Revolvers are making a bit of a come-back. In some states restrictions on Semi-Autos have limited selection, in addition newer revolvers have come to the market in recent years.
So, what is a revolver—revolvers are what people think of as “cowboy guns” they have a cylinder that holds cartridges, and it rotates to fire each round. Most revolvers held six rounds but that has changed in recent years some hold as many as eight others as few as five.
As a child the first gun I learned to shoot was a Smith & Wesson Model 19 4” .357 magnum. I remember it being quite heavy when I was a kid. Still to this day one of the most fun guns I have ever shot. When used with 38 Special’s it has a nice light recoil. The .357 was a bit much for my small hands. As an adult I have no objection to the recoil on a 357 magnum.
In terms of form factor recovers are bigger than their semi-auto cousins for the same barrel length and are often heavier. The grip on a revolver sits behind the cylinder making them slightly longer. The barrel sits higher over the grip than many autos which does can cause more felt recoil and muzzle flip.
So, is a revolver good for home defense? It can be a great home defense gun. While it holds less ammunition than a traditional semi-auto, revolvers are simple to operate and maintain. In many ways cleaning them is simpler, there is no disassembly just open the cylinder and start to clean. The trigger pull is consistent if you use a double action pull and the cartridges are readily available.
| Revolver advantages | Revolver disadvantages |
| Simple | Cost |
| Reliable | Less ammunition capacity |
| Functional | Harder to reload in a gun fight |
| Fewer manufacturer and choices | More felt recoil for same cartridge |
| Can be heavier than a semi-auto |
I have revovlers, but still choose a semi-auto for home defense because that is what I also conceal carry. I prefer revolvers for specific tasks such as defense against aggressive game, plinking and just all-round shooting fun. That doesn’t mean they aren’t good just not my personal choice. There are some very powerful revolvers and those should likely be avoided for home defense.
Some suggested Calibers in revolvers that are common: .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Smith & Wesson Special, 9mm Luger with “moon clips” Less common would be 10mm/40 S&W with “moon clips” and 45 ACP with “moon clips.”
Some notes about Revolvers is that there are parings that can be shot from the same revolver. For example, a .357 Magnum can shoot .38 Special (this is not .38 S&W!) and .38 Special +P. A .44 magnum can shoot .44 S&W Special. A 10mm can shoot .40 S&W. Another advantage of revolvers is many calibers can be found in lever action rifles and carbines.
If you have never shot a revolver, you should try it!
–Castle
