Smith & Wesson 686 Plus Spec Series
The Smith & Wesson 686 Plus Spec Series R is the first revolver in the Spec Series family. The cylinder has a capacity of 7 rounds in .357 Magnum and is cut for moon clips for quick reloading. But this is only the beginning. The full name of this revolver is Spec Series R Model 686 Plus No Lock .357 Magnum; thus, we know that it is a special version of the famous Model 686 with which the Springfield company effectively monopolized the sporting revolver market for years, without the infamous lock hole in the sideplate. This new version is fitted with an Aimpoint ACRO P-2 red dot sight as standard. The PowerPort-vented 4.3-inch barrel and the frame are made of stainless steel with a titanium-colored Cerakote finish. The cylinder, also made of stainless steel, has a black PVD finish and opens by operating an estended release. The fully adjustable rear sight is paired with a ramped front sight with red insert. Priced at $1999, the Model 686 Plus Spec Series R comes with a rich package that includes a Savior Equipment pistol bag, 10 moon clips, a S&W knife, and a patch and coin.
Charter Arms Pathfinder 2 in .22 Long Rifle
Charter Arms is a US company that has been making inexpensive but rugged revolvers, such as the .44 Special Bulldog, for over 60 years. Despite dealing with a very traditional type of firearm, the Connecticut-based company is constantly expanding its catalog, where not particularly innovative but solid and affordable wheelguns can be found. This is the case with the new Pathfinder II, a double-action/single-action revolver chambered in .22 Long Rifle with a cylinder capacity of 8 rounds and a retail price just over $500. The barrel with ventilated rib is 3.5"/89 mm long. The frame is made of aluminum, the other components are stainless steel and the grips are made of synthetic rubber. The round butt frame has a curved backstrap. It is a relatively compact revolver, designed for informal and recreational shooting, which could even be used for small game subsistence hunting if required. The Charter Arms Pathfinder II features a fully adjustable rear sight coupled with an pinned aluminum ramp front sight in high-visibility orange color. Available finishes for this revolver include full black, stainless steel or OD green anodized frame with black components.
Taurus Raging Hunter (various calibers)
As always, the Taurus booth reserved strong emotions for revolver enthusiasts. The glimpse of the models in the Raging Hunter series was truly spectacular, although none of them are really new. The first revolver pictured above is the Raging Hunter chambered in .350 Legend, a straight-wall cartridge launched on the market in 2019 and designed primarily for lever action rifle hunting. A standard cartridge in .350 Legend propels a 145-grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 716 m/s, with an energy comparable to a .30-30 round but with significantly less recoil. The Taurus Raging Hunter in .350 Legend is offered in two sizes: with either a 10.5- or 14-inch barrel (266 and 355 mm, respectively), with an eye-catching proprietary gas-expansion chamber. The cylinder has a capacity of six cartridges, while the shroud that wraps around the initial section of the barrel has an upper Picatinny rail for optic mounting and a lower rail for a bipod. The two-tone finish makes this behemoth revolver, which in the shortest version (so to speak) has an empty weight of 2,250 grams, even more distinctive. In the middle of the photo you can see the version in .460 Magnum, again with a 10.5-inch barrel. Finally, at the bottom we can see the new Taurus Raging Hunter in .357 Magnum with a 5 and 1/8 inch (or 130 mm) barrel and seven-round cylinder. The barrel is ported and sleeved: the light alloy shroud supports the Picatinny optic rail. Price in the USA is approximately $1,100.
Magnum Research BFR in .45/70
Another contender for the title of the most exaggerated revolver on the market is the Magnum Research BFR in .45/70. The acronym in this monumental handgun's name stands for Big Frame Revolver, and while it does not shine in terms of imagination, it does describe these two kilograms of stainless steel well. The general design is that of a single-action revolver in the style of the Freedom Arms ones, but everything looks as seen under a magnifying glass. The five-shot cylinder is made to withstand the very powerful American .45/70 Government cartridge that in a standard loading propels a 300-grain bullet at an initial velocity of 600 meters per second. Since the BFR's barrel is "only" ten inches long, it is possible that some energy is lost along the way, but the power this revolver is capable of delivering remains impressive. The Magnum Research BFR is otherwise extremely simple, made entirely of stainless steel, with the only touches of black provided by the rear and front sights and the Pachmayr rubber grips. In the USA it has a list price of $1,514.
Diamondback SDR .38 Special (+P)
One of the most interesting revolvers presented at the SHOT Show 2026, the SDR-A from Diamondback Firearms is a 38 Special defence handgun with a forged 7075-T6 aluminum frame, 2-inch barrel, six-shot capacity and a weight of only 442 grams. The Diamondback SDR-A can fire .38 Special +P cartridges, thus with higher than standard working pressure and stopping power. The hammer is completely hidden inside the frame and the trigger is double-action only, with a pull weight of between 4 and 5.2 kg, optimized for defensive use. The cylinder release is push-button operated, designed for quick and safe operation even under stress. The sights are also designed for defensive use: the rear sight is dovetailed in the frame, can be laterally adjusted, and has two high-visibility green fiber optic inserts that contrast with the orange-colored insert on the front sight, which is dovetailed in the barrel. The profile of both sights is designed to avoid snagging on clothing when drawing. As on other latest generation revolvers (for example, the Ruger LCR) the steel cylinder has undergone a careful study to remove material where it is not needed (between the chambers), reducing its weight but not its robustness. Hogue's synthetic rubber grips contribute to a firm grip and better control during firing. The SDR-A is offered at a very attractive price: around $615.
Colt Anaconda in .44 Magnum, here comes the blued version
It cannot be considered a novelty, since it first appeared on the market in 1990, yet the Colt Anaconda in .44 Magnum deserves a place in this list of the most interesting revolvers at the SHOT Show, and at the Industry Day at the range it was a great success. With this new version, Colt has finally satisfied the yearning of enthusiasts who have been asking for a blued version of the Anaconda for over thirty years. Finally the wait is over and the new blue-finished Colt Anaconda will be available with 4", 6" and 8" barrel. Chambering is still .44 Magnum, and it could not be otherwise. As with the new Python series revolvers, the blued Anaconda can now be fitted with optics mounting plates, designed to integrate seamlessly with Colt revolvers for quick and easy installation of a red dot sight. The plates are compatible with the most popular red dots with Shield RMSc and Holosun 507k footprint. Lovers of classically-styled wheelguns will also appreciate the layered wood grips with the iconic gold medallion, which replace the black rubber one-piece grips fitted on previous versions, which were very comfortable but a little crude.
Bonus: the triple-stacked REV RI Loader
The speed loader is an accessory that has followed the fate of the revolver; thus, it has remained confined mainly to the sport (IPSC shooting). It is a cylindrical device that holds appropriately spaced cartridges (usually 6) which can be dropped into the cylinder chambers by turning or pressing a knob. On paper this is an efficient solution, but from a tactical point of view it introduces additional sequences of gestures into the already cumbersome loading sequence of the revolver. Therefore, its use is not very frequent and the simpler half-moon clips are often preferred. But there are those who have decided to bring the speed loader into the 21st century, such as the American manufacturer REV Industries, which at the SHOT Show presented its own version on steroids of the speed loader, called the RI Loader. The RI Loader consists of a single-stack and a double-stack speed loader that combine, offering a total of up to 18 cartridges in a single ABS body. The RI Loader is available for revolvers in .38 Special/.357 Magnum (for 5 or 6-shot cylinders), .44 Magnum and .45 Long Colt (for 6-shot cylinders). The price is extremely affordable, around 25 dollars.
