Rethinking handguns

[bearfacedkiller]

It all depends where you live. The bear population is fairly high here but you don’t see very many bears over 200-220 pounds. There are a few bears taken by hunters in the 300 pound range but they are the exception and usually they are taken by hunters with dogs. The big ones are elusive.

I carry a .357 in the woods most of the time but occasionally carry a 9mm or .45acp. I have never felt unprepared.

Like I said before, around here the bears have a healthy fear of people because they get hunted hard. It is illegal to bait bears here but you can hunt them with dogs. Many see that as cruel to the bears because they get chased for miles before being treed and killed. The state allows it because it keeps the bears scared of people. I see them often and usually all you see is their back side as they are running away.

[JRinFL]

One of our local bears walking in front of my truck. This is detail clipped from a security camera video, hence the poor details. This is the biggest one we see, usually it is some youngsters or mothers with cubs. The latter being the most dangerous if you get between mama and babies.

This one is over 3 foot at the shoulders.

[jpm2]

Haven't been charged by a bear, but I did do some reloading back in the day
and when it comes to rethinking handguns, I must veer toward that subject.
Not double-stack 15 round magazines vs a six-shot revolver speed loader.
This is about reloading ammunition. Here is something to consider.

The survivalist/prepper may want to be able to roll his own.
Primers will be an issue no matter what firearm is chosen,
but beyond that another consideration is powder, cartridge cases and bullets.

Powder can be made from basic elements: sulfur, charcoal and saltpeter.
A semi-auto would be finicky. A revolver would offer wider tolerance.

Same with bullets. Bullets can be cast from tire weights and so forth.
Ones that would work in a revolver, in a semi-auto could be problematic.

But apocalypse or not, one thing to be said for revolvers is
they are kind to spent cases and can be reloaded countless times.

A semi-auto rudely yanks the spent case out under heat and pressure.
Cases may become shorter with each cycle of firing and reloading, become brittle and split.
Over time this can become an issue because semi-autos headspace on the mouth of cases.
They also ding the cases on their way out and let them bounce around on concrete.
Or they end up in the dirt and debris. A shooter interested in reloading has to hunt around and find them
which may not be wise in some circumstances. They also may leave evidence behind.

A revolver neatly ejects spent cases unmarred into hand at the shooters convenience.
They last a long, long time.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a hide-bound semi-auto enthusiast.
But one has to give the revolver its due.

Excellent points, and much of the reasons we keep revolvers handy when out and about.

I've loaded everything from shot shells to solids to mag safes, for the same gun, but usually get more reloads from 45acp/40/9mm brass than my 357/38/44mag hot loads, especially hot 38's. They stretch and eventually split. But you're right, rounds that headspace on the rim get shorter.

There's specific circumstances and events I'd choose a semi without question, but overall revolvers are much more versatile, and if had to keep only one side arm, it would be a revolver.