Flat Rate Domestic Shipping $5.95 | FREE Shipping on Orders Over $100
Without a doubt, many people are purchasing the latest revolvers because they’re interested in self-defense. Some are mostly interested in purchasing a compact revolver holster and taking advantage of concealed carrying options. Others are more interested in having a small, easy-to-use and reload options that anyone in the house is able to use in a home defense situation.
So what are people buying today, and how are they reloading them in tricky situations? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular revolvers in use today as self-defense tools.
The Ruger SP101 has been around for about three decades now and is a go-to when it comes to self-defense. While there are 8-shot versions (for which carry a 8-round speedloader and block), the .22LR caliber doesn’t offer the stopping power that most people are looking for. The standard SP101 comes in .38 Special/.357. These 5-shot speedloaders for the SP101 allow for fast reloading in a pinch.
If you’re looking for something lighter than the Ruger Sp101, check out its little brother the Ruger LCR.
We already wrote an entire article on the many advantages of the Ruger LCR and the many accessories you can purchase, but here’s a quick rundown: it’s lightweight at just under a pound, it’s hammerless so that you don’t snag anything when you draw, and it has an easy-to-grab handle that won’t slip out of your hands. For the five shot .38 and .357 Magnum version, we carry LCR .38/.357 speed loaders, as well as blocks and carrying cases. If you’re more interested in moon clips, we have LCR 5-shot 9mm moon clips.
We’re seeing a trend here! Ruger certainly makes a good variety of self-defense firearms, and that’s why we’re seeing another of their revolvers on the list: the Ruger GP100.
Some people just don’t think a revolver is a true revolver until it has six shots, so if the 5-shot capacity of the SP101 or LCR (in their larger caliber options) just doesn’t do it for you, maybe the GP100 is more your style. Carrying six rounds of .357 Magnum, the GP100 has been around since the mid-1980s. With the shortest barrel length being 3”, it’s not technically a snub-nose revolver, but you’ll be experiencing better accuracy when you draw it from its holster.
If you’re more of a competition shooter and less about self-defense, the Ruger GP100 also comes in a 10-shot .22LR, so you can load up your loading block and practice your aim at the range.
The Model 442 comes from a family of small revolvers called Centennial revolvers, built on S&W’s J-frame. Manufacture of the Centennial line started in 1952, and versions like the 442 are still in production today. Why change a good thing?
The Centennial line all feature fully-enclosed hammers, making them excellent self-defense weapons from a snag-free point of view. Because it’s hammerless, it’s DAO (double-action only). It weighs less than a pound thanks to its aluminum body and is chambered in .38 Special + P. With less than a 2” barrel length, it’s a true snub-nose revolver that fits easily into a purse, pocket, or holster. We’re happy to offer .38 Special speedloaders that work on Smith & Wesson J-Frames.
Another J-frame from S&W, the Model 340PD is a more modern snub-nose that only showed up in the early 2000. It’s also designed for a heavier round, as the Model 340PD is chambered in .357 Magnum. It’s one of the lightest .357’s ever manufactured, coming in at 12 ounces when not loaded. (Even loaded it weighs less than a pound.) Like many other revolvers that are used for self-defense, it’s double action with a concealed hammer.
The Model 340 holds five rounds, and we have the .357 Magnum speedloader that works with it. Heck, we’ve even got a pink version if that’s what you’re looking for!
While it comes to most people’s idea of a self-defense handgun, many of the barrel lengths of the S&W model 686 — 6-inch and 8-⅜-inch — are certainly a bit long. But this .38 Special / .357 Magnum revolver also offer shorter barrel lengths that make it a formidable self-defense firearm. In fact, it’s well-known as one of the most versatile revolvers on the market, excellent for concealed carry, home defense, plinking, competition, animal defense, and more.
The Model 686 has been around for nearly 40 years and has been through many iterations. The most recent is the 686 Plus (686P), which comes with a barrel as short as 2.5 inches, making it a true snub-nose revolver. While it might be heavier than some self-defense revolvers, one of the most appealing aspects is that it carries seven rounds. It also has rubber grips for easier holster drawing and adjustable sights. Speed Beez has speedloaders, loading blocks, and cases so that you can make the most of your time at the range.
For decades there were workarounds to fit shotgun shells into handguns, with various successes (and horrible injuries). Then came the judge, and the workarounds became unnecessary.
Taurus released the Judge in 2006, and it was an instant hit. That’s because it didn’t only fire a powerful .45 Colt cartridge but was also able to fire .410 shotgun shells (or both, depending on how you choose to load the cylinder). It became an instant hit among those looking to have a gun at-the-ready for carjacking prevention or home protection.
While the barrel on the judge is an acceptable length for concealed carry, the overall length of the gun — due to the extra-long cylinder that accommodates the .410 shot shells — causes some to pass the Judge by. As an interesting side note, the Judge is not considered a short-barrelled shotgun by the National Firearms Act of 1934, for the simple fact that it has a rifled barrel (the rifling actually does help it concentrate the shot in a smaller area). However, the same is not true in the state of California, where the judge is classified as a short-barreled shotgun and is therefore illegal.
Those are far from the only revolvers that people use for self-defense, but there’s no doubt that those are some of the most common snub-nose (and close to snub-nose) revolvers that are still in production. As long as they stick around, we’ll keep making speedloaders, speedloader pouches, loading blocks, and cases so that you can make the most of your time on the lanes. Click on those links above to find exactly what you’re looking for at Speed Beez!
