I agree with JodyH as well.
And, well, you too. It's a really good summation, actually.
I haven't found super subcompact autos to be terribly reliable....at least not the ones in 380 or larger. I think the old Mauser M1914 and Mauser HSc are awesome pistols, as long as you're willing to use a 32 ACP.
If you go larger, such as a Walther PPS.....it's a great pistol, but in practical use is not the same footprint to work with as a J-frame. A J-frame just disappears (both in sight and in mind) compared to similarly sized autos.
So, are revolvers still relevant? Quantitatively, no....an auto beats it on paper. Qualitatively, they absolutely have their place.
The caveat to that is my opinion that most people who carry J-frames because they think they need to are only kidding themselves. They could carry a Walther PPS instead and still not notice it's there, which from owning both I'd rate the PPS as a much better shooting platform. Even leaving out all the capacity and reload arguments, I felt the PPS was incredibly easy to put rounds on target very quickly, with little effort. It's the sub-compact that shoots like a service pistol. But yeah, if you're looking for a BUG, NPE gun, or clipped-on sweatpants gun like JodyH mentioned in Anatomy of a Lounge-Around Gun, a J-frame can be really hard to beat.
"Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll."- Last words of Todd Beamer
I can't believe you guys sucked me into this argument, I usually stay out of these Revolver vs Auto debates.
My take, since below are the arguments you usually hear in these discussions:
The only indisputable fact here is that revolvers hold less rounds and you need to reload more often. Last weekend I shot a IDPA club match of 28 shooters with quite a few shooters at my classification (expert). I took 4th place overall with my revolver, as well as most accurate. I had 4 more reloads compared to the 1911 shooters and 5 more compared to the rest. When you adjust the results for the extra reloads I would have been 2nd to a sponsored pro shooter who spends a whole lot more time practicing than I do. And to be frank I shot it wearing the equivalent to a cast on my left ankle. This is my usual results shooting against folks at my level.
What is the common advice to someone who wants to improve their trigger control - "get a double action revolver".
While I give the nod to the auto due to it's higher capacity all the rest is just "bunk"; my usual advise to folks is to carry what you shoot best and for some that's the venerable revolver. The fact is I carry a revolver on duty (for many legal and logistical reasons) and I am comfortable doing so.
Scott
Only Hits Count - The Faster the Hit the more it Counts!!!!!!; DELIVER THE SHOT!
Stephen Hillier - "An amateur practices until he can do it right, a professional practices until he can't do it wrong."
Welcome RSA, what took so long? Healthy exchanges in this thread, I must say.
In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man