The mighty wheel gun. The thought of a revolver might invoke memories of Dirty Harry’s Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum, or perhaps John Wayne carrying Samuel Colt’s “Gun That Won the West” - the venerable Colt Single Action Army. No matter what memory is in the forefront when a revolver comes into view, it is undeniable that there is something compelling and even downright sexy about a beautiful wheelgun.

Even so, do revolvers have a place in the modern world? Is a CCW revolver a good option? How about revolvers for home defense? Read on and let’s have a look!

Is a Revolver good for Concealed Carry?

Walter White in Breaking Bag with a Ruger LCR Revolver

Revolvers might be incredibly reliable weapons with the ability to have extreme takedown power but is a CCW revolver the best choice? When considering a revolver CCW there are some things to consider. First - is the weapon easily able to be concealed? Many revolvers are big and heavy, with an odd shape to try to conceal. Second - capacity is limited on the vast majority of CCW revolvers. When compact semi-automatic handguns can carry 18 rounds in a very light and smaller package, a six round revolver CCW might not be the easiest option.

All of that aside, a revolver can pack quite a punch - especially with a magnum round. The Smith and Wesson Airweight revolver is a very light weapon that packs a heavy punch. Keep in mind the Airweight revolver also is a “snub nose."  A snub nose revolver CCW just means a very short barrel that is usually under 2 inches long. Consider the recoil of a lightweight, short-barreled revolver CCW when looking into guns like the Smith and Wesson Airweight revolver.

Reloading can be much more time consuming with a revolver CCW. Speed loaders are available but take a lot of training to use proficiently as opposed to simply inserting a magazine. Something else to keep in mind!

Are Revolvers Good Home Defense Weapons?

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Because a revolver is an accurate and reliable weapon with excellent takedown power (depending on the caliber chosen) it can be an excellent choice for home defense! Revolvers for home defense were utilized for decades and there is no reason to not utilize them in the modern time! Keep in mind some of the details mentioned above; recoil, limited ammunition capacity and weight, as well as the lack of ability to attach a tactical flashlight on many revolvers - a must for many shooters on home defense weapons.

That being said, one might be inclined to argue capacity is not an issue when a trained shooter steps up and raises his S&W .357 Magnum to a threat. The takedown power in the six shots inside that S&W .357 revolver should be more than enough to neutralize any threat - for a highly proficient shooter.

Best Revolver Calibers

As we’ve stated a few times now - takedown power with many revolver calibers is a major plus for many shooters that decide to utilize revolvers for home defense or revolver CCW. Many popular revolver calibers provide some serious knockdown power such as .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum. The punishing energy delivered by these rounds cannot be understated. It’s important to consider recoil and barrel length when choosing the proper caliber for our revolver. Take it from us - shooting a .44 Magnum out of a 2.5” barrel is not a lot of fun when it comes to recoil! Some popular revolver calibers include:

• .22 Long Rifle
• .38 Special
• .357 Magnum (.38 Special may be fired out of a revolver chambered for .357 Magnum, but NOT vice-versa)
• .44 Magnum
• .45 Colt

What’s the Most Popular Concealed Carry Revolver?

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Many options exist for excellent CCW Revolvers on the market currently - such as the Smith and Wesson Airweight revolver previously mentioned. We must consider size and concealability first and foremost. Remember that the main weaknesses of a semi-automatic are magazines and feeding correctly - not an issue for a revolver CCW, but a revolver has limited capacity (usually 5-6 rounds) and if that revolver ever does malfunction it’ll be something that can’t be easily fixed in the field. Luckily, CCW revolvers are incredibly reliable! Some models to check out include:

• Smith and Wesson Airweight Revolver
• Smith and Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38
• Ruger LCR
• Colt King Cobra Carry
• Ruger SP101
• Smith and Wesson 686 Series
• Kimber K6s
• Smith and Wesson Performance Center 442
• Smith and Wesson Model 642
• Chiappa Rhino 2DS

What’s the Best Revolver in 2022?

'Best' will always be a subjective term. What’s the best revolver for concealed carry is a different question than what is the best home defense revolver for many. Some shooters might prefer a S&W 357 Magnum for home defense and carry a small .38 Special for their CCW revolver. All of the aforementioned models of revolvers will be fantastic, reliable choices for whatever the shooter requires! The Kimber K6s stands out as being a great choice, holding 6 rounds, being light and slim for a CCW revolver. That being said, I would prefer the Smith and Wesson Model 642 for a home defense revolver. It’s hard to beat the takedown power that comes from a S&W .357 Magnum!

Find the revolver that best fits the requirements, fits the hand well and then become proficient with the firearm! The importance of practicing and proper training can never be understated!

Happy Hunting For Your Wheel Gun!

We hope this helped point you in the right direction for finding the perfect revolver CCW or revolvers for home defense! While they can still be a great option in the modern age - you might remain unconvinced that the pros don’t outweigh the cons. That’s perfectly understandable in the modern times we live in! Capacity and ease of use/concealment are important so we wouldn’t fault you for wanting to carry a nice semi-automatic handgun.