The Revolver Resurgence: Practical or Fad?

There has been a resurgence in revolver popularity.  The revolver revival might be driven to some extent by the many millions of new gun owners post-2020, but I would think there is more to it than that.  It is, likely, just a new wave of interest in the gun community.  The love of lever action rifles lately is driven by AR fatigue; after doing everything imaginable to the AR platform for the last twenty years, people got bored with it, and now a lot have turned to lever guns for entertainment and something fresh.  Similarly, after plastic-fantastic pistol supremacy for the past thirty years, we are seeing the same renewed love of revolvers. 

So, let’s analyze the practicality of the wheel gun in the year 2024.  Violent crime, in general, has escalated since 2019, though it is still not at the level seen in the early 1990s, although we can’t discount the role that modern trauma care plays in saving the lives of attempted murder victims compared to thirty years ago.  There is also a clear increase in multiple attacker incidents and active killer events.  These considerations seem to make a stronger case than ever for carrying full-frame, high capacity, auto pistols.  So, where does the revolver still fit in?

Pertaining to self-defense from humanoid predators, the definite practicality of the revolver remains in the small-frame, light-weight, variants.  The Smith and Wesson aluminum and scandium framed J frame guns, and the Ruger LCR series, are the dominant players in this field.  For a deep concealment gun, this sort of weapon is still hard to beat due to the small and rounded profile that naturally hides on the human body.  Further, the inherent robustness of the self-contained system excels for deep concealment when carried in backup and alternate modes, such as pocket or ankle carry.  So, this class of gun remains an excellent alternative to carrying no gun rather than an alternative to carrying a full-size pistol.  If restricted due to dress or environment, having a small snub on-body is much better than having no handgun at all. 

The small frame revolver proves more reliable and predictable in such carry roles compared to micro autoloaders that are plagued by mag releases and reciprocating slides that prove a liability in such methods of carry.  Also, for pocket and ankle carry, the light-weight variants are ideal because weight really matters for such carry modes.  Small frame, all-steel revolvers, such as the steel-framed J frames, the Ruger SP101, and the Kimber K6s, are much better shooters than are the light-weight variants, but the weight makes them less useful for, particularly, pocket and ankle carry.  Therefore, in this role, the feathery J frames and Ruger LCRs dominate. 

The afore mentioned small, all steel, guns are quite nice if you are simply a revolver enthusiast that wants a belt carried wheel gun that is much smaller than a K or L frame Smith, or a Ruger GP100, yet much more shootable than a light-weight, small frame, gun.  Still, though, the problem I come back to with these options is, for the same weight, why not carry a much more formidable compact auto?  The weight of these small, yet all steel, revolvers make them a belt gun, so the practicality is diminished to a great extent compared to the light-weight variants.  This is the reason that, despite using a Ruger SP101 extensively several years back, I relegated it to the safe, yet I use a Ruger LCR all the time.  Small, deep concealment guns are more practical when light in weight. 

Likewise, the revolver still plays a dominant role in magnum field guns for defense against furry creatures that might eat you.  Powerful magnum cartridges such as 357 Magnum, 41 Magnum, and 44 Magnum, prove much more formidable against animal predators than do service caliber pistol rounds.  However, for carry on the streets, these prove quite large and heavy, and not practical for most for such use. 

Where the practicality of the revolver seems most questionable is as a primary defensive pistol worn on the belt for defense against predators on the streets rather than in the woods.  How can we possibly justify carrying a 3” K frame gun that weighs about 35 ounces and only holds six rounds over a Glock 19 or similar auto that weighs ten ounces less and holds almost three times the amount of onboard ammunition?  We can’t argue that for practicality.  Yet, does it all have to be based on practicality?  If you are a revolver enthusiast and like to carry a K frame, that seems fine to me.  I would hardly feel unarmed carrying a Smith and Wesson Model 19 or 66 loaded with good ammo and a speed loader backing it up.  However, to be pragmatic about it, there seems to be little compelling reason for carrying the all-steel medium and large frame guns for standard self-defense beyond just being an enthusiast who chooses to do so. 

With that said, the medium and large all-steel wheel guns still serve as excellent home defense alternatives for people who are decidedly “not shooters” with no plans of training beyond taking a few shots with the gun they intend to leave, indefinitely, in the sock drawer, just in case.  In this capacity, the medium revolvers are unbeatable, as they can be neglected for years on end but will go bang when finally picked up for the bleak reason that may come knocking.  The much more fool-proof revolver is likely to give grandma six-for-six instead of just one before the magazine is inadvertently ejected or the gun malfunctions due to the inevitable limp wrist of such a home defender.  Here, the mid-size revolver remains king. 

But, for practical purposes among shooters, a compact auto conceals as well or better but weighs much less and holds almost three times the ammunition compared to a mid-size revolver.  Practicality says the auto is superior for a belt carried primary pistol.  For deep concealment, practicality still points to the small revolver as optimal.  Therefore, a full-size or compact auto loader as primary, and a small-frame, light-weight, revolver for deep concealment or backup, remains a great lineup in 2024, and likely well beyond.

I am glad that the revolver remains alive and well, and the small variants remain the king of deep concealment, but I submit that autoloaders are the preferable belt-carried tool in 2024.

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