While Some Turn in Guns, These 10 Revolvers Are Still Flying Off the Shelves

Many communities around the country offer gun buyback programs in the spring. In these events, citizens can anonymously turn in weapons in exchange for money or gift cards. The goal is to reduce the number of guns on the streets and, hopefully, prevent violence. In Hawaii, this Saturday, on April 12, 2025, the police press release stated that O‘ahu residents turned in an estimated 367 firearms for an exchange of  $37,900 worth of grocery store gift cards. And in New York, Attorney General Letitia James reported that 638 firearms were turned in at a community gun buyback event in Syracuse on Saturday. Though gun buyback programs are popular, do they work to keep violence out of communities? Unfortunately, there is not much research that can show that the programs make a significant difference. After all, the guns turned in are a small percentage of the total guns owned by Americans. There are 393 million firearms in America. Some experts say the guns turned in are often inoperable, and the people participating aren’t likely to engage in violence.

In reality, many of the top-selling firearms in America are worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, are highly valued by gun enthusiasts, and are unlikely to be traded for a gift card exchange. Although revolvers may not be the most popular type of weapon, they are still esteemed for their reliability and versatility. For many gun enthusiasts, revolvers are a trusted weapon for defense, collecting, and sport shooting. We’ve taken a look to find the 10 best-selling revolvers in the country right now. (Also check out the iconic guns produced by Colt Firearms over the years.)

24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 best-selling revolvers in the U.S. by reviewing data from Gun Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from the online firearm marketplace GunBroker.com. We ranked revolver models on sales volume in the 2024 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided. We added information on the approximate base price for each make and model from online retailers, including GunBroker. Note: this list was compiled using online gun sales only. Though sold online, firearms are generally not shipped to your home. Instead, the buying process requires customers to have their gun shipped to a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer. The dealer then runs a background check before transferring the firearm to the customer.

(This article was updated on April 14, 2025, to discuss recent news regarding gun buyback programs.)

Why It Matters Now

Gun buyback events may be popular among police forces, but at the same time, firearm sales are going strong. While revolvers are typically not used by military or law enforcement, they remain in high demand among hunters, plinkers, collectors, and recreational target shooters. While those in the market for a revolver have a range of brands, configurations, and calibers to choose from, certain models have emerged as clear favorites among American gun owners.

These are the best-selling revolvers in the United States:

10. Taurus Model 856 series revolvers

• Approx. base price: $280
• Available caliber(s) include: .38 Special
• Manufacturer: Taurus
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: Bainbridge, Georgia

9. Ruger Blackhawk

• Approx. base price: $620
• Available caliber(s) include: .357 Mag., .45 Colt, .44 Special, 10mm, .41 Rem. Mag., .22 LR
• Manufacturer: Ruger
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: Southport, Connecticut

8. North American Arms (NAA) Mini-Revolver

• Approx. base price: $250
• Available caliber(s) include: .22 LR
• Manufacturer: North American Arms (NAA)
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: Provo, Utah

7. Taurus Raging Hunter

• Approx. base price: $730
• Available caliber(s) include: 500 S&W Mag., 460 S&W Mag., 454 Casull, .357 Mag., .44 Mag.
• Manufacturer: Taurus
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: Bainbridge, Georgia

6. Ruger Vaquero

• Approx. base price: $820
• Available caliber(s) include: .45 Colt, .357 Mag., .44 Mag., .44 Special, .45 ACP
• Manufacturer: Ruger
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: Southport, Connecticut

5. Colt Single Action Army

• Approx. base price: $1,800
• Available caliber(s) include: .45 Colt
• Manufacturer: Colt
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: West Hartford, Connecticut

4. Colt King Cobra

• Approx. base price: $770
• Available caliber(s) include: .357 Mag.
• Manufacturer: Colt
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: West Hartford, Connecticut

3. Taurus Judge

• Approx. base price: $340
• Available caliber(s) include: .45 Colt and .410 gauge
• Manufacturer: Taurus
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: Bainbridge, Georgia

2. Heritage Rough Rider

• Approx. base price: $120
• Available caliber(s) include: .22 LR, .22 WMR, .32 H&R Mag, .357 Mag., .45 Colt
• Manufacturer: Heritage
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: Bainbridge, Georgia

1. Colt Python

• Approx. base price: $1,300
• Available caliber(s) include: .357 Mag.
• Manufacturer: Colt
• Manufacturer’s U.S. headquarters: West Hartford, Connecticut

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