I REALLY like semi-autos but I am unsure if they are reliable enough for self defence.?

Question

should i buy a revolver for self defence instead of a semi-auto because it would be more reliable, even though i really want the semi-auto

Answer 1

For concealed carry I would go auto-loader all the way. For home defense, where you may be in the dark and you just woke up and you have limited time to prepare and you are in an exposed position, I would choose a revolver not only for reliability, but also for simplicity. A revolver has no safety, no magazines, no slide release lever or other stuff. You pull the trigger and unless the gun is broken or the ammo is defective, you have lead in the air. With a semi auto.... is the magazine in? Has it been charged? Is the safety on? Does the hammer need to be ****** (assuming single action). The semi auto is probably reliable enough, my problem is complexity though.

To me, it is an ease of use under a very stressful situation with many things working against you... the revolver is just easier to use at a moments notice.

Others may talk about accuracy at 20 yards and tactical reloads and such..... neither seem important to me when the bad guy is only a few feet away. At that range, it is point and pull the trigger... not a target shooting match. And please, either he is dead, immobilized or running after your 6 or so shots from a revolver or he has already killed you and reloading won't help once you are dead. It is a fast pace, first shot off declared the winner type of situation. Not a competition shooting match or tactical training.

However... if you want an auto-loader still. A suggest a model 1911A1 from Rock Island Armory. You will find they are cheap, they are cheap because they are not so precisely made... they have a looser fit. This means they jam less normally. Although they are not as accurate as sometihng like a Kimber (I don't think accuracy is an issue for close range self defense) and they don't look as nice, they have been found to be more reliable.

Answer 2

It is true (for the most part) that a revolver is more reliable (less likely) to have an issue.

That is not to say that revolvers are 100% reliable. I ahve seen several "light strikes" come from revolvers, the timing of the cylinder is off, etc.

I have seen just about every weapon (type) malfunction at one point or another during a match.

I prefer the trigger pull of my semi auto (1911) to the pull of a revolver. I am more accurate with my semi auto than the revolver, and my re-loads are much quicker.

That being said, there are people at my club that are VERY accurate and fast with a revolver, and can re-load at a rate that would make a semi auto re-load think twice about the revolver

It is a personal choice. shoot what you shoot well. Make sure the weapon is always in a good state, clean after shooting, etc. If the weapon is a quality piece, you should not have an issue with either one,

Answer 3

Well here's an answer: With one up the "pipe" and the gun locked in safe, but hammer ******; you aren't going to jam. It's self defense and I would not leave my defense weapon in any other condition. In addition, I've got a self defense gun that has never jammed. As I did, if you spend the right amount of money, don't skimp on ammo or forget to clean the gun, good semi's don't often jam. I use a Colt 1911 .45acp at home and when travelling and I love the thing. (We can legally carry when travellling overnight or across two counties, so I wear in a horizontal shoulder under a jacket.) With good ammo, I never worry. I do keep a Ruger Black Hawk .44 on the other side of the bed so it doesn't matter which I grab. As for daily concealed carry, I use an H&K USP in 4.5" .45. You just have to find the right gun. Find a gun shop with a range.. Most will rent guns, or if you are truly going to "buy" they will often let you shoot a few. Find one that works for you and have some faith.

To make it all a little easier to think about, a revolver can misfire as easily as an auto with bad ammo and a jam is the least of your worries if the first round doesn't go off or in the right direction.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

In my opinion, most jams with a semi-auto are due to using the wrong ammo for the gun. Military designs such as the M1911 and the Beretta are intended to shoot round-nosed FMJ; the wider mouths of some hollow-points may not always feed smoothly in these guns. Law-enforcement models must reliably feed service HP ammo, otherwise they will be quite useless, and we would have already seen a mass reversion to the trusty revolver.

By the same reasoning I am not a fan of the semi-auto shotgun for defence - although the guns themselves are quite reliable, the basic shape of a shotshell lends itself to occasional "hang-ups" which the brute force of working the slide of a pump-action can more easily re-align into the chamber.

I wouldn't worry about keeping a semi-auto for defence - just test it with many different types of ammo and eliminate any that are not 100% accurate AND reliable. But then you should do this with any gun you choose for any purpose.

And to the chap who claims that one blast from a shotgun will blow the door off - have you tried this lately? Everytime I shoot a door I either get a pattern of pellet holes or one big hole in the centre. Perhaps there's something up with my buckshot?

Answer 5

Always operate on the KISS principle when it comes to betting your life on something (keep it simple stupid). A pump is far and away more reliable than a semi auto. Even filthy a pump will generally still function, although it make take more effort. A semi auto that gets dirty, may fail at any time. I bet that 60% of the time, when people brought their semi auto shotguns into the shop saying that "it just won't work right", or" it keeps jamming", I'd take it in the back, spend a half hour ********* it down and doing a detailed super cleaning on it, then test it and find that it worked flawlessly. Easiest $35.00 I ever made, especially when you multiply it by at least a dozen each hunting season. My personal home defense shotgun is, and will remain, a tried and true Pump! Shoot safe

Answer 6

Hey semi-autos are relaible to the point that almost every police department, all federal law enforcement, all the military, and millions of civilian gun owners trust them daily.

If you really want a semi-auto just make sure you buy a good high quaility one. You should have no problems.

Just make sure you test the ammo you plan on using for defence at the range before hand. Same goes for revolvers too.

Answer 7

You'll have more problem with ammo not firing then the gun jamming, just test the ammo you use and use good ammo for self defence. I buy bulk ammo to practice with but not good for self defence because a it doesn't always fire the first time. Clean your semi auto every now and then use good magazines and it shouldn't jam.

Answer 8

Semi autos are reliable but require more attention like cleaning n lubing, that's all. If you're that uncomfortable with a semi loader then you're better off with a revolver.

Best.

H

Answer 9

depends on the brand. I will never buy or trust another Smith & Wesson semi-auto. My first one jammed faithfully. I bought a Beretta 4 months on a trade in using the S&W.

Very trustworth. Springfield XDs, Berettas, Taurus, Ruger, Glocks, Sig, Kahr. Kimber, Para Ordinance.

Answer 10

I keep a basic .38 Detective Special for self defense. It'll never jam like a semi-auto can (hey, it happens from time to time) and If I can't deal with the situation in six shots or less, more bullets ain't gonna help.