7 Best 9mm & .45 ACP Revolvers

Wait, you are telling me my revolver doesn't have to be in .357 Magnum!?

To be fair, most revolvers are chambered in rimmed cartridge calibers like .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Mag, and even .22 LR.

That doesn’t mean a revolver must use a rimmed cartridge; however, some of the most popular modern revolvers are chambered in rimless cartridges like the 9mm and .45.

9mm and .45 ACP are two of the most popular handgun cartridges in the world, and just about every major manufacturer offers at least one pistol chambered in each caliber. 

But what about 9mm and .45 ACP revolvers?

We’ve collected and tested the best of these revolvers, and we have some thoughts we’d like to share about them.

Let’s talk about why you might want a revolver in the 21st century, why these rimless cartridges are such a great (if unorthodox and unintuitive) choice, and then we’ll look at the best .45 ACP and 9mm revolvers on the market.

Keep reading!

Best 9mm and .45 ACP Revolvers Comparison

How We Chose the Best 9mm & .45 ACP Revolvers

The entire team at Pew Pew Tactical had a hand in contributing to this post. Most of us have experience shooting and owning revolvers and come from a variety of backgrounds, from prior law enforcement to competition shooting to concealed carry instruction.

So, we know a thing or two about what goes into a good revolver. We have hands-on experience with many revolvers on this list or close variants. Anything we haven't touched has been hand-picked after thorough research.

Each revolver on this list was selected based on the following criteria: Caliber, features, price, quality, shootability, and overall value.

Best 9mm Revolvers

1. Ruger SP101 - Editor's Pick

Editor's Pick

Ruger SP101 9mm

$669

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$669 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: DA/SA
• Capacity: 5
• Barrel Length: 2.25"
• Weight: 25 oz.

Ruger makes the list again with the SP101. This is the best option for anyone looking for an affordable, reliable revolver chambered in 9mm. 

This 5-shot wheel gun isn’t as svelte as some of the other guns on this list, but it is still very robust and reliable --- it’s the ultimate blue-collar revolver.

It’s relatively lightweight at 25 ounces and uses a milled rear sight instead of adjustable sights.

While it may be a simple, no-frills option, this is a prime choice if you’re looking for a true workhorse.

It also has a very soft rubber grip that is...grippy. This is great for even a heavily recoiling caliber like .357 Magnum, but it practically eliminates recoil in the 9mm version.

Finally, the trigger isn’t the best you’ll find, but it’s plenty good enough for range work and self-defense. A competition target gun this ain’t, but that’s what our next option is for.

Want to know more? We got you covered with a full review of the Ruger SP101!

2. Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 327 WR Jerry Miculek - Best for Competition

Best for Competition

Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 327 WR

$2499

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$2499 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

Brownells (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: DAO
• Capacity: 8
• Barrel Length: 5"
• Weight: 35.52 oz.

If you’re looking for the best revolvers, you are probably looking at one of two options: Colt and Smith & Wesson. In this case, Smith and Wesson takes the crown with their Performance Center 327 WR Jerry Miculek Signature Edition. 

With this gun, you not only get the legendary Smith and Wesson reliability and performance that we’ve all come to know and love over the years, but you also get some elite custom tuning and refinement.

This 8-shot revolver has a 5-inch barrel and is ready to go out of the box for revolver shooting competitions.

Why is it so good for competition? Well, it is built to the standards of the current fastest shooter in the world, Jerry Miculek. Check out Jerry setting a new world record with this very revolver below.

So what does $2,500 get you? A buttery smooth Performance Center trigger, tuned action, ported barrel, scandium frame, titanium cylinder, and an 8-MOA Vortex CompDot optic.

Overall, if you’re looking to compete with a 9mm revolver or just want the best 9mm range toy revolver money can buy, accept no substitutes. 

What do you think of the S&W? Rate it below!

3. Taurus 692 9mm/.357 Mag - Best Convertible 9mm Revolver

Best Convertible 9mm Revolver

Taurus 692

$607

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$607 at Kygunco

Firearms Depot (see price)

Guns.com (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm, .357 Mag/.38 SPL
• Action: DA/SA
• Capacity: 7
• Barrel Length: 3"
• Weight: 35 oz.

Sure, 9mm is the cheapest centerfire handgun round you can get for the most part. But at the end of the day, a 9mm just sounds weird to some people. It can be tough to throw down cash on a revolver that doesn't fire revolver rounds.

Luckily, 9mm and .357 Magnum/.38 Special all share the same bullet diameter. This means you can shoot 9mm through a .357 Magnum revolver --- if you have the right cylinder.

Enter the Taurus 692. This sweet 7-shot revolver comes with two cylinders, one for .357/.38, and one for 9mm. No more having to choose!

Aside from the awesome convertibility it has, you also get a 3-inch ported barrel to help reduce recoil. The rubber grips help tame this gun even further.

A fully adjustable rear sight means you can dial in your holds for all different types of ammo, which is important if you are swapping between three calibers.

If you want the option to shoot 9mm because it is cheaper, but don't want to invest in a dedicated 9mm revolver, the Taurus 692 is your ticket.

4. Ruger LCR - Best for Concealed Carry

Best for Concealed Carry

Ruger LCR 9mm

$627

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$627 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

BattleHawk Armory (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: DAO
• Capacity: 5
• Barrel Length: 1.87"
• Weight: 17.2 oz.

Ruger has made a name for itself in the budget-friendly carry market, and its LCR revolver exemplifies its commitment to quality at an affordable price. 

The LCR is one of our favorite backup guns, and its 1.87-inch barrel makes it an easy choice for ankle or pocket carry.

It has a 5-shot cylinder and weighs in at just a hair over a pound --- you can easily slip it in a pocket and forget it is there.

You can choose between the hammerless models (LCR) or single-action-capable versions with a hammer (LCRx).

Check out our full review of the Ruger LCR!

5. Taurus 905 - Best Budget 9mm Revolver

Best Budget 9mm Revolver

Taurus 905

$339

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$339 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

Guns.com (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: DA/SA
• Capacity: 5
• Barrel Length: 2"
• Weight: 21 oz.

Another option in the 9mm realm comes from Taurus in the form of the 905.

This compact, 5-round revolver is a double-action-only design with a barrel length sitting around 2 inches. The Taurus 905 brings with it a durable build with a price point that puts it within the reach of most gun owners.

While the sights are kinda lacking, there are plenty of aftermarket grips for better customization. The 905 is available in black or stainless finishes.

Performance-wise, some might find the trigger pull a little tough, but that’s the trade-off with a double-action. Recoil-wise, though, the weight of the gun helps offset muzzle flip, making recoil fairly manageable.  

All in all, it’s not a bad shooting experience, especially at its price.

Best .45 ACP Revolvers

Just like with the 9mm options, there are a few good .45 ACP revolver options out there, but here are a few that are a cut above the competition.

6. Ruger Redhawk - Best .45 ACP Revolver

Best .45 ACP Revolver

Ruger Redhawk .45 ACP/.45 Colt

$1010

at GrabAgun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1010 at GrabAgun

Classic Firearms (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .45 Colt/.45 ACP
• Action: DA/SA
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 4.2"
• Weight: 44 oz.

While the Redhawk has long been a staple for magnum-caliber revolver enthusiasts, Ruger graced customers with a convertible .45 ACP/.45 Colt model in 2015.

At 44 ounces, it is clear that the Redhawk was meant for heavy magnum loads. This means those shooting .45 ACP will enjoy the benefits of an exceedingly low-recoil and easy-to-shoot revolver.

This revolver features a 4.2-inch cold hammer-forged barrel, a 6-shot cylinder, checkered wood grips, an adjustable rear target sight, and comes with three moon clips.

As mentioned above, this model can also chamber .45 Colt for those looking for a bit more spice in their life.

The Redhawk is a durable, flexible, soft-shooting gun that warrants serious consideration from anyone looking for a .45 ACP revolver.

7. Charter Arms Pitbull - Doesn't Require Moon Clips

Doesn't Require Moon Clips

Charter Arms Pitbull .45 ACP

$439

at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

$439 at Guns.com

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Action: DA/SA
• Capacity: 5
• Barrel Length: 2.5"
• Weight: 22 oz.

Last up is the Pitbull from Charter Arms.

This affordable revolver is available in .45 ACP, but it packs a unique feature that sets it apart from most other rimless cartridge revolvers.

The Pitbull features a dual coil spring assembly in the extractor. But what does that mean? It means that you don't need moon clips, even with .45 ACP.

Moon clips have a tendency to bend over time, which can lead to breakages or misfires in some cases. Not having to mess around with them definitely has some appeal.

With a 2.5-inch barrel and a 5-shot capacity, the Pitbull is sized well for a general-use gun. It is heavy enough to shoot at the range without hurting your hands, but is small enough to be used for concealed-carry, as a tackle box gun, or just about any other knockabout task.

Benefits of a Revolver

Some of you more tactical types who stumbled on this article are about to smash the back button and find something else to read, but if you do, you’re missing out.

Not every gun is or needs to be a high-speed, low-drag, defensive gun ready to take on all comers. Some guns are just fun at the range or for more casual use, like keeping in a glovebox as a backup. 

Many people also overlook revolvers, especially for defensive use, and the logic at least would appear to be on their side.

After all, in a world where micro compacts like the Sig P365 and other guns can reload in just a few seconds, why would you want a bulky, slow-to-reload wheelgun that holds fewer rounds?

First and foremost, some people are just more comfortable with a revolver. The gun you’re most comfortable carrying is the one you’ll be able to rely on the most when you’re in a difficult situation.

Beyond that, there are some practical advantages to a revolver over a semi-auto.

An ankle holster can make sense for a backup gun, but when it comes to a gun full of dirt and lint from a day of walking, a revolver may function better than a semi-auto.

Beyond that, a revolver without a hammer spur can sometimes draw quicker and cleaner from a pocket thanks to its shape and rounded grip.

Finally, a revolver doesn’t need any extra space to cycle properly, unlike a semi-auto, which needs room for the slide to reciprocate if you want to fire more than one shot.

This can make a revolver a better “get off me” gun in cases where you’re firing at an assailant from contact distance. 

This kind of contact shooting capability also means that a revolver can be reliably fired from within a purse, bag, or jacket pocket in an emergency, which allows you to grip the firearm covertly and have it ready without drawing it. 

9mm & .45 ACP Revolvers: Why These Calibers?

First of all, both of these cartridges are extremely popular all over the planet, so you’ll never be too far from a store selling a wide variety of ammo.

Frankly, if you can’t get 9mm or .45 ACP ammo where you live, you need to move.

Because of that popularity, you have a vast number of both defensive and range/training ammo choices.

The fact that these are two of the most popular carry gun calibers means that if you choose a 9mm or .45 ACP revolver, you can retain ammo compatibility across multiple guns. This means fewer calibers to stockpile in the back of the gun safe.

Meet the Experts

This article builds on the original work of Megan Kriss, former PPT author and freelance editor. Megan is an avid recreational shooter and writer/editor. She has an extensive writing and linguistics background, which she uses to analyze and collect data on guns and turn them into articles.

Editing and adding to this article is Pew Pew Tactical Editor, Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor, long-range shooting, and hunting. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms, many revolvers included, and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He has a few retro-style guns himself and definitely has love for the old-school-cool.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

They may be decidedly old school, but revolvers still have a place in the firearms world --- even when it comes to defensive options.

With 9mm and .45 ACP being so popular, you’ll always be able to find ammo, and if you’re looking for a new revolver to add to your collection, grabbing one in one of those calibers might be a good idea.

There are some great defensive picks on this list and some that are just plain fun.

Which one of these revolvers did you like the best? Is there one that I left off the list that surprised you? Let us know in the comments! Need more wheelgun action? Check out our list of the Best Concealed Carry Revolvers.

Latest Updates

May 2025: Removed S&W Model 25, Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm, S&W Performance Center Pro 986. Added Charter Arms Pitbull .45 ACP, Taurus 692, S&W Performance Center Model 327 WR Jerry Miculek. Added comparison chart.

March 2024: Added Taurus 905 & Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm.