Revolvers

Whether you’re talking grizzlies, gators or gangs, there’s a good chance you’ve got predators in your neck of the woods. When I’m in the field, I feel uneasy unless I have at least a .44 Magnum close at hand.

Ultimately the only good reason to go with .22 for self-defense is that it is your last, best, and only option. The truth is that it’s rarely the only option.

Probably the hottest segment of the handgun market is in guns that fit the concealed carry mode. The guns listed aren’t chosen for their level of usefulness for highly trained operators, but rather because they’re easy to learn to shoot well and are powerful and reliable enough to serve as excellent defensive tools.

More than 140 years after the Colt SAA was invented, Uberti decided it was high time to change the rules and engineered a solution to the historic problem of having to “safely” carry a Single Action with the hammer resting on an empty chamber.

Obviously, these are success stories the likes of which have changed firearms history. However, for every success story, there are dozens of ideas that didn’t make it. Even the vaunted Smith & Wesson was not immune from the pitfalls of 19th Century firearms design. Case in point: the Model 320 revolving rifle.

The Ruger SP101 combines a small frame with a full-power chambering in .357 Magnum, but it is limited to five rounds. The addition of the .327 Federal Magnum chambering bumps that up to six, while still having fight-stopping power.

If you know someone who likes girlie guns, I’ve got just the thing. The Chic Lady from Charter Arms. It even comes in a pink faux alligator case. This could be a good Mother’s Day gift idea, if the Mom in your life likes pink guns. And Charter makes them in other colors, too–some of which are traditionally manly.

Looking for a .357? We’re shooting two of the best–the Smith & Wesson 686 and the Colt Python. So how do these two icons stack up against each other?

The 85 is a rock-solid revolver, but Taurus has added something special to this one. The hammer spur can be removed with a simple twist. Now the classic wheel gun can be easily converted into an even better option for concealed carry.