It’s an age-old heated debate — just like Ford vs. Chevy, or Apple vs. Android — which is better: revolvers or semi-automatic pistols?

The revolver enthusiasts swear by the reliability (and simplicity) of their trusty wheel guns. The semi-auto fanboys tout higher capacity and faster reloads as far superior. Then there’s you: somebody just looking to buy the most effective handgun for your needs.

While keyboard warriors on forums are drawing lines in the sand, you’re trying to navigate the maze of opinions. But before dejection sets in and you mope away undecided, take heart in knowing there’s a time and place for every firearm (except those “credit card” guns).

With the revolver vs. semi-auto debate, it’s not about picking a side, but understanding the nuances that make each option shine.

Whether you're new to firearms or just looking to improve your arsenal, we're peeling back the layers of this debate to explore the pros and cons of each firearm.

Revolvers vs. Semi-Autos (Pistols)

First, let’s get semantics out of the way. Here’s a quick rundown of the differences between revolvers and pistols.

Revolvers

Revolvers are just that — revolvers. They’re called that because the cylinder that holds the ammo has multiple revolving chambers. As the trigger is squeezed or the hammer is cocked, the cylinder turns, lining up the next chamber to fire a new round. Revolvers can hold from 5 or 6 (most common) to a dozen cartridges depending on the gun’s caliber.

Revolvers are either single- or double-action (referring to what pulling the trigger does). Single-action revolvers only release the hammer with a trigger pull, which must be manually cocked. These are the oldest styles of revolver, the type you see in Westerns and other old movies.

Double-action revolvers both cock the hammer (at the beginning of the pull) and release it (at the end). Most double-action revolvers can also be fired in single action when you manually cock the hammer.

Pistol (Semi-Auto)

Many think “pistol” refers to any handgun, but that’s not totally accurate. Pistols refer specifically to semi-automatic or autoloading handguns. Your grandpa probably calls it an “automatic.”

Pistols are the next step in the evolution of handguns, as they address most of the shortcomings of revolvers. In brief, most are striker or hammer-fired and fed from a detachable box magazine (not a revolving cylinder).

Hammer-fired pistols are much like single-action revolvers; pulling the trigger releases the hammer to strike a firing pin, which ignites the primer in a cartridge. Pulling the trigger on a striker-fired gun cocks the striker (moves it backward), moves an internal safety or two out of the way, and finally releases it to strike the primer.

For the most part, pistols and revolvers are both means to the same end. Both can fill roles better suited for the other, but there are definitely times when one has a clear advantage.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

Revolvers

As we mentioned, the defining characteristic of a revolver is its cylinder. Up until the 1970s, revolvers were the most widely used handguns. Yes, there were pistols early in the 20th century, but the wheelgun hung on as the sidearm of choice for many police departments toward the end of the century when semi-autos took over.

Pros of Revolvers

Huge Firepower

We’re not talking machine gun-esque bullet-hose firepower, but rather cartridges that sling bullets of 500-plus grains and others at scorching velocities. Pistols just can’t do this. The exception is the Desert Eagle and other massive pistols, but for the most part, huge power is the realm of the revolver.

Freakish Accuracy

A revolver barrel is “fixed” when you shoot it. Before the hammer is dropped and until the trigger is pulled again, the cylinder is locked into position and the bullet travels down the fixed barrel. Revolvers offer a greater level of inherent accuracy than pistols, so they’re still hugely popular among target shooters.

Unquestioned Reliability

Not much can go wrong when you’re shooting a quality revolver. However, pot metal “Saturday night special” junk should be avoided.

Autoloaders have many more moving parts than revolvers, which creates more opportunities for the gun to jam. But, modern pistols are so reliable that this is mostly a moot point. Those models that aren’t reliable simply do not last very long on the market.

Cons of Revolvers

Weight

There’s no getting around this one, revolvers are friggin’ heavy. If you do get a lightweight model, you’ll do so at the expense of capacity, size, shootability, and probably price. Lightweight materials are pricey.

Girth

The circular nature of its cylinder gives the revolver some extra girth. This extra girth makes carrying a revolver a bit more difficult. The more or bigger bullets you want to carry, the fatter and heavier a revolver is gonna be.

Harder to Shoot Well

Poor shootability in any firearm can largely be corrected by training. However, for the most part, people don’t train much at all, and when they do, it’s typically casual. There’s nothing wrong with that, but because this is the case, occasional shooters may not do so well with a gun that’s a bit harder to shoot.

The trigger pull on a revolver in double action is long and heavy. The more you strain to pull the trigger, the more the gun moves around in your hand, potentially pulling the muzzle off target. Sure, the trigger pull is a lot better in single action, but the hammer must be manually cocked, which the casual plinker could forget in a self-defense scenario.

Slow Follow-up Shots

If getting one shot off is a chore, the next one won’t be any easier. After the first shot the gun has likely moved in your hand, meaning your grip has shifted into a less-than-ideal position, making follow-up shots difficult.

Slow Reloads

So you’ve emptied the cylinder. Now what? You’ve got to open the cylinder, then pop or drop out all the empties. Then you need to reload by either emptying a speed loader (that holds another set of bullets that drop right in) in the cylinder, popping in a new moon clip, adding from a “speed” strip, or fishing bullets out of your pocket like Barney Fife and hoping for the best. Any option takes considerable training to do well, let alone quickly.

Because you’re not Dick Tracey (or hopefully Fife), all of the above are complicated when compared to reloading a magazine-fed pistol.

Pistols (Semi-Autos)

Semi-autos (or pistols) are the answer to all the cons of revolvers. They’re lacking in a couple of the niche areas (huge kinetic energy and potential accuracy) but they’re vastly superior in just about every way. How so?

Most modern pistols have a polymer (plastic) frame and are striker-fired. The advantages to a polymer frame are ease of manufacture, lower price, greater degree of customization, and lighter weight. Here’s a deeper dive into the pluses of pistols.

Pros of Semi-Autos (Pistols)

Better for Concealed Carry

This is a biggie, and the driver of the current generation of lightweight, small, thin pistols that carry 15 or more bullets. With violent crime on the rise more and more people are protecting themselves with the most effective means possible; a handgun.

Pistols carry more bullets, are easier to conceal and shoot, and can have less recoil than revolvers. Again, training is ideal when it comes to manipulating the pistol, but as far as safety goes, pistols are also just as safe as revolvers.

A good holster tailor-made for your gun is paramount in safely carrying a pistol, and with so many excellent options available today, there’s no reason to have a cheap, nylon POS. But that’s for another story.

Greater Bullet Capacity

The maximum capacity in a revolver is about 10 bullets, and that’s going to be a .22, which isn’t an ideal self-defense cartridge anyway. With the average pistol, it’s 15+. Tiny concealed carry guns might carry 10, while full-size guns can carry 20 or more. That’s more than three 6-shot revolvers. There’s no getting around this big advantage.

Better Concealability

This advantage has driven pistol innovation over the last 20 years. As more and more citizens are opting to defend themselves, manufacturers have raced to make guns smaller, lighter, thinner, and with greater capacity to capture more of the growing concealed carry market.

Innovation for concealed carry revolvers peaked in the 20th century and barring a reinvention of the wheel (almost literally), they won’t evolve past the good ol’ J-Frame size snubby. But pistols haven’t stopped evolving, getting lighter, thinner, and growing in capacity.

Greater Shootability

Revolver aficionados will argue this, but with an equal amount of training, a pistol is easier for most folks to handle — “easier” in the sense that they’ll comfortably and effectively operate it.

Pistols are better suited for defensive shooting than revolvers because of the nature of striker-fired guns. No need to overcome the force required to rotate the cylinder before dropping the hammer; you’re loading a spring then releasing it. This makes firing the gun simpler. Plus, the trigger pull is the same every time.

Faster Reloads

This might be the most obvious difference between pistols and revolvers. When a pistol runs dry, you drop the magazine, insert a fresh one, then drop the slide into battery and you're ready to fire again — quick and easy. With a revolver, you swing the cylinder out, dump the empties, grab your reload of choice, recharge the cylinder, then shut it — a much slower process.

Cons of Semi-Autos (Pistols)

Manual of Arms

The biggie here is learning basic manipulation and operation of the pistol (a.k.a. the manual of arms). A pistol has more moving parts than a revolver, and learning the purpose of each takes focused effort. But once learned, it’s like riding a bicycle; you don’t really forget.

Plus, the vast majority of today’s pistols have most controls (magazine release, slide release, trigger) in common so if you know one model, you know most of them.

Revolver vs. Semi-Auto: What Do You Use Them For?

Before we get into our recommendations, let’s lay down what each of these handguns are good for.

As right as Lynyrd Skynyrd is about, oh, everything — they were dead wrong when they sang “ handguns are made for killing/they ain’t no good for nothin’ else.” Handguns are actually great for lots of things. Let’s explore whether a pistol or revolver is the best choice for each use case.

Plinking/Fun

Imagine grandpa and a young’un shooting bottles and cans off of a fence post. That’s plinking. It can also mean casually punching holes in paper. It’s the most common type of shooting, and a no-stress, pressure-free experience. More responsible Americans ought to throw in some training or competitive shooting now and then.

Many options for both revolvers and pistols serve admirably for plinking. Most often plinking is associated with .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge for its affordability and lack of recoil. Classics such as Ruger’s Mark I, II, III etc. and the 22/45 series of .22 pistols come to mind, as do Smith & Wesson’s Model 617 or K-22 wheelguns.

best plinking ammo

Remington Thunderbolt 22 Long Rifle 40 Grain Lead Round Nose Brick of 500

$45
Remington

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Prices accurate at time of writing

Because plinking is so casual, cost-saving is an important factor. In light of this, we’re giving the edge to semi-autos/pistols here, since they’re cheaper than revolvers on average. Modern pistols like the Taurus TX22 represent an amazing bargain in this category. Otherwise, it’s a tie with the revolver.

Winner: Pistol/semi-auto

Sport/Hunting

In both of these situations, power and accuracy are paramount, and revolvers take the obvious lead. Revolvers can be much more powerful than handguns, and with extended barrels and no reciprocating slides, they’re capable of much greater mechanical accuracy.

But don’t discount pistols altogether. Some outdoorsmen prefer to carry a 10mm pistol over a .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, .460 XVR, .500 S&W, or similar hand cannon. That’s because pistols offer much greater capacity than revolvers. A huge revolver in a serious caliber carries at most 8 rounds, whereas a 10mm Glock 20 carries 15 rounds in the magazine and one in the pipe. Plus, the Glock is easier to shoot than a 4” .500 S&W Magnum, especially if you miss and need a follow-up shot on a charging grizzly.

But we’re all about what’s probable and not what’s possible, so we still give the edge to revolvers. The accuracy and power delivered by, say, a .44 Magnum is far greater than even a hard-hitting 10mm. Plus, you’re more likely to run across a whitetail than a peeved brown bear, so go for the revolver. However, if you are in grizzly country, what’s stopping you from carrying a big pistol as a sidearm?

Winner: Revolver

Defense

Here’s where battle lines are drawn between Boomers and everyone else. Our right to defend ourselves isn’t predicated upon the opinions of others, so do whatever is best for you — we’re just here to lay down some impartial facts.

In today’s world (and in the salad days of affordable, reliable, high-capacity, easy-to-conceal pistols) it’s hard to give revolvers equal footing in the defense category. In general, pistols are slimmer, lighter, carry more bullets, and are easier to shoot than defensive-minded revolvers. Plus, they’re cheaper.

The average concealed carry 9mm gives you three times as many bullets as your pappy’s six shooter and with modern design. (Heresy alert: it’s just as reliable).

Because the future is now, old man, the W goes to pistols.

Winner: Pistol/semi-auto

Tactical/Competition

This one is pretty obvious. Assuming you’re a SWAT operator on a takedown, you don’t want a .38 Special as a sidearm. You want a full size autoloader with maximum capacity and spotless reliability. But if you’re shooting a metallic silhouette match, you’ll want the increased accuracy offered by revolvers.

Winner: Pistol/semi-auto

Final Thoughts

Let’s clear this up now, and give you permission to get a new blaster: It is NOT necessary to have a real or imagined need for a gun before you buy it. Sometimes you’ll get one because it’s cool, fun, a great deal, or something you can’t live without. That said, your wife told us you’re good to go.

Again, depending on your purpose, there’s a pistol or a revolver that will serve you admirably. But if you can only choose one for the rest of your life, most folks would be best served with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

To make the best use of your chosen handgun, you need to train with it — a lot. To train, you need quality ammo that doesn’t take your wallet to the cleaners.

Get small boxes and bulk cases of quality, affordable ammo for your handgun today.

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