[Jack Black]

One of my best friends has the Colt revolver he bought back in the early 1960s just out of high school. He just didn't have the extra cash to spring for the Python, so he got the Trooper - which is exactly the same internal works, but lacks the ribbed barrel.

It is a very fine action, "slick" would be a good word to describe it.

I used to hang out on the Smith & Wesson forum, and the term that is used for Colt's there is "off brand". Guy's would do a post saying: Hey, I got a nice off-brand! And then have a picture of a nickle plated Python that you knew they must have paid $2000. for. I always found that a cute term, and have taken to referring to Colt's as "off-brands" ever since.

For me they are. I have several S&W revolvers in various frame sizes and configurations, and one Ruger Blackhawk, but no Colt wheel guns.

[Jack Black]

My favorite "off-brand" revolver: the Colt Anaconda 6".

They don't make these anymore, or I'd probably have one.

I think Smith & Wesson's function great, and are lovely when appointed correctly. I may be influenced by Jerry Miculek, who explains why he prefers S&W on a few videos. (Yes, he's sponsored by them.)

But, I have to give Colt their due, they made the best looking double action revolvers ever, and they had some of the nicest finishes on their guns, too. The high-polish Stainless (that they put on some Anacondas and even some 1911s in the 1980s) was incredible.

b

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I...simply MUST...maintain my well earned reputation as a Nit Picker.

I simply aim to delight and make a giggle or two.

Oh! There's another!

"You've got to make a giggle or two."

Sometimes I crack myself up.

[Manly Warrior]

Sorry guys, but calling a “semi-automatic” pistol an “automatic” is completely correct.

However, calling any revolver, single or double action a “pistol” is a mis-characterization.

Pistols are either single shots, as in a Kentucky pistol( muzzleloader) or self-loading as in the Colt’s Automatic Model of 1911, etc.

[USS Alaska]

I've been shooting handguns for over 6 decades, both semi-autos {9mm & 45s} and revolvers, 22, 38, 45, 357 Magnums and I've never had a revolver fail {my guns are kept clean} but I have had multiple jams and ejection failures with semis.

I am not a pistol expert, but I have shot many thousands of rounds and strictly for reliability, I will take my S+W 357 Magum, over any of my semis.

For me, it's a matter of personal choice, if you bought the guns, use what ever you like the best.

[yarddog]

I have seen video of Miculek. Also once personally witnessed a Texas Ranger fire an 870 so fast that I would not have believed it had I not seen it. Even after seeing it I sometimes wonder if my memory is right.

I can’t do anything that fast. Not blink my eyes, tap my fingers or anything. It must be some kind of muscle memory.

Anyhow it is amazing.