This is a sentiment often echoed by the uninitiated—or by those who’ve never had a revolver malfunction. It’s something I once believed myself. To understand why people hold this belief, we first need to step back and examine the broader context.

From Revolvers to Automatics

The question that has plagued the firearms world since its inception is simple: How can we shoot faster? The answer, in broad strokes, lies in reducing reloading time and increasing the rate of fire. This quest for speed took us from single-shot muskets to lever-action rifles and, revolvers. The next major leap in firearms technology came with the advent of autoloading guns, which, through clever design, improved materials, and an expanded understanding of mechanics, could both shoot and load the next round in a single action.

However, by the time automatic firearms were in development, the revolver had already established itself as the go-to handgun. Similarly, bolt-action and lever-action rifles had become the standard for long guns. As is often the case with any pioneering technology, early automatic firearms were unreliable. They wouldn’t hit their stride until the World Wars. Yet even after the rise of automatics, revolvers continued to hold their ground for decades, partly because large organizations are slow to adopt new technologies, preferring instead to refine what already works.

The Ethos of the Revolver

For many first-time gun buyers, purchasing a firearm is a significant decision. More often than not, they’ll turn to a trusted family member or friend for advice. And who better to ask than someone with experience?

Take, for example, a woman looking to protect herself with a firearm. Unsure of where to start, she asks her father for help. He may not know much about guns, but he does have a buddy who’s a retired cop. So Dad asks his friend for advice, and the retired officer, eager to help, recommends a good snub-nosed .357 revolver. His reasoning seems sound: it’s small, lightweight, simple to operate, easy to carry, can shoot two different rounds—.38 Special for manageable recoil and .357 Magnum when more stopping power is needed. And, of course, it doesn’t jam.

So, Do Revolvers Jam?

What people generally mean when they say revolvers don’t jam is that the empty casing can’t jam the gun as it might in a semi-automatic while being ejected. This is because a revolver retains the casing within the cylinder when firing. However, while revolvers may not experience the same types of jams that semi-autos do, they can still have mechanical failures. The key difference is that these malfunctions are often internal and may require specialized tools and expertise to repair.

Yesterday and Today

Looking back at history, it’s clear why someone might think that revolvers are virtually indestructible. At a time when semi-automatics often struggled with reliability issues, the revolver was the more dependable choice.

Fast-forward to today, and many of the once-problematic semi-automatics have been refined and perfected. They now dominate the handgun market, while revolvers have been largely relegated to a niche role. Yet, for many who remember the revolver’s golden age, the old myths and sentiments persist, passed down as “words of wisdom” to the next generation.

Conclusion: Revolvers Still Have a Place

That being said, revolvers certainly still have a place in the world of firearms. They are iconic, reliable, and, let’s be honest, a lot of fun to shoot. But as a carry option, they are no longer at the top of the list for most people. Modern semi-autos offer greater capacity, faster reloads, and come in more compact options that suit today’s growing needs.

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