Best Concealed Carry Revolvers For Personal Defense

Our current list of the best concealed carry revolvers that are more than ready to cover your six.

Semi-automatic pistols have ruled the roost when it comes to self-defense guns in recent years, but I’m a firm believer that concealed carry revolvers still hold their own when push comes to shove. The time-tested design is offered in some excellent self-defense calibers, is straightforward in operation and is as dependable as the next day’s dawn. And there are some top-notch and well-thought-out options in the revolver market tailor-made to hang ever-ready on your gun belt and deliver when called upon.

How We Chose The Best Concealed Carry Revolvers

We’re fans of wheelguns at Gun Digest, and we still believe that they have a place in the concealed carry world despite the current domination of semi-autos. Between the other Gun Digest editors, our most trusted freelancers and myself, we have quite a bit of trigger time behind a variety of different carry revolvers, sending thousands of rounds down range and testing a wide swath of what the market has to offer in self-defense wheelguns. On each make/model we looked for the quality of the build, features, dependability, accuracy, concealability and price. When the dust settled these were our picks for the best concealed carry revolvers.

Best Revolvers For Concealed Carry

Best Concealed Carry Revolvers Comparison

Best Overall Concealed Carry Revolver: Ruger LCR

Outside of the cylinder, revolutionary hasn’t been applied much to the revolver since the 1830s. But there’s a whole bunch of it in the Ruger LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver).

The diminutive five-round handgun is absolutely cutting edge when it comes to material use. Not only has Ruger turned to aircraft-grade aluminum for the gun’s frame, but also polymers for its fire-control housing. Combined with a highly fluted stainless-steel cylinder, the LCR is among the lightest guns available today—a whopping 13.5 ounces. On top of that, I find that Ruger’s friction-reducing cam system makes the LCR among the easiest double-actions to shoot well.

Per Ruger’s MO, the revolver is highly modifiable, boasting an easily replaceable pinned ramp front sight and grips. But outfitted at the factory with a Hogue Tamer Monogrip, there might not be much reason to go shopping in the latter department.

The revolver is available in five calibers, but for carry the .327 Federal Magnum would be my pick. While the ammo is a bit pricey and probably isn’t stocked in most brick-and-mortar gun shops, the round punches above its weight all while fitting a sixth round in the cylinder (the .38 SPL +P, .357 Mag. and 9mm versions only hold 5). As a bonus, you can even shoot .32 S&W Long out of it for some inexpensive training or plinking fun.

Read our complete Ruger LCR review and see why it tops our list… particularly in .327 Federal Magnum.

Ruger LCR .327 Fed. Mag. Deals

Best High-End Concealed Carry Revolver: Smith & Wesson Performance Center 442

There are those, foolish as it may be, who think a J-frame is just a J-frame. To them, It doesn’t matter what model number Smith & Wesson slaps on one, they’re all the same. Boy howdy, what a mistaken frame of mind.

The S&W Performance Center 442 is more than proof.

Hand-assembled and tuned to perfection, the .38 Special is the epitome of a serious concealed carry revolver, a cut above most everything on the market today. Smith & Wesson has trimmed down the weight of the 442 to a scant 15 ounces unloaded, mainly thanks to an aluminum alloy frame. Yet, boasting a polished five-chamber stainless-steel cylinder, the +P-rated .38 is more than up for rough EDC treatment.

But is it on target? At 15-yards in—where it would most likely be employed—I found it absolutely accurate! Though, I’d venture this is it’s limits in the hands of most shooters.

Expediting the 1.875-inch barreled gun’s target acquisition is a factory-installed Crimson Trace Lasergrip, which activates when you grip the revolver’s rounded butt. Of course, there’s a ramp front and integral rear sights for backup.

By the way, the DAO (double-action only) PC 442 comes sans an internal locking mechanism, always a plus when talking S&W.

Looking to step up your concealed carry revolver game, check out our S&W Performance Center Model 442 review and see if it’s right for you.

S&W PC 442 Deals

Best .357 Magnum Concealed Carry Revolver: Ruger LCRx 3”

I hate to break it to you, but size matters.

Too short in the barrel department and the better part of that powder you’re burning deflagrates in thin air. All you’re left with is a heap of muzzle flash and limp ballistic performance—particularly from a big dog, such as a .357 Magnum. Hence, why Ruger’s addition of a 3-inch barreled .357 Magnum LCRx is so welcome.

Certainly, the lightweight magnum falls short of producing the velocities found out of a 6-inch revolver—but by my chronograph, not by much. Which is to say, with this LCRx you’re well-armed.

As to its extra size, especially compared to many of the other options on this list, yes, it’s larger. However, not prohibitively so. I found the stainless-steel Ruger is still extremely concealable and at 21.3 ounces unloaded is no burden at all.

True enough, it’s not as streamlined as other concealed carry revolver options. It boasts adjustable rear target sights and an exposed spur. Yet, Ruger manages to keep this all fairly unobtrusive, keeping the LCRx snag-free once you’re used to the system.

Find out why this concealed carry revolver exerts magnum force in our Ruger LCRx review.

Ruger LCRx 3-in. .357 Mag. Deals

Best Value Concealed Carry Revolver: Rock Island Armory M206 Spurless

Not a new concealed carry revolver by any stretch of the imagination, but well worth adding to the list. The M206 Spurless is a real workingman’s .38 Special, short on glitz and glamor and long on performance. And, above all, affordable!

That’s a rarity nowadays, but highly welcome.

How Rock Island pulls this off is jettisoning aesthetics on the steel-framed revolver and purely focusing on performance. And the plucky 6-round, 2-inch barreled double-action performs.

I found the trigger surprisingly smooth for an entry-level revolver, its timing is impeccable and ramp front and fixed back sights plenty accurate at 15-yards in.

Plus it comes with some desirable features, such as checkered wood grips, ejector-rod shroud and a Colt-like cylinder release. Furthermore, there’s the choice of Parkerized and matte nickel finishes.

The issue the M206 presents, at least for me, is Rock Island does not list it as +P rated. While generations of law enforcement more than accomplished their mission with run-of-the-mill .38 Special, the velocity at which it operates doesn’t always play nice with modern expanding bullets.

To some extent, +P mitigates this issue – not always, but more so. Good defensive ammo is available for standard .38 Spc., but–especially out of a snubbie–requires savvy shopping.

Medium-Bore Match-Up: .38 Special vs 9mm

RIA M206 Spurless Deals

Best .44 Concealed Carry Revolver: Charter Arms Bulldog DAO

A surefire way of stopping a threat is to poke big holes into it. Charter Arms gives you the ability to do exactly this with its legendary .44 Special Bulldog.

The 2.5-inch barreled revolver has been around for a spell, first introduced in the early 1970s, and has only gotten better with time. This includes what I believe are some much-needed tweaks to the original design, such as making the front sight integral to the barrel and expanding the selection of models to keep up with prevailing concealed-carry trends.

The DAO is one such example.

A clipped spur isn’t absolutely essential for concealed carry revolvers, but it does up the odds of a clean draw each time the gun is unholstered. Not to mention, it makes the revolver more comfortable to carry.

The five-round revolver is very controllable, especially for weighing 21 ounces and pitching bullets up to 300 grains in weight. Much of this is due to the low pressure at which the .44 Special operates, and it is further helped down this road with generous grips, complete with finger grooves.

Being chambered for .44 Special, however, does pose a bit of a challenge.

Ammo is not as abundant as it is for the .38 Special or .357 Magnum. I was willing to shop around and found defensive loads, solid and hard-hitting options, but it does take some digging.

The reward for doing so, plenty peace of mind in holstering a dog that definitely has bite.

Charter Arms Bulldog DAO Deals

Sportsman’s Warehouse	$469.99
Sportsman’s Guide	$397.99

Best .38 Concealed Carry Revolver: Smith & Wesson Model 642

For many, this Smith & Wesson J-Frame is what comes to mind when they think about concealed carry revolvers. The double-action only .38 Special (+P rated) is one of the easiest revolvers to carry, given it is among the lightest options available today.

The Model 642 weighs in at less than a pound unloaded—a scant 14.6 ounces—thanks largely to its aluminum-alloy frame. And with a shrouded hammer, well, there’s no worry about the revolver digging into your side when driving or snagging on your shirt when you need it most.

Granted, the 1.8-inch barreled snubby takes some practice to become fully proficient with it (what gun doesn’t?). But the .38 Special is a notoriously forgiving round to shoot—I’d even say pleasant. Chuck five rounds of +P ammo in its stainless-steel cylinder when it’s time to head out the door, and you’ll know you’re covered for anything short of World War III.

S&W Model 642 Deals

Cabela’s	$559.99
Guns.com	$534.99

Choosing A Concealed Carry Revolver

If you’re seriously considering getting a concealed carry revolver, we should take a minute to talk about the option for self-defense. It’s not the ideal choice for everyone, particularly entry-level shooters. Yes, the guy behind the gun counter might have sworn up and down otherwise, but guess what—he was selling you something, he might not have had your best intentions at heart.

As it goes, three areas make the concealed carry revolver tricky for beginners:

Barrel Length: Concealed carry revolvers are among the most compact handguns around, mainly due to an abbreviated barrel. We’re talking 3 inches or less. That’s short. While highly concealable, these ‘snubbies’ have exceedingly short sight radii—the distance between the front and rear sights. This is a concern, given the shorter the radius the less noticeable issues with your sight picture become, thus are more difficult to correct. Not the formula for success when you’re just starting.

Trigger: By and large, the concealed carry revolver has a double-action (DA) trigger, meaning each pull cocks the gun and releases the hammer. Indeed, many models can be shot in single-action, an impractical side-benefit for self-defense—unless you happen to be John Wesley Hardin. You’re not, by the way.

DA triggers are bears given most have a rather hefty pull weight, the amount of weight your finger must apply to depress the trigger and break a shot. Whereas most striker-fired pistols have a break somewhere around the 4- to 7-pound range, most DA revolvers’ triggers trip in the 10-pound neighborhood. This makes trigger control much more difficult—i.e. the ability to break a shot while holding the gun on target.

Reloads: Reloading a revolver isn’t only a challenge for new shooters, but masters as well. Speed and tactical reloads especially. The issue at hand, quickly reloading a revolver is not a push-button affair like a pistol—a magazine doesn’t drop free and 15 rounds don’t load in with the slap of a palm. The process isn’t intuitive and requires many more steps than a pistol. Can it be done quickly? You bet your life, but expect a steeper learning curve and much more practice to reach proficiency.

Now, we’re not mentioning these points to scare anyone off from a concealed carry revolver. Simply to enlighten you about some of the challenges inherent in the system, particularly those new to the gun game.

As a new shooter, perhaps you have the time and patients to learn a revolver’s manual of arms and perfect them to the point you can save your life with one. But if the process sounds daunting and more to tackle while taking the first steps as a gun owner, then perhaps a concealed carry revolver is something to consider down the road when you’ve built your skill base.

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