Special Report
America’s Most Popular Revolvers Bought Online, and How Much They Cost
Published:
First patented by Samuel Colt nearly 200 years ago, revolvers remain a popular firearm design in the United States. For much of the 20th century, revolvers were the sidearm of choice for countless law enforcement and security organizations. From the New York Police Department to the FBI, revolvers were favored for their intuitive operability, reliability, and simplicity.
Though revolvers have been all but replaced in professional spheres by semi-automatic pistols – which generally offer faster reload times, slimmer designs, and greater magazine capacity – consumer demand for them is on the rise. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, gunmakers in the U.S. manufactured more than 1.1 million revolvers in 2021, the highest annual production total since at least 1986. (These Americans own the most guns: every state ranked.)
Sales data from the online firearm sales marketplace, Gunbroker.com, show that some revolver models are especially popular.
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.
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. (Here is a look at the most powerful handguns.)
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.
Click here to see the most popular revolver last year, based on online sales.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
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
[in-text-ad]
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
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)
[in-text-ad-2]
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
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
[in-text-ad]
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
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
[in-text-ad-2]
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.
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.
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.
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.