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Single-action revolver

whoopingllama

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So the other day while shooting with my dad, I noticed that a single action revolver feels a lot more comfortable and easier to control than any other handgun. I've been carrying a Beretta PX4. I'm kinda sorta considering carrying the revolver instead. It's a .45 LC from Heritage Firearms. I guess the main reason I feel a bit hesitant about it, is because i would have to carry cowboy style. I don't want people to think I'm doing it to just look cool/intimidating in any way. Not to mention that way of carrying covers up my pockets. LOL.

But anyways. What are y'alls thoughts and opinions on this?
 

Brian D.

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Keep in mind that I very much like single action revolvers. Long time participant in Cowboy Action events, as both a competitor and match director. When traveling to out of town matches I'd put full power ammo in them for nightstand use at the motel.

Having said that, I don't think anyone will argue with the notion that these firearms are outdated in design compared to today's offerings. Hard to ignore that if one is carrying their sidearm primarily for personal defense reasons.
 

turbodog

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Independence, Louisiana, USA
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whoopingllama wrote:
So the other day while shooting with my dad, I noticed that a single action revolver feels a lot more comfortable and easier to control than any other handgun. I've been carrying a Beretta PX4. I'm kinda sorta considering carrying the revolver instead. It's a .45 LC from Heritage Firearms. I guess the main reason I feel a bit hesitant about it, is because i would have to carry cowboy style. I don't want people to think I'm doing it to just look cool/intimidating in any way. Not to mention that way of carrying covers up my pockets. LOL.

But anyways. What are y'alls thoughts and opinions on this?
Much as I like the look of the "Big Iron", I just can't see carrying a single action revolver in this day and age.

Your right, people will definitely have thoughts on why you would carry that way. It's bad enough with the anti's going on about the "wild, wild west", carrying like that just makes em feel justified.
 

buzzsaw

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I can't say that I have much of an opinion but I do have one observation. According to one of the accounts I read on this board, it worked out well for a LAC who was OCing in Richmond Va. when he came to the defense of a store owner during a robbery. Even though something broke in the trigger mechanism after his first shot he was able to continue fire by fanning or so it was told.
 

Louisiana Carry

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Keithville, Louisiana, USA
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My wife's EDC is a SA Beretta Marshal Stampede .45 LC, but she carries off body. I am not totally hip on her carrying an SA, but it is what she is comfortable with, and I would rather her carry it than not.

Just hope you don't need more than 6 shots, or, if you do, hope the bad guy is patient!
 

Task Force 16

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I carry a US Firearms "Rodeo" SA .45 LC with 5.5" barrel around here in a rural county. I wear it in the cross draw as it's easier to "clear leather" from a belt holster, in that position. ( A drop holster would cover up all my pants pockets, else I'd use one) I use the cowboy rounds for pracrtice, but keep Hornady's JHP in it for defense and have a belt slide cartidge carrier that holds an extra 6 rounds.

If I go somewhere like Nashville, I'm more apt to strap on my CZ82 and an extra mag.
 

old dog

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Interesting post.

I'd like to make two points up front.
1) I love single-actions. I love the way they feel in the hand and on the hip. They are far and away the most natural to me.
2) I'm a good shot, without blushing, better than many.

Now to the nut: I can't hit anything with a SA. I would have to take careful aim to hit the floor. This has plagued me all my long life and no one has been able to help.

I know this has naught to do with the question, but I just wanted to vent. Thanks for your patience.
 

Batousaii

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Kitsap Co., Washington, USA
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I have several fine handguns: Colt .45 Auto, CZ-7B 9mm, Ruger GP100 .357, etc...

- I mostly OC my Ruger Old-Vaquero .45 Colt Single action in a belt holster. Looks like an old peacemaker, but is actually very modern inside. I am 100% comfortable and confident that i could deal with any threat that did not involve me retrieving one of my military style rifles. When i CC, it is my .45 auto, it's more comfortable to hide..... Why i chose my SA .45 revolver.

-Last i remember from FBI and police statistics is that mostconfrontations involve limited personnel and last only a few seconds, and involve only a few shots.

- Also, most confrontations cease when the first shot lands mark.

- Best tactic is to be able to land a solid hitbefore the opponent can.

- I'd rather hit once, than miss 5 times fast.

- I can fire off a SA with instinctive accuracy, and it packs a donkey style punch.

- RE: Anti's complaining about the wild west... I get more "interested" conversation about the antique looking revolver than "gun complaints". Many that would feel scared of some guy OCing a glock feel curious about the "cowboy gun" and end up getting some good positive info after a friendly conversation. I dont think there is much of an image problem either way if you carry yourself properly, friendly, confident, approachable; we can make our situation as good or bad as we choose to.

I carry a single action. I am confident that i can defend myself with skill surpassing the average assailant. Those that know me, know i am not a "cowboy".. maybe more akin to an old gunslinger, but definitely, i am one of the good guys, and carry myself as such.

;)Kindly

Bat.


EDIT: To show the beauty
 

frommycolddeadhands

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Knob Noster, MO
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I know it's an old thread, but I figured I'd bring it back from the dead.

Is there anything wrong with carrying a SA for self defense? Well, no, not exactly. As a gun owner you want to equip yourself with a gun that you feel comfortable with, confident in shooting, and a gun that you'd trust with your life. If you feel that you would be able to aptly defend yourself in a life/death situation with a SA, then that is your choice. A lot of it has to do with what kind of area you live in (rural vs city). If you want to protect against four legged animals, or if you spend a lot of time on horse back, then the SA might actually be preferable to an auto.

As far as covering your pockets or not wanting to look like a western gunslinger, Mercktile sells modern SA holsters for CC as well as OC that wouldn't look out of place in polite society, and they keep the gun up high enough so it won't block your pockets either. :lol:

A little food for thought, if you like the ergonomics of the SA as opposed to an auto, you might consider getting a double action revolver. It has a very similar shape to the old SA guns, but can be fired with or without cocking and the reload time is much easier because the cylinder swings out and speed loaders can be used. Just a thought.

In the end you've got to go with what you feel fits you and your situation best.
 

whoopingllama

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could you give a link to that holster company you mentioned frommycolddeadhands? I can't find them anywhere
 

SlackwareRobert

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Jun 10, 2008
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On the plus side, you can argue the head shot was needed to stop as you had a hang nail
and couldn't fire a second time. BG should pick a double action armed victim in his next life.

My spanish pistol is the only one that makes the barn door feel safe, but no rifling,
black powder, and 'round' ball are probably the main reasons, I don't think it is a
conspiracy or anything. But if the BG jumps me on a windy day, it will be a pain to prime the
pan. The thought of leo gun grabbers trying to figure out how to 'enguage' the safety
would make me fall over laughing if I ever figure out how to make a retention holster for it.

But 90%+ of the time, the first bang will allow plenty of time for recocking,
SA six shooter is 6 times better than a good glare on your worst day.
Better to be mistaken for a cowboy, than a yank.
 

NomadMan

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Dec 25, 2013
Messages
50
Location
Mississippi
I have several fine handguns: Colt .45 Auto, CZ-7B 9mm, Ruger GP100 .357, etc...

- I mostly OC my Ruger Old-Vaquero .45 Colt Single action in a belt holster. Looks like an old peacemaker, but is actually very modern inside. I am 100% comfortable and confident that i could deal with any threat that did not involve me retrieving one of my military style rifles. When i CC, it is my .45 auto, it's more comfortable to hide..... Why i chose my SA .45 revolver.

-Last i remember from FBI and police statistics is that mostconfrontations involve limited personnel and last only a few seconds, and involve only a few shots.

- Also, most confrontations cease when the first shot lands mark.

- Best tactic is to be able to land a solid hitbefore the opponent can.

- I'd rather hit once, than miss 5 times fast.

- I can fire off a SA with instinctive accuracy, and it packs a donkey style punch.

I know this is an old thread, but it is a topic of interest to me, and I hope some others out there as well. For many years, living in California, I open carried a Ruger single six .22 when fishing, hiking and while driving tractor. I must have shot 5,000 rounds through that revolver and got pretty proficient. It was not until a few years back, when I moved to Mississippi that I began looking into a firearm for self defense and purchased a Sig Sauer P250. While I liked this firearm, and I recognize the many advantages to a semi-auto, I also recognized some of its limitations and to be honest, I missed carrying a single action. A couple of years ago open carry without a permit became legal here so I purchased a Ruger Blackhawk .45 and have been open carrying it ever since. I still have the Sig, but I exclusively carry the Ruger.



Anti's complaining about the wild west...[/color] I get more "interested" conversation about the antique looking revolver than "gun complaints". Many that would feel scared of some guy OCing a glock feel curious about the "cowboy gun" and end up getting some good positive info after a friendly conversation. I dont think there is much of an image problem either way if you carry yourself properly, friendly, confident, approachable; we can make our situation as good or bad as we choose to.

I have had the very same experience. The majority of comments I get are positive and inquisitive and I have only had two negative comments. One from an older gentleman who CC'ed and believed that was a better method and the other was an obvious liberal who just didn't like guns period.

Bottom line, I am more comfortable carrying my single action than the semi-auto and I feel much more confident in my ability to use it.
 

Wolfgang1952

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May 31, 2010
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Mt Hermon / Franklinton,La ,
I’ve been OCing for a long time now. Most of the time I am either carrying my Sig 220-45 or my Colt model of 1911. Sometimes I might drag out one of my singles. I like my 1861 NAVY type II Richards in 38 Special. I carry it western, I even carry my semi’s western too. The main thing is if I am carrying one of my singles I am also looking for better cover incase I have to reload.





Wolf
 
Last edited:

NomadMan

New member
Joined
Dec 25, 2013
Messages
50
Location
Mississippi
I’ve been OCing for a long time now. Most of the time I am either carrying my Sig 220-45 or my Colt model of 1911. Sometimes I might drag out one of my singles. I like my 1861 NAVY type II Richards in 38 Special. I carry it western, I even carry my semi’s western too. The main thing is if I am carrying one of my singles I am also looking for better cover incase I have to reload.





Wolf

Very nice rigs wolf. I have to ask, what kind of knife do you have in the boot? I'm a big knife fan.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

DrakeZ07

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Mar 26, 2011
Messages
1,080
Location
Lexington, Ky
I’ve been OCing for a long time now. Most of the time I am either carrying my Sig 220-45 or my Colt model of 1911. Sometimes I might drag out one of my singles. I like my 1861 NAVY type II Richards in 38 Special. I carry it western, I even carry my semi’s western too. The main thing is if I am carrying one of my singles I am also looking for better cover incase I have to reload.





Wolf

I have to ask, your revolver, it looks an awful lot like my 1858 remmy cap n' ball; is yours a cap n'ball as well, or a mod that turns a BP revolver into a modern catridge-fire, or just a regular revolver that looks like the old cap guns?

Second thing I want to ask is, in your second picture, the drop-leg holster; could you tell me the brand, name, and model of the drop-leg? I have bought literally over a hundred different drop-leg holsters, and rigs for my semi-autos, and they all failed in one way or another, or just didn't hold up to the weight of my HiPoint .40.
 

Wolfgang1952

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May 31, 2010
Messages
169
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Mt Hermon / Franklinton,La ,
Very nice rigs wolf. I have to ask, what kind of knife do you have in the boot? I'm a big knife fan.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


I was at Pet Smart picking up some fish to feed to my fish. I was over in the Dog treat department and I saw some Antler parts they had for dog chews. As I was looking through them I come up with this one. My brain started working and it heart. The dog ant getting this one. It fit the hand just right, now I got to find a blade for it, something special. I started looking on the web, most everything I found was blade length 8” or less. I wanted something Longer. Finely found Texas Knifemaker’s. The blade is called a Rio Grande Bowie and it has 9” blade with a full tang.



Wolf
 

Wolfgang1952

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May 31, 2010
Messages
169
Location
Mt Hermon / Franklinton,La ,
I have to ask, your revolver, it looks an awful lot like my 1858 remmy cap n' ball; is yours a cap n'ball as well, or a mod that turns a BP revolver into a modern catridge-fire, or just a regular revolver that looks like the old cap guns?

Second thing I want to ask is, in your second picture, the drop-leg holster; could you tell me the brand, name, and model of the drop-leg? I have bought literally over a hundred different drop-leg holsters, and rigs for my semi-autos, and they all failed in one way or another, or just didn't hold up to the weight of my HiPoint .40.

It’s an 1861 Navy Type II Richards. It is the NAVY version of the ARMY 1860. The ARMY was chambered in 44 where the NAVY was in 36 cal and had a different grip. The type II Richards is also known as the transsion model. The type II’s are cartage weapons. The ARMY 44 turned into 44 Specials and 45 Long Colts where the NAVY 1861 turned into 36 Long Colt / 38 Special. I carry 38+P for the first 6 and then regular 38 specials for the rest.

I bought it through Cimarron Firearms it is built by Uberti.







The holster, leg extender and belt in the second picture is all Bianchi Military Web which I bought through Optics Planet.



This is my other holster that I put with it. It is in Flectarn Cammo.



Wolf
 
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