7 Best Budget Revolvers In 2024

In the world of revolvers, “budget” doesn’t have to mean skimping on quality, and that’s exactly what we’re diving into today.

Budget revolvers strike a perfect balance between cost-effectiveness and reliable performance, making them a top pick for many gun owners. Not only are they a great entry point for those new to shooting, but their reliability and ease of handling also make them a favorite among seasoned shooters.

Plus, there’s no denying the timeless appeal and rugged charm of a good revolver.

Now, after combing through the market and testing these bad boys myself, I’ve zeroed in on some top picks that offer great bang for your buck (pun intended). Topping the list is the Ruger LCR .38 Special +P – an absolute gem for self-defense, blending power, ease of use, and affordability.

But hey, the Ruger isn’t the only star in the sky.

Let’s briefly highlight my top picks for budget revolvers:

1. Ruger LCR .38 Special +P: A leader in reliability and convenience for carrying.
2. Heritage Rough Rider .22LR: Ideal for beginners and casual shooters with its single-action trigger and comfortable cocobolo wood grip.
3. Taurus 605 .357 Magnum: A top choice for high-power performance, offering durability, rapid firing ability, and a comfortable grip, perfect for experienced shooters looking for a compact yet potent revolver.

Each revolver on this list offers unique features, from pinpoint accuracy to ergonomic comfort, catering to various shooting needs.

Whether you’re looking for a reliable home defense weapon, a trusty sidekick for outdoor activities, or want to enjoy some target practice, these revolvers have got you covered.

Stick around as we delve into the specifics of each model, uncovering what makes them stand out and how they can fit seamlessly into your lifestyle and budget.

Keep reading for the inside scoop on these exceptional, budget-friendly revolvers – you’re in for a treat!

Image	Product	Price
	Best Overall – Ruger LCR .38 Special +P	Check Price
	Best for Beginners and Casual Shooting – Heritage Rough Rider .22LR Revolver	Check Price
	Best for High-Power Performance – Taurus 605 .357 Magnum Revolver	Check Price
	Best for Concealed Carry – Smith & Wesson 642 .38 +P Stainless Revolver	Check Price
	Best Ergonomics – Smith & Wesson 637 .38 Special +P	Check Price
	Best Design – Colt Night Cobra .38 Special +P	Check Price
	Best Compact Design – Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .38 Special +P Revolver	Check Price

Is it for self-defense, for home defense, or do you want a piece that feels good in your hand and works wonders at the shooting range?

With home defense and self-defense, it usually comes down to short-range encounters. For the nature of such situations, you must draw fast, so the revolver should be as compact as possible.

Naturally, if you’re here for self-defense, having a lightweight revolver is a plus since you’ll be carrying it around. Still, remember that the lighter handgun almost always means harder recoil management.

On the other hand, hunting and firing ranges don’t require that much manageable recoil, while drawing speed and weight don’t matter as much, either.

If you’re having difficulty choosing one, you won’t be wrong if you go for a budget-friendly revolver.

Let’s take a look at the Ruger LCR and see how it stands out from the rest.

Best Overall – Ruger LCR .38 Special +P

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Specifications

Pros & Cons

An outstanding rework of the Ruger SP101, the Ruger LCR .38 Special +P Revolver is a more close-packed model with a barrel that’s 1.87 inches long. This lightweight, compact revolver (LCR) can be found almost anywhere, and it also comes in different calibers such as .357 or .22.

The Ruger LCR .38 Special +P is a reliable, budget-friendly, and hammerless revolver that won’t get stuck on your clothes while drawing. This makes it one of the most popular revolvers on the market.

This snubby with a double-action trigger pull brings a significant improvement in accuracy over other .38 Special models. The revolver’s cylinder is made of fluted steel to reduce weight and its durability is secured by a physical vapor deposition finish.

The alloy frame of the Ruger LCR .38 Special +P is made of aluminum, polymer, and stainless steel. This mixture of materials makes it exceptionally lightweight at only 8 ounces. This brings some crucial stopping power to the LCR .38 Special +P.

Another upside of this handgun is the available aftermarket customizations. This model also brings an ergonomic Hogue Tamer rubber grip, guaranteeing outstanding steadiness.

The only possible downside that comes to mind is that its magazine capacity is limited to 5 rounds. However, with the Ruger LCR .38 Special +P, this doesn’t seem like a dealbreaker since, in most self-defense situations, five shots should be plenty.

Best for Beginners and Casual Shooting – Heritage Rough Rider .22LR Revolver

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Specifications

Pros & Cons

The first thing that meets the eye when it comes to the Heritage Rough Rider 22LR is the hammer block safety feature. Now, this is what I meant by “not all people like its safety mechanism”.

Shooters with more experience might find it annoying, though I find this feature to be very handy. Located opposite the loading gate on the left, you can flip it with your thumb and lower the bar blocking the hammer.

Later on, you will notice the red dot signaling that the revolver is ready to be fired. This does slow things down for a bit, but you will get your hands on it after a short practice.

If you have none or little prior experience with guns, the Heritage Rough Rider 22LR is probably the best budget revolver for you. It’s lightweight, so shooters with weaker arms will handle it easily, while first-timers needn’t be scared of the recoil.

The Heritage Rough Rider 22LR comes with 4.75, 6, or 9-inch barrels. After choosing your barrel, you also get to pick the caliber, which is the most square in the .22 caliber area.

Another great feature of this handgun is the wide variety of available grips. Cocobolo is my favorite, but you can also choose between art deco, cool flags, and laminate options. No matter your style, Heritage surely has a grip that you’ll love.

Possible downsides come down to safety, as mentioned, and the fact that the cylinder doesn’t pop out. This implies that a speed loader clip isn’t an option, so you will have to rotate the cylinder by hand to load each bullet independently.

If you’re set on a .22, you can check out our list of the best .22 revolvers here.

Best for High-Power Performance – Taurus 605 .357 Magnum Revolver

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Specifications

Pros & Cons

The Taurus 605 .357 is lightweight, and it won’t bulge in the holster, so it’s a great pick for concealed carry.

Despite its rather small size, this revolver can produce some serious damage due to its .357 caliber. This caliber size is highly destructive to soft material targets. So, if you want to purchase a small but extremely powerful revolver, the choice should be easy.

Keep in mind that the Taurus 605 .357 is one of the best options for experienced shooters.

We wouldn’t suggest this handgun to the newbie users since it can be really loud, while the firing power may prove too hard to handle.

If you like the Taurus 605 .357 and want to learn more about it, check out our Taurus 605 Defender review!

Best for Concealed Carry – Smith & Wesson 642 .38 +P Stainless Revolver

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Specifications

Pros & Cons

One of the best-known models on the market, the Smith & Wesson 642 Centennial Airweight has been around since 1952. Since this classic revolver has been reliable and versatile from the start, not many changes have been needed or enforced since then.

The designer’s goal was to create a light, hammerless handgun whose grip would be suitable for larger hands. It’s a great choice for home defense and self-defense, but it’s also a great choice for a backup gun.

The S&W 642 consists of a durable frame made of aluminum alloy, a barrel made of stainless steel, and a synthetic grip. At 6-inches long, it makes an outstanding compact revolver.

This handgun weighs 14.4 ounces, so it’s fairly light. Small weight can, on the other hand, cause some point rise problems. It’s not like it’s bad at aiming, but the recoil won’t be gentle on your hands.

Although categorized as .38 Special +P, .357 Magnum caliber versions are also available, and the difference is easily noticeable.

Aftermarket customizations such as awesome grips and holsters are always an option with 642, so I am sure that with a few tweaks, this pistol will easily become one of your favorites.

The only downside, besides the tough recoil, is the low-capacity magazine with only 5 rounds, but—once again—this should be plenty in most self-defense situations.

Best Ergonomics – Smith & Wesson 637 .38 Special +P

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Specifications

Pros & Cons

Similar to the earlier model 37, 637’s frame is made of aluminum, but its cylinder, crane, and barrel are made of stainless steel. The Smith & Wesson 637 also comes with the keylock above the cylinder release.

The lack of a hammer-mounted firing pin is the key difference between 637 and its older sister model 642.

The S&W 637 weighs 15.5 ounces when a 1.875-inch barrel is fully loaded. This revolver has a hammer spur that enables the single-action firing with a light trigger pull; you can also fire in double-action.

The 637 is ergonomic, featuring a rubber grip wrapped around the grip frame that feels comfortable and sturdy in your hand. Some might find it lacks the classic grittiness of the original walnut grips that can be found on model 37, but the rubber fits it well since the 637 is rated for +P ammo.

The main downside of this handgun is the exposed aluminum strap back, which can cause slight pain in your hand after you fire a few shots of the +P ammunition. This might induce bad habits such as flinching, resulting in imprecise aiming, and wild shots aren’t a luxury you can afford since you’re limited to only five rounds (and you don’t want to hurt anyone by accident either).

Best Design – Colt Night Cobra .38 Special +P

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Specifications

Pros & Cons

The Colt Night Cobra is a descendant of the original Colt Cobra. It was redesigned to employ newer manufacturing methods. The parts of this handgun are metal-injection-molded in order to minimize labor-intensive fitting.

Unlike the original model, the Night Cobra’s frame is built from stainless steel. This makes it heavier than the other revolvers on this list, weighing 25 ounces and measuring at 7.2 inches in length.

The cylinder latch represents the classic Colt characteristic, and it must be pulled back to open the cylinder to load or unload. Another typical Colt feature is the clockwise rotation of the cylinder. The trigger also maintains the familiar feel, similar to the classic Colt pistols.

The Night Cobra comes with G10 stocks that have no sharp edges that would catch on clothing or make a holstered revolver easier to see through a cover shirt. This is great since the Night Cobra was primarily built as a civilian concealed carry revolver.

The main downside is the fact that the Night Cobra is only rated for .38 and .38 Special +P, so no Magnums allowed!

Best Compact Design – Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .38 Special +P Revolver

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Specifications

Pros & Cons

The Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .38 Special +P Revolver may be last on the list, but make no mistake, it’s popular for many reasons, especially its concealability and reliability.

The Bodyguard is a .38 Special +P caliber with a 5-round capacity and a 1.8-inch barrel length, making it one of the best concealed carry revolvers you can get on the market today. They’re relatively rare to find, but if you do, snag one and call it a day.

It has black ramp front sights and integral rear sight for maximum accuracy, but there are also aftermarket options available like the TRUGLO Tritium Pro sights.

The Smith & Wesson’s M&P Bodyguard .38 +P Special revolver is a double-action only (DAO) revolver, chambered in .38 Special +P with a lightweight feel, aluminum upper frame, and ambidextrous cylinder release.

The ergonomic one-piece gray polymer grip, 5-round capacity, stainless steel cylinder, and smooth trigger pull make it perfect for newcomers to the revolver party. Smith & Wesson also offers you a lifetime service policy, which is certainly more than welcome for newbies.

The hammerless design with a snag-free feature and overall compact simplicity sells this revolver. Undoubtedly, the Bodyguard is an excellent option if you have trouble with crispy trigger pulls.

This article is tailored for those seeking a dependable revolver without having to empty their pockets. I

t’s particularly suited for beginners stepping into the world of firearms, enthusiasts looking for a reliable but budget-friendly option, and even seasoned shooters who appreciate the value of a cost-effective secondary or backup gun.

The revolvers we’ve discussed excel in various scenarios, from self-defense and home protection to casual target shooting and outdoor adventures. However, their compact size and simplicity might not satisfy users seeking high-end, feature-rich firearms or those interested in specialized shooting sports.

For those who find these budget revolvers not quite fitting their needs, higher-end models from brands like Smith & Wesson and Colt might be more appropriate, offering advanced features and enhanced build quality.

Readers seeking more options can explore our extensive revolver reviews.

In summary, our top revolver picks are ideal for cost-conscious individuals who value reliability, ease of use, and straightforward functionality in their firearms. They strike an excellent balance for everyday users, providing practicality and efficiency in a variety of everyday shooting contexts.

In selecting our top budget revolver picks, we focused on a blend of affordability, reliability, user-friendliness, and overall shooting performance.

The price was a key factor, but not at the expense of quality. We sought models that offered the best value for money, ensuring that each recommended revolver was a worthwhile investment for our readers.

Reliability was non-negotiable; we looked for revolvers known for consistent performance and minimal malfunctions. User-friendliness was gauged by the ease of handling and maintenance, making sure our recommendations were suitable for both novice and experienced shooters.

Finally, shooting performance, including accuracy, recoil management, and overall feel, was critically assessed.

My personal experience in handling various firearms, coupled with extensive research, shaped the evaluation process. I tested these revolvers in various scenarios, including target shooting and simulated self-defense situations, to gauge their real-world applicability.

I also considered the feedback from a diverse range of users to ensure our picks resonated with different shooting styles and preferences.

There’s a great number of revolver models available on the market, and they all come with different features and characteristics, so you might have a difficult time when it comes to making the right choice.

If you love the classic style and plan on getting a revolver someday soon, I made a list of the factors you should consider before purchasing.

Budget and Quality

Although a cheap gun and quality often don’t come together, the situation with revolvers differs.

Even a modest budget can get you a revolver with better quality and performance than expected.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should go for a low-quality firearm and sacrifice the performance just to save a few dollars.

Magazine Capacity

There are revolvers of different sizes, so the magazine capacity also varies. Usually, a revolver can hold six bullets, but some models have limits of five, seven, eight, or more.

Of course, picking the right number of rounds will strongly depend on what you prefer.

Keep in mind that going for a bigger number of shots is good, but at the same time, it will increase the width and make the revolver harder to conceal.

Durability

As always, purchasing a durable and solid item pays out.

No one wants a handgun that will fall apart easily, or malfunction after being shot a few times, so you need to get a revolver built from the best materials for it to last.

Remember, better materials like stainless steel and polymer always increase the lifespan of a handgun.

Before you go for the Rugers and Smith & Wessons, there are a few important issues you should have in mind.

Don’t Just Go for the Biggest Gun

Lots of people will skip the thinking and simply go and spend money on the biggest revolver available.

Bigger revolvers look cool, but they’re obviously heavier to carry and harder to hide. Sometimes, they can cause a painful recoil, especially when used by a newbie, so a lot of people sell their big handguns away after using them only a few times.

Don’t let this happen to you! Take your time and research all of the available options and their features. Rent or borrow the revolver you like the best, and try it out. If you still think that’s the right one for you, then it probably is.

Ammunition Might Be More Expensive

You might not expect it, but revolver ammunition will cost you more than the standard 9 mm, especially if we’re talking big-bore handguns that start at around $30 per box of 50 rounds.

It might be a real hassle finding bigger quantities of some calibers since even the best gun shops don’t stock much of .44 Special or .45 Colt.

The best way to avoid this type of problem is to get a “convertible” revolver. They’re designed in such a way that they can function using different types of ammunition.

The conversion process doesn’t take much time, and it will allow you to use the same revolver in different situations.

Safety Always Comes First

As we approach the conclusion of our article about the best budget revolvers, we should take a moment to speak about safety. When it comes to guns, most pre-purchase evaluations happen in public places such as gun shops or gun shows. This means that there are people around you, and keeping everyone safe is the top priority.

That being said, there are two main rules you should know:

• Always keep in mind to hold the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
• Double-check the revolver as soon as it’s in your hands, and confirm it’s unloaded.

Now that you’re absolutely sure that the cylinder is empty, you can continue with the examination.

As we wrap up our deep dive into the world of budget revolvers, it’s worth mentioning that this journey included a close look at various brands and models.

Competitors like the Smith & Wesson 642 and Colt Cobra were in the running, each with their unique features. While these models have their merits, such as the Smith & Wesson 642’s long-standing reputation for reliability and the Colt Cobra’s sleek design, they didn’t quite hit the sweet spot of affordability combined with performance that we sought for a budget revolver.

It’s important to acknowledge that every brand brings something to the table. For instance, the Smith & Wesson models offer exceptional craftsmanship, and Colt revolvers have a storied history and undeniable aesthetic appeal.

However, when balancing cost with functionality, our top picks like the Ruger LCR .38 Special +P, Heritage Rough Rider .22LR, and Taurus 605 .357 Magnum stood out. These revolvers provide a blend of affordability, reliability, and user-friendliness, making them excellent choices for both seasoned shooters and beginners.

In summary, the Ruger LCR .38 Special +P is a top choice due to its lightweight design, ease of carry, and reliability. The Heritage Rough Rider .22LR, with its approachable design and user-friendly features, is ideal for beginners and casual shooting. Meanwhile, the Taurus 605 .357 Magnum offers high-power performance in a compact frame, catering to those needing more punch.

These selections underscore the practicality and value in the budget revolver market, proving that quality and performance need not be sacrificed for affordability. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned gun owner, these revolvers offer reliability and satisfaction without straining your wallet.

In the realm of budget revolvers, it’s clear that with the right research and understanding of your needs, you can find a firearm that is both cost-effective and highly capable, fulfilling your requirements for either self-defense, recreational shooting, or a blend of both.