Today with the topic of the best revolvers for concealed carry. Of course, nowadays, when you hear revolvers, you just think that this is an outdated design. However, until today, the good old wheel gun has some advantages on its side that makes it a useful carry gun also and especially for concealed carry.
When it comes to revolvers, there are not many different types as the basic principle is similar in all of them. They all have practically the same parts performing the same function. When it comes to concealed carry, however, there is one thing you might want to look for. That is a design without an external hammer in a double action only revolver. This avoids any unnecessary fumbling when drawing it. On the flip side, if you want more precision in your first shot, you might want to go for a single action/double action design with an open hammer that allows you to cock the gun. In that case, your first shot after cocking the hammer is much more accurate at the cost of having to train a drawing technique that avoids any snag with it.
With that out of the way, let’s turn to what we came for, our list of the best concealed carry revolvers.
Table of Contents
1. Ruger LCR
Let’s face it guys, every list with the best concealed carry revolvers simply has to start with the Ruger LCR. This model comes from a renowned manufacturer, is extremely light thanks to its aerospace aluminum frame, and does not break your bank. You can actually find it priced between $500-$650, depending on its availability.
With this wheel gun, you get a rock-solid performance and without a hammer. Now, if you are more a traditionalist, there is an option for you too. Take the LCRX, and you get your hammer.
Furthermore, the LCR comes with a grip peg. That allows you to change the grips and find the style you like the best. Especially with such a rather small gun, a good grip is of paramount importance if you want to hit anything beyond 5 feet.
You can find the LCR in different caliber, but for concealed carry, the most important one is .38 Special +P. It does not break your hand but does enough damage to an attacker.
2. S&W M&P Bodyguard 38 Crimson Trace
The Smith and Wesson Bodyguard is revolver for concealed carry. It comes without a hammer but a Crimson Trace laser. That makes it easy to hit even in the most stressful situation.
This wheel gun is also lightweight thanks to the use of aluminum and comes with a rather small one-piece-frame. Both make it easy to conceal. It can take a steady diet of .38 Special +P rounds, so it can dish it out if ever needed. You might not be very accurate beyond 25 feet thanks to its short barrel, but within typical self-defense distances, it does its job reliable.
3. S&W 642 Airweight
When it comes to concealed carry, there is one iconic revolver, the Smith & Wesson 642 Airweight. Built as it is it proves that it was intended for concealed carry right from the start. Released in 1952, it has built its reputations with a lot of options and improvements. That makes it popular even today with its trend to polymer autoloaders.
It is chambered for an equally iconic round, the good old .38 Special. In short, it is popular, affordable, reliable, and of course small and accurate. Thanks to its long run, there are numerous holsters for it available, including ankle holsters. Add to this trigger kits, lasers, and such, and you have a lot to play with.
When it comes to the price, one can see, that the gun is iconic and as such comes with some age, but it does not get more expensive from that. Instead, it costs below $500, so it is an affordable option for everyone who wants to defend himself.
4. Kimber K6s
The Kimber K6s shines in this list with two important qualities. First, it does not only take .38 Special or .38 Special +P. It does also chamber .357 Magnum. Second, it does not come with only 5 rounds in the chamber as most revolvers of this size. It does actually offer you a capacity of 6. OK, that does not sound that much more, but it is an actual increase of 20%.
What else does it have going for itself? It is rather light and small, so it is easy to conceal. On the downside, shooting .357 Magnum out of such a light gun might hurt you. However, the cylinder is one of the slimmest in its class even with the ability to take 6 rounds.
The frame is made of stainless steel as is the barrel. This gives the gun the necessary toughness for its potent round and its small size. The barrel length is a mere 2 inches, but for a concealed carry gun, it is more important to be small. Its trigger is match grade, and it comes as a DAO gun without a hammer. For that kind of quality, especially in this size, you do need to invest a little bit more. This gun costs you a little under $900.
5. Ruger SP 101 Spurless DAO
At the end, it is time to revisit Ruger. This time, it is the SP101 that caught our attention. This gun also comes in .357 Magnum, albeit only with 5 rounds in the cylinder. As the name suggests, it has no hammer, so it is well suited for concealed carry.
The Ruger SP101 has a solid reputation and comes with a 2.25-inch barrel. It has a stainless-steel frame, integral rear sights and a ramped black front sight. You can change the sights and the grips if necessary. Its weight is low, however, it is the heaviest on this list.
The cylinder is triple locked which enhances safety, accuracy and of course reliability. However, shooting this gun in .357 Magnum is not the most pleasurable experience. It is recommended to use it rather with .38 Special or .38 Special +P rounds.
