.357 Magnum Handguns

The COP .357 Derringer is a compact, four‑shot, double‑action pocket pistol designed for concealed‑carry self‑defense. Conceived by the small‑bore firearms firm COP Inc., the weapon emphasizes maximum firepower in a minimal envelope, offering a .357 Magnum cartridge in a pistol barely larger than a traditional two‑shot derringer. Its primary market is civilian self‑defense and law‑enforcement backup, with a niche following among collectors who value its unusual four‑barrel layout. The design’s distinguishing features include a staggered‑column barrel cluster, a single trigger that cocks and releases all four hammers sequentially, and a robust stainless‑steel frame that tolerates the high pressures of .357 Magnum. The derringer’s reputation is mixed: praised for its stopping power and simplicity, but criticized for a heavy trigger pull and limited sighting options. Its unique four‑shot capacity in a pocket‑size package remains unmatched among modern derringers, making it a notable outlier in the compact pistol segment.

The Desert Eagle .50 Action Express (AE) is a large, gas‑operated, semi‑automatic pistol renowned for its extraordinary power and distinctive appearance. Developed jointly by Magnum Research (USA) and Israel Military Industries (IMI), the design philosophy centered on delivering a handgun capable of handling magnum‑class cartridges while maintaining a semi‑automatic platform. Primarily marketed to civilian sport shooters, collectors, and as a novelty sidearm for law‑enforcement and special‑operations units, the .50 AE version stands out for its massive 0.50 in (12.7 mm) projectile, high muzzle energy, and a robust stainless‑steel frame with a polymer grip. Key innovations include a short‑stroke gas‑piston system with a rotating bolt, a detachable box magazine, and interchangeable barrels for .357 MAG, .44 Magnum, and .50 AE. Its reputation in the firearms community is a blend of awe for its raw power and criticism for its weight, recoil, and limited practical utility, making it a cultural icon more than a tactical workhorse. Unique characteristics such as the oversized slide, dual‑stage safety/decocker lever, and the ability to switch calibers with a barrel swap contribute to its legendary status.

The Smith & Wesson Model 686 is a stainless‑steel, double‑action revolver built on the renowned X‑frame platform. Designed primarily for the civilian market and law‑enforcement use, the 686 combines the durability of the large‑frame design with a smoother, lighter recoil impulse than its predecessor, the Model 29, thanks to its six‑round .357 Magnum chamber and a 4‑inch (or 2.5‑inch) barrel. Key innovations include a fully machined, stainless‑steel cylinder and barrel, a robust internal lockup system, and the use of a transfer bar safety that allows the hammer to rest down on a loaded chamber without risk of accidental discharge. The 686 quickly earned a reputation for reliability, accuracy, and versatility, becoming a favorite among competitive shooters, hunters, and tactical operators. Its ability to fire both .357 Magnum and .38 Special ammunition, coupled with a crisp double‑action trigger and optional adjustable sights, makes it uniquely adaptable for a wide range of applications.

The Mateba Autorevolver, officially the Mateba Model 6 Unica, is a semi‑automatic revolver that blends the classic revolver cylinder with a short‑stroke recoil‑operated slide, allowing the barrel and cylinder to move forward on each shot. Designed primarily for civilian sport shooters and hunters, its purpose is to deliver higher muzzle velocity and reduced recoil compared to conventional revolvers by lengthening the barrel’s effective length during the recoil cycle. The key innovation is the forward‑tilting barrel that uses the recoil impulse to rotate the cylinder and cock the hammer, effectively making it a semi‑automatic revolver. Its distinctive low bore axis, long sight radius, and the ability to chamber powerful cartridges such as the .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum have earned it a cult reputation among collectors and competitive shooters for its smooth trigger pull and impressive ballistics. The Mateba’s unique aesthetics—a sleek, almost pistol‑like profile with an exposed slide—set it apart from traditional revolvers and have made it a frequent subject of firearms literature and media.

The Gümüşay .357 Magnum is a revolver produced by MKE (Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu), a Turkish state-owned defense and firearms manufacturer. Designed primarily for civilian use, including sport shooting, hunting, and personal defense, this revolver reflects MKE's effort to produce a domestically manufactured, reliable, and affordable large-caliber handgun. The Gümüşay .357 Magnum is a double-action/single-action revolver with a solid frame and a swing-out cylinder, typical of modern revolvers. Its distinguishing features include a robust steel construction, a ventilated rib barrel, and adjustable rear sights, which enhance accuracy. The revolver is known for its durability and straightforward design, making it a practical choice for Turkish civilian shooters and law enforcement. While not as internationally renowned as Smith & Wesson or Ruger revolvers, the Gümüşay .357 Magnum is respected in Turkey for its solid build and reliable performance. It is chambered in .357 Magnum, allowing use of .38 Special ammunition for training or reduced recoil. The revolver's design emphasizes simplicity and ruggedness, with a blued finish and checkered walnut grips, reflecting MKE's focus on functional, no-frills firearms.

The Colt Single Action Army, also known as the Peacemaker, is one of the most iconic revolvers of the American Old West.

The Dan Wesson 715 is a high-precision revolver known for its interchangeable barrel system and excellent accuracy.

The Chiappa Rhino is a revolutionary revolver with a bottom-cylinder firing design to reduce recoil and muzzle rise.

The Smith & Wesson Model 66 is a stainless steel K-frame .357 Magnum revolver, the stainless version of the Model 19 Combat Magnum. Widely adopted by law enforcement detectives in the 1970s-80s.

The Colt Python is a .357 Magnum caliber revolver manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company. Widely regarded as one of the finest production revolvers ever made, it is known for its exceptional accuracy, smooth trigger, and hand-fitted precision.

Bond Arms manufactures modern derringers with interchangeable barrels and robust stainless steel construction.

The J-Frame series is Smith & Wesson’s line of small-frame revolvers popular for concealed carry and backup duty.

The Smith & Wesson Model 65 is a stainless steel, K-frame revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It was introduced in 1972 as a stainless steel version of the Model 13, which was itself a fixed-sight variant of the Model 19 Combat Magnum. The Model 65 was designed for law enforcement use and featured a heavy barrel and a shrouded ejector rod. The revolver could also fire .38 Special ammunition. The Model 65 was widely adopted by police departments across the United States. Its stainless steel construction made it resistant to corrosion, making it popular for concealed carry and duty use in wet environments.

The Ruger GP100 is a robust, medium-frame double-action revolver known for its durability, accuracy, and ease of maintenance.

The Colt King Cobra is a medium-frame .357 Magnum revolver from Colt. Originally produced 1986-1998 and reintroduced in 2019 with modern manufacturing. Features a vent-ribbed barrel and fully adjustable rear sight.

The Smith & Wesson Model 60 is a stainless steel J-frame revolver introduced in 1965 as the first production stainless steel handgun from a major American manufacturer. It is chambered in .38 Special (originally) and later .357 Magnum, with a 5-round capacity. The Model 60 is a variant of the Chiefs Special line and retains the same compact, five-shot J-frame design ideally suited for concealed carry. It gained an excellent reputation for corrosion resistance, durability, and smooth trigger action. The Model 60 has been produced continuously for over 50 years and remains a favorite among plainclothes officers and civilian carriers.

The Dan Wesson Model 15-2 is a double-action revolver manufactured by Dan Wesson Firearms in Monson, Massachusetts. It is chambered in .357 Magnum and is part of the Dan Wesson 15 series known for its interchangeable barrel system. The Model 15-2 allows shooters to quickly swap barrels of different lengths using a simple barrel nut and shroud system. The revolver is known for its outstanding accuracy and robust construction.

The Smith & Wesson Model 28, known as the Highway Patrolman, is a large N-frame revolver chambered in .357 Magnum introduced as a lower-cost alternative to the premium Model 27. It featured a simpler satin-blue finish and lacked the checkered top strap of the Model 27, but retained the same strong N-frame and exceptional reliability. The Highway Patrolman became a favorite among law enforcement agencies seeking an affordable yet durable service revolver.

The Smith and Wesson Model 13 is a fixed-sight K-frame revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It was introduced in 1974 specifically for the FBI and law enforcement agencies that wanted .357 Magnum power in a compact K-frame. The Model 13 features a heavy barrel and a shrouded ejector rod. It shares the same frame size as the Model 10 but is built to withstand the higher pressure of the .357 Magnum round. The FBI used the Model 13 with a 3-inch barrel as their standard issue sidearm.

The Manurhin MR 73 is a precision revolver manufactured by Manurhin (Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin) in France. Widely regarded as one of the finest production revolvers ever made, it was designed for elite French police and military units and is built to withstand a lifetime of heavy Magnum use.

The Ruger LCR is a lightweight, polymer-framed revolver with a smooth DAO trigger, ideal for concealed carry.

The Ruger Speed Six is a medium-frame double-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger and Company. It was part of Ruger's Six series that also included the Police Service Six and Security Six. The Speed Six features a compact rounded butt frame and a shrouded ejector rod for a clean profile. It was designed for concealed carry by plainclothes officers and security personnel. The revolver was chambered in .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and 9x19mm Parabellum. It is known for its robust construction and the innovative Ruger coil spring mechanism far more reliable than leaf springs.

The Smith & Wesson Model 27 is a large N-frame revolver that was the first .357 Magnum ever produced. Introduced in 1935 as the Registered Magnum, it set the standard for high-performance revolvers with its exceptional accuracy, smooth action, and premium craftsmanship. The Model 27 was built on the heavy N-frame to handle the powerful .357 Magnum cartridge.

The Smith & Wesson Model 642 is a lightweight J-frame revolver chambered in .38 Special. It features an aluminum alloy frame with a stainless steel barrel and cylinder, reducing weight to just 380 grams. The revolver has a shrouded hammer design for snag-free draw from a pocket or holster. It is a five-shot revolver with a 47 mm barrel and fixed sights. The Model 642 is one of the most popular concealed carry revolvers ever produced.

The Smith and Wesson Model 327 TRR8 is a modern performance revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It features an eight-shot cylinder and a lightweight Scandium alloy frame with a stainless steel barrel shroud. The revolver is equipped with a Picatinny rail on top of the shroud for mounting optics or accessories. It was developed for the tactical and competition markets. The TRR8 designation stands for Tactical Rail Revolver with 8 shots.

The Colt Magnum Carry is a compact stainless steel revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It was introduced in 1999 as Colt's entry into the concealed carry revolver market. The Magnum Carry combines a small D-frame with the power of the .357 Magnum cartridge. It features a 2-inch barrel with a full-length ejector rod shroud and is built on the Detective Special frame. The Magnum Carry was designed specifically for deep concealment.

The Smith & Wesson 686 Plus is a stainless steel L-frame revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It is a seven-shot variant of the standard six-shot Model 686, introduced in 1996. The 686 Plus was designed to offer increased firepower without enlarging the frame size. It uses a seven-shot cylinder that is slightly shorter than the standard cylinder to fit the L-frame. The revolver retains all the features of the standard 686, including the full underlug barrel and adjustable sights. The 686 Plus was adopted by law enforcement agencies that wanted extra capacity. It remains a popular choice for hunters, competitors, and revolver enthusiasts.

The Smith & Wesson Model 19 is a .357 Magnum revolver built on the medium-size K-frame, earning the nickname Combat Magnum for its balanced power and handling. It was the first revolver to offer the .357 Magnum cartridge in a concealable K-frame package. The Model 19 became an instant classic among law enforcement, with a 4-inch barrel being the most iconic configuration.

The Ruger Security Six is a medium-frame double-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company from 1972 to 1988. It was designed as a modern, rugged service revolver chambered in .357 Magnum with a coil spring system and a solid frame with no side plate. The Security Six was Rugers first modern double-action revolver and set new standards for strength and reliability.

The Taurus 692 is a versatile 7-shot revolver that can switch between .357 Magnum and 9x19mm with a simple cylinder change. It features Taurus's distinctive ported barrel design with a ventilated rib and adjustable rear sight. The revolver has a 76 mm barrel with a full underlug and rubberized grip. It uses a transfer bar safety system and a single-action/double-action trigger. The 692 is built on the medium-large Tracker frame.

The Taurus Model 608 is a large-frame revolver chambered in .357 Magnum with an eight-round cylinder capacity. It is built on Taurus's heavy-duty frame and features a full underlug barrel. The 608 can also fire .38 Special cartridges. It is available with barrel lengths of 4, 5, and 6.5 inches. The revolver features a ventilated rib and adjustable rear sight. It is designed for hunting, target shooting, and personal defense.

The Ruger Service Six is a medium-frame double-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It was designed as a rugged duty revolver for police use with a simpler, stronger construction than traditional designs. The Service Six features a solid frame with no side plate and an integrated ejector rod shroud. It uses a triple-locking cylinder mechanism for strength and reliability. The Service Six was Ruger's first serious entry into the law enforcement revolver market.

The Ruger Vaquero is a single-action revolver produced by Sturm, Ruger & Company from 1993 to 2013, designed as a fixed-sight version of the Ruger Blackhawk. Chambered in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, and other calibers, it features a traditional Western-style profile with a transfer bar safety system. The Vaquero was built on Ruger's large frame and was popular with cowboy action shooters and Western enthusiasts. Its rugged construction, affordable price, and reliable action made it a direct competitor to Colt's Single Action Army. The Vaquero was redesigned in 2005 on the smaller mid-size frame (New Vaquero) to better emulate the dimensions of the Colt SAA.

The Colt New Frontier is a variant of the Colt Single Action Army revolver with adjustable target sights. It was introduced to meet demand from Cowboy Action shooters and collectors who wanted the classic SAA design with modern sighting capability. The New Frontier features an adjustable rear sight and a ramp front sight. It maintains the classic lines of the original Peacemaker while offering practical accuracy upgrades. The revolver is chambered in .45 Colt and other traditional calibers. It was produced in both standard and high-polish finishes.

The Colt .357 is a medium-frame revolver chambered specifically for the .357 Magnum cartridge. It was introduced in 1953 as one of the first production revolvers developed for the then-new .357 Magnum round. The Colt .357 featured a heavy barrel, adjustable rear sight, and a wide target trigger. It was built on the slightly larger I-frame, also known as the .41 frame. The Colt .357 was designed for expert shooters seeking maximum accuracy and power.

The Colt Trooper is a medium-frame double-action revolver built on Colt's .357 Magnum frame. It was designed as a law enforcement and service revolver to compete with Smith and Wesson's K-frame offerings. The Trooper went through several iterations including the Mk III, Mk V, and the Trooper Mark III. It features a heavy barrel with a shrouded ejector rod for improved durability. The revolver gained a reputation for accuracy and smooth trigger action. It was offered in .357 Magnum and .38 Special configurations.

The Kimber K6s is a compact, concealable .357 Magnum revolver with a 6-round capacity — the smallest 6-shot .357 Magnum revolver on the market. It features an exceptionally smooth trigger and distinctive design.

The Colt Lawman Mk III is a medium-frame revolver manufactured by Colt from 1969 to 1983. It was part of Colt's Mk III series, which included the Trooper Mk III and the Official Police Mk III. The Lawman featured a heavy barrel design and was built on a rugged medium frame capable of handling .357 Magnum pressures. It has a shrouded ejector rod and a vent-rib barrel similar to the Trooper Mk III. The revolver was popular with law enforcement agencies as a duty sidearm.

The Ruger SP101 is a compact, rugged .357 Magnum revolver with a solid steel frame and one-piece barrel shroud design. One of the most popular concealed-carry revolvers, known for handling full-power .357 loads in a compact package.

The Ruger Blackhawk is a series of single-action revolvers manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Introduced in 1955, the Blackhawk modernized the classic Colt Single Action Army design with a stronger frame, adjustable sights, and modern heat-treated steel for use with powerful Magnum cartridges.

The Taurus Model 689 is a double-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum, manufactured by Taurus of Brazil. It is built on a medium frame similar in size to the Smith & Wesson K-frame. The Model 689 features a full underlug barrel, a shrouded ejector rod, and adjustable target sights. It was offered with barrel lengths of 4, 6, and 8.375 inches. The revolver uses Taurus's patented Taurus Security System, a key-operated internal lock. The Model 689 was popular with both law enforcement officers and civilian shooters. It is known for its rugged construction and affordable price.

The Korth Skyhawk is a modern revolver manufactured by Korth of Germany. It is chambered in .357 Magnum and features a precision-machined stainless steel frame. The revolver uses Korth's patented cylinder locking mechanism and a tensioned barrel system for improved accuracy. It is widely regarded as one of the finest production revolvers in the world. The Skyhawk is designed for both sport shooting and defensive use.

The Ruger LCRx is a hammer-fired version of the popular Ruger LCR revolver. It features an exposed hammer that allows both double-action and single-action operation. The LCRx is chambered in .38 Special and .357 Magnum options. It retains the lightweight polymer frame and trusted internal safety of the standard LCR. The revolver is designed for concealed carry and personal defense.

The Taurus Model 605 is a compact five-shot revolver manufactured by Taurus International. It is chambered in .357 Magnum and designed for concealed carry and personal defense. The 605 features a steel frame and a 2-inch barrel for easy concealment.

The Colt Python is a premium double-action revolver manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company. The 2020 reintroduction of the Python features modern manufacturing techniques while retaining the classic design. It is chambered in .357 Magnum and known for its smooth trigger and excellent accuracy.

The Colt Mk III is a series of double-action revolvers introduced by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1969. The Mk III family included the Trooper Mk III, the Lawman Mk III, and the Police Mk III. These revolvers were chambered in .357 Magnum and featured Colt's new V-spring action, which was stronger and simpler than previous Colt designs. The Mk III revolvers had a heavy barrel profile and a shrouded ejector rod. The Trooper Mk III was aimed at the target and hunting market with adjustable sights, while the Lawman Mk III had fixed sights for police duty use. The Mk III series represented Colt's updated revolver design for the modern era.

The Ruger Super GP100 is a competition-oriented revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It features a five-shot cylinder for maximum wall thickness and strength. The Super GP100 has a slotted shroud and a removable front sight system. It comes with a fully adjustable rear sight and a spring-loaded front sight. The revolver uses a heavy bull barrel with a full-length underlug. It is designed for ICORE and USPSA revolver competition.