Revolver Holsters

Find your frame first

Smith & Wesson's frame letters became the shorthand most holster makers use, and other revolvers get matched to the closest one. J-frame covers the small five-shots like the 442 and 642, and the Ruger LCR is usually cut to the same pattern. K and L frames are the medium six-shots in 2.5 to 6 inch barrels. N-frame is the big-bore platform. The Taurus Judge and S&W Governor get their own cuts because the long cylinder changes the whole shape of the holster.

Barrel length matters as much as frame. A closed-end holster cut for a 3-inch barrel will not take a 6-inch one, so check both numbers in the product details before you order.

Snub-nose and J-frame carry

This is the deepest part of the collection. DeSantis and Bulldog pocket holsters keep a snubbie upright in a front pocket and break up its outline. Inside the waistband, the options run from DeSantis leather tuck holsters to clip-on Kydex. Sticky Holsters makes a J-frame version that holds by friction with no clip at all, and there is a laser-compatible cut of it too. For deep cover, the DeSantis Die Hard ankle holster is top-grain leather on a padded, sheepskin-lined leg band, cut for 2 to 2.5 inch J-frames.

Medium and large frame revolvers

A 4-inch six-shot is a lot of steel to hide, and for K, L and N frames an OWB belt holster is usually the most comfortable way to carry it. The 1791 Gunleather RVH belt holsters are cut by frame and barrel in black, brown and signature brown. The 1791 Revolver Thumb Break adds retention for when you are moving through brush. DeSantis Speed Scabbards are made for the Judge and the Governor. If you shoot more than one wheelgun, Allen and Bulldog nylon hip holsters cover a range of barrel lengths for very little money.

Single action and hunting revolvers

This is the end of the revolver world that lives in deer camp. DeSantis Wild Hog leather holsters fit the Colt SAA, the Ruger Single Six and the Ruger Wrangler, and 1791 makes a single action multi-fit for the Wrangler in 5.5 and 6.5 inch.

The DeSantis Dual Angle Hunter is built for long-barrel K, L and N frames and the Governor, with two carry angles. Bulldog's bandolier holsters ride across the chest on an adjustable shoulder strap with a thumb break, sized for revolvers with 5 to 8 3/8 inch barrels. Michaels V-shoulder holsters take barrels up to 8.5 inches and keep the gun off your belt entirely, which matters under a pack's hip belt or a heavy coat.

Leather, nylon or Kydex

Leather is quiet, molds to the gun over time and suits a blued revolver. Nylon is light, cheap and shrugs off rain. Kydex holds its shape for one-handed reholstering but can be loud against a cylinder. For a hunting revolver, quiet usually wins. Bigger shooters carrying a large frame should also look at holsters for big dudes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know which revolver holster fits my gun?

Match two things: the frame size and the barrel length listed in the product details. If your model is not named, find its frame size from the manufacturer and choose a holster cut for that frame and the same barrel length.

Which holsters fit a Taurus Judge?

Only holsters cut specifically for it, because the Judge's cylinder is longer than a standard revolver's. The 1791 RVH3 belt holster and the DeSantis Speed Scabbard are both made for the Judge and say so in the product details.

What is the best way to carry a revolver while hunting?

Anywhere your pack and your seat are not. A chest or shoulder rig stays accessible when a hip belt covers your waist and when you are sitting in a stand. If you carry on the belt, a thumb break keeps the gun where it belongs through brush and fence crossings.

Do revolver holsters need a thumb break?

For concealed carry under a cover garment, most people go without one for a faster draw. For open carry, hunting or anything involving climbing, a thumb break is cheap insurance.