Finding the best eight shot revolver can be a challenge. But if you have a good understanding of how they work, the search process might not be as difficult. A great revolver might just be what you need for all applications that require a good-sized handgun. But eight shots can be a good capacity for some concealed carry users.
To help you find the right eight shot revolver for you, we put together a list of four of the best revolvers with that specific capacity currently on the market as of this writing.
Before we get to the list, we’ll talk about what an eight-shot revolver is good for and how the four products we chose to review ended up on our list.
Comparison of the Best Eight Shot Revolvers
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What is an Eight Shot Revolver Good For?
There are some applications where a revolver will definitely stand out among the rest of the handguns on the market. While eight shots are plenty for most users, they will come in handy for the following applications:
Target Shooting
One of the most popular applications for a revolver with eight shots is target shooting. Whether you do it casually or shoot targets for competition purposes, eight shots is the perfect amount to hit the bullseye several times in a row. Plus, we all know that reloading a revolver can be boring, sometimes even with a revolver speedloader.
Concealed Carry
One of the main reasons most people carry a revolver is for EDC purposes. While you probably won’t be in a life and death situation each day, it is a good idea to carry a good concealed carry revolver in case you end up in such a situation.
Home Defense
Believe it or not, not all revolvers are made for concealed carry purposes. Some will be larger in size and are too large for concealed carry. So, it would make sense to keep those home and use them for the purpose of home defense.
However, some revolvers are also smaller (such as revolvers for women) and can be used for specific defense purposes when needed. Once again, they are perfect to have around in case you end up in a dangerous situation.
Why Did These Make Our List?
We don’t choose these revolvers at random. We looked at the various characteristics and features that make a revolver stand out among the rest. Plus, you need to know how to distinguish one that is great from one that isn’t so great in terms of performance and quality. Here are a few reasons we chose them:
Affordable for Most Budgets
These are typically affordable revolvers for all kinds of budgets. Regardless, you’ll need to invest in an eight-shot revolver that is the best in quality and performance. Don’t settle for cheap in terms of the attributes.
Excellent for One Purpose or Another
While most of these revolvers will be useful for general purposes, some will excel at one application or another. For example, one revolver will stand out as a favorite for the purpose of target shooting and another for concealed carry purposes. Keep your intents and purposes in mind while choosing a revolver of your own.
Built to Last
One of the best things about an eight-shot revolver is its durability. So we made sure all four of these were built solidly and have the potential to last you years, or even decades.
Quick Take - The Best Eight-Shot Revolvers
These are our recommendations for the best eight-shot revolvers:
Review of the Best Eight-Shot Revolvers
The following is a list of the four best eight-shot revolvers currently on the market. While you are looking through each one, it’s important to know which characteristics and features stand out best.
This way you’ll know which one will match the description of your ideal revolver. Now, let’s take a look at the first revolver on our list - our best overall choice:
Best Overall:
Smith & Wesson 627
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers stated that this revolver was great mostly for target shooting purposes. However, a good half of them said they keep this around at home just in case a prowler or burglar dares break into their homes. Overall, the accuracy was effective with targets from 20 to 30 yards.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This revolver might be an intimidating force to be reckoned with considering its weight and size. It’s made from mostly steel materials that make the revolver last you years or even decades. Nonetheless, it has that old-school classic look that makes it aesthetically sharp for most users.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be perfect for target shooting and home defense. You have a pretty good amount of firepower to work within either application. So if you’re looking for a heavy hitting revolver, this might be right up your alley.
Bottom Line
The Smith and Wesson 627 might be the kind of eight-shot revolver you’ll need on hand f you want the perfect revolver to keep nearby or take with you to the range. With power and accuracy, you’ll have a fun time firing this sucker off.
Best for the Money:
Taurus 608 6.5” .357 Magnum
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most new users were satisfied with the revolver. They considered this to be one of the best revolvers for concealed carry. One user said it was able to sit securely in their OWB holster and allowed him to quickly draw it when needed.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This revolver is made from some of the toughest materials out there. One such material is rubber. It allows excellent grip and control, even in the worst weather conditions. So if you’re at an outdoor range and the weather takes a turn for the worse, rest assured your control stays the same.
Who Will Use This Most
This is perhaps one of the most accurate revolvers on the market. So if you’re in the market for something that can hit large targets accurately from about 50 yards out, this revolver might just be your cup of coffee.
Bottom Line
The Taurus 608 might be one of the most accurate on the market when it comes to eight-shot revolvers. Not only that, it’s one of the most affordable on the market. If you want a high performing revolver without breaking the bank, this might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Best Eight-Shot .357 Revolver:
Taurus .357 Magnum 38 Special
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new users were pretty happy with the revolver overall. They managed to hit their targets accurately from about 20 to 30 yards out but went beyond that with larger targets. They also were able to keep a good hold in bad weather conditions. One user said his palms tend to sweat a bit and yet he still kept hold of his revolver.
Why it Stands Out to Us
A .357 caliber special revolver might be the most powerful of the bunch when it comes to the revolver class. So this list would not be as epic if it didn’t include an eight-shot revolver. This is solidly built and powerful enough to stop even small varmint in their tracks. But if you use it in a self-defense situation, know that prowlers and home invaders will think twice before messing with you.
Bottom Line
The Taurus .357 Magnum 38 Special would definitely be your kind of revolver if you want something that is powerful, accurate, and pretty dang intimidating. You’ll feel confident in having the advantage if using it in a life and death situation.
Best Eight-Shot .22 Revolver:
Ruger SP101 22LR 4.2”
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new buyers were quite happy with the revolver. They said they hit most of their targets accurately from distances of 20 to 40 yards. They were also quite happy with the construction of the revolver itself.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The .22 caliber might be one of the smallest calibers of all the revolvers. But there is no doubting it will stand out as one of the most accurate and reliable on the market for applications like target shooting and home defense. Plus, it can still do some serious damage at decent distances. So if you want a revolver that will work nicely in these applications and also be great for EDC use, this revolver will probably stand out as your favorite.
Who Will Use This Most
If you are looking for the perfect revolver for concealed carry, look no further than the .22. You’re bound to find a revolver that’s at the right size for unobstructed, non-bulge concealed carry. This might be the one that will stand out as the best if you want something at your side in case you are ever in danger.
Bottom Line
The Ruger SP101 is arguably one of the best revolvers on the market for EDC applications. And its accuracy and reliability are second to none. If you want the perfect .22 revolver to add to your arsenal, you really should consider giving this Ruger revolver a closer look.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying?
Before buying an eight shot revolver, it’s important to know some additional information. Here are some things to consider before buying a revolver:
Should I Consider One for Concealed Carry?
This is a question that gets asked a lot. If you are someone in search of an eight shot revolver for concealed carry, you should look for one that has the best measurements for such purposes. However, you don’t have to purchase one for concealed carry. You can purchase one of a specific size that is best for home or shooting range use only.
What Kind of Ammo Will be Best?
There are all kinds and brands of ammo for an eight shot revolver. So it would make sense to know which caliber your revolver of choice will be. Once you choose a revolver, you will know the caliber so you can decide on which brand of ammo will be best. Remember, some brands will be better than others.
Which Caliber is Best For Me?
It depends on your personal preferences. If you prefer a smaller caliber, then odds are a .22 caliber would be more to your liking. If you want something with a bit more stopping power, the .357 revolver would probably stand out as one of the better choices.
Pros and Cons of Eight Shot Revolvers
Let’s look at some of the different pros and cons of eight shot revolvers.
Pros
There are a lot of upsides to eight shot revolvers. These are good reasons to invest in a revolver like the ones listed above. Here are a few common things to expect:
Superior Firing Power
Firepower is important if you want something that will deliver stopping power like no other, especially if you are in search of a revolver that will stand out as one of the best for self-defense purposes. Regardless, most eight shot revolvers will be packed with some excellent firing power that is hard to match against other revolvers.
Consistent Capacity
This is an actual no-brainer. Here, you know exactly how many bullets you’re working with. So it would make sense knowing exactly how long it will take you to load an eight shot revolver. Most of the time, and depending on the type of rounds, they shouldn’t take any more than a few seconds to load (maybe even quicker if you have a revolver speedloader like a moon clip).
Tight Shooting Groups
Most eight shot revolvers have a common thing, they tend to shoot tighter shooting groups regardless of the caliber. So if you hold accuracy to a high standard, there is a good chance you’ll consider an eight shot revolver as your choice handgun. Besides, tighter group shots (while consistent) are a lot better than nothing at all.
Cons
While there are pros, they always come with a side of cons and such is the case with eight shot revolvers. Here are a couple of common downsides of eight shot revolvers:
Can be Expensive
While you can find an eight shot revolver at a price you can afford, they are much pricier compared to other revolvers on the market. This is something to keep in mind if you are on a budget and are in search of a revolver, in general.
Some Rounds May Not be Compatible With Others
Throughout each caliber, it may be hard to tell which rounds would be considered compatible with an eight shot revolver. This is why you need to be careful when considering which caliber might be the best (as well as the ammo that goes with it). Some of them may be slower in velocity, while others may be faster. Pay close attention to the performance of whatever rounds you fire so you will know how well they do in certain applications.
Conclusion
The best eight shot revolver is out there. It’s important to find one that will fit whatever purpose or intent you wish to use it for. These are powerful, accurate, and reliable handguns you can use in any given situation. Be sure to choose the one that fits you best and feel free to fire off as many rounds as you desire.
