Polymer is an odd frame material for a revolver, but you should not let that discourage you from trying one of the best snubbies on the market! Charter Arms Undercover. The added Crimson Trace laser grip available on the LCR makes for even quicker target acquisition and clarity. Even though it’s small, it’s still comfortable to hold and has very good accuracy, thanks to the combined strengths of an excellent, best-in-category trigger on a stock revolver and better than average high visibility sights.
The Ruger LCR is a very small and compact gun with a barrel length of 1.875 inches and weight of 17.5 ounces. I like the newer 9mm version because 9mm is a very popular and plentiful round.Ĭhances are you even carry a 9mm yourself! 9mm isn’t a traditional revolver round, so this is fairly innovative territory for Ruger, and I think it offers a good balance between stopping power and lighter recoil.
The Ruger LCR has established itself as a reliable subcompact revolver and is now offered in a wide range of calibers and variants. This weight also makes it the best gun on the list in terms of recoil characteristics as its mass will reduce kick. While the weight may make it little less comfortable to carry than the other revolvers on this list, it also means it will hold up to repeated heavy magnum. Very heavy for its size, weighing almost 10 ounces more than the 638 Airweight. Like all Ruger revolvers this gun is overbuilt, noted for its strength and reliability, and heavy. The SP101 is available with or without a spurless hammer depending on user preference. The grip is generous for a compact revolver, but it may benefit from a thinner set of stocks for carry. It is simple, rugged, fires the powerful. The Ruger SP101 is the carry option of choice for Ruger aficionados. This revolver has a smooth double action pull with only a little stacking toward the end of the stroke, and a crisp, snappy single action that S&W is famous for. This specific model has a shrouded hammer, meaning the hammer won’t get snagged on your holster or shirt when you go to pull the gun, but can still be cocked to produce a very light single-action trigger pull. That means it’s accurate enough to deal any self-defense situation.
At 10 yards with a variety of ammunition the 638 is more than capable of 1.5 inch to 2.5 inch groupings. The Model 638 is a durable gun that offers a balance between compact size, power and accuracy. The revolver is built on the S&W J-frame, the smallest frame they produce, but still has the quality and attention to detail that S&W revolvers are known for. The S&W Model 638 is a lightweight, 5-shot revolver with a 1.75-inch barrel. S&W is a major name in the gun market and are best known for a legacy of producing quality revolvers. Now that we’ve introduced the revolver actions, let’s look at some of the best concealed carry revolvers on the market.
Double actions are now the norm and allow for quicker firing.Ī double action revolver as a rule does not have a manual safety because the trigger pull is long and heavy enough to prevent both the trigger form jolting to the rear when struck or dropped, but also guards somewhat against a wandering or misplaced trigger finger.īut it also means that when you need it you won’t have to swipe off a safety or cock the hammer- you can just pull the trigger and it will fire. Modern double action revolvers cock and fire the pistol all in one trigger pull. This is only true for a single action revolver, a venerable design which requires the hammer to be manually cocked before you pull the trigger to fire. If you don’t have much experience with revolvers, you might think that they all have to be manually cocked to fire. Yet today, with modern production techniques and ammunition, small size doesn’t mean less power. Secondly, the small size means makes it more likely to be carried instead of left behind, and allows more flexibility in carry placement on the body.
For one, the size and weight means it’s easy to hide, won’t weigh you down and won’t feel too bulky or uncomfortable when sitting. Personally, I like a smaller revolver for concealed carry for a few reasons. You won’t have to worry about safeties, loading magazines or decocking – just pull the trigger and the gun will shoot. While most will opt for a magazine fed semi-auto, revolvers still have advantages that make them a good concealed carry option.Īs a concealed carry defensive weapon, a revolver, while only allowing for 5 to 7 bullets between cumbersome reloads, sports simplicity and reliability as its primary attributes. Pistols offer the best balance between concealability and power and are the primary defensive firearm. The increasingly common acts of violence in the modern world means that the incentive to carry a self-defense weapon is higher than ever.