Revolver vs Semi-auto for self defense in the Home

[Jkwas]

This subject came up in the last podcast and has always been something I've wrestled with.
I love Revolvers.  I enjoy shooting them, reloading ammo for them, and quite frankly handling them. I find them to be accurate and reliable.
Having said that no matter how much I enjoy them, the plain reality is capacity is king.  I know, shot placement, practice your reloading, etc, etc, but if I've got people in my house that don't belong there, I don't want to be in a situation where I have to reload with that person in my face trying to kill me. 
I was keeping a K-frame S&W as my beside gun, but lately I've been backing that up with a second gun, a semi-auto 9mm.    Two reasons:  It's good to have a backup if one fails and a second gun is your fastest reload. 

[glock23cc]

I personally wouldnt feel comfortable with only 5 or 6 shots when I know I can carry something with much more.  U better have a few backups for those when its dark so u can just throw it down and grab another.  even with practice reloading a revolver in the dark can be tuff, under combat conditions, good luck.  And I know it can be done, but most people cant.  I guess its better than nothing.  I think revolvers can work well as backups but as a primary, it only makes sense to go for capacity.  My .02cents.

[Sytheir]

I would rather have a 5-shot .357 than a .22lr semi with a much larger magazine capacity.

[Jerome from California]

This one easy for me. Have both!
Bad guy meet Mr. Glock17 and his veteran partner Mr. Smith65. This pair is what we have accessible in the bedroom. The Glock is very reliable holds more ammo but you need a good strong, solid grip to make sure it functions. The S&W Model 65 may hold less ammo but will fire even if you limp wrist because of an injury as long as you can pull the trigger.
Gotta have a second gun, right. Besides, I don't want feel left out when my wife reaches for the Glock in a burglary situation.

[cornmastah]

I also like both options.  I keep my glock 27 (my daily carry firearm) by the bed to grab if I ever need it before I can reach my 870 in the closet.  My wife prefers her S&W airweight .38--less things to worry about.  All she has to do is aim and pull the trigger.  If it misfires, she just pulls the trigger again.

[Jkwas]

I also like both options.  I keep my glock 27 (my daily carry firearm) by the bed to grab if I ever need it before I can reach my 870 in the closet.  My wife prefers her S&W airweight .38--less things to worry about.  All she has to do is aim and pull the trigger.  If it misfires, she just pulls the trigger again.

My wife is a revolver shooter as well. That's why I went with the K-frame initially:  least common denominator.   But it doesn't hurt to have the backup, especially when you have access to one.  Why not?    I keep a shotty handy as well

[ZEBRA NINER]

Semi-auto in one hand, revolver in the other... slow-mo jumping through the doorway, guns-a-blazin'! That's the best tactic for home defense, everyone will back me up on this. 

[Chemsoldier]

Q: Revolver or Semi
A: Yes

For a house gun, whatever floats your boat that packs the punch you desire and you are comfortable and proficient with.  It can be heavy or larger than the average CCW gun.

If you are a revolver guy and concerned about capacity...S&W 627 with 8 rounds of .357 goodness is hard to argue with.  Hell you can get versions of the gun with rails and all sorts of other gizmos if that is what you want.

In autos the world is your oyster as well.  Some people say you cant conceal a Glock 20...perhaps, it does fit nicely in the pistol safe by my bed however.

-Chem

[atticus]

Our primary home defense weapon is 12 gauge shotgun with an 18.5 inch barrel.  It's loaded with one shell of #4 bird, 3 shells of 00 buck, and a slug (in that order). 

In addition, I keep a handgun handy.  Sometimes it's a revolver, sometimes a semi-auto pistol.  With each I have extra ammo (moon ring for the revolver, extra magazines for the semi).  The goal is to get to the shotgun safely.  Paramount is the idea of having a gun within reach at all times, since in a home invasion, you may not have time or opportunity to go into another room.  At least that's the theory.  I hope it never comes to that, but . . .

I also keep a handgun and a carbine (mosin M-38) in my pickup.

[Jerome from California]

Our primary home defense weapon is 12 gauge shotgun with an 18.5 inch barrel.  It's loaded with one shell of #4 bird, 3 shells of 00 buck, and a slug (in that order).

atticus,
Check out ProArms episodes 017A nad 017B on Homing in on the Defensive Shotgun. http://proarms.podbean.com/category/shotguns/
I'm not saying that what podcasters say is Gospel. I'm just suggesting that they may have points to consider if you want the shotgun to be your primary home defense tool.

[Kevin]

Semi-auto in one hand, revolver in the other... slow-mo jumping through the doorway, guns-a-blazin'! That's the best tactic for home defense, everyone will back me up on this. 

Absolutely! If you can throw a roll on the end of it, it's even better. I like your way of thinkin'.
-Kevin

[Kevin]

Our primary home defense weapon is 12 gauge shotgun with an 18.5 inch barrel.  It's loaded with one shell of #4 bird, 3 shells of 00 buck, and a slug (in that order).

atticus,
Check out ProArms episodes 017A nad 017B on Homing in on the Defensive Shotgun. http://proarms.podbean.com/category/shotguns/
I'm not saying that what podcasters say is Gospel. I'm just suggesting that they may have points to consider if you want the shotgun to be your primary home defense tool.

Technically, if Gail said it, it IS gospel.
-Kevin

[Chris]

Just a thought... but my nightstand gun is a 3 inch Ruger GP-100 stuffed with .357 Speer 135 grain Short Barrel loads. My reasoning is that if anyone gets that close before I have a gun in my hand I am dealing with what amounts to contact distances. If I have to jam the gun against someone, the revolver should be able to deliver all six rounds. A semi-auto could jam or be pushed out of battery. I figure it will allow me to get to some of the other handguns (all semi-autos) or the shotgun, that are located around the house. If you have to use a nightstand gun, while others are available just a short distance away, it means you are already behind the curve, and a revolver would be a more reliable bet.
Jerome... using different shells in a shotgun (mixing bird, buck and slugs) for in home defense is not something I would recommend. As far as "choosing" the right round for a specific situation, time seldom allows it, and since they're all in a tubular magazine anyway, circumstances seldom allows it. I would prefer to stuff the gun with either #1 or #4 buck, and know what each pull of the trigger will bring.
Chris Christian 

[Jkwas]

Semi-auto in one hand, revolver in the other... slow-mo jumping through the doorway, guns-a-blazin'! That's the best tactic for home defense, everyone will back me up on this. 

In theory, yes    But in reality, I have fields of fire picked out in my home that offer decent cover and backstops for missed shots.  The last thing I want to do is shoot up my neighbors house.  I've gone over this with my wife as well.  One thing I've always wanted to try, but I've been afraid to be thrown out of my local range, is shooting two revolvers at the same time  That would be too cool!  If I ever get out into the woods with my guns, I will be sure to do it. 
Hey, do you think they'd let me do that up at pro arms in Live Oak?  Is there a special class for that? 

[crslttr]

I just figured I'd put in my $.02. Each gun could be considered better for different situations. Whatever your more comfortable with is what you should use. Just because someone says "if you dont carry a Semi-auto your wrong", doesnt mean you should run out and buy one if you prefer revolvers. You could have the "what's better" argument all day long. That being said, I prefer revolvers. I have semi-autos and love them. I was trying my SR9 in a Galco C.O.P holster in different positions and my wife said I looked like a had a weird growth, not to mention kinda heavy. I put my S&W 642 on, strong side Desantis open top holster, with two Tuff Products speed strips in a Tuff Products speed strip pouch just in front of the holster. Perfect. Its light, and I can wear it all day, no discomfort whatsoever. Oh, and no weird growth. So does that mean I'll never carry a semi-auto? Of course it doesnt. Dont be influenced by what everybody else says, buy, carry, shoot whatever you prefer. Also in the last podcast, the S&W M&P340 was mentioned, and Stan said something about Black Bears. My Father recently bought land in the mountains, and we also have Black bears. The S&W M&P340 just moved to the top of my list. It can be carried around home with .38's/.357's and in the mountains with .357's. "Beware of the man with just one gun, he's probably pretty good with it".


Chris

[Tennessee Jed]

I enjoyed the podcast and always enjoy this debate because I can never make up my mind.  There is another aspect, I think, and that is concealability. 

I've noticed that if/when printing occurs while wearing an IWB holster (e.g., wind blows against that side of the shirt), the rounded grips of a medium or even large sized revolver don't scream "GUN" the same way that a squared grip of a Glock or other semi-auto do.

I've often found it much easier to conceal a k-frame, or even an n-frame, when the square grip of a Glock totally prints against my shirt.  And I like the idea of having a 357 or 44 before jumping down to the j-frame.

[simpleguy]

I concur, both.......well in our house it's 2 wheel guns with 4 speed strips and 1 semi-auto with 2-6 magazines, depending on the day.

[atticus]

Jerome,
I did take your suggestion, and I listened to the pro-arms shotgun podcasts (both of them), several times.  As a result, I still keep my 12 ga. pump as primary home defense weapon.  But now it's loaded with buckshot only.  An important tweaking of my attitude.  Also, I tend to keep a revolver handy at home and in the car (as opposed to a semi-auto pistol).  I carry the revolvers more, and the pistols less.  Again, it's a personal choice.

[Justin Doerr]

The use for a BUG is to fight your way back to you battle rifle which you shouldn't have dropped in the first place. (Or something like that  ) So neither. Pack an 870 or something of the matter and your BUG whether it be a revolver or a pistol.

[Devereaux]

Jerome,
I did take your suggestion, and I listened to the pro-arms shotgun podcasts (both of them), several times.  As a result, I still keep my 12 ga. pump as primary home defense weapon.  But now it's loaded with buckshot only.  An important tweaking of my attitude.  Also, I tend to keep a revolver handy at home and in the car (as opposed to a semi-auto pistol).  I carry the revolvers more, and the pistols less.  Again, it's a personal choice.

?You live in a state that is friendly to the concept of "home defense". If so, your 00 buck is a great choice. I live in the Soviet State of Illinois, where we are suppose to be fodder in the game between the DA's and the BG's, so my shotgun has #4 - it is MUCH easier to argue that it is a hunting round, and it is certainly near as devastating as 00. Just another thought to run through your personal computations.