The gift that keeps on giving

[mmckee1952]

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I know this first hand, I gave my wife a Bersa 380 concealed carry for her birthday and she loves it.

 

[Taconista]

It also says you respect her and her ability to stand up for herself. What great husband you are. I certainly think that's a romantic thing to give a lady (and I am one).

 

[adatiowa]

Ladies.

Please be sure that a "revolver" is the best choice for YOU.

Advantages

- easy to clean
- less firearm handling skills (no slide racking etc.)
- minimal malfunction clearing ( you cannot technically clear the weapon and thus squeeze the trigger again and hope you don't have 5-6 total duds that don't go "boom" when you need it to)

Disadavantages

- EXTREMELY low round capacity (5-6 rounds compared to 6-19rounds for conceal carry of a Semi-Auto) With how many "50 cent" guys out there that can get shot 3, 5, 10+ times and still SURVIVE much less continue an attack, being mindful of just how much damage the human body can take is crucial.

Approximately 95% of those who do die from being shot is because of the SHOCK of being shot not the WOUND created itself...unless you hit the T-Zone chances of survival are very high!!!!

Also...good luck reloading a revolver compared to a semi auto when you have to keep in mind just a "few" of the flight/fight responses your body will undergo during a "life/death" self defense moment:
- Heart of 220+ beats per minute
- Corneas of the eyes flatten out causing depth perception issues (kind of need that in order to reload a revolver one round at a time or even speed load FIVE rounds into those tiny chambers)
- Body Tremors meaning that your shaking (even if not scared) as its the bodies way of releasing some of the effects of the adrenaline surge further reducing chances of reloading fast when desperately needed
- HAMMERS...external hammers tend to get caught on clothing during drawing from concealment (we don't advise on semi-autos with external hammers either) and when you have 1.5-2seconds to draw, acquire the threat and likely shoot for your life there is usually not enough time to do THAT much less fidget with revolver whose hammer just got stuck in your cashmere sweater.

Serious...external hammers are dangerous and the very FEW hammer-less revolvers available are simply to LIGHT of a gun thus increasing the uncomfortable recoil which is made worse when you have a Shorter Barrel and usually a hefty Caliber. All of that = this hurts to shoot and train which = not enough training to be good enough to stop a threat.

...some even end up keeping the gun at home because of the thought of how uncomfortable it is to shoot. Defeats purpose of conceal carry protection.

About the only good thing about revolvers is that the small frames make good BACK UP guns when your semi-auto malfunctions, full size make great home defense tools when a shotgun is not accessible or available and if your "uneducated" it does work best for purse carry...but we frown upon that based on the MANY flaws of purse carry.

In short...please purchase a pistol based on YOUR personal needs and comfort levels however keep in mind that the a Semi-Auto is best suited for a primary carry self defense weapon.

Learning how to rack a slide to reload, clear malfunctions is worth the training just so you can have a firearm that can hold LOTS of rounds potentially and has EXTREMELY easier reloading (drop empty slide in fresh magazine) ability while under the flight/fight response you WILL be in regardless of training or experience.

Hope this helped some of you.

***Considering Conceal Carry...check out the link below***

DONATIONS-SPONSORS

Its up until January 30th so take advantage while you can!

 

[BurgerBoy]

Congats on giving your wife a Bersa. They are great guns. I've had both and I'll take a hammer fired pistol any time over a revolver. I carried for 45 years and I've never had a hammer caught in my clothing and A SA shot is more accurate than a DA shot for me.

 

[Joan'sMom]

Quick reply about disadvantages of revolvers. Get a Smith & Wesson or Ruger with concealed hammer and nothing to snag. Also, they're little; carry two and you get at LEAST 10 reliable rounds. Plus if one gives you trouble, you have a backup. The ol' New York reload. Don't be too fast to put revolvers down. For some women, even a .22 revolver (usually with 8 or 9 rounds) is a LOT better than nothing!

 

[adatiowa]

As in my classes "I don't aim to upset people but I present the facts" and for those who love revolvers I am not here to change minds just reiterate the issues of it being your primary weapon for self defense.

I did mention that any gun will do if YOU will do in terms of training.

However, the clear cut disadvantages of a revolver and why as a professional and permit holder my primary will always be a semi-auto (for as long as we have the choice) with a good back up as a revolver.

Most can barely conceal carry ONE firearm much less trying to have two revolvers on them to ensure you have multiple rounds.

Those that take the short amount of time to learn (its always ongoing training required regardless of which you choose to perfect use) how to use a semi-auto reap the benefits of thus having little to no issue using a revolver...they same cannot be said the other way around.

In times of desperate need we always "hope" we will have access to our preferred weapon but it could be that we have instant access to another be it a semi-auto/revolver a knife a pen or even just a chair. Whatever it may be learning how to use all our surroundings and whatever is accessible as a tool for self defense is needed.

The OP asked about a specific caliber and as a professional who sleeps very well at night because of ALL the information I am able and willing to share based on my various Instructor Certifications I will not ever sugar coat facts because of personal opinion.

A revolver will do if I have access to nothing else but I for SELF DEFENSE purposes which is likely the case of the OP, type of pistol and caliber can make the difference of "stopping" or not stopping the threat.

Anyone claiming a 22 pistol is OK to carry for self defense is someone who is in a clear disadvantage as that is likely the same person that "thinks" there going to be top shots under high stress active shooter responses. Not likely, I'm sorry.

Professionally trained officers again have an 18% Nation Wide Hit rate in active shooter responses within 15ft...there is a REASON why they evolved from carrying a revolver to a semi-auto.

In truth they may go "looking for trouble" because that is their job as it once was mine however whether you look for it or it finds you the scenario you end up in is going to be similar!

You want a reliable pistol that has the ability to offer a large quantity of rounds, easy to reload and for some of the specific formats of self defense presents an enormous advantage in: recoil management, weapon retention and if ever needed ONE HANDED RELOADING ability.

...ever try to reload a revolver using just one hand?

Most will have issues doing so with a semi-auto forget a revolver and it is something that MUST be practiced and trained.

To expect that you will have access or use of both hands (you could sustain an injury prior or during the altercation) is great but not 100% guaranteed and knowing you can successfully "shoot" one handed is great but one cannot forget they better be able to reload using only one hand as well.

This thread did not appear to be asking based on being for "range shooting" use as most posting are concerned about self defense and conceal carry.

Yes, you can have a professional gunsmith dehorn a revolver yes there are some that are already hammer-less from the exterior but that does not change the majority of the reason why its no longer a PRIMARY self defense tool for professionals.

To think that we should not be armed with or trained as good or better than your average professional LE if you EXPECT to be able to defend yourself in a time of desperate need is quite frankly egotistical and poorly thought out.

What makes any average civilian think that they can actually "rise to the occasion" while having the same flight/fight responses as a professionally trained individual who themselves do not and merely default to their lowest level of training.

My job relies on passing on facts and presenting how and why we will react a certain way in general to situations when our lives are on the line...being trained to overcome most of the issues and using logic to decide what is best to also carry is apart of what has to be shared in order for the student to have "all" the facts to make an EDUCATED decision.

J