The Best New Revolvers for Defense or Sport

This year definitely brought some surprises in the “World of Wheelguns.” Some of these revolvers were ultra-small and others were super-huge. Some aren’t really new, but are again available from other manufacturers or importers. Others comprise variations on a theme and are different versions with longer or shorter barrels, different grip frames and/or finishes and even new sight options. I fully appreciate that the revolvers included in this roundup all use more-or-less conventional ammunition. No new “super whiz-bang” ammo for these guns; it is hard enough to find “regular” cartridges with the continuing supply chain difficulties. So, let’s take a look at what I saw in the various booths at the 2023 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

Best New Revolvers for 2023

Beretta/Manurhin MR73 Gendarmerie

This French DA/SA revolver in .38/.357 Magnum came out in 1973 and adopted for duty use by the French GIGN, an elite anti-terrorist force. Beretta is now importing it into the USA. The N73 has a 4-inch full-length, underlug barrel. The 6-shot cylinder and frame design stands up to thousands of rounds of Magnum ammo. A special grip mitigates recoil and it has an adjustable trigger and polished blue finish. Overall length (OAL) is 9.17 inches, empty weight is 34.2 ounces, and MSRP is $3,600. (beretta.com)

Beretta/Manurhin MR73 Sport

A second version of the MR73 debuts for the target or sport shooter. With the same basic features as the Gendarmerie, it has a 5.25-inch barrel and patridge front sight, mated with an LPA adjustable rear sight. The trigger adjusts for pull weight and over-travel; both it and the hammer come straw-colored. Black rubber target grips are ergonomically designed and limit recoil transfer to the shooters hand. Finish is a polished blue, OAL is 10.39 inches, empty weight 37.0 ounces, and the MSRP is $3,600. (beretta.com)

Colt 4” Anaconda

Kept under wraps until just before the SHOT Show, Colt is now offering its large-frame Anaconda .44 Magnum with a 4.25-inch barrel. The barrel has a vent rib, full-length underlug and recessed target crown. A red-ramp front sight is standard, but is user-interchangeable. Constructed of forged stainless steel, it has an OAL of 11.25 inches and empty weight of 42 ounces. This is a DA/SA revolver with a 6-shot cylinder, adjustable rear sight, and Hogue over-molded black rubber grips. MSRP is $1,499. (colt.com)

Colt King Cobra Target .22LR

Another “Snake Gun,” Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR is so new it’s not even on the Colt website yet. Unlike its older siblings, this is a 10-shot version in .22 LR. Of forged stainless-steel construction, the one-piece barrel has a vent rib and full-length underlug. The front sight is red fiber-optic and there’s an adjustable rear sight. Barrel lengths offered are 4.25 and 6 inches. Hogue over-molded black rubber grips are standard. This DA/SA revolver has an empty weight of 34 ounces and an OAL of 9.25 inches (4.25-inch) (colt.com)

Diamondback Arms Sidekick Birdshead

Introduced in 2021, the Sidekick DA/SA .22 LR revolver now has a sibling with a 3-inch barrel and round-butt/birdshead-style grip. This nine-shooter has an empty weight of 24.50 ounces, which is kept down by a zinc frame. The barrel and cylinder are steel and the gun is black Cerakote finished, with black polymer grips. It has fixed sights and an optional .22 Magnum cylinder. The cylinder swings out for simultaneous ejection of spent cases; OAL is 9.88 inches and the MSRP is $320. (diamondbackfirearms.com)

Lipsey’s Exclusive Premium Python

While the Colt Python remerged in 2021, in 2022 a 3-inch barrel version appeared. Now Lipsey’s in cooperation with Tyler Gunworks has created a Premier-Grade Lipsey’s Exclusive of this fine .357 Magnum wheelgun. Made of stainless steel with Tyler’s American Elk Stag grips with Colt medallions, it is lavishly engraved on some 2/3 of its surface. This is a six-shot DA/SA revolver, its vent rib and full underlug offer excellent balance. Features include a red ramp front sight and fully-adjustable rear sight; OAL is 8.5 inches, empty weight 40 ounces, and the MSRP is $2,400. (lipseyes.com)

Nighthawk Custom/Korth NXS Revolver

A new Korth revolver is out called the NXS. This premium-grade wheelgun has an eight-shot cylinder in .38/.357 Magnum and comes in 4- or 6-inch barrel lengths. Its distinctive features include a ventilated barrel shroud with a Picatinny rail, just behind the gold-bead, protected front sight, plus a rail below the sight, on the underlug. There’s also a rail on the top-strap of the frame and a fully-adjustable rear sight. The rear of the cylinder is cut to allow moon-clip use. An accessory 9mm cylinder is available. Finish is black DLC, with Wilson-style walnut grips. OAL is 11.65 inches (6-inch), empty weight is 50.7 ounces, and MSRP is $5,299. (nighthawkcustom.com)

Rossi RM669 Revolver

After an absence of several years, Rossi has returned to revolver production. The new RM669 is a medium frame, all stainless-steel, six-shot wheelgun, in .38/.357 Magnum. It has a 6-inch barrel with a solid rib and full-length underlug, plus a red ramp front sight. It’s a DA/SA design with a hammer block safety and adjustable rear sight. The checkered black synthetic grips have a gold Rossi emblem. With an OAL of 11.14 inches and empty weight of 34.4 ounces, it’s still easy handling for field or target range use. MSRP is $620.99. (rossiusa.com)

Rossi RP639

A second DA .38/.357 six-shot wheelgun is also available. It’s a fixed sight version with a 3-inch barrel, OAL of 7.95 inches, and empty weight of 27.3 ounces. Additionally, it has black rubberized grips with a round-butt configuration for concealment. All stainless with a satin finish, the barrel has a full-length rib and underlug, plus the front sight is a blue ramp. It is very much reminiscent of the last DA revolver issued by the FBI and will work with common holsters and speedloaders meant for medium-frame revolvers. MSRP is a reasonable $460.99. (rossiusa.com)

Smith & Wesson X-Frame Model 350

The X-Frame revolver debuted in .500 Magnum in 2003. A new version called the Model 350 has been fitted with a seven-shot cylinder chambered for the .350 Legend. This stainless-steel behemoth has a 7.5-inch barrel, with a full-length rib and underlug, plus a port above the muzzle. With an OAL of 13.5 inches, it weighs 71.5 ounces empty. A DA/SA revolver, it comes with an adjustable rear sight, red ramp front sight and Hogue black rubber grips. The rear of the cylinder is relieved for moon clip use, allowing quick cartridge loading. MSRP is $1599. (smith-wesson.com)

Silver Creek Model 4110 Revolver

Little-known outside of Michigan is the 4110; made at Silver Creek Firearms. This stainless steel, DA/SA, 7-shooter chambers the .38/.357 Magnum. It loads like an Old West six-gun, with a loading gate and an ejector rod affixed to the right side of the barrel. It has an 8-inch barrel, 13.5-inch OAL, and an empty weight of 3.7 pounds. The barrel is ported with a full-length rib and underlug; it has an adjustable rear sight and fiber-optic front sight. Bases for a MRD sight or Picatinny rail are optional. Grips are laminated wood in several colors. MSRP is $3,250. (silvercreekfirearms.com)

Taurus Model 605 TORO

Recently introduced, the Model 605, a variation of the Model 856, is a five-shot .357 Magnum DA/SA revolver. Built from stainless-steel with a matte silver or black finish, it has a 3-inch barrel, a full-length rib and underlug, plus a black ramp front sight. Features include a smooth combat trigger, exposed hammer, along with extended ejector rod and black rubber grips. TORO stands for Taurus Optics Ready Option and has an optics plate compatible with the Holoson K footprint. OAL is 7.5 inches and the empty weight is 23.5 ounces. MSRP is $470.99. (taurususa.com)

Taurus Model 856 TORO

This small-frame DA revolver is a six-shot in .38 Special +P. Like the Model 605, it is stainless steel and comes in matte black or satin silver. It also has the same type of 3-inch barrel and extended ejector rod. Just like the Model 605 TORO, it’s optics ready, but also has a fixed rear sight in the event of an optics failure. The round-butt rubber grips on the Model 856 aid with concealment and absorb recoil. OAL is 7.5 inches and empty weight is 23.5 ounces, while the MSRP is $445.99. (taurususa.com)

Taurus Judge Executive

This elongated frame DA revolver, with a five-shot .45 Colt/.410 bore cylinder was introduced in 2006 and called the Judge. The latest version is an Executive Grade. It has a special Executive logo on the side-plate, presentation-grade checkered wood grips, a brass rod front sight and hand-fitted action. There’s a 3-inch barrel, with a ¾-length underlug, and a low, solid rib. The rear sight is a fixed notch in the top-strap and the cylinder will chamber .45 Colt cartridges and 2.5- or 3-inch .410 shot-shells. OAL is 9.5 inches, and the empty weight 36 ounces, with a $949.99 MSRP. (taurususa.com)

Taurus Raging Hunter 460 10”

The Raging Hunter in .460 Magnum is an ultimate-performance hunting handgun, with a Star Wars look. The extended 10.5-inch barrel has a muzzle brake with a dual-retention system that reduces muzzle flip and recoil by some 25-percent. A bottom barrel rail is for attaching a bipod or other shooting aid. There’s fiber-optic front and rear sights, plus a top Picatinny rail for optics. The barrel and frame are made of alloy steel with a black oxide finish; the frame is stainless-steel with a matte finish. Grips are thick black, pebble-grained rubber. OAL is 16.22 inches, empty weight 71.26 ounces, and the MSRP $1,269.99. (taurususa.com)

Taurus Raging Hunter 500

Produced due to popular demand, the large-frame Taurus Raging Hunter revolver is now available in .500 Magnum. Built with an alloy-steel frame and five-shot cylinder, it has a stainless-steel ported and target crowned barrel, inside a black anodized aluminum barrel shroud. The top of the shroud has an integral Picatinny rail for optics and the Raging Hunter has an adjustable rear sight and patridge-type front sight. The alloy steel parts have a black oxide finish and the black grips are thick, pebble-grained rubber. OAL is 13.1 inches, the empty weight is 63.6 ounces, and the MSRP is $1,060.99. (taurususa.com)

Zenk RZMK-357

The RZMK-357 from Zenk is a “bullpup-style” revolver; the cylinder placed directly atop the grip-frame. It looks like a semi-auto, with a big bulge on the rear of the slide. That “slide” is a cover enclosing the 4.75” barrel and cylinder, with a rail on top. At the left rear of the cylinder enclosure is a latch that releases the cover to tip up on a hinge at the front of the frame. There’s also a safety lever on the left, in front of the cylinder. This is a six-shooter (.38/.357), and is DA-only, OAL is 6.85 inches, empty weight 33.5 ounces, and made of stainless-steel, with a black or silver finish and black checkered grips. MSRP is TBD. (zenk.us)

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