I have definite preferences in personal defense handguns. I carried capable and effective big bore handguns as a peace officer. I strongly prefer the 1911 handgun. But I could not do without certain types of revolvers and often carry a revolver as the primary handgun. The author finds the .44 Magnum Taurus and Inova light a good combination, pictured on the right. .I am serious about revolvers, and I have a dog in the fight. I care about the good guys and girls and do not want you or yours injured by our protein fed ex con criminal class. I am more interested in an individual being well armed with a firearm that suits them than in seeing them adopt my personal gear. I have on hand examples of handguns that are far from my first choice but which I use to further an individuals raining. A type that I both train with and carry is the revolver. I have noted a move toward speed and high capacity among permit holders and hat is fine if you are able to control and utilize I these traits. But there remains much to be said for an accurate first shot and a heavy blow-delivered quickly. We have to ask if shooting fast in a volley of shots is the answer. I reiterate-hit hard and hit first.

 There are tactical nuances that must be discerned in each person's lifestyle. The frequency of practice and personal preference is always important. The shooters size, statue, and personal experience are important. This young woman is practicing with her .44 against a knife attack. The revolver may be placed against an opponents body and fired repeatably if need be. The individual should choose wisely based upon many things. Whiter you decide upon manually operated (revolver) or recoil operated (automatic) you have to stay behind the situation with modern handguns and most of us would be able to find a suitable defensive handgun. Most of us will be able to find something that fits our hands and something we are able to conceal. If you choose a revolver holster  technology is important. The holster needs to get the cylinder off the belt and high enough to avoid the boa that swallowed the mongoose look. That are good holsters that handle the revolver in high fashion. These include a number of good designs from GDS holsters.

 A perceived downside of the revolver is a meager capacity of five to eight rounds depending upon the design. The revolver will only go bang six times but it can be counted on to deliver these shots without fail. I firmly believe that you will win the fight with the ammunition in the handgun. If you do not solve the problem with the gunload in the handgun then your battle is probably going to be short. If the revolver's limited capacity bothers you there are two options. The first option is well respected and was adopted by Bill Hickock, Jesse James, Jim Cirillo and others. In Mexico General George Patton ran out of ammunition during a gun battle and thereafter adopted the carry of two handguns. Quite a few handgunners prefer using two revolvers to carrying a high capacity automatic pistol. General Patton stated that to scare people you should carry an automatic but to kill them use a revolver. It worked for him. Carrying a pair of revolvers, whether a large one and a small one or a pair of snub .38s is a proven tactic. The second alternative is to learn to execute a rapid speedload with the revolver. You will not equal the slap dash of the automatic but with practice-and you have probably been loading the revolver wrong-you can get pretty smart. While carrying a pair of revolvers and learning to speed load is a laudable pursuit hitting with the first shot is preferred.

 How does the revolver shoot? The long rolling double action of the revolver is ideal for those who sometimes clutch a light automatic pistol trigger. Once this action is learned, to press the double action trigger, reset, and press again in the same sequence, the revolver is capable of producing excellent accuracy in a combat situation. The revolver presents clutching and offers excellent control at moderate range. The revolver barrel may be laid against cover in a defensive situation and allows the shooter to fire accuracy from a braced position. If we do not have a perfect grip on the handgun, the revolver will still fire. There is no limp wristing a revolver.

The ammunition that may be fired in a revolver is worthy of note. While there are good automatic pistol cartridges few are as versatile and effective as the .357 Magnum, yet the Magnum may be chambered in relatively light revolvers. My light Taurus six shot two inch barrel revolver is controllable but offers excellent wound potential. The revolver may be fired with light loads for practice, shotshell for pests, and heavy loads for personal defense. The Cor Bon PowRBall 100 grain load is controllable but jolts a bullet to 1300 fps. The 110 grain JHP is about as fast. For more penetration Cor Bon offers a 125 grain JHP. This type of load is proven in personal defense. You simply have to master the handgun.

                I sometimes carry a four inch barrel .44 Magnum revolver in a Milt Sparks belt holster. This revolver is very accurate and gives me an edge in accuracy and penetration over practically anything the opposition will field. One shot, one stop is the rule with the .44 Magnum. I often deploy this handgun with the Cor Bon 165 grain JHP load. This is a fine urban load, controllable and frangible. When in a more rural setting I often load up with a good deer load to put meat on the table, such as Fiocchi’s 200 gr. JHP. Full power 240s are a bit much for the four inch gun. That is versatility and some of the choice is about lifestyle. Take a hard look at the revolver. This is lifesaver going into the third century.