Actual experience on revolver reliability in sandy, dirty environments

[okie john]

I grew up shooting and hunting with S&W revolvers in central Oklahoma. Not desert and no sandstorms, but plenty of fine airborne particulate. I never had an issue with dust, but unburned grains of 2400 would occasionally get stuck under the extractor star and things would get sluggish. A quick pass from a toothbrush or shirt-tail put it right every time. Occasionally the ejector rod would back out on a Model 29, but I never saw that on anything other than a 44. Smith 22's will get gummy if you shoot them much. How gummy varies with the kind of ammo you use. That was always more of a problem than dust.

Unfortunately, I've dropped revolvers over the years. I'm not sure how every one of them manages to land on the rear sight, but they do.


Okie John

[Stephanie B]

Try dropping one so that it lands on the back of the left-side recoil shield. It'll bind up the hand in its window. Delicate rapping with a wooden hammer handle can fix that.

(Don't ask.)

[Clusterfrack]

Many years ago, a Dan Wesson locked up due to crud and grit under the ejector star. That cured me of using revolvers under difficult conditions.

[DocGKR]

You all realize NSW carried 686's for OTB operations for many years, right?

[BillSWPA]

You all realize NSW carried 686's for OTB operations for many years, right?

I was not aware, and would be interested in any details of the choice and rationale that you are at liberty to discuss.



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[Chuck Whitlock]

Are Rugers more resistant than S&W to this type of thing or not really?

Probably not, but I would submit that they would be easier to take apart and blow any crud out.

[RevolverRob]

CBP used revolvers for decades. A flap holster and regular inspection will keep things tidy.

That said, someone around here has tale of taking a dunk in a marsh and getting their revolver filled with fine silt. It took a serious cleaning to get the gun working again. I believe their answer to that was a Glock.

I’ve never had an issue, but I usually carry a revolver in an HPG kit bag when out hiking/wandering in sandy environs. If a belt holster is necessary, chances are good, I’m packing a 1911 instead.

I do find it a heck of a lot easier to clean semi-autos in the field, than revolvers.

[Crazy Dane]

CBP used revolvers for decades. A flap holster and regular inspection will keep things tidy.

That said, someone around here has tale of taking a dunk in a marsh and getting their revolver filled with fine silt. It took a serious cleaning to get the gun working again. I believe their answer to that was a Glock.

I’ve never had an issue, but I usually carry a revolver in an HPG kit bag when out hiking/wandering in sandy environs. If a belt holster is necessary, chances are good, I’m packing a 1911 instead.

I do find it a heck of a lot easier to clean semi-autos in the field, than revolvers.

Just wash em out in the creek. I once wrecked a horse on a muddy logging road. We went down together and I landed on my right/carry side with the horse coming over top of me. the thong holding the Smith in broke releasing my pistol into the mud. After I gathered myself and caught the horse, I realized the gun was gone. It took several minutes digging around in the mud. When I finally found it, every nook and cranny was filled. So I did the only thing logical to a teen aged boy, I washed it out in the creek, ammo too. Once got everything clear of mud I checked my ammo by loading it back up and firing all 6 rounds into the nearest stump.

[RevolverRob]

Just wash em out in the creek.

Not that many creeks out in the desert and high desert where I usually work. And pouring your drinking water on a gun isn't a wise idea if avoidable.

[okie john]

I was not aware, and would be interested in any details of the choice and rationale that you are at liberty to discuss.

I ran into a couple of those gentlemen in a hangar in Thailand during Cobra Gold in the late 80’s. They were in full kit and refused to talk to anyone. They just sat there on a pallet waiting for something like a couple of yard gnomes. At least one of them had a stainless revolver. I remember thinking that it looked like a Ruger Speed Six.

The SAS guys I knew preferred Victory Model S&W’s to the BHP for water ops. That strikes me as utterly backwards but they live in a country with a shitload of beaches so I’ll defer.


Okie John