Wheelguns might not be quite as in as semi-autos, but these 2024 revolvers provide reliability in self-defense. They are also fun to shoot.

Many consider a revolver to be the best self-defense handgun. This is despite the increased speed and round count of semi-autos. Revolvers are simple and easy. In fact, some might consider it cliché, but revolvers were the first point-and-click interface.

Revolvers don’t come with a decocker and five different internal safeties. They come with heavy, double-action triggers that are easy to use, if not easy to use well. Still, Americans love revolvers, both in single- and double-action. And it is easy to see that with the numerous models available, along with the recently introduced 2024 revolvers, that wheelguns continue to be popular with shooters.

The reasons for this popularity are simple. Revolvers are reliable and fun. These guns go bang every time the trigger is pulled; they never have feed or ejection jams. In addition, these guns are strong, being able to handle everything from the smallest to the most powerful of chamberings. And they do it with style and comfort.

This might be the year of the lever actions. However, there more than a few 2024 revolvers introduced to the shooters of the world. Shooters have been anticipating some of these handguns, while others came as a real surprise considering the manufacturer.

Beretta Manurhin MR73

Beretta has long been known for shotguns and semi-auto handguns. In fact, Beretta held the U.S. military handgun contract for over 30 years. However, the company has never been known for revolvers. And while Beretta still doesn’t produce wheelguns, it has partnered with Manurhin to import the MR73 revolver, including the 50^th anniversary model. The MR73 50^th model is being limited to 50 guns being shipped to the U.S. And the price, starting at $10,999, reflects this limited availability. However, shooters can still purchase the MR73 Sport 5.25 and the Gendarmerie 4. Of course, at $3,799 these guns are not considered budget friendly.

Manurhin, however, designed the MR73 for the French Gendarmerie and special service units of the French police and military. As such, these .357 Mag. revolvers are considered some of the finest ever made. Craftsmen hand-fit the parts on this revolver, which comes from the factory with .8-inch accuracy at 25 yards. The celebration model comes with a 5.25-inch barrel, featuring fiber-optic sights, a high-polish blued finish, unique barrel markings and a second cylinder chambered in 9 mm.

Chiappa 60DS Stormhunter

The .357 Mag. chambering makes an excellent defensive round. That fact that these guns can also shoot .38 Spl. just makes them even better. Unfortunately, .357 can be pretty stout; many people just can’t handle its recoil. Those folks should look at a Chiappa 60DS Stormhunter.

Based on the low-bore axis of the Rhino, the Stormhunter provides a much different recoil profile. Because the barrel is lower, the round fires out of the bottom of the cylinder. This provides a push against the hand instead of an upward kick when firing. The Stormhunter features a 6-inch barrel and a distressed white finish on its alloy frame. It also comes with adjustable fiber-optic sights, black walnut grips and a look that seems to jump off of the pages of a science fiction novel.  

Colt Blued Python

When Colt stopped making the Snake guns, many shooters weren’t happy. These guns were popular. So, when Colt brought them back a few years ago, lots of folks cheered. The only thing was that Colt only brought them out in stainless; some folks wanted blue. Well, Colt has added blue to the snake line with recently introduced Blued Python.

This .357 Mag., six-shot revolver comes with either a 4.25- or 6-inch barrel. It also comes with a highly polished blued barrel and frame. It even comes with an adjustable rear sight and user-replaceable front sight. So, shooters can swap out the front sight for something with night-shooting capabilities. However, some might just want to keep the original orange ramp for aesthetics.

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Diamondback SDR (Self-Defense Revolver)

Diamondback started as a boat manufacturer before getting into building CNC parts for other companies. This included making gun parts. Then, around 2009, the company introduced a compact .380 semi-auto to accolades. It wasn’t long before Diamondback became well known for affordable firearms, including AR-15s. The company has now introduced a defensive revolver, the SDR (Self-Defense Revolver).

With a 2-inch barrel and a six-shot capacity, this .357 Mag. revolver features a sleek frame, rounded edges and a match grade trigger. It even comes with fiber-optic front and rear sights and an ergonomically placed push-button cylinder release. The grips are black rubber to reduce felt recoil, which also looks great against the polished, stainless-steel frame.

North American Arms Sentinel

North American Arms mini guns might not be the best choice for self-defense, but they do provide an easy-to-carry, last-ditch option. In addition to being light in caliber, these revolvers are not the easiest to reload. Cylinders have to be removed just to get access to the spent cases. That is until NAA brought out the Sentinel.

While the Sentinel looks like many of the other mini guns built by NAA over the years, it has one differing characteristic. The Sentinel comes with a swing out cylinder. This new feature comes from customer desires, and NAA answered. The company chambered it in .22 Mag. However, it has the option to add a .22 LR cylinder.

Ruger Super Redhawk in .22 Hornet

There are few double-action revolvers with the reputation of the Ruger Super Redhawk. With its triple locking cylinder and stainless-steel frame, this revolver can handle the largest of loads. This makes it really desired by handgun hunters and other big-bore enthusiasts. Ruger has now introduced this gun in a chambering for varmint hunters. This gun holds eight rounds of .22 Hornet.

Despite being chambered for a light recoiling round, this revolver still comes with all of the features for which the Super Redhawk is known. This includes a Hogue Tamer Monogrip, a HiViz Green front sight, an adjustable rear sight and a hefty 66 ounces of weight. Combined with the 9.5-inch barrel, which sends a 40-grain projectile out at 1,900 fps, this revolver easily reaches targets at a distance.

Taurus Deputy

Jumping a little bit away from its double-action roots, Taurus has introduced the Deputy. With this single-action revolver, Taurus has jumped into the cowboy world. Available in .45 Colt and .357 Mag., the Deputy is also available in two different barrel lengths — 4.75 inch or 5.5 inch.

The Deputy comes with a transfer bar system, so it can be safely carried with six rounds. Shooters still, however, must half cock the hammer to spin the cylinder. One of the more interesting things about this gun, though, is that the hammer makes four clicks as it is cocked. This harkens back to the days when a certain gun spelled C-O-L-T as the hammer moved backwards.

Taurus 327 Defender T.O.R.O.

Revolvers continue to be viable self-defense handguns. This is especially true when considering the Taurus 327 Defender T.O.R.O. From the beginning, the Taurus designed this gun for defense. Chambered in .327 Fed. Mag., this gun provides plenty of stopping power with recoil that is comparable to a .38 Spl. Even better, it holds six rounds instead of the five that defensive revolvers contain.

Other defensive features include a bobbed hammer to prevent hanging up during the draw, along with an orange outline night sight on the front. However, this model also comes with a red-dot sight for extremely fast target acquisition.  

Taurus Judge Home Defender

The Taurus Judge has been out for a while. In fact, shooters have numerous models from which to choose. This includes different grips, finishes, sights and even barrel lengths, which jumps into Taurus’ latest entry into the .45 Colt/.410 line.

The Judge Home Defender comes with a 13-inch barrel, rubber grip and a Picatinny rail for attaching an optic. This is actually good considering this large handgun doesn’t come with sights. However, it does come with a forend, allowing the gun to be fired with two hands if needed. That forend even has a small Picatinny rail for a light or laser. As such, this gun is aptly named.