Best Revolvers (2026): 8 Picks for Carry, Home, Hunting and .22

Best revolver overall

Guns.com, new (.357 Mag): from about $790 · MSRP: $1,029.00 (6-inch blued) · Weight: 45 oz

If you're buying one revolver to keep at home, shoot at the range and take to the woods now and then, the GP100 is the safe bet. It's a medium-frame, six-shot .357 Magnum built heavy enough to shoot full-power magnum loads all day, and it handles .38 Special just as well for cheap practice.

Ruger's spec sheet for the 6-inch blued GP100 (model 1704) lists 45 oz, a Hogue Monogrip, an adjustable rear sight and a ramp front. Ruger points to three design features: a triple-locking cylinder that locks into the frame at the front, rear and bottom; a grip frame that takes lots of aftermarket grips; and a design you can take apart into subassemblies without special tools. Ruger also uses a transfer bar mechanism as a guard against accidental discharge.

Ruger's suggested retail for the 1704 is $1,029.00. On October 9, 2026, Guns.com had it new from about $790, the lowest new GP100 in .357 that day. Ruger itself marks this exact model "Currently Unavailable," so stock may come and go. If you want stainless, the 6-inch stainless 1707 was about $860, and the 2.5-inch and 3-inch versions were about $850 and $880.

See Ruger GP100 at Guns.com →

Best 7-shot .357

Guns.com, new (.357 Mag): from about $880 · MSRP: $1,039.00 · Weight: 35.8 oz (3-inch)

The 686 Plus is Smith & Wesson's answer to the GP100, with one extra round. It's an L-frame stainless .357 that holds seven, and Smith & Wesson says the L-frame's frame and barrel were built for continuous magnum use and made to withstand heavy use.

The 3-inch 686 Plus (164300) is a great middle ground. Smith & Wesson lists it at 35.8 oz, 1.55 inches wide and 6 inches tall, with a synthetic grip and a red ramp front sight. That's light enough to carry on a belt and heavy enough to shoot magnum loads comfortably. If you want a home and range gun, the 4-inch version (164194) weighs 39.2 oz.

Smith & Wesson lists both at $1,039.00. On October 9, Guns.com had the 3-inch new from about $880; the 2.5-inch, 6-inch and 4-inch versions were about $900, $910 and $955.

See S&W 686 Plus at Guns.com →

Best steel-frame carry revolver

Guns.com, new (.357 Mag): 3-inch sold out on Oct 14 (was about $760); 2.25-inch from about $690 · MSRP: $939.00 · Weight: 27 oz

The SP101 is a small, five-shot .357 Magnum made of stainless steel. It's heavier than an aluminum snub-nose, and that's the point: the extra weight makes .357 Magnum loads easier to control, and steel holds up to years of practice.

Ruger lists the 3-inch SP101 (5719) at 27 oz and 8 inches long, with a black ramp front sight, an integral rear sight and a cushioned rubber grip that covers the backstrap so no metal touches your hand. Like the GP100, it has a triple-locking cylinder and a transfer bar. The 3-inch barrel gives you a longer sight radius than a 2-inch snubby without making it hard to carry.

Ruger's suggested retail is $939.00, and Ruger marks the 5719 "Currently Unavailable." Guns.com had it new from about $760 on October 9, but by October 14 the 3-inch was sold out there. The shorter 2.25-inch SP101s were in stock on October 14, from about $690 for the double-action-only model.

See Ruger SP101 at Guns.com →

Best lightweight carry revolver

Guns.com, new (.38 Spl +P): from about $500 · MSRP: $549.00 · Weight: 13.5 oz

If the gun has to ride in a pocket or inside your waistband every day, weight matters most. The LCR weighs just 13.5 oz, about half as much as the SP101, because Ruger builds it from three materials: an aerospace-grade aluminum frame, a polymer fire-control housing and a fluted stainless steel cylinder.

The model 5418 is the LCR most people should look at. Ruger lists it with a 1.87-inch barrel, five rounds of .38 Special +P, a Hogue Tamer Monogrip and a fiber-optic front sight, which is easier to see than the plain ramp on older snub-noses. Ruger says the LCR's cam design gives it a smooth trigger pull that doesn't stack (get heavier) at the end.

Ruger's suggested retail is $549.00. On October 14, Guns.com had the 5418 new from about $500, the lowest LCR price that day, with a "free can" promotion on the listing. On October 9, LCRx models with an exposed hammer were about $530, and a .357 Magnum LCRx was about $670. Light guns kick hard, so expect a snappy feel with +P ammo.

See Ruger LCR at Guns.com →

Best budget revolver

Guns.com, new (.38 Spl): from about $330 · MSRP: $430.99 · Weight: 22 oz

Most small .38 revolvers hold five rounds. The Taurus 856 holds six, and it costs less than any other centerfire revolver in this guide. No surprise "Taurus revolver" is one of the top revolver searches right now.

Taurus lists the 2-inch matte black 856 (2-85621) at 22 oz unloaded, 6.55 inches long and 1.41 inches wide, with a carbon steel frame, soft rubber grips, a fixed rear sight and a removable serrated front sight. It's double action and single action, so you can cock the hammer for a lighter, more careful shot. Taurus says the .38 Special handles everything from light target loads to self-defense rounds, and this model is rated for +P.

Taurus's MSRP is $430.99. On October 9, Guns.com had it new from about $330, and a concealed-hammer 856 was about $330. If you want a lighter version, the 856 Ultra-Lite was about $340.

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Best premium revolver

Guns.com, new (.357 Mag): from about $1,150 (4.25-inch matte stainless) · Colt MSRP: $1,699.00 · Capacity: 6

"Colt revolver" is the second-biggest revolver search right now, and the Python is the reason. Colt brought it back in stainless steel, and it's still the revolver many shooters dream about owning.

Colt's site lists the Python in 2.5, 3, 4.25, 5, 6 and 8-inch barrels, all six-shot .357 Magnums at $1,699.00. Guns.com's listing describes modern stainless alloys, a redesigned rear sight with 30 percent more steel under it, a recessed target crown and a front sight you can swap yourself. Colt doesn't list the weight on its product page, so we don't either.

Here's the good news on price. On October 9, Guns.com had a new 4.25-inch Python in matte stainless from about $1,150, and 2.5-inch and 3-inch versions were about $1,030 and $1,050. Those matte versions aren't the polished models on Colt's own page, so check the finish and grips in the listing. If you want Colt for less, the King Cobra .357 was listed from about $870.

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Best magnum revolver for hunting

Guns.com, new (.44 Mag): from about $1,110 · MSRP: $1,549.00 · Weight: 53 oz

"Magnum revolver" is one of the top revolver searches right now, and for hunting with a handgun, the Super Redhawk is the one to look at. It's a big, stainless six-shot .44 Magnum built with extra steel in the top strap, frame walls and barrel area to handle heavy hunting loads.

Ruger lists the 7.5-inch model (5501) at 53 oz and 13 inches long, with a Hogue Tamer grip that has a recoil cushion under the web of your hand. The best part for hunters: Ruger machines scope mounts right into the barrel rib and includes scope rings, so you can add a handgun scope without drilling or extra bases. Ruger also says the .44 Magnum models fire .44 Special, which is softer and cheaper for practice.

Ruger's suggested retail is $1,549.00. On October 9, Guns.com had the 7.5-inch new from about $1,110; the 9.5-inch model was a bit cheaper at about $1,070, and the 2.5-inch Alaskan for bear country was about $1,210.

See Ruger Super Redhawk at Guns.com →

Best .22 revolver

Guns.com, new (.22 LR): from about $190 · MSRP: $269.00 · Weight: 30 oz

"22 revolver" is one of the biggest revolver searches, and the Wrangler is the easiest way into one. It's a single-action, six-shot .22 LR cowboy-style revolver that costs less than $200, and it's a fun way to teach new shooters the basics.

Ruger lists the Wrangler (2002) at 30 oz with a 4.62-inch cold hammer-forged barrel, a black Cerakote finish on an aluminum-alloy cylinder frame, checkered synthetic grips and fixed sights. Ruger includes a transfer bar and a loading-gate interlock for safety.

Ruger's suggested retail is $269.00. On October 9, Guns.com had it new from about $190, with 7.5-inch and 3.75-inch versions under $200 too. If you want to spend even less, the Heritage Rough Rider .22 was about $130 new (Heritage's MSRP is $165.99). And if you've seen the North American Arms .22 Magnum mini revolver trending, those tiny five-shooters were listed from about $250 on Guns.com the same day.

See Ruger Wrangler at Guns.com →