Why do I like DA revolvers but hate DAO pistols?

[Jcordell]

I was twelve in 1980 when my father began my firearms education. He was an Idaho State Trooper so he naturally used his duty revolver as one of the weapons he introduced to me.

It was a S&W Model 65 with a 4" barrel. I fired 38 special full wadcutters. Probably 148 grain.

I also started with my dad's S&W Model 36 which was by my request. I had loved that little revolver since he had gotten it some five years earlier. Guess I watched too many detective movies. I still like that little revolver. So much that I now own my own.

Last of all was his S&W K-22 Target Masterpiece.

When it finally came time for me to own my own handgun it was a Colt Trooper Mk III with a 6" barrel. Christmas 1983.

Once in a great while I would shoot dad's Colt Commander or his Walther PPK. But 45 acp and .380 was expensive. 38 wadcutter loads were provided by ISP to the troopers for practice. It was plentiful.

Cut my teeth on revolvers. Then as the years went by I became infatuated with semi-autos. Revolvers were clunky and old-fashioned. I wanted Sig, Beretta, Browning, Glock and H&K.

I spent many years in the U.S. Army and was totally happy with all the automatics and semi-automatics. Entered into my law enforcement career in 2000 and carried a Sig Sauer P220 (45acp). Didn't miss revolvers. However my Colt Trooper was still in my safe. Hadn't shot it in years, but it was still there.

Fast forward to November 2003. I was at a local gunshow. For some reason ,that I still don't understand, a S&W M28 Highway Patrolman w/6" barrel caught my eye. I don't know why. I found myself looking at it and I began to remember those first shooting lessons with dad in the summer of 1980. Suddenly I knew that I had to have it. Didn't even haggle over the price. $350.00 and I walked out with a revolver. After twenty years I had bought a revolver.

I now have ten revolvers. The Sig P220 went for a trade to get one of those revolvers now in my safe and I now carry a Glock 19 as my duty sidearm.

I haven't quit semi-autos. I own four of them (G19,G26, Colt M1908 Hammerless and a Browning Buckmark) and I like them. However revolvers speak to me of a different time and place. In the practical sense they've helped me become a better shooter. Old fashioned or not I like them. Both revolvers and semi-autos have their strengths and weaknesses. Neither reigns supreme over the other.