Are Revolvers A Legitimate Sidearm?
 

Hey everyone, I am a fairly new airsoft player, just started playing a couple months ago. Just wanted to ask here if revolvers are considered a "legitimate" sidearm when compared to green gas powered pistols? By this I mean would mean when you compare the six round drum vs. eighteen rounds or higher magazines in green gas powered pistols, would this ammo handicap serve to make revolvers too undermatched vs. these other pistols even when they tend to have a higher FPS to extend extra range?

I currently run a WG C02 4" revolver and carry an extra two speed loaders to try and compensate for the low ammo count and low manual reload speed. I have a couple good matches in a day of play using it, but I can't deny that sometimes I feel disadvantaged vs. another player using pistols with a higher RoF and larger ammo magazines.

How does the community feel about this? Do revolvers have legitimate uses on the battlefield, or are they made more for target shooting and the like?

You can use one but you're setting yourself at a distinct disadvantage.

I play against hi-cap, high ROF aegs all the time with gas rifle running 30 round magazines. I have to pick my shots while the rest of the group can lay down a constant spray of BBs.

It's my choice to leave the AEGs in the locker so I've got no one to blame but me when I get lit up. I prefer the picking my shots style of play though so I get what I'm looking for out of the game.

I like to reload my pistol around 10/11 shots to keep with realism anyway. Obviously not everyone does this. With some semi-autos, you're talking about a magazine capacity in the twenties. Keep in mind that you're obviously going to be more careful even under fire with your 6 shots; a player who believes he has 28 in the magazine is more likely to fire blindly.

Whether or not a revolver is a good sidearm is really dependent on how you use it. I use my pistol more than I use my rifle, so I don't think I'd want to be in your situation. If it's truly just a sidearm in your case, I think 6 shots is generally enough. If you can't take 'em down in the time it takes to fire 6 shots from a revolver, you really should have reloaded your primary instead.

FPS isn't the only factor that determines range. There are hopup systems like TM which give you a lot of range even with their pistols firing around 300fps. I'd prefer the capacity advantage here.

Also, I hope you're not using that revolver without modification. Last I read it shot over 400fps stock. People can get hurt.

I borrowed a revolver for a game at Claybank this past weekend, and it was my primary.
I highly suggest against it.

6 shots isn't a huge problem in and by itself -- I realcap load my 1911 mags (8 rounds) without issue.

However, a revolver forces you to either shoot Double Action (a long, hard pull -- at least on my revolver) which adversely affects accuracy or manually cock each shot, making follow-up shots extremely slow.

Reloading a revolver is also very slow, even with a speedloader, and made worse in airsoft because we have to save our "spent" brass. I know there's some revolver shooters that can reload extremely fast, but unless you're a cowboy action shooter that probably isn't the case.

Point in case, I can fire off three 1911 mags (24 shots) in almost the same time it takes to fire 6 shots and reload a revolver.

Sure, but it will take a buttload of practice.

A revolver has an interesting advantage over semis - it doesn't jam.

But it's just airsoft lol doesn't matter too much

As a sidearm for those "Oh shit!!!" moments when your primary goes down, it's a sidearm like any other. If that's what you like, then use it. Realistically, you don't use your sidearm often in a game. It's usually only if you run out of ammo or have a malfunction with your primary.

However, I think the down sides of a revolver compared to a semi-auto pistol have been pretty well laid out. You're at a disadvantage compared to others with pistols. If you were participating in a pistol game with your revolver, you'd be wishing you had a rapid-fire pistol with single action and higher round count magazine.

There its also the appearance factor. To me, a modern loadout with a revolver for a sidearm says you are an officer. The sidearm is a dress piece.

Fixed...

I tried several and it didn't work because:

-revolvers do jam.it's airsoft.

-being double action, there's a lot of effort on parts and especially the cylinder lock that will break because it is made in pot metal even in supposedly quality revolvers like Tanaka's

-you will spend your time reloading

-most revolvers aren't very powerful which means you really have to hope your target will call their hit.

-powerful revolvers (like wingun) are too powerful (over 400 fps) which puts them above cqb field limits.

I’ve got a Marushin Unlimited revolver (the one with top & bottom rails) originally as a pure film prop, but I’ve fielded it in a couple games and I found it more a natural fit for me than the electric 1911’s or gas Berettas I’ve used in games before. The 8mm BBs have quite a kick. While the aesthetics don’t matter to the enemy, I’ve found my teammates get a bit of charge when they see me pull out the thing and cock the hammer back.

I agree that, for the same weight/cost, it’s not as efficient as an automatic pistol. I’ve got another extra six shells in a proper fitting speed loader, but that pales in comparison to, say, 49 rounds in an extended Glock mag.

Really, it’s best used as a holdout weapon, when your back is to the wall and you need to pick your shots. I also find it great for initially sweeping/securing a room in a ‘condition orange’, but not that useful in a raw CQB fight.

It's easy to be outgun with a revolver,but to surrender someone with it is priceless.

No.

Unless you are doing a 1970s FBI agent impression, NO

There is a reason revolvers have been relegated to the dustbin of history as combat sidearms.

still effective, sure, stacked up against no sidearm as an option yes.. as a choice .. its a foolish one.

but, but... Call of duty taught me that with the revolver i can get one shot kills from accross the map....

I thought it was the Winchester Model 1887 shotgun that did that.

this thread sucks. Destroying all my hopes and dreams.

.38 Special > All the guns.

Easily the most powerful handgun cartridge ever conceived.

Been watching too much film noir, have we?

I like the revolvers well until i saw a dan wesson with 6" or 8" barrle (cant remember wich) chrono 520 on co2. after that i didnt like them so much. the lack of parts and a hop up in some cases is the kill factor for me.

I liked when the Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum (don't remember actual name) was the most powerful handgun in the world. That way, you could always do a Dirty Harry impression...

I'm wondering if we can turn this thread into a "How to drill and practice with Revolvers in order to make them viable" repository, even as a theoretical exercise.

Here's a video for inspiration: world record 6 shots an reload 6 shots - YouTube

S&W model 29. Controllable with one hand, but just barely (and you better have a strong grip).

Revolvers have their place, just not in modern military units. A long time ago (mid-80's), I used to play paintball at Flagraiders. The main "gun" was a 40-rd pump-action marker. I carried a secondary - a 6-rd crossman paint marker revolver in 0.50 cal running CO2 caplets. I once played an entire day with just that pistol (my marker blew an o-ring) - and it was HOOT! Ammo reloading and trying to perform a plate swap while under fire was stressful, but fun.

I wouldn't try running a revolver these days - we're not using pumps or caplets in the field anymore. It might make for a cute backup, but then a derringer would be just a cute and just as useful.

http://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gou...n-batiment.jpg

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg706...pg&res=landing

http://notre-blog.oldiblog.com/sites...le_1391561.jpg

http://dsu.voila.net/D3/1.jpg

http://www.specialoperations.com/For...N/gi-elite.jpg


they really like their revolvers...

Lol'd!

- "Come on, this is 1500 yards shot, and it's pretty windy. You sure you can take that shot?"

-- "You bet, I have my revolver! Let me go get my bipod"

I believe those pics are from the nineties, I'm not sure they use them that much nowadays...

I do appreciate the responses thusfar in regards to my inquery of revolver usefulness. I have to say though, that the idea
Of bipodding one's sidearm sounds pretty silly. :) I accept that by using one, I am severly handicapping myself by being left with six shots and a relatively slow reload speed. I do like the accuracy that I get with this pistol, and like slink182 said, its quite a hoot to fire.

Also, Im glad I didnt get it in chrome, but in that blue/black tone. Someone came out the local field and people could see the chrome shining even in the woods! :O

I certainly don't expect to beat everyone I have to defend against, simply because its a revolver, and I can certainly work my way up to something more reliable and effective to help even the odds. Unfortunately I cannot ask in the forums yet for advice on pistols until my AV status is approved, hopefully within a couple days or so for that.

I do like the wide degree of comments that have come in in regards to use of revolvers, and if anyone that has used them before or currently have additional advice for their operation, I would love to hear from you.

Cliffradical, I would love to set up, or see, a thread in regards to practical use of revolvers in airsoft terms. I think it would be of great benefit to players old and new, such as myself, in how to be more effective with their weapons of choice. :)

I remember seeing a hi cap type system for wg revolvers i belive. basically it was a 1 piece unit that replaced the shells and held 4 bbs per chamber. i know nothing beyond that but it would solve the ammo cap issue

Yah, I had an AEG with 160 round midcaps, so I bought a revolver as pretty much a show piece. Now that I sold the AEG and have gone with a gas gun...Ive got to get myself a gbb pistol.

Revolvers are quite fun to play around with, but as some people said, they are not very accurate in double action. You can "Pirates of the Caribbean" it by hitting down the hammer with the palm of your hand, but I wouldn't recommend it as the hammer on your revolver may be weak. Mine seems to have been made from decent components, and I have done that on a few occasions, and succeeded.

This is what I’m running at the moment as my fallback:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...37021119_n.jpg

Yes, but only to rub it in when you take out a full auto aeg bb spammer with it.

Revolvers are just sexy.

covax nice piece!! too bad its probably worth more than my car lol

If you want more capacity you can always consider the KWC Python in 6". Each shell holds 4 BBs for 24 shot capacity. Pretty good range and accuracy with them too.

Thats some peice, it barely fits in the box!

yes there are always those that will make modifications to their guns to run the highest and fastest rate of fire (or find a gun that shoots fast and hard) possible but at the same time there's always somebody that will use a pump action shotgun.

my point is, it ultimately depends on your own play style and yes even skill.
there is no "right" or "wrong" sidearm, there is only what you make of it.
quite frankly, it doesn't matter if you give a 6 shot revolver or a 20 shot glock to an experienced player...either way, he'll kill you.

"The Colt Single Action Army, the greatest hand gun ever made. Six shots. More than enough to kill anything that moves"!
-Revolver Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid

I love the revolver for aesthetic purposes. Sure, you don't go too sidearms often, but I feel like a bada$$ mamajama with a revolver on my person.