7 Best 22LR Revolver Choices in 2024: Rimfire and Wheelguns!

The world of .22 Revolvers is vast. It’s easy to see why. A good .22 revolver can serve multiple roles. You can play cowboy with one or use it for hunting small game or even for self-defense. These affordable rimfire firearms are easy to shoot, cheap to shoot, and overall tend to be a lot of bang for your buck. Today we are going to go to look at the best .22LR revolvers on the market and cover a very diverse group of firearms. 

Why 22LR Revolvers?

What exactly does a .22 revolver offer? First off, it gives you access to cheap ammo. .22LR rounds are incredibly affordable, especially when bought in bulk, making it easy to shoot all day without breaking the bank. Plus, these guns have almost no recoil, so you won’t feel a kick, even in a small-sized revolver. That’s why .22LR is a go-to round for new shooters. It’s easy to handle and a lot of fun to shoot.

One thing to note is that .22LR uses a rimfire priming system, which can be less reliable than centerfire. This can lead to more misfires, but in a revolver, it’s no big deal. If a round doesn’t fire, just cock the hammer or pull the trigger again with no jams or fuss. Unlike .22 automatic pistols, which can be picky with ammo, revolvers handle a variety of rimfire loads without the headaches, making them more reliable and less frustrating at the range.

How I Chose the Best 22LR Revolver

As a former Marine and a revolver guy, I’ve had the chance to put countless .22LR revolvers to the test over the years. While my own experience has given me plenty of insight into .22LR revolvers, I didn’t want to base this best .22LR list entirely on my perspective. To ensure a well-rounded selection, I connected with other experienced shooters and revolver enthusiasts to gather their thoughts. With the shared knowledge, I’ve compiled this comprehensive list of the best .22LR revolvers on the market.

While I’ve ranked these revolvers from 1 to 7, I’ve made sure to consider different needs and preferences as I understand that choosing a revolver is a personal decision. Additionally, I’ve included a buyer’s guide to help you figure out which .22LR revolver is right for you. Keep reading to find the best .22LR revolver that fits your needs.

Our Best 22LR Wheelguns

The table below shows you the list, in order, of what we think are the best revolvers chambered in 22 long rifle.

The Best 22LR Revolvers

1. Heritage Rough Rider		Single Action Design Can Swap in a .22 Magnum Cylinder Comes In Numerous Sizes	Check Price
2. Taurus 942 3-Inch		DA/SA Revolver 8-Shot Cylinder Adjustable Sights	Check Price
3. Diamondback Sidekick		Cowboy Style Modern DA/SA Design Swing Out Cylinder	Check Price
4. Colt King Cobra		Ventilated Rib Barrel 10 Round cylinder DA/SA Design	Check Price
5. Smith and Wesson 317 Kit Gun		DA/SA Design Adjustable Sights 8-Round Cylinder	Check Price
6. Ruger LCR		DAO Trigger Snub Nose Design 8-Round Cylinder	Check Price
7. North American Arms Mini Revolver		Micro-Sized Single Action Only 5-Shot Cylinder	Check Price

Best 22LR Revolver Specs

What Are The Best 22LR Revolvers?

These are the best revolvers chambers in 22 long rifle

1. Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider
2. Taurus 942 3-Inch
3. Diamondback Sidekick
4. Colt King Cobra
5. Smith and Wesson 317 Kit Gun
6. Ruger LCR
7. NAA Mini Revolver

Reviews For The Best 22LR Revolvers

In many cases the 22LR is a fun gun, or one used for training new shooters. However, there are practical applications for the 22LR and carrying handgun chambered in it. So if you are going to carry a 22LR, why not carry a revolver?

In our review section we will tell you what we like and dislike about each of these wheelguns and that might help you determine if one of these is right for you and your needs, even if it is just for fun!

Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider Review

Whenever someone wants a fun gun, I instinctively point them to the Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider models. The Rough Rider, in particular, is their base model, with options including the Rancher rifle, the Barkeep, and the Tactical Cowboy to round it all off. These guns are all very similar, and the only major difference is barrel length. These are .22LR revolvers that do allow you to swap the cylinder for 22 Magnum cartridges. 

The Rough Rider is a single-action revolver in the same vein and styling as the classic Colt Single-Action Army revolvers. The hammer must be manually cocked between shots, and the gun is loaded via a side gate.  It is a one-round-at-a-time affair. The gun is super reliable and a ton of fun to shoot. Pull back the hammer, and you’re greeted with a sweet short, single-action trigger. The fixed sights are rudimentary but functional. 

Obviously, as a cheap revolver, they tend to lack any fancy features. They don’t offer many aftermarket options and are just fun guns and not much else. They are slow to load and reload, short on capacity, and limited in scope. 

They are a ton of fun to shoot and are some of the most affordable firearms on the market. The base models sell for less than two hundred dollars, and the fancier models don’t sell for much more than that. They represent a solid, reliable, simple, and affordable rimfire revolver. It’s tough to beat if you just want a simple gun for rimfire shooting. 

Heritage Rough Rider Pros and Cons

Taurus 942 3-Inch Review

The Taurus 942 comes in various sizes and designs with different barrel lengths and weight profiles. The 3-inch model, to me, is just perfect as a good working gun for various tasks. The three-inch model offers a decent sight radius, and adjustable sights, without being overly large or difficult to carry. It could be used for concealed carry if necessary but isn’t out of pocket for pest control and woods use either. 

The 942 holds eight rounds of .22 Long Rifle, and that’s a good bit for a small-frame revolver. It features a double action mechanism and a swing-out cylinder to perfectly replicate your most modern revolver. The exposed hammer makes single-action shots possible, and the shrouded ejector rod gives it that final modern touch. 

The adjustable sights are a very nice touch and useful for long-range shooting. While the double action trigger won’t win any awards, the single action is quite crisp and satisfying. Pair a decent trigger with good sights and a decent sight radius, and you got the makings of an accurate revolver. 

At 25 ounces, its no air weight, but it reduces the recoil of a .22LR to a poof. The 942 doesn’t exceed in any particular genre. It would be easy to use for plinking, killing pests, and even for self-defense if nothing else is available. It’s at home in the tackle box and the nightstand. 

Taurus 942 3-Inch Pros and Cons

Diamondback Sidekick Review

The Diamondback Sidekick is a truly odd little gun. It’s almost as if it can’t decide what it wants to be. At first glance, it gives off serious cowboy vibes. However, upon further inspection, you will find a much more modern revolver. Don’t be deceived into thinking this is another SAA clone like the Heritage Rough Rider.

In fact, it’s not even a single action. Under the cowboy, guise sits a more modern double-action design. Although, nothing stops you from playing cowboy and thumbing the hammer back with every shot. The double action trigger is deceptively nice and admittedly surprised me. The sights are a trench and normal front sight, but it’s workable for accurate shooting. 

Beyond the double-action trigger sits a swing-out cylinder that makes it easy to unload and reload the gun. It’s a might bit faster than a side-loading gate. The cylinder pops out easily and can be replaced with a .22 Magnum variant for upping your gun’s potential. This makes it not only a fun shooter but a practical choice for small-game hunting and pest removal. Not to mention that it’s also quite affordable with a sub-300 dollar price tag. My main complaint is that it’s just kind of ugly. 

Diamondback Sidekick Pros and Cons

Colt King Cobra Pro Review

I can’t exactly tell you why Colt named their new rimfire the King Cobra instead of Diamondback, but I can tell you it’s the Mercedes Benz of .22LR revolvers. This big, beefy Snake gun might shoot the little .22LR, but it’s not afraid to be a big gun. The new King Cobra features a four-inch barrel complete with the ventilated rib that makes Colt snake guns so eye-catching. It’s a medium-sized revolver shooting micro-sized rounds.

All that extra space is put to good use, and the gun holds ten rounds in its cylinder. It’s just barely legal in ban states! Not really, but the King Cobra is all manner of cool and is probably the only true premium grade .22LR revolver on the market. A premium gun commands a premium price, and Colt is proud of this gun. At a thousand bucks, it’s only for hardcore collectors. 

The gun wears a set of nice adjustable rear sights and a high-visibility front sight. The finish is a beautiful chrome, and it’s made from stainless steel. You don’t get many fancy .22LR revolvers, and this has to be the nicest out there. The trigger is a dream in both double and single action. It’s light but smooth and breaks consistently over and over. A gun this size is aimed more at the plinking world, but with its killer accuracy, you could find a home in the competition world as well. 

Colt King Cobra Pros and Cons

S&W 317 Kit Gun Review

The Smith and Wesson 317 Kit Gun is a working gun in .22LR. It’s built on the famed S&W J frame, and it’s a compact revolver, but it’s not necessarily designed for concealed carry. The gun wears a 3-inch barrel as well as adjustable rear sights. The front sight is this great big green high visibility sight. This comes together to make the gun quite easy to shoot. 

The exposed hammer allows you to manually cock the weapon for a lighter, shorter trigger pull. The double action isn’t bad, but not particularly impressive. At a Taurus price point, I wouldn’t mind, but at an S&W price point, this concerns me. I do like the full-sized grip that makes getting your hands around the gun plenty easy and makes controlled, accurate shots simple. 

The little cylinder holds eight rounds of .22LR and gives you a little extra gas than most J-frames. The stainless finish provides protection against the elements that this gun will surely face. As a kit gun, it’s designed to do a bit of everything. It can kill pests and even be a survival pistol for small game hunting. It’s small and light enough for all ages to enjoy, and it wouldn’t be totally off-keel for concealed carry. 

Honestly, it’s got a great combination of the right features. A three-inch barrel provides velocity and a good sight radius. Eight rounds is a good amount for a revolver, and the ability to simply pull the trigger should you hit a fail to ignite is a nice touch. 

S&W 317 Kit Gun Pros and Cons

Ruger LCR Review

Ruger brought polymer to the revolver world and created one of the first affordable, lightweight weapons in the revolver market. Previous incarnations, like the Air Weight models, used fancy and expensive metals. The LCR uses polymer and keeps a fair price point. Ruger designed the LCR in a variety of calibers, including the classic .22 Long Rifle. These tiny j-frame-sized guns are pocket-carry-ready. 

Since the .22LR is a lot smaller than the .38 Special, the LCR can hold eight of the little rounds. That is not too bad for such a small gun. The barrel is a scant .187 inches, and the trigger is a long DAO design. The centerfire DAO LCRs have a fantastic trigger. On the rimfire version, you lose a bit of that trigger charm, likely to ensure hard hits on the rimfire primers. This ensures reliability at the cost of a very nice trigger. 

The sluggish, heavy trigger combined with the short barrel and very simple sights make the gun tough to shoot straight at ranges beyond ten yards. Good luck making two-inch groups at 25 yards with this thing. You can still put lead on a human-sized threat, and ultimately, that’s where this gun shines. With almost zero recoil and the simplicity of the design, it’s a great pocket carry piece for someone who is recoil shy. 

This is a quality revolver for training, especially if you carry a J-frame and want to train cheaply. It’s not the best hunting, or plinking option. It’s mighty reliable and very easy to carry, which puts it into that CCW category.

Ruger LCR Pros and Cons

North American Arms Mini Revolver Review

The North American Arms Mini Revolvers are impressive feats of engineering. They are about as small as a repeating firearm can get. These five-shot, single-action-only revolvers are so small they could be keychains! They certainly define pocket carry and make the task of packing a piece quite easy. 

The NAA Mini Revolvers come in numerous configurations these days, and any could be in this slot. With that in mind, my favorite is still the base model that’s affordable but made to last. These stainless steel guns are attractive and functional. The guns have sights for what they are worth, but this is more of a point-shooting type of firearm made for extremely close ranges. 

A single-action trigger is nice, but the ultra-small grip and short sight radius make it tough to shoot straight. Within ten yards, it’s going to be a challenge to shoot accurately. You can hit a target, but good luck with tight groups. Surprisingly the little gun is easy to shoot. It might be loud, but the recoil is still low, and it’s fun to shoot. The little guns are nearly undetectable and will be easily hidden in a pocket. 

North American Arms Mini Revolver Pros and Cons

Best 22LR Revolvers – Buyers Guide

Before you leave, let’s get the lowdown on the benefits and advantages of the .22 revolver. These guns are quite popular, and the rimfire cartridge in a revolver has some unique qualities that make it an easy draw. 

The Advantage of a .22LR Revolver 

The main advantage comes from the disadvantage of rimfire ammo. Rimfire ammunition tends to be less reliable than centerfire ammunition. Anyone who has purchased a bucket of bullets from Remington knows exactly what I mean. You get more duds with rimfires than any centerfire cartridge. 

With an automatic, a dud means manually manipulating the slide to extract a bad round. With a revolver, it just means pulling the trigger again. This makes it easy to skip past duds and eventually give them a second chance at ignition. 

The small size of these rimfire rounds often opens up plenty of room inside a standard cylinder. Your average revolver can hold five or six rounds. It’s not unusual for a rimfire revolver to hold eight to ten rounds. Most rimfire automatics hold ten rounds anyway, so there isn’t a large capacity tradeoff. 

Beyond Plinking – The Purposes of a .22LR Revolver 

Most people purchase .22LR handguns with the purpose of plinking. Plinking is the casual enjoyment of firearms and shooting. It’s not competitive, often involves tin cans as targets, and allows for the enjoyment of shooting. You can certainly do that with a .22LR revolver, but they can be used for more than that. 

Hunting

The right revolver can be used for hunting small game. If you want a challenge, then hunting with a .22LR revolver provides it. What you’re hunting is an important choice. These guns should only be used to hunt small game. Don’t try to deer hunt with a .22LR. Make sure you choose high-quality ammunition that offers consistent accuracy and good penetration. 

Self-Defense

Self-defense with a .22LR is always tricky. With the right ammo, the round can penetrate deep enough to strike something vital. However, don’t expect any expansion—you’re just poking tiny holes. If you’re not strong or capable enough to handle a larger gun, the .22LR might be a suitable choice for you. Revolvers that use .22LR tend to be small, lightweight, and easy to shoot. Plus, the ammo is cheap enough to allow for lots of practice. 

All the Many .22S

.22LR is the most popular rimfire round ever, but what about the other .22 rounds out there? In your journey with a .22 revolver, you might find more than one type of rimfire .22, so with that in mind, let’s examine the four common types of .22. 

.22 Short 

.22 Short was the first rimfire .22 round to gain popularity. It’s a tiny round, best described as adorable. It’s still fairly common and can function fine in revolvers designed for .22LR rounds. It lacks any sense of punch but is super quiet and very easy to shoot. If you have an NAA Mini Revolver, it can be a blast to shoot these little shorts through it. 

.22 Long

.22 Long was created to give .22 Short a little extra punch. It’s much less popular these days, and finding .22 Long ammo can be difficult. It can function in .22LR guns, but it’s really not worth the price. It’s mainly for collectors with old rifles these days. 

.22 Long Rifle 

The most common is .22 Long Rifle. This old round gained massive popularity and unseated the .22 Long and .22 Extra Long. This round is the standard .22 and is what most .22s will chamber. It’s the right combination of projectile and power to be versatile but also light recoiling and easy to shoot. 

What About .22 Magnum 

.22 Magnum or .22 WMR is a much more powerful round that stays inside the rimfire realm. It takes .22 to a different level and opens up your ability to shoot and hunt small to moderate-sized game, as well as predators like coyotes at close range. For self-defense, it packs a heavier punch and often penetrates much deeper than .22LR. Plus, there are some dedicated .22 Magnum self-defense loads out there these days as well. 

A number of .22 revolvers allow you to switch from Magnum to LR cylinders. This opens up your weapon’s ability to shoot a variety of rounds. However, never attempt to shoot .22LR through a magnum cylinder. The .22LR round will fit in the cylinder, and it seems to make sense. However, the case diameter of then .22LR is thinner, and when fired, it can explode, lodging itself in your cylinder.

This could harm you or those near you. It can also break your weapon, so it’s just a bad idea all around. 

Keep It .22 

Everyone needs a good .22LR pistol. It’s just tough to beat a classic. These guns tend to be solid and fun shooters. With some exceptions, they also tend to be affordable as well. A good .22 revolver can be a multipurpose tool. Plus, they are an absolute ton of fun.

Best 22LR Revolver – FAQs

Can I use my .22LR revolver for self-defense?

You can use a .22LR revolver for self-defense, but it’s not usually the top choice due to its smaller caliber. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, which can be a plus. If it’s your only option or you prefer a smaller gun, it can still work. Just make sure to practice often to keep your skills sharp.

Are recoil shields necessary on .22LR revolvers?

On a .22LR revolver, a recoil shield isn’t really a must-have because the recoil is so light. But it’s definitely a nice touch. It helps protect your hand from the heat and gases, and makes shooting a bit more comfortable, especially if you’re putting in a lot of rounds.

What are the benefits of a bird’s head grip on a .22LR revolver?

The bird’s head grip has some solid perks. Its compact shape makes the revolver easier to carry and conceal. Plus, it gives you a really secure grip, which is great for quick, close-up shots. It might not be the most comfortable for extended shooting, but it’s excellent for fast, effective handling.

How do you adjust the rear sight on a .22LR revolver?

To adjust the rear sight on a .22LR revolver, you’ll usually use a small screwdriver or Allen wrench. For windage (side-to-side adjustments), turn the sight left or right. For elevation (up-and-down adjustments), raise or lower the sight. Just make small tweaks and check your aim after each adjustment to get it dialed in perfectly.

Are .22LR revolvers suitable for target shooting?

.22LR revolvers are fantastic for target shooting. They have minimal recoil and the ammo is pretty affordable, making them perfect for practice. If you want to spend more time shooting and less on ammo, a .22LR is a great choice for honing your accuracy.