Revolvers are making a comeback. A big one. Why? I guess we are all bored with black plastic guns, finally. If you’re like me, the revolver is a bit foreign to you. I’ve shot ten times the ammo from an automatic than from a revolver. Revolver beginners might feel a little confused, but have no fear, we’ve gathered the five best revolvers for beginners.
A Few Beginner Revolvers to Get You Started
S&W 432 UC
I’m biased toward this gun. It’s probably my favorite revolver ever. I carry it fairly often, and I love shooting it. Hitting targets at 50 yards with a snub nose revolver will never get old. The presence of a rear iron sight instead of a trench in the top strap results in a gun that’s super easy to shoot. The use of the .32 H&R Magnum cartridge makes it easy to control and shoot with less recoil than more traditional revolver calibers.
The Ultimate Carry Configuration gives you a nice, fat grip that’s easy to handle and makes drawing easy. The trigger is fantastic, and S&W ditched the internal lock with the UC guns. The use of .32 H&R Magnum allows you to chamber six rounds rather than five. The downside is clear: the .32 H&R Magnum isn’t as common and can be expensive. However, the sights, the low recoil, and the excellent features make it a great beginner’s gun.
Taurus 856 Defender TORO
If you’re like me, you’re spoiled by red dots on handguns. I won’t purchase a modern semi-auto unless it’s optics-ready these days. Revolvers have been hit or miss with optics, and most revolver-ready optics are designed for competition or hunting. The 856 Defender TORO is a carry revolver designed to integrate micro red dots we see on semi-auto platforms.
The gun uses a plate to mount an RMSc-style optic, and it’s perfect for beginners. The 856 Defender is a six-shot, .38 Special revolver with a three-inch barrel. That combination of features makes this a fantastic revolver for new shooters. Red dots make shooting faster, further, and straighter easier. It takes a little adjustment to jump from optics on semi-autos to optics on revolvers, but it’s not a big jump.
Ruger LCR .22LR
One of the best ways to get your toes into the revolver world is to find an affordable .22LR. The Ruger LCR offers a .22LR gun that could be carried with ease if need be. It offers a low-recoil alternative to centerfire calibers and can hold a total of eight rounds. Recoil amounts to a small burp and not much more. The trigger is a bit heavier than most LCR models but is still smooth and easy to handle.
The Ruger LCR utilizes polymer to keep the gun light while also keeping the cost fairly low. The ammo is incredibly common and affordable. Even high-end .22LR costs hardly anything. The LCR is an extremely common and easy-to-find revolver that won’t leave you high and dry. The little LCR in .22LR makes getting into snub nose revolvers affordable, offers additional capacity, and strays away from the stiff recoil associated with these small guns. The .22LR is a great place for beginners to start.
Charter Arms Double Dog
Charter Arms has made a good comeback in recent years. I’m a revolver newbie, but revolver experts I know and respect have shown that Charter Arms has made some serious quality improvements. The Double Dog is a convertible revolver that fires either .357 Magnum or 9mm. The Double Dog allows you to swap cylinders in seconds.
The 3-inch variant is my suggested model. It makes taming .357 fairly easy and turns .38 Special and 9mm into soft shooters. The ability to use multiple calibers makes life a lot cheaper and makes ammo much easier to find. The Double Dog is simple as far as revolvers go, but I’m a fan of 9mm wheelguns. I’d train with a 9mm for the low price and carry a .357 Magnum.
S&W Model 10
The S&W Model 10 is the quintessential revolver. It’s been kicking around since 1899 and has gone by many names. It’s a medium-frame .38 Special revolver that served countless police forces and many military forces. They have been produced en masse, and S&W makes a Classic model these days. You can find an affordable Model 10 on the used market with ease.
A Model 10 with a 4-inch barrel is a fantastic revolver for new shooters. It’s not too big, not too small, and can be a solid and smooth shooter. It’s one of the most proven revolvers, and while it’s remarkably simple, it’s also remarkably capable. It has low recoil, excellent accuracy, and a just-right configuration that makes it a wonderful gun for revolver beginners.
Beginners and Revolvers
As a dude spoiled on automatics, I will say revolvers have an interesting learning curve. I don’t shoot them as well as automatics, but I’m having a ton of fun learning. If you’re on the fence, my advice is to dive in. Find a good revolver for beginners and start making that wheel spin.
