Revolvers have constantly held up their place as the best firearms in the market for the better half of this century. While they lack the ammunition capacity of most modern pistols, their reliability beats nearly all the firearms on the market. They don’t jam, they are highly accurate, and their shots pack a punch making them one of the best handguns for self-defense.
If you are in the market for some best revolver calibers to defend yourself, this article has every option you should check out at least once.
## Best Revolver Calibers For Self-Defense
Here are some of the best revolver calibers best suited for self-defense.
### .38 Special
The .38 Special otherwise known as the .38 Smith and Wesson Special is one of the best rounds for beginners on the market making it a go-to recommendation for self-defense guns. The round was a standard issue for police departments all over the United States from the 1920s to the 1990s.
It has a centerfire rimmed cartridge making it ideal for defense and hunting applications and the .38 special has manageable recoil which makes it easy to shoot.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the .38 S&W Special.
| Bullet Speed and Pressure
|
600-940 ft/s @ 17,000 PSI (CPI)
|
| Best Competitor
|
.38 Super
|
| Penetration Power
|
12-16 inches in Ballistic Gel for Defense Rounds
|
| Effective Range
|
7-25 Yards
|
| Recoil
|
Highly Manageable
|
| Availability
|
Widely available
|
### .357 Magnum
The iconic .357 S&W Magnum originally came out as the direct competition to Colt’s .38 Super Automatic but excelled in its terminal ballistics. This round is especially useful for hunting, and self-defense, and even effective against big game like Bears if loaded properly. Developed in the mid-1930s, the .357 S&W Magnum use became widespread due to its penetration power.
The only downside to the .357 Magnum is its recoil which might take time to get used to for novices. Different cartridges are available in the market based on bullet mass.
Here’s all the necessary information on the .357 Magnum.
| Bullet Speed and Pressure
|
1200-1800 ft/s @ 35,000 PSI (CPI)
|
| Best Competitor
|
Colt .38 Super Automatic
|
| Penetration Power
|
18-30 inches in Ballistic Gel for FMJ Rounds
|
| Effective Range
|
25-50 Yards
|
| Recoil
|
Slightly Manageable
|
| Availability
|
Widely available
|
### .327 Federal Magnum
The .327 Federal Magnum, developed to improve the design of the .32 H&R Magnum, is a fairly popular round for full-sized seven-shot revolvers. Being a fairly new round; developed in 2007, the .327 Magnum intended to match the power of .357 S&W Magnum with a rimmed, straight casing.
Highly powerful yet manageable, the .327 Federal Magnum is an underrated option for self-defense due to its high agility, stopping power, and damage capabilities.
Here’s some more information about the .327 Federal Magnum.
| Bullet Speed and Pressure
|
1400-1655 ft/s @ 45,000 PSI (CPI)
|
| Best Competitor
|
.357 S&W Magnum
|
| Penetration Power
|
16-20 inches in Ballistic Gel for FMJ Rounds
|
| Effective Range
|
10-30 Yards
|
| Recoil
|
Manageable
|
| Availability
|
Widely available
|
### .45 Colt
The all-time famous .45 Colt, aka .45 Long Colt, was the standard cartridge used by the US Army for 19 years from 1873 to 1898 making it a worthy mention on this list. The .45 Colt is a highly durable round capable of holding up to most self-defense situations. The speed of this round is slightly higher than the .38 Special but the impact pressure is slightly lower. However, the .45 Colt is much more affordable and easier to use.
The .45 Colt provides solid penetration, especially with heavier, slower-moving bullets like 250–300 grains.
| Bullet Speed and Pressure
|
900-1300 ft/s @ 14,000 PSI (CPI)
|
| Best Competitor
|
.38 S&W Special
|
| Penetration Power
|
18-24 inches in Ballistic Gel for FMJ Rounds
|
| Effective Range
|
25-50 Yards
|
| Recoil
|
Highly Manageable
|
| Availability
|
Widely available
|
### .9mm Luger
Arguably the most widely used handgun round in the world, the 9mm is perfect for nearly all applications revolving around self-defense. This round is not only reliable, it is highly effective. Although not as fancy as other names listed in this article, the 9mm Luger can be anyone’s go-to option because of its low recoil and superb stopping power.
Nearly 60% of all law enforcement handguns in the United States use 9mm rounds in their magazines.
| Bullet Speed and Pressure
|
1150-2010 ft/s @ 34,084 PSI (CPI)
|
| Best Competitor
|
.357 Sig
|
| Penetration Power
|
16-20 inches in Ballistic Gel for FMJ Rounds
|
| Effective Range
|
7-25 Yards
|
| Recoil
|
Highly Manageable
|
| Availability
|
Widely available
|
### .44 Remington Magnum
Designed in the 1950s by Remington Arms, the .44 Magnum might seem overkill for home defense scenarios due to its extremely high power and recoil, but it is the perfect round to use in outdoor defense, preferably at farms and country estates. In its full-powered state, this round produces so much recoil that it is deemed unsuitable for law-enforcement applications.
But, in all its glory, the .44 Magnum does have the power to defend you outdoors. The sheer intensity of the muzzle blast from this round alone can deter any attackers on your property.
Here’s some more information about the .44 Magnum.
| Bullet Speed and Pressure
|
1180-1550 ft/s @ 40,600 PSI (CPI)
|
| Best Competitor
|
.454 Casull
|
| Penetration Power
|
20-30+ inches in Ballistic Gel for FMJ Rounds
|
| Effective Range
|
50-100 Yards
|
| Recoil
|
High
|
| Availability
|
Widely available
|
### The .44 Special
Afraid to use the .44 Magnum? Try using the .44 Special which is like a little brother of the .44 Magnum even though it was designed in 1907. The .44 Special is a fairly low-speed round with a good punch, making it an excellent self-defense round. Furthermore, the .44 Special offers high accuracy and low recoil making it perfect for people sensitive to recoils.
Today, a variety of factory ammunition loadings are available for the .44 Special with various bullet velocities.
| Bullet Speed and Pressure
|
755-870 ft/s @ 15,500 PSI (SAAMI)
|
| Best Competitor
|
.41 Magnum
|
| Penetration Power
|
14-20 inches in Ballistic Gel for FMJ Rounds
|
| Effective Range
|
7-15 Yards
|
| Recoil
|
Highly Manageable
|
| Availability
|
Widely available
|
## How To Choose The Best Caliber?
Choosing the right caliber for yourself is as important as choosing the right one for your firearm. Therefore, it is recommended to give this bucket list a go before choosing a particular round.
- Purpose
Your purpose plays an important role in deciding which round is the best for you. Concealed carry requires smaller calibers while self-defense rounds are usually higher calibers.
- Recoil or Stopping Power
Choosing between the two usually means giving up the other. If you choose stopping power, you are giving up on low recoil and vice versa. Therefore, it is better to always try a number of different caliber rounds and settle on the one that gives you the best of the two.
- Ammunition Type
Once you have a clear direction, opt for the best ammunition type, such as hollow points or full metal jacket ammo. Hollow Points generally suit self-defense scenarios as these bullets expand after entry while FMJs are penetrators.
- Your Skillset
If you are a beginner, choosing lower calibers would go a long way in your shooting experience as they will be easier to master. However, if you are a master shooter, heavier rounds are best in all-use cases.
## Conclusion: Defense And Reliability
In the end, the best revolver caliber will be the one that offers ultimate defense based on your individual needs. It might not necessarily be the one that your friend uses or recommends, but you’ll know which round suits your hand the best once you fire.
