A few months ago I wrote about setting up your revolver EDC. That led to some questions about selecting a revolver for conceal carry. For several years now I’ve relied on a handful of revolvers to protect myself, carrying them both along my waistband, and in alternative locations such as on the ankle or in my pocket. While I don’t exclusively carry wheelguns, they do find their way into my wardrobe pretty regularly. In addition to carry, I compete and train with these guns regularly, along with teaching students of various skills levels on their use. In short, I know my way around a sixgun. With that in mind, here are some of my top choices for a current production conceal carry revolver.
Ruger LCR
The Ruger LCR was one of the first guns to really challenge Smith & Wesson’s dominance in the modern snub nose market. These polymer frame guns came in light and inexpensive while offering quality and reliability. Calibers range from the typical .38 Special and .357 Magnum, to .22LR/WMR, and .327FED for those looking for opposite ends of the recoil spectrum. Depending on your round of choice, capacity sits between five and eight rounds. Not only that, but Ruger has also offered the LCR with exposed hammers in the LCRx line, with up to a 3-inch barrel in some configurations.
While my carry guns tend toward S&W, I am a big fan of the Ruger LCR, having briefly carried a 3-inch LCRx in .38 Special. The triggers are fantastic, the guns are reliable, and parts/accessories are plentiful. Generally speaking, I see quality typically being better here than with standard Smith & Wesson options, improving peace of mind as well. Unfortunately prices are rising, with MSRP sitting between $739-859 as of this writing. Street prices hang about $200 under MSRP depending on model.
S&W Ultimate Carry J-Frame (432, 442, 632, 642)
The J-Frame from Smith & Wesson is THE gun people think of when discussing snub nose revolvers. Coming in a variety of calibers and configurations, at some point there has likely been something to fit the bill for everyone. Unfortunately, like many things, quality control on these guns has slipped over the years. Not only that, but many of the “ideal” carry revolvers in this size have been swept aside for less than perfect SKUs.
Luckily the folks over at American Fighting Revolver teamed up with Lipsey’s to bring us what they consider the “Ultimate Carry” revolver. These are J-Frame’s from S&W that have been worked over a bit to bring them up to snuff. Among other things, they feature proprietary G10 grips, chamfered charge holes, tritium front sights, improved triggers, and more. I personally prefer their 632UC, a six-shot .32H&R Magnum in stainless steel. For more conventional folks, a five-shot .38 Special is also available, with both calibers coming in stainless or blued finishes.
Lipsey’s, S&W, and AFR added to the Ultimate Carry lineup during SHOT Show 2025. These new versions feature a titanium cylinder, which drops the weight down to nearly 12 ounces empty. The new guns also feature AFR grips from Hamre Forge as a replacement for the VZ grips found on the original Ultimate Carry guns.
I own two of the 632UC, a his & hers setup. While I do have some personal preference things I’d change, these are a big step up from your standard J-Frame offerings. As such, they’re an easy recommendation for me.
MSRP on the standard Ultimate Carry line runs around $759 through Lipsey’s distributors. Titanium versions currently sit at $825 MSRP.
Kimber K6sx
It was nearly ten years ago when Kimber stepped into the revolver market. Like many, I was skeptical of what they had to offer, especially when looking at Ruger and Smith & Wesson’s dominance. To my surprise, the K6 series of revolvers turned out to be really good. The triggers are incredible, they’re reliable, and they hold six rounds standard, which is a nice improvement over the competition’s 5-shot snubs. Over the next few years they cranked out guns with longer barrels and grips, new finishes, exposed hammers, and adjustable sights.
Then Kimber announced the K6xs. Coming in at just under 16 ounces, this airweight gun punches above its weight class. I had the opportunity to shoot a few cylinders from a K6xs at SHOT Show 2024 and was really impressed. The fixed sights made for easy head shots at 15 yards, with the bright orange front sight providing excellent contrast. Capacity remains the same at 6-rounds, but caliber has been reduced to .38 Special +P only. This kept recoil pretty comfortable with standard pressure loads, which I think I could shoot for extended sessions with the factory Hogue grips.
Pricing has also been reduced, with MSRP sitting at $679, and street prices hovering just over $600. This places the K6xs firmly in the middle range of modern snub nose revolver prices. This isn’t to say the standard K6 isn’t a great choice, but their substantially higher price keeps them out of reach for many. That said, I’d be pretty happy with their 3-inch K6s in a holster as well.
Taurus 856 Executive Grade
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade is a six-shot .38 Special revolver. It comes standard with a 3-inch barrel, sights regulated for common 130gr ammunition, along with an improved action and quality control. Back in 2021 I had the opportunity to put about 1,000 rounds through a Taurus 856EG with the folks at Primary & Secondary over the course of 24 hours. The gun ran without issue, despite no cleaning or lubrication, which was a shock to everyone involved. Since then I’ve also run a standard 856 and two 327’s through the ringer, with all three coming out in pretty good shape. In short, Taurus is starting to change things up, especially for their premium line.
As it stands currently, I consider the 856 Executive to be my go-to recommendation for a revolver with a barrel exceeding traditional “snub” lengths. Of course this won’t fit in a pocket or ankle holster, but the 3-inch gun in a small frame sits perfectly in the waistband. They’re reliable, accurate, and shoot pretty well. Of course they aren’t the highly tuned guns of yesteryear, but they’re starting to put more traditional manufacturers to shame.
With an MSRP of $689 and street prices closer to $500, the Taurus 856 Executive Grade is also highly affordable. Between quality and cost, it’s a winner in my book.
Ruger SP101 327 Lipsey’s Exclusive
I’m a big fan of .32 caliber revolvers. I really think it’s the best round for a snub gun, especially in lightweight wheelguns. The Ruger SP101 is no lightweight, but that doesn’t mean it won’t benefit from the .32 caliber family. The smaller diameter gives you 6-rounds in what is typically only a five-shooter, which is a significant increase in capacity. While shooters can opt for the hand cannon that is .327FED, I prefer .32 Long or .32H&R Magnum to dramatically improve shooting characteristics while maintaining performance for carry.
A major benefit of this SP101 variant is the adjustable sights, allowing us more freedom in choosing a preferred load, rather than finding one that shoots to the sights. The 3-inch barrel takes this out of pocket gun territory, but we’re still looking at a small frame revolver, which makes for an easy carry piece along the waistband. This is one of the more expensive guns on the roster, but it offers a few features not found elsewhere on the list.
MSRP sits at a hefty $919.00, though I’ve seen street prices as low as $649. Keep an eye out for a deal if you’re looking to pick on up.
Heritage MFG Roscoe
Heritage MFG is best known for their budget Single Action Army clones in .22LR and .22WMR. A few months ago they announced their first centerfire revolver, the Roscoe. The Roscoe is about what you’d imagine from a snub nose gun; blued finish, 2-inch and 3-inch barrels, slim wood grips, fixed sights, and exposed hammers.
Based off of the Taurus 85, these 5-shot .38 Special revolvers exude old school cool. Now cool factor isn’t a reason to pick a carry gun, but these seem to be living up to the old legends as well. While my time has been short, Paul recently wrote a first impressions piece on his Roscoe and is working up a long-term review. With reports from other friends, it seems these guns are boringly consistent in form and function. The Roscoe isn’t the most modern carry gun, but it’s filling a solid niche with performance to match a higher price point.
Taking the more budget line, with MSRP at $364, and street prices near $300.
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