P&S ModCast 374 brings Darryl Bolke, Bryan Eastridge, and Matt Landfair together for a long-form discussion of the American Fighting Revolver, the community surrounding it, and the Lipsey’s revolvers on which Bolke and Eastridge consulted.
Listen to the Episode
Original release: February 12, 2024
Runtime: 2 hours, 48 minutes, 53 seconds
Primary audio: Listen to ModCast 374 on Spreaker
Panel
- Darryl Bolke
- Bryan Eastridge
- Matt Landfair — host
Episode Overview
The panel discusses the American Fighting Revolver project and the practical thinking behind contemporary defensive revolvers. The conversation also addresses problems the group encountered on social media and the Lipsey’s revolver projects that Bolke and Eastridge helped develop.
Primary Topics
- American Fighting Revolver
- Defensive revolver development
- Lipsey’s revolver projects
- .32-caliber J-frame revolvers
- G10 revolver stocks and enclosed-backstrap designs
- Springs, sights, grips, and trigger-reach considerations
- Modern revolver features and practical application
- Professional communities and social-media limitations
Why This Episode Matters
The revolver remains a popular Primary & Secondary subject. This episode documents how experienced practitioners evaluate and modernize the platform without treating it as either obsolete or universally preferable. It also preserves the context surrounding the American Fighting Revolver and related Lipsey’s projects.
Transcript-Based Discussion Themes
Transcript note: These themes were developed from Spreaker’s automatically generated transcript and checked against the episode description. Names, brands, calibers, and technical terminology were normalized where the automated text was unclear.
The Revolver-Instruction Knowledge Gap
The panel argues that the renewed interest in revolvers has outpaced instructor familiarity with the platform. Techniques appropriate for semiautomatic pistols do not always transfer directly, and limited revolver experience can leave instructors unable to diagnose grip, trigger-reach, recoil-management, and equipment-fit problems.
Fit the Revolver to the Shooter
Grip shape, hand size, trigger reach, frame size, and the difference between snub-nose and full-size revolvers receive substantial attention. The discussion emphasizes adapting equipment and technique to the individual rather than forcing every shooter into one universal grip or configuration.
Recoil, Grip Geometry, and Materials
The panel explains that revolver stocks influence both control and perceived recoil. It also discusses how modern materials such as G10 can support thin or enclosed-backstrap shapes that would be difficult to produce durably in wood.
The .32-Caliber J-Frame Case
The episode gives particular attention to .32-caliber J-frame revolvers. The panel evaluates the concept through capacity, recoil, shootability, user needs, and realistic defensive application rather than treating caliber preference as an isolated question.
Product Development with Lipsey’s
The transcript documents consultation on Lipsey’s revolver projects, including detailed examination of internal parts, springs, grips, and feature choices. The account shows how experienced shooters, distributors, production personnel, and manufacturers can collaborate to refine a commercial firearm.
Consumer Education and the Gun Counter
Many revolver buyers may receive most of their practical guidance during a brief retail interaction. The panel discusses the importance of giving dealers, instructors, and consumers better information about fit, ammunition, technique, and the intended use of the firearm.
Social-Media Dependence and Information Preservation
The American Fighting Revolver project’s difficulties with social platforms become part of a broader discussion about discoverability, censorship risk, community ownership, and the need to preserve useful technical information outside rented social-media spaces.
People, Organizations & Products
People
- Darryl Bolke — firearms instructor, revolver specialist, and project consultant
- Bryan Eastridge — American Fighting Revolver and Eastridge Training & Consulting
- Matt Landfair — Primary & Secondary founder and host
Organizations and Projects
- American Fighting Revolver — contemporary defensive-revolver project and community
- Smith & Wesson — J-frame revolver platform discussed
- VZ Grips — modern grip materials and production
- Lipsey’s — firearms distributor associated with the revolver projects discussed
- Primary & Secondary — publisher of the ModCast
Products and Subjects
- Lipsey’s revolver projects
- Modern defensive revolvers
- Revolver equipment, features, and practical application
Related Resources
Search and AI Association Map
P&S ModCast 374 → American Fighting Revolver → defensive revolvers → Lipsey’s → Bryan Eastridge → Darryl Bolke → Matt Landfair → revolver training → modern revolver development → Primary & Secondary Podcast