Best .22 Revolvers (2026): King Cobra, Wrangler & More

The best .22 revolvers are some of the most fun and useful handguns you can own. They are quiet, cheap to shoot, nearly recoil free, and they do not care if you feed them high velocity, subsonic, or shot loads. That makes them great for teaching new shooters, small game, the trapline, and carrying on the trail.

We have run hundreds of rounds through these guns. Our Colt King Cobra 22 reviewer fired 600 rounds through two of them with no failures to fire, the Ruger Super Wrangler shot a 0.55 inch group at five yards offhand, and the Wrangler grouped 1.6 to just under 3 inches at 25 yards off sandbags.

This guide covers rimfire revolvers in .22 LR and .22 WMR. For centerfire wheelguns, see our best Smith & Wesson revolvers, and if you want a rimfire long gun to go with one, see our best .22 LR rifles.

Use the buyer’s guide to pick the right type, or jump straight to the picks.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best .22 Revolvers In 2026

A .22 revolver can be an inexpensive plinker or a premium heirloom. These are the questions that matter.

Single Action Or Double Action

Single action revolvers like the Wrangler, Bearcat, and Single Six must be cocked for every shot and load one chamber at a time through a gate. They are simple, cheap, and fun. Double action revolvers like the Colt King Cobra 22 and Ruger LCR swing out the cylinder for fast reloads and can be fired by just pulling the trigger, which makes them better for training with a defensive revolver.

Capacity

Old-school .22 six-shooters hold six. Modern double actions often hold more. The King Cobra 22 holds 10, the LCR holds 8, and the Ruger Single Nine holds nine rounds of .22 WMR.

.22 LR Or .22 WMR

The .22 LR is cheaper and quieter. The .22 WMR hits harder and shoots flatter. Convertible guns like the Super Wrangler come with both cylinders, so you can shoot either.

Barrel Length

Barrel length matters with rimfires. In our .22 LR woods gun test, CCI Blazer ran 942 fps from a 3 inch derringer and 1,187 fps from a 5.5 inch Single Six, and the Single Six rounds penetrated 16 1/2 inches of gelatin. Pick a longer barrel for small game and a short one for carry.

Light Strikes

Rimfire primers need a hard hammer strike. Double actions with light springs can misfire, and ammo choice matters, so test a few brands for reliable ignition before you trust one for small game or carry.

Optics And Suppressors

Heritage announced the Rough Rider Tactical Cowboy with a Picatinny rail for a red dot, a fiber optic front sight, and a 1/2×28 threaded muzzle. It had an MSRP of $212.88 when it launched in 2022. We have only covered it as launch news.

Best .22 Revolvers Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup

Colt King Cobra 22: Best Overall .22 Revolver (2026)

The Colt King Cobra 22 is the best overall .22 revolver because it is a reliable 10-shot double action that shoots well even with a 2 inch barrel. It comes in 2, 3, 4.25, and 6 inch barrels. Our reviewer tested the 4.25 and 2 inch models, which weigh 2 pounds 2.8 ounces and 1 pound 13.5 ounces loaded.

Read our full Colt King Cobra 22 review here.

In 600 rounds through both guns, he had no failures to fire. At 25 yards from the bench, most loads grouped 2 to 2.5 inches, and Federal High Velocity Match ran just over 1 inch from the 2 inch gun. The single action trigger was excellent. Our earlier review of the King Cobra Target 22 listed it at $999 in 2023.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 10
• Barrels: 2, 3, 4.25, 6 in
• Weight: 1 lb 13.5 oz (2 in) to 2 lb 2.8 oz (4.25 in), loaded
• Action: double action

Pros

• No failures to fire in 600 rounds
• Accurate even as a snubbie
• 10 rounds

Cons

• Pricey for a .22

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt King Cobra 22 on GunsAmerica

Ruger Super Wrangler: Best Convertible .22 Revolver (2026)

The Ruger Super Wrangler is the best convertible .22 revolver because it ships with both .22 LR and .22 WMR cylinders, a steel frame, and adjustable sights. It weighs 37.7 ounces with a 5.5 inch cold hammer forged barrel and fits Single Six holsters. Ruger’s suggested retail was $329 at the time of review, and our reviewer found it online for as low as $260.

Read our full Ruger Super Wrangler review here.

He fired more than 300 rounds of both calibers. His best .22 LR group was 0.55 inch at five yards offhand with Winchester Wildcat, and Browning 22 WMR made sub-1 inch groups at 10 yards from a rest. .22 WMR groups offhand at 10 yards were mostly 1.5 to 2 inches.

Key Specs

• Calibers: .22 LR and .22 WMR (two cylinders)
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel: 5.5 in cold hammer forged
• Weight: 37.7 oz
• MSRP: $329 at the time of review (2024)

Pros

• Two calibers in one gun
• Steel frame
• Adjustable sights

Cons

• Heavier than the Wrangler
• Single action only

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger Super Wrangler on GunsAmerica

Ruger Wrangler: Best Budget .22 Revolver (2026)

The Ruger Wrangler is the best budget .22 revolver because it gives you a reliable, accurate single action six-shooter for very little money. It had an MSRP of $249 at the time of review in 2019, with street prices in the low $200s. It has a hammer-forged chromoly barrel and an aluminum cylinder frame.

Read our full Ruger Wrangler review here.

Our reviewer put about 350 rounds through it and found it reliable. Off sandbags at 25 yards it grouped from 1.6 to just under 3 inches, and the trigger broke cleanly just under 5 pounds. After about 200 rounds, cartridges got harder to seat in the recessed chambers, which he called not a big deal.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel: hammer-forged chromoly
• Trigger: just under 5 lb
• MSRP: $249 at the time of review (2019)

Pros

• Very affordable
• Reliable
• Accurate enough for small game

Cons

• Chambers get tight when dirty
• Fixed sights

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger Wrangler on GunsAmerica

Ruger New Bearcat: Best .22 Revolver For Kids And Small Hands (2026)

The Ruger New Bearcat is the best .22 revolver for kids and small hands because it is a compact single action that points naturally and carries well. It comes in 3, 4.2, and 6 inch barrels, and our reviewer tested the 4.2 inch. MSRP was $639 at the time of review in 2019, and every Bearcat is made in the USA.

Read our full Ruger New Bearcat review here.

From a rest at 10 yards, groups averaged under 1.25 inches across three loads, though they hit about 2 inches low, which a little front sight filing would fix. The trigger averaged 4 pounds 3 ounces with a hint of smooth creep. His 10-year-old son Josiah shot it on the ranch too, and he called it perfect for kids and adults.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel (tested): 4.2 in
• Trigger: 4 lb 3 oz
• MSRP: $639 at the time of review (2019)

Pros

• Compact and well balanced
• Accurate
• Made in USA

Cons

• Shot low with fixed sights
• Older review

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger New Bearcat on GunsAmerica

Ruger LCR 22: Best Lightweight Double Action .22 Revolver (2026)

The Ruger LCR 22 is the best lightweight double action .22 revolver because it holds eight rounds in a 14.5 ounce package with one of the best double action triggers you can buy. Its cylinder is the same diameter as the .38 Special LCR, which is how it fits eight rounds. It retailed for $579 at the time of review in 2021.

Read our full Ruger LCR 22 review here.

Our reviewer found the trigger smooth, consistent, and free of grit, and shot several 2 inch groups at 10 yards. Federal Punch averaged 1,155 fps, beating its advertised velocity. The large trigger guard helps with gloves, but it keeps the LCR out of most J-frame holsters.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 8
• Weight: 14.5 oz
• Grips: Hogue Tamer Monogrip
• MSRP: $579 at the time of review (2021)

Pros

• Very light
• Excellent trigger
• 8 rounds

Cons

• Will not fit most J-frame holsters
• Short sight radius

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger LCR 22 on GunsAmerica

Ruger Single Six: Best .22 Revolver For The Woods (2026)

The Ruger Single Six is the best .22 revolver for the woods because it is a rugged, accurate single action with adjustable sights and enough barrel to make the most of .22 LR. Our writer has carried an old Single Six as his dedicated woods gun for years, and another of our writers carries one in a Bianchi Lawman holster.

See our .22 LR woods gun test for velocity and gelatin results. The Single Six was tested as part of that roundup, not in a standalone review.

In our .22 LR woods gun test, a 5.5 inch Single Six pushed CCI Blazer 40 grain to 1,187 fps, compared with 942 fps from a 3 inch derringer. Both rounds from the Single Six penetrated 16 1/2 inches of ballistic gelatin. That is why a longer barrel is worth carrying for small game and the trapline.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR (convertible models add .22 WMR)
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel (tested): 5.5 in
• CCI Blazer 40 gr: 1,187 fps
• Sights: adjustable

Pros

• Proven woods gun
• Strong velocity from 5.5 in barrel
• Adjustable sights

Cons

• No standalone review
• Single action only

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger Single Six on GunsAmerica

Ruger Single Nine: Best .22 WMR Revolver (2026)

The Ruger Single Nine is the best .22 WMR revolver because it fits nine magnum rimfire rounds in a stainless cylinder the same size as the six-shot Single Six. It has a 6.5 inch barrel and fiber optic sights, and Ruger quoted about 1,400 fps with 40 grain loads. MSRP was $629 at the time of review in 2012.

Read our full Ruger Single Nine review here.

Our reviewer could only shoot at 10 yards, where Hornady 30 grain V-Max and 25 grain NTX hit the same point of impact. Six of the nine chambers fired tight groups. His sample had a minor timing issue with the other three when the hammer was cocked very slowly, which he did not consider a safety concern.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22 WMR
• Capacity: 9
• Barrel: 6.5 in
• Sights: fiber optic
• MSRP: $629 at the time of review (2012)

Pros

• Nine rounds of .22 WMR
• Same size as a Single Six
• Stainless

Cons

• Sample had a minor timing issue
• Very old review

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger Single Nine on GunsAmerica

Final Thoughts On The Best .22 Revolvers Of 2026

The best .22 revolver overall is the Colt King Cobra 22, which fired 600 rounds without a failure. The Super Wrangler is the best convertible, the Wrangler is the budget pick, the Bearcat suits kids and small hands, the LCR 22 is the lightweight double action, the Single Six is the woods gun, and the Single Nine is the .22 WMR pick.

Related reading: see our guides to the best Ruger rifles and best Chiappa guns.

Whatever you choose, test a few brands of ammo for accuracy and reliable ignition. Train hard, shoot straight, and stay dangerous. Shop .22 revolvers on GunsAmerica.com.