Rugged, reliable, mechanically simple, and intuitive to operate, revolvers were the sidearm of choice for the New York Police Department, the FBI, U.S. Air Force units, and countless other law enforcement and security organizations for much of the 20th century. In recent years, however, revolvers have been all but replaced by semi-automatic pistols as standard issue sidearms in professional spheres.Â
With little change since its design was patented by Samuel Colt in 1836, the revolver is an antiquated weapon. Modern semi-automatic pistols, meanwhile, generally offer faster reload times, slimmer designs, and greater magazine capacity than revolvers do, without compromising much in the way of reliability. (Here is a look at America’s top pistol companies.)
Still, for many of the same reasons revolvers were once popular with American military and law enforcement, they remain so with many gun owners in the United States. Licensed gun makers in the U.S. produced nearly 3.8 million revolvers between 2016 and 2020, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Tobacco data. And according to sales data from the online firearm sales marketplace, Gunbroker.com, some revolver models are especially popular.Â
Using a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales marketplace, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 most popular revolvers in America. Revolver models are ranked by 2022 sales reported by the online platform, though exact sales numbers were not provided.Â
The Colt Python is the only revolver on this list to rank among the 22 best-selling firearms of any type – including rifles, pistols, and shotguns – on Gunbroker.com in 2022. The Python, a .357 Magnum revolver, was first released in 1955 before being discontinued in 2005 and reintroduced in 2020.Â
Colt, the maker of the Python, is one of several firearm brands with more than one revolver on this list. The others are Taurus, Ruger, and Smith & Wesson. These three brands accounted for a combined 85% of all domestic revolver manufacturing from 2016 to 2020. (Here is a look at the biggest gunmakers in America.)
Click here to see the most popular revolver last year, based on online sales.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
Source: Courtesy of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
10. Ruger Wrangler
> Approx. base price: $269
> Popular usages: Target shooting, varmint hunting
> Available caliber(s) include: .22 LR
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 1,019,594 (26.9% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Southport, CT
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Source: Courtesy of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
9. Ruger LCR
> Approx. base price: $739
> Popular usages: Concealed carry, self defense
> Available caliber(s) include: .22 LR, .22 WMR, .38, .357 Mag., 9mm
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 1,019,594 (26.9% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Southport, CT
Source: Courtesy of Smith & Wesson
8. Smith & Wesson Model 629 Pistols
> Approx. base price: $1,079
> Popular usages: Hunting, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: .44 Mag.
> Parent company: Smith & Wesson Corp.
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 1,077,621 (28.4% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Springfield, MA
7. Colt Anaconda
> Approx. base price: $1,499
> Popular usages: Hunting, home defense, collecting
> Available caliber(s) include: .44 Mag.
> Parent company: Colt CZ Group
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 81,209 (2.1% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Hartford, CT (Colt)
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Source: Courtesy of Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.
6. Taurus Model 856 Pistols
> Approx. base price: $376
> Popular usages: Everyday carry, self defense, home defense
> Available caliber(s) include: .38 special
> Parent company: Taurus International Manufacturing/Diamondback/Rossi/Heritage/Braztech
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 2,058 (29.9% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Bainbridge, GA
Source: Courtesy of North American Arms
5. North American Arms Mini-Revolver
> Approx. base price: $255
> Popular usages: Concealed carry, self defense
> Available caliber(s) include: .22 Short, .22 LR, .22 Mag.
> Parent company: North American Arms
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 251,292 (6.6% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Provo, UT
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Source: Courtesy of Smith & Wesson
4. Smith & Wesson Model 686 Pistols
> Approx. base price: $959
> Popular usages: Law enforcement, self defense, home defense, hunting, target shooting, collecting
> Available caliber(s) include: .357 Mag.,
> Parent company: Smith & Wesson Corp.
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 1,077,621 (28.4% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Springfield, MA
Source: Courtesy of Heritage Manufacturing, Inc.
3. Heritage Arms Rough Rider
> Approx. base price: $170
> Popular usages: Target shooting, varmint hunting
> Available caliber(s) include: .22 LR, .22 WMR, .45, .357 Mag.,
> Parent company: Taurus International Manufacturing/Diamondback/Rossi/Heritage/Braztech
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 2,058 (29.9% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Bainbridge, GA
2. Taurus Judge
> Approx. base price: $510
> Popular usages: Self defense, home defense
> Available caliber(s) include: .45 cal & .410 bore
> Parent company: Taurus International Manufacturing/Diamondback/Rossi/Heritage/Braztech
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 2,058 (29.9% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Bainbridge, GA
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1. Colt Python
> Approx. base price: $1,499
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting, collecting
> Available caliber(s) include: .357 Mag.
> Parent company: Colt CZ Group
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 81,209 (2.1% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Hartford, CT (Colt)
Methodology
To identify the best selling revolvers in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales platform. The model or model families that make up the guns on this list are ranked by their 2022 unit sales on Gunbroker.com.Â
Data on 2016-2020 U.S. gun manufacturing totals for the companies on this list is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Tobacco.Â
Approximate base price for each firearm is from the manufacturer’s website when possible, and in some cases, from online gun retailers. Many of the model families on this list have variations that are far more expensive than the price listed in this story, however.
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