Shooting Illustrated by Sheriff Jim Wilson - Monday, June 28, 2021
The double-action revolver is always worthy of consideration when someone sets out to select a personal defense gun. They have been around for over 100 years and are about as reliable and accurate as a fellow would ever need. Still, we live in a time when the semi-autoloading pistol is in the forefront and many shooters, especially those new to the business, are not as familiar with the DA revolver as they should be. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering the double-action revolver for personal defense.
Weight a MinuteWhile very lightweight revolvers have become popular within the past few years, this may not be the blessing they might first appear to be. Small handguns are easy to conceal, and that’s a good thing. However, the lighter the gun, the more difficult it is to shoot accurately.
In the suitable defensive calibers, the little guns tend to deliver some brutal recoil. And a shooter will simply not do their best work with a gun that hurts when fired. Given the fact that we are held responsible for every shot we fire in a deadly situation, accurate shooting is extremely important.
In my own case, I want a defensive handgun that is capable of making head shots at 25 yards and vital-zone shots at 50 yards. For me, that comes down to a medium-frame revolver with good sights. For that reason, one of my all-time favorite defensive handguns has been the Smith & Wesson Model 19, with the 2 1/2-inch barrel. While it is about twice the weight of the small five-shot revolvers, it is still comfortable to carry for long hours and, with some fore-thought, can be properly concealed.
Get a GripOnce the shooter has settled upon a particular revolver, the next step is to get a set of stocks that fill that individual’s hand. There are certainly shooters who get along just fine with factory stocks and their shooting ability reflects this. However, most of us end up with some sort of custom revolver stocks on our favorite revolver.
More:
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2021/6/28/a-complete-guide-double-action-revolvers-for-defense/
