Beginner Questions

[Phoebe Ann]

Originally Posted by Texas42

1. Most woman can rack a slide and load a magazine. It is technique that takes 20 minutes of training.

2. I don't know why anyone would want to carry a revolver, but I'm not everyone. You want to carry a revolver, then carry a revolver.

1. I can rack a slide and load a magazine, even if I call it a clip. I fly on helicopters all the time. I rock climb in California, Arizona and Texas. I have given birth to three babies, two without meds. I can quilt small, tiny stiches. I love manicures and pedicures. I can rack a slide.

2. In general, what do cops use as a back up weapon?

Y'all feel free to correct me because I'm just now learning about handguns. But isn't it a given that semi-autos malfunction more often than revolvers? Regardless of your skill level or the care of your gun, a semi-automatic can malfunction whereas with a revolver, its point and shoot. There are no procedures to deal with, no safety, nothing. My gender has nothing to do with it. I want to know if someone threatens my life and I have only one shot, I have no doubts in my time of protection.

Has anyone on this board ever had a semi-automatic malfunction? How about a revolver?

[txinvestigator]

Originally Posted by Phoebe Ann

1. I can rack a slide and load a magazine, even if I call it a clip. I fly on helicopters all the time.

Not IN them?

2. In general, what do cops use as a back up weapon?

Mini Glocks, Kahrs, S&W Chiefs, Walthers, Berettas..............

But isn't it a given that semi-autos malfunction more often than revolvers?

No. Semi-autos have different things that can cause a malfunction (congratulations for not using the term "jam"), but revolvers can and do.

Regardless of your skill level or the care of your gun, a semi-automatic can malfunction whereas with a revolver, its point and shoot.

Unless it malfunctions. Revolvers can build up lead and the cylinders lock up. Revolvers can have the ejection rod back out and lock up the cylinder........you get my point.

Has anyone on this board ever had a semi-automatic malfunction?

I have never had one that I would carry malfunction on me. As an instructor I have seen plenty malfunction.

How about a revolver?

Funny you as. I was shot by a revlover being used in the lane next to me at a DPD CHL instructor renewal school. The student instructor did not violate any safety rules either. His revlover was out of time, meaning it fired when the cylinder was not lined up straight with the barrel. It shaved lead that flew into my hand and arm, seriously enough to require first aid.

[308nato]

I had miss feed problems due to a bad batch of ammo.
Since I changed brands I have had 0 problems and have about
7000 rds threw that gun which is my every day carry.

[Phoebe Ann]

Originally Posted by txinvestigator

Not IN them?

No. Semi-autos have different things that can cause a malfunction (congratulations for not using the term "jam"), but revolvers can and do. Unless it malfunctions. Revolvers can build up lead and the cylinders lock up. Revolvers can have the ejection rod back out and lock up the cylinder........you get my point.

I have never had one that I would carry malfunction on me. As an instructor I have seen plenty malfunction.

Funny you as. I was shot by a revlover being used in the lane next to me at a DPD CHL instructor renewal school. The student instructor did not violate any safety rules either. His revlover was out of time, meaning it fired when the cylinder was not lined up straight with the barrel. It shaved lead that flew into my hand and arm, seriously enough to require first aid.

No, ON them. They don't call me SuperWoman for nothin. An hour and 45 minutes in the Gulf (ok, OVER the Gulf) is a long time to ride ON them though.

You say revolvers can build up lead. Is this due to a lack of proper gun care/cleaning? And back up protection for cops, not sure what you listed (except for glocks), are those semi autos?

I'm going to do some more research and report back on the revolver vs. semi issue for personal protection. I still have lots of questions.

Good thread everyone. I'm learning.

[M. Sage]

The only semi-auto malfunctions I've had have been ammo-related. Using good ammo, everything I've used works great.

[texas_teacher]

Originally Posted by M. Sage

The only semi-auto malfunctions I've had have been ammo-related. Using good ammo, everything I've used works great.

I agree with that... if you ever get a shitty batch of ammo you know it... and find some hollowpoint that feed nice to your liking too if you're going the semi-auto route... my fiance and I have used some cheap hollowpoints that I'm glad we test fired because I wouldn't trust her nor my life with those pieces of shit in there... the only other problem I've had with a semi-auto in regards to malfunctions is the spring on my Colt Mustang is the stock spring and is just a bad design, super old, and super weak and wasn't ejecting properly and also we had a CZ that the slide was so tight on it little 115 gr 9mm rounds weren't getting ejected fully... but other than that no problems... I've never had one hickup with my XD and I've probably put close to 1000 rounds through it already (if not more)

[Texas42]

Originally Posted by Phoebe Ann

1. . . . . There are no procedures to deal with, no safety, nothing. My gender has nothing to do with it. I want to know if someone threatens my life and I have only one shot, I have no doubts in my time of protection.

I wasn't implying your gender had anything to do with your decision, but a lot of people will recommend to a woman to get a revolver because they don't think most woman can rack a slide or that it is too complicated. This is inaccurate and condesending to generalize.

I think a cheap, dirty auto with bad ammo has a good chance of malfunctioning.

That being said. I've shot probably 500 rounds through my dad's ruger, 1100 round through my beretta, and probably 2000+ rounds through my glock with no problems. I've tried various kinds of hollow points from cheap walmart brand to some of the expensive stuff (reminds me I got to try out some hornady XTP rounds I loaded up for myself). My friend, who got his glock from SAPD, had never cleaned his gun (I cleaned it once just cause I enjoy doing that stuff. . . it was DIRTY) and it never had a problem either.

[txinvestigator]

Originally Posted by Phoebe Ann

You say revolvers can build up lead. Is this due to a lack of proper gun care/cleaning?

Usually [quote] And back up protection for cops, not sure what you listed (except for glocks), are those semi autos? The S&W is a revolver.

I'm going to do some more research and report back on the revolver vs. semi issue for personal protection. I still have lots of questions.

I have no issues carrying a revolver. I love my revolver. In fact, I am looking for two more. I want an S&W .41, and a S&W Chief.

[akarfal]

GM-Chief pretty will hit the nail on the head for CHL information. The number one thought in buying the first hand-gun is getting something that you can run. Go to ranges: rent or try out various pistols until you find one you can run. There are alot of nice ones out there. Myself I pretty well stick with 1911's. Shot me first one in the late 50's and although I own Sig's and Glock's, I sick with my 1911's

Get that CHL as ther is plenty of Defensive Hand-Gun Training in Texas to help.

[Texas1911]

Originally Posted by Phoebe Ann

You say revolvers can build up lead. Is this due to a lack of proper gun care/cleaning? And back up protection for cops, not sure what you listed (except for glocks), are those semi autos?

Revolvers can go out of time mechanically and that is a safety hazard to the shooter and those around him / her. They also can malfunction in the trigger mechanism, generally they just lock up.

Most of our revolvers in our rental arsenal have at one time or another had problems that rendered the gun inoperable. I'd say 50% were due to lead build-up and general cleaning and care related failure, and the other 50% due to parts being worn. The amount of rounds that these guys go through in their life time is considerably more than any normal shooter would go through in a decade. That being said, a quality revolver is a reliable firearm.

I think our rental program tells more about the real world application of the guns than any torture test on the internet. We know the history of the guns, we know what's wrong with them, and yet... some of them just keep on going.

The Glock 17/19 is the most reliable gun I've ever seen. Our 19 rental gun has over 500,000 rounds through it, at least. It has several hundred ran through it daily. That's why I have a Glock 19 in my house.