Revolvers

Revolvers have endured for well over a century because the fundamentals are hard to improve on—a simple, reliable action with no magazine to fail, no slide to rack, and a manual of arms that takes minutes to learn. Whether you’re looking for a snub-nose .38 Special for carry, a .357 Magnum for home defense, or a .44 Magnum for hunting and trail use, Impact Guns carries revolvers from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus, Colt, and Kimber across every major caliber and frame size.

Read our full Revolver Buying Guide ↓

Choosing a Caliber

.38 Special is the most popular revolver caliber for carry and home defense—mild recoil, widely available ammunition, and effective defensive loads make it an easy recommendation for new revolver shooters. .357 Magnum revolvers chamber both .357 Mag and .38 Special, giving the shooter flexibility to practice with lighter loads and carry or hunt with full-power magnum rounds. .44 Magnum steps up to serious hunting and field use. .22 LR revolvers are ideal for training, plinking, and introducing new shooters. The right caliber depends on intended use—most buyers start with .357 Magnum for maximum versatility.

Frame Size—J, K, L, and N

Smith & Wesson’s frame size letters have become the industry shorthand for revolver sizing. J-frame revolvers (Model 642, 340PD) are the smallest—5-shot snub-noses optimized for carry. K-frames (Model 10, 19) are mid-size service revolvers with 6-shot cylinders and longer barrels. L-frames (Model 686) are heavier-duty mid-size frames designed for sustained .357 Magnum use. N-frames (Model 27, 629) are full-size magnums for .357, .44, and .45. Ruger’s SP101, GP100, and Redhawk follow a similar small-to-large progression. Frame size determines how much recoil the gun absorbs and how concealable it is.

Best Revolvers for Concealed Carry

The J-frame Smith & Wesson snub-nose has been the benchmark carry revolver for generations. The Model 642 (aluminum frame, .38 Special +P) and Model 340PD (scandium frame, .357 Magnum) are the most popular. Ruger’s LCR (Lightweight Carry Revolver) offers a polymer frame and a trigger generally regarded as better than the J-frame’s out of the box. Kimber’s K6s is a premium option with a 6-shot cylinder in a J-frame footprint—one extra round over the standard 5-shot carry revolvers. All are effective; the choice comes down to trigger preference and budget.

Best Revolvers for Home Defense

For home defense, the longer barrel and heavier frame of a .357 Magnum K- or L-frame makes sense. The Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus (7-shot .357 Magnum) is one of the most respected home-defense revolvers ever made. Ruger’s GP100 is equally capable with slightly more robust construction. Either can fire .38 Special for reduced recoil or full-power .357 Magnum for maximum performance. The revolver’s advantage in home defense is simplicity—no magazine to seat, no slide to rack, no safety to disengage under stress.

Hunting and Field Revolvers

The .44 Magnum remains the most popular hunting revolver caliber, offering enough energy for deer, hog, and black bear at handgun distances. Smith & Wesson’s Model 629 and Ruger’s Redhawk and Super Redhawk are the benchmarks. The .357 Magnum is adequate for deer inside 50 yards and serves double duty as a trail gun. The Taurus Raging series and Ruger Super Redhawk push into .454 Casull and .480 Ruger territory for those who hunt dangerous game or want maximum power. Scope-mounting provisions are standard on most hunting revolvers.