Revolvers remain popular for personal defense for many reasons. The revolver is simple to load, fire, and handle. A revolver will function with light loads and heavy loads without changing the springs. A revolver will come up firing, even after long periods of storage because the springs are at rest when the revolver is loaded. A revolver can feature a smooth double-action trigger that helps fight flinch. We wanted to test revolvers in 38 Special for home defense and economy. We elected to test two large-frame and two small-frame revolvers that would fire easy-on-the-hands 38 Specials. As a bonus, some would also chamber 357 Magnums and, surprisingly, one accepted 9mm Luger rounds. Our test guns were as follows:

European American Armory’s (EAA) Windicator 770133 357 Magnum, $394, is a European idea of a revolver that comes off well. The cylinder features six chambers bored for the 357 Magnum. The barrel is marked 38 Special and just below, 357 Magnum. The revolver is a conventional double action with single-action capability. The cylinder is opened for loading and unloading by pressing a cylinder latch forward. Three of the four revolvers in the test operate in this manner.

Rock Island Armory’s Model 206 51283 38 Special, $240, is a small-frame revolver that comes in a couple of variations. The blued M206 Spurless 51280 and matte-nickel-finished Spurless M206 lack the exterior hammer of our test gun, but all three have channel frame-cut rear sights. Similar to our test gun, the M200 51261 is likewise chambered in 38 Special but has a 4-inch semi-shrouded barrel. When you put together the price of the EAA Windicator and the Rock Island M206, you have about the price of a new Glock. That isn’t bad economy having two 38 Special handguns at the ready for less than $600.

The Taurus Defender 856 2-85639NS 38 Special +P, $306, is a small-frame 38 Special +P revolver with a six-shot cylinder and a 3-inch barrel. Our test handgun was made of matte stainless steel with Hogue grips, but the line is available in several versions. The Ultra-Lite models come in stainless-steel (2-85639ULNS) and black-anodized (2-85631ULNS) finishes. Three other steel-frame revolvers are the matte black with Hogue grips (2-85631NS), matte-stainless with VZ Grips’ panels (2-85635NSVZ), and tungsten Cerakote with Altamont wood grips (2-8563CNS).

The Taurus Tracker 692 Multi-Caliber Revolver 2692031, $487, chambers and fires 38 Special, 357 Magnum, and 9mm Luger rounds. We should note that stainless-steel versions of our test gun were available for $543. The matte-finish-blued revolver is more in keeping with our economy theme. Like in the other revolvers, the Tracker 692 is a double-action mechanism with a swing-out cylinder, exposed hammer, and single-action capability. The 692 features a seven-shot cylinder. This is a nice upgrade in a relatively compact revolver. The grips, barrel, and frame are slightly smaller than the popular Taurus 66, another seven-shot 357 Magnum.

During the test, we fired four 38 Special loads in all four revolvers. These included a handload with the MattsBullets.com 178-grain SWC loaded to 850 fps average. This is a +P load that is well suited to outdoors use and practice for those using +P personal defense loads. We fired 50 rounds in offhand combat firing, including firing at multiple targets as quickly as possible. While economical, this load also tested recoil control and comfort better than a light target load. In accuracy testing off the benchrest, we used three loads. These included the Remington 158-grain SWCHP +P, the Black Hills Ammunition 158-grain RNL Cowboy Load, and the Black Hills Ammunition 125-grain +P.

For bench accuracy testing and velocity compilations, we also tested a full-power 357 Magnum loading in the Tracker and Windicator revolvers, the Black Hills Ammunition 125-grain JHP. For combat shooting, we added the Remington HTP 357 Magnum 125-grain SJHP, a milder 1200 fps Magnum load, to give breadth to the test in the two Magnums. Also in the Tracker, we fired a 9mm load, the Remington HTP 124-grain JHP, off the bench. We fired 20 of each of the magnum loads in each revolver and 20 9mm loads in the Taurus 692.

The revolvers tested were all reliable with no obvious defects. For home defense, all were accurate enough. Here’s what we thought about these handguns in more detail.

Gun Tests Grade: A (OUR PICK)

$487

Taurus has pioneered a switch-cylinder system in this revolver. There are also 22 Long Rifle/22 Magnum versions. The cylinder is easily changed simply by pressing in a plunger on the right side of the frame. The cylinder may then be removed and another placed in the frame. The first cylinder is a 357 Magnum chambering, which also accepts 38 Special ammunition. The second cylinder is chambered for the 9mm Luger cartridge. A set of five seven-shot moon clips are supplied with the 9mm cylinder because the 9mm is a rimless cartridge. It cannot be ejected by the revolver ejector star. For many reasons, the only dual-cylinder revolvers have traditionally been rimfire 22s and the occasional factory single action, with one cylinder being 45 Colt and one being 45 ACP, as an example. Taurus has managed to perfect a system that works well. We checked the barrel-cylinder gap several times and it came in at a tight 0.005 inch. The barrel cylinder gap never wavered or changed. (Forward play would affect headspace, rear play lengthens the barrel/cylinder gap.) There was no endshake to speak up. Each cylinder locks up tight. We saw no difficulties related to the interchangeable cylinder system during the test program.

Overall, we seem to have superior results with the Tracker line compared to other Taurus revolvers. This revolver is available with 3-, 4-, and 6-inch-barrel lengths. We chose the 3-inch barrel. This barrel length offers good balance, reasonable performance with magnum loads, and makes for a portable package for concealed carry and field use. The revolver features a non-fluted cylinder, matte-blue finish, a rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation, and fixed front sight. The grips are the excellent Ribber grips, which separate the metal backstrap from the hand when firing. They are comfortable, actually giving a bit in recoil. The barrel features four ports on each side, buried in the barrel and angled outward a bit.

In firing 50 rounds of 38 Special on a combat course, the Taurus gave a good showing. Place the front sight on the target, press the trigger to the rear, allow the trigger to reset during recoil, and you are ready for another shot. The Taurus 692 was easily the most controllable revolver tested, although the Windicator is close with 38 Special ammunition. With magnum loads, recoil was much more pronounced, but we believe the muzzle ports did their work and reduced recoil energy. The Taurus is as controllable as any medium-frame magnum. Considerable time and effort must be expended to learn to control 357 Magnum recoil. The Remington 125-grain JHP load is a milder load, intended for personal defense, and was easier to manage, albeit with less velocity and energy at 1202 fps.

With the 9mm cylinder in place, the revolver was downright docile. Also, the 9mm cylinder offers tactical advantages in firing. With the revolver cartridge cylinder in use, the Taurus 692 must be tilted muzzle up for surer cartridge case extraction. Otherwise, spent cases may hang under the ejector star. Same for any other revolver, and the shooter must also angle the muzzle downward when loading the chambers. With moon clips, simply control the bullet noses into the chambers. After firing, open the cylinder and strike the ejector rod, and all the spent cases fly out clipped into the moon clip. This is more positive than a speed loader for most shooters. Inexpensive surplus 9mm loads, target-grade 38 Special loads, 38 +P defense loads, and several levels of 357 Magnum power ammunition may be used in this revolver. As for benchrest accuracy, the Taurus was a good performer, producing several 2-inch 25-yard groups.

Our Team Said: The Taurus 692 revolver is a credible choice for home defense. The 38 Special cartridge has all the recoil occasional shooters wish to handle. Loaded with a 38 Special +P, a homeowner is well armed. The 9mm Luger offers fast reloads and real economy. In these times of shortages, this is a great idea. For shooters willing to master higher recoil, the 357 Magnum offers impressive terminal ballistics and moves into the arena of big-animal defense. For its flexibility, some wanted to rate this revolver as the Best Buy, and it would be as an enthusiast’s handgun. For an economy home defense handgun, it has extras we like, but which just aren’t necessary. Instead, we will just call it Our Pick.

357 Magnum Range Data

9mm Luger Range Data

38 Special Range Data

Value Guide: 39 Special/375 Magnum Revolver Rankings