Revolvers have been around for a long time. Although they aren’t as popular as semi-automatics today, there are still quite a few great revolvers. They are simpler, less likely to jam, and can fire off powerful ammunition. Many individuals like to keep revolvers in their houses for protection as a result.
If you are just looking for a revolver to keep when needed, you might not want to spend a ton of money on a fancy revolver. Instead, it’s better to select a budget revolver so that you don’t waste your money but still have a revolver in case.
The trick to purchasing a budget revolver is to find one that is affordable but still high quality. The last thing you want is to buy an outright cheap revolver that is ineffective or dangerous. Instead, you want to find an affordable and cost-efficient revolver that is still high quality and safe.
Best Budget Revolvers
- RUGER LCR 38 S&W SPL +P REVOLVER
- Taurus 605 357 Magnum 2in Stainless Revolver
- Smith & Wesson 642 38 Special 1.87in Stainless Revolver
- Colt Night Cobra Revolver
RUGER LCR 38 S&W SPL +P REVOLVER
The best budget revolver for 2022 is the RUGER LCR 38 S&W SPL +P REVOLVER. This revolver is small, compact, and safe, all while being highly affordable. In other words, it is a high-quality and highly durable revolver that still is affordable.
The RUGER LCR .38 comes with a patent-pending polymer fire control housing. This housing helps to keep all of the components in a correct relationship to reduce recoil and friction. As a result, the revolver is lightweight and has as little sticking as possible.
The entire revolver is made from highly durable material as well. This monolithic frame includes aerospace-grade aluminum and stainless steel. All the while, it has a blackened appearance so that it looks stylish and fashionable.
The small size of this revolver is definitely worth noting as well. The barrel length is 1.875 inches, and its weight is 13.5 ounces. This small size and lightweight means that you can easily hide and carry around this revolver without any issues.
Key Features
- Fire control housing
- 5 bullet capacity
- Lightweight
- Small and compact
- Smooth barrel
- Durable and high-quality
- Sleek appearance
Taurus 605 357 Magnum 2in Stainless Revolver
The next best budget revolver on our list is the Taurus 605 357 Magnum 2in Stainless Revolver. This revolver is super affordable but still offers superior performance for a safe and comfortable shooting experience. It even is designed for quickdraw so that it can keep you safe when needed.
The Taurus 605 357 Magnum 2in Stainless Revolver has a highly durable design. Its parts are designed so that the gun will work if your life depends on it. It includes fixed sights and has a small smooth, single double-action trigger.
The gun itself is very durable. It is made from high-quality stainless steel and comes with a black rubber grip. This rubber grip helps to create a safer gun experience since you don’t have to worry about the gun slipping out of your hands after you pulled the trigger.
This revolver is specifically a good choice if you want an affordable concealed carry or revolver for home defense. Its small size means you can easily conceal the gun. At the same time, its power and reliability mean that it packs a punch if you need it for home defense purposes. All the while, it is highly affordable.
Key Features
- 5 bullet capacity
- Lightweight
- Small and compact
- Durable and high-quality
- Sleek appearance
- Great rubber grip
Smith & Wesson 642 38 Special 1.87in Stainless Revolver
If you are looking for a classic-looking revolver, look no further than this Smith & Wesson 642 38 Special 1.87in Stainless Revolver. Smith & Wesson has become practically synonymous with high-quality revolvers, meaning you know you are getting a great revolver when you purchased this brand.
It is made from an aluminum alloy frame with stainless steel barrel and cylinder. These materials are incredibly safe, durable, and high quality. It has a black synthetic grip for comfortability too. Furthermore, its dimensions are super small so it makes a great concealed carry choice.
This model is dubbed “airweight” because it is a variation of the Model 42 Centennial Airweight. It is lightweight, but it includes some modern advancements. Although it’s slightly more expensive than our last pick, it is still super affordable, especially considering its features.
This gun is especially good if you are a female who wants a concealed carry or a gun for home defense purposes. It is reliable and durable, but it is still lightweight and easy enough to use. Men and more experienced users love this revolver as well due to its efficiency and clean looks.
Key Features
- Trustworthy brand
- 5 bullet capacity
- Lightweight
- Small and compact
- Durable and high-quality
- Sleek appearance
Colt Night Cobra Revolver
The last budget revolver on our list is the Colt Night Cobra Revolver. This revolver is super sleek and features maximum corrosion resistance for extreme durability. This firearm is specifically designed for both new users and seasoned shooters in that it is easy to use but still packs a real punch.
Although this gun is still affordable, it is much more expensive than any other product on our list. This explains why we have placed it at the bottom. Nevertheless, it is affordable and certainly has fantastic features and specs that may make the price worth it for some buyers.
All around, the Colt Night Cobra Revolver is a great pick if you’re willing to splurge a bit on your budget revolver. It is still affordable and offers some of the best specs on this list, but it is a bit more expensive than the other models.
Key Features
- 6 bullet capacity
- Lightweight
- Small and compact
- Durable and high-quality
- Sleek appearance
- Night sights
- Smooth trigger design
How To Choose The Best Budget Revolvers
When it comes time to make your final decision about which budget revolver to select, there are 5 factors you need to consider: magazine capacity, quality, durability, and size. These factors will help to ensure that the affordable revolver is still high quality and worth your money.
Here is a closer look at each one of these factors:
Magazine Capacity
Magazine capacity tells you how many bullets you can hold at a time. Most revolvers hold 6 bullets, but there are models that have different magazine capacities. Some revolvers may only hold 5 bullets, whereas others may hold 8 or more.
Select a magazine capacity based on your own personal preferences. The larger the magazine capacity, the more expensive the revolver will be. However, the extra price may be worth it if you need to hold more than 6 bullets at a time.
Size
Many individuals look for the biggest gun at first. Although a big handgun may be right for you, that isn’t always the case. Although bigger revolvers look super cool, they are heavy, hard to hide, and sometimes painful from recoil.
With all of that in mind, carefully consider the ideal size of your revolver. You will want to think about your own experience with a handgun in order to select the best revolver for your needs. The size of the revolver will impact the magazine capacity and vice versa.
As a rule of thumb, newbies, those with little arm muscles, and those who want concealed carry should select smaller revolvers. Smaller revolvers will also be more affordable. Larger revolvers are better for experienced users and those who want something cool and flashy.
Quality
Quality can never be ignored when considering a gun. Because guns are weapons, you only want to select high-quality guns that are safe and efficient. This factor is especially important to consider when selecting budget guns. Looking at the quality can make the difference between a cheap gun and a cost-efficient one.
Because you need to consider quality and purchasing a budget revolver, look for cost-efficient or affordable revolvers, not “cheap” revolvers. Cheap typically implies shoddy workmanship, quality, and durability.
The good news about revolvers is that it is pretty easy to find high-quality models at an affordable price. So, you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find a budget revolver that shows off in the quality category.
Durability
Related to quality is durability. Although highly durable revolvers will be slightly more expensive than shoddy ones, it’s always better to spend a couple of extra bucks upfront on quality and durability. Getting a handgun that is highly durable will result in a better experience and a better purchase all around.
Safety
Finally, the last factor to consider is safety. In most cases, high-quality, durable revolvers are safe. Make sure that the handgun you select includes safety features, such as hand grips. For example, fire control housing helps to ensure that all of the fire components are safe and as efficient as possible.
