Suitable for concealed carry, the 642 is small, lightweight, and chambered in 38 Special +P with a 5-shot capacity and enclosed hammer. Smith & Wesson's top sellers include the 642 and the 629, both of which offer stainless steel construction. A single-action wheel gun with old-west style, the Blackhawk has been produced for over six decades. A top choice for concealed carry and available in several different calibers, the LCR is short for 'Lightweight Compact Revolver.' The GP100 is chambered in 357 Mag and available with a 7-shot capacity, while the SP101 is also chambered in 357 Mag but offers a 5-shot capacity and a 2.25' barrel. These include models made by Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and Taurus, among others.Īmong Ruger's most popular models are the LCR, GP100, SP101, and the Blackhawk. While wheel guns are made in a large range of styles and for a vast array of uses, some models continuously see the most sales. These guns are available in a tremendous array of calibers, from the 22, which is perfect for plinking and target practice, to the 500 S&W Mag, which is powerful enough to take down North American big game. Revolvers are made to be either single-action, meaning the hammer must be pulled after each shot is fired to place the next round in the proper position, or double-action, meaning the next round is automatically placed at the appropriate position when a shot is fired. The gun is then reloaded by sliding the wheel out, where the used casings can be removed and replaced with new bullets. This process repeats until all of the bullets have been used. The revolving motion moves another round in front of the barrel and into the 'ready' position, while the used casing remains in the wheel instead of being ejected like with a semi-automatic pistol.

When the gun is fired, the cylinder revolves. Wheel guns most often have a 6-round capacity, giving them the nickname 'six-shooter.' The cylinder holds the bullets and the capacity of these guns is determined by the number of chambers in the cylinder. Often referred to as a 'wheel gun,' a revolver operates with the use of a cylinder or wheel.

22 mag charter arms revolvers