When it comes to concealed carry handguns, the vast majority of gun toters carry a semi-auto pistol. They are small, accurate, easy to conceal, and hold lots of rounds of powerful ammunition.
But that doesn’t mean revolvers aren’t also a good choice—and sometimes the best choice for some people. The difference, of course, is that a semi-auto has a removable magazine, while the revolver is fed from a cylinder holding from five to eight rounds. Both fire one shot with a single pull of the trigger.
Picking a Concealed Carry Revolver
Things To Consider
You’ve already made your first decision—choosing a revolver rather than a semi-auto pistol for your carry gun. That puts you in the minority, but it doesn’t mean it’s not the right choice for you. There are, however, several other aspects to consider when choosing the right carry revolver.
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One is caliber, sometimes discussed under the heading of “stopping power.” For a concealed carry gun to be effective, it must shoot a big enough, fast enough bullet to incapacitate an attacker. The 9mm is considered the top carry caliber by many. In revolvers, those that shoot both .357 Mag and .38 Special ammo are the most common.
Size is, of course, another important factor. Smaller guns are easier to carry, period, but they’re also harder to shoot accurately and exhibit more felt recoil when fired. It’s a tradeoff that you’ll want to explore when shopping.
Another consideration is your carry method. If you’re going to carry your gun in an inside-the-waistband holster, a smaller, thinner gun is going to be easier to conceal and more comfortable to carry. If you plan to carry it in an outside-the-waistband holster covered by a sports jacket, you can get away with a bit larger revolver.
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Inevitably, budget always enters into any gun-buying choice. Just because this is a gun you plan to stake your life on doesn’t mean you have an extra $2k laying around to join the carry ranks. You can find carry guns from about $400 to several thousand. Decide on your budget first, then explore only revolvers in that price range.
A Couple Of Good Options
The Diamondback SDR (Self-Defense Revolver) is unique in that it is chambered in 9mm, a cartridge typically associated with semi-auto pistols. Available with either a 2-inch or 3-inch barrel, the SDR has a 45-degree target crown machined into the muzzle, which helps protect the rifling and preserves accuracy and bullet dynamics. Low-profile fiber-optic sights offer high visibility and contrast to get on-target quickly and minimize snags in critical self-defense situations.
The Charter Arms Mag Pug Revolver combines a quality revolver with two cylinders—one 9mm, the other .357 Magnum—giving revolver lovers the best of both worlds. Featuring a stainless steel frame and a backpacker walnut wood grip, this revolver’s cylinder has a capacity of five rounds. Barrel length is 4.2 inches. Cylinders for the different cartridges can be easily swapped in less than a minute by removing a single screw with a small, slotted screwdriver.
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No matter what revolver you choose, a well-made revolver that is taken care of will last you a lifetime and then can be passed down to your children or grandchildren. What’s not to like about that?
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