CCW Guns, Concealed Carry Firearms
Concealed Carry Revolvers (2026): Best Picks and How to Carry One
Quick answer: The best concealed carry revolvers are small-frame, 2-inch-barrel guns with an enclosed or concealed hammer: the Smith & Wesson 642 and 442, the S&W Bodyguard 38, the Taurus 856, the Kimber K6s and the Colt Cobra. They hold 5 or 6 rounds, have few controls and work well in a pocket or an appendix holster. The trade-offs are a heavy double-action trigger, fewer rounds and a cylinder that’s wider than most carry pistols. That width is why holster setup matters more with a revolver than with a pistol.
Why Carry a Revolver?
A revolver is simple to run: no safety lever, no slide to rack and no magazine to seat. The long double-action trigger pull works as its own safety margin. A snub-nose with an enclosed hammer also has almost nothing to snag on clothing during a draw from a pocket or waistband.
The downsides are real. Most carry revolvers hold 5 or 6 rounds against 10 or more in a micro-compact pistol, and reloading is slower. The trigger pull is heavy (Smith & Wesson lists a 10 lb trigger on the 642), so accurate shooting takes practice. If you choose a revolver, dry-fire and range time matter more, not less.
Concealed Carry Revolvers Worth Knowing (2026)
Specs and prices below come from each maker’s own product page as of October 2026. Prices change, so check before you buy.
| Model | Caliber | Rounds | Barrel | Cylinder width | Hammer | Maker price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&W 642 (no internal lock) | .38 Special | 5 | 1.88″ | 1.30″ | Enclosed, double-action only | $569 |
| S&W 442 (no internal lock) | .38 Special | 5 | 1.88″ | 1.30″ | Enclosed, double-action only | $569 |
| S&W 340 PD | .357 Magnum | 5 | 1.88″ | n/a | Enclosed, double-action only | $1,199 |
| S&W Bodyguard 38 2.0 | .38 Special +P | 5 | 1.875″ | 1.35″ | Double-action only | $449 |
| Taurus 856 Concealed Hammer | .38 Special +P | 6 | 2.0″ | 1.41″ | Concealed, double-action only | $430.99 MSRP |
| Kimber K6s Stainless 2″ | .357 Magnum | 6 | 2.0″ | 1.39″ | Internal, double-action only | $899 |
| Colt Cobra 2″ | .38 Special +P | 6 | 2.0″ | n/a | See maker page | $899 |
A note on Ruger: on October 14, 2026, American Rifleman reported that Ruger had paused production of the LCR, SP101, GP100 and Bearcat, effective immediately. Ruger said this “does not necessarily mean these product families are permanently discontinued.” Many revolver lists still put the LCR first, but new ones may be hard to find for now.
How to Choose One
- Hammer: an enclosed or concealed hammer (642, 442, 856 Concealed Hammer, K6s) won’t snag in a pocket or on a shirt. A shrouded hammer leaves a small spur you can cock. An exposed hammer is the easiest to snag.
- .38 Special or .357 Magnum: a .357 revolver can also fire .38 Special, per SAAMI’s interchangeability list, but never the other way around. Full-power .357 in a very light gun kicks hard, so many owners practice and carry .38 Special +P where the maker rates the gun for it.
- 5 or 6 rounds: six-shot small frames (Taurus 856, Kimber K6s, Colt Cobra) are a little wider. The 5-shot J-frames are the slimmest.
- Weight: lighter is easier to carry all day but harder to shoot well. Heavier steel frames soak up recoil.
- Grip: a short, rounded grip prints less. A longer grip is easier to hold and to shoot.
Carrying a Revolver Inside the Waistband
The cylinder is the widest part of a revolver. Using the makers’ own figures, a J-frame cylinder is 1.30″ wide and the Taurus 856 is 1.41″. A SIG P365 pistol, for comparison, is 1.06″. That extra quarter inch or so sits right at your waistband, which is why a revolver can feel bulkier IWB than a pistol of the same length.
What prints is usually the grip, not the cylinder. A short-barrel gun is top-heavy, so the grip tips away from your body and pushes against your shirt. Three things fix most of it:
- A holster made for your model. It should fully cover the trigger guard in rigid Kydex or well-made leather and let you adjust ride height and cant. See our guide to IWB revolver holsters.
- A wedge behind the muzzle end. A wedge between the bottom of the holster and your body angles the grip back in toward you. With a revolver’s wide cylinder, this one change often makes the difference between printing and not. Our wedge placement guide shows where it goes.
- A stiff gun belt. A belt that sags lets the grip flop outward. A reinforced 1.5″ gun belt holds the holster where you set it.
Other Ways to Carry a Revolver
- Appendix (AIWB): a round-butt snub carries well at 1 o’clock. Ride height matters most: set it high enough that the grip sits close to your belt line. See our appendix carry guide.
- Pocket: a lightweight J-frame in a pocket holster is a classic backup or dress-clothes option. Always use a holster that covers the trigger. More in our pocket holster guide.
- Strong side (3 to 4 o’clock): comfortable for many people, especially when seated, but the grip prints more easily when you bend.
Reloads
Speed strips are flat and easy to carry in a pocket. Speedloaders reload faster but are round and bulky. Whatever you carry, practice with it, because reloading a revolver under pressure is slower than swapping a magazine.
Safety and Law
- Use ammunition marked for your gun’s barrel and follow the owner’s manual, especially with ultralight magnums.
- Draw and reholster slowly and keep the muzzle pointed safely. Reholstering is the highest-risk moment in appendix carry.
- Carry laws vary by state and change often. Check the permitless carry states and reciprocity before you travel.
Quick Answers
What is the best revolver for concealed carry?
For most people, a 5-shot J-frame with an enclosed hammer, such as the S&W 642 or 442, or a 6-shot small frame like the Taurus 856 or Kimber K6s. Pick the one you can shoot accurately, not just the lightest.
Is a revolver good for concealed carry?
Yes, if you accept fewer rounds and a heavy trigger. It’s simple, reliable and easy to hide in a pocket or appendix holster.
Do revolvers print more than pistols?
The cylinder is wider than most carry pistols, but the grip is usually what prints. A good holster, a wedge and a stiff belt fix most printing.
Can you carry a revolver appendix?
Yes. Round-butt snubs are some of the easiest guns to hide in AIWB with the right holster and ride height.
.38 Special or .357 Magnum for carry?
A .357 revolver gives you both options, since it also fires .38 Special. In very light guns, many people carry .38 Special +P for faster follow-up shots.
Is the Ruger LCR discontinued?
Ruger paused LCR production in October 2026 and said that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s permanently discontinued.
Written by the Cloudster Pillow team. We make holster wedges and the Magnetic Pocket Mag Carrier, and carry Kore gun belts. We don’t sell holsters or firearms, and no gun maker paid to be mentioned here. Specs and prices are from each maker’s site as of October 2026. This is general information, not a substitute for professional training; check the carry laws where you live.
