by Rod_outbak » 03 Oct 2018, 6:01 pm
Most rural properties that have handguns around here, usually have a revolver.
Many have the Rugers with the interchangeable .22LR/.22WMR cylinders.
Being a bit different, I have a 1911-clone .45acp with a double-stack mag (12 rounds).
My first center-fire handgun was a Colt Anaconda, in .45LC. It had a Tasco Pro-Point scope on a QD setup, so it took about a minute to add the scope, if you needed it. Really nice monster to shoot, and nailed a fox for me one night, at ~75 yards. (Surprised both the fox and myself that night...)
Back over 10 years ago, I had to rationalise my handguns, and the appeal of the 1911 came for a number of reasons:
1). It was a lot more compact than a revolver, and therefore more easy to use off the bike. It might have been possible to go with a .357 revolver with a 4" barrel, but I reckon they look like crap.
2). The Galco 'Duty' holster I wear the 1911 in, tucks in above my hip, and has the gun up out of the way of the seat in the ute, but handy to use if needed. I havent seen a revolver holster that would fit into the same spot. (Probably is one available, but hard to get in Australia, I'll bet..)
3). The 12-round mags for the 1911 allow me to carry ~36 rounds if I'm wearing a twin-mag pouch on my belt, and still nowhere near as bulky as carrying the same in speed-loaders for the revolver.
4). While a .357 or suchlike would shoot further, for the average sort of distance I use handguns, the .45 works a treat on pigs etc.
5). A Ceiner .22 conversion gave me a .22LR option, whenever I want to go 'Lite'. (.45 is a bit messy for Toad-Phukking...)
6). I have the option of getting someone to make me up a 38/45 barrel at some stage, and have something vaguely resembling a .357Sig.
7). A 1911 is a pretty solid and reliable rig, if even given fairly basic TLC.
8). There are a LOT of accessories around for a 1911; even one of the double-stacks. Parts for revolvers are much more model-specific, and many models are impossible to source parts to fit(In Australia, anyway). Recently, I bought a compensator that plugs on instead of the standard barrel bush. Neat, works, and something I could fit in 10 minutes at home.
9). The extra 5 seconds to rack the slide on my empty 1911 has never made me yearn for earing the hammer back on a revolver. I prefer carrying it on an empty chamber.
10). I've never found the extra mag capacity on the 1911 has made me want to blaze away. My 1911 speaks with enough authority, that I tend to be peeking around after each shot, to see what the heck happened when I pulled the trigger that time...
11). CCI .45ACP shotshells give me something equivalent to a compact semi-auto .410 shotgun, which has been the bane of the odd Cat/Toad/Rabbit/Bitey snake over the years. Dont use them much, but freaking handy when you need them..
The nicest/sweetest handgun I've ever used was a mates Strayer Voight 2011 in .40Cal. Beautiful crisp trigger, and the all-alloy frame made the gun quick to point. I think it had 16-round mags, and was an absolute dream to shoot.
I'd also agree that I found a misfire in a revolver to be slightly more scarey than in the 1911. I can drop the rest of the ammo out of the 1911, while leaving the chamber locked(in case it's a hang-fire). Your only option to remove the rest of the ammo in the revolver, is to break it open.
I can see instances where a revolver might be a safer option, but mainly when there is more than one person using it.
I've never found the 1911 to be overly less safe to use than a revolver; it's all about your safety procedures.
I had plenty more reliability issues with the Colt revolver, but thats comparing apples with tangellos...
My 2 cents.
---------------------
Sharing the extreme love with cats in Outback QLD