Photo credit: SOBI's Hobbies/Youtube
Open carry with a full-size revolver is one of those choices that makes sense the second you’re off pavement. You’re checking fence lines at dusk, walking into a back pasture where the dogs are raising Cain, or wading a creek where your belt gets soaked and everything else turns into a rust experiment. A big wheelgun on a good holster rides steady, points natural, and doesn’t care if you lint it up, bump it, or get rained on.
But “full-size” cuts both ways. You’re carrying more steel, more barrel, and usually more blast. The right revolver makes that feel like a fair trade. The wrong one turns into a heavy, loud reminder that you bought a vibe instead of a tool. Here are twenty that actually make sense for open carry, with the good and the bad the way they show up in real life.
1. Smith & Wesson Model 686 (L-Frame)
If you want one revolver that can live on a belt, shoot a ton, and not get babied, the 686 is the safe bet. The L-frame soaks up .357 recoil without feeling like you strapped an anvil to your hip. The action is usually smooth enough out of the box that you don’t feel like you’re dragging a cinder block through gravel.
It’s not light, and it’s not cheap. Still, it’s the kind of gun you can sight in with .38s, practice with .38s, and carry .357s without changing your whole life. That matters more than internet arguments.
2. Ruger GP100
The GP100 is what I think of when someone says, “I need a revolver for actual use.” It’s stout, it’s simple, and it’ll eat full-house .357s without feeling delicate. You can run it hard at the range and it doesn’t start feeling “loose” like some lighter guns do after a steady diet of hot loads.
The downside is it carries like a brick if you cheap out on a holster. Get a real belt and a holster with proper cant, and it settles in. Ignore that advice and you’ll invent new reasons to leave it in the truck.
3. Smith & Wesson Model 629 (N-Frame)
For folks who live where four-legged problems are real, the 629 in .44 Magnum is a serious answer. It’s big enough to shoot well, and with the right loads it can cover a lot of ground from woods carry to deer-season sidearm.
No, it’s not fun with the hottest stuff. And if you think you’re going to “get used to it” by lighting off a box every weekend, your hands may vote against that plan. Where it shines is carrying something capable and practicing with sane loads.
4. Ruger Redhawk
The Redhawk has a reputation for being overbuilt, and it earned it. If you’re the type who doesn’t want a revolver that’s “good enough,” you want one that’s hard to hurt, this is it. It’s a common pick for guides and for guys who spend more time in timber than town.
It is heavy. Open carry is where that weight makes sense, because concealment isn’t the goal and comfort comes from distribution, not pretending it’s not there.
5. Ruger Super Redhawk (Alaskan excluded, full-size only)
The Super Redhawk looks like a purpose tool because it is. The frame and barrel setup is built for hard use, and it’s one of those revolvers that makes big calibers feel manageable. If you run optics on a hunting handgun, this family of guns is a known quantity.
For belt carry, the long barrel versions ride better than you’d expect if your holster is set up right. What you don’t get is “sleek.” This is a working rig, not a fashion piece.
6. Colt Python (modern production)
The new Python is a smooth shooter with a feel that a lot of folks chase for years. It points well, the trigger is usually excellent, and it has that “this is a real revolver” vibe the second it clicks into lockup.
Here’s the honest part: it’s expensive, and some owners treat it like a museum piece. Open carry in the woods means dings, sweat, and the occasional bump on a gate. If you can accept honest wear, it’s a great revolver. If wear makes you sick, buy something else.
7. Colt King Cobra (3-inch and longer)
The King Cobra hits a sweet spot for open carry when you want a revolver that doesn’t feel oversized but still shoots like a “real” gun. It balances well and carries comfortably in an outside-the-waistband holster without flopping around.
It’s not as tank-like as some Rugers, and I wouldn’t pick it as a lifetime diet gun for the hottest loads. But for a belt revolver that you’ll actually strap on, it’s easy to like.
8. Smith & Wesson Model 27
The Model 27 is old-school class with real-world ability. It’s a big N-frame .357 that shoots smooth and steady, especially with longer barrels. You can ring steel all day and not feel like the gun is fighting you.
The downside is you may end up babying it, because nice ones are nice. Still, if you want a full-size revolver that feels like it was built when craftsmanship mattered and also still works as a carry gun, it’s hard to beat.
9. Smith & Wesson Model 28 “Highway Patrolman”
The 28 is the working man’s version of the Model 27, and that’s why I like it for open carry. Less polish, more business. It’s big, stable, and soaks up recoil like it’s bored.
If you find a clean one, you’ll understand why old-timers kept them. There is nothing fancy about it, and that is kind of the point.
10. Ruger Security-Six
The Security-Six series is one of those revolvers that never got the hype it deserved until prices started climbing. It’s lighter than a GP100, still strong, and it carries well on the hip. It’s a good “farm revolver” profile without feeling flimsy.
Parts and support aren’t as effortless as current production guns, but they’re not unicorns either. If you get a solid example, it’s a revolver you’ll keep reaching for.
11. Smith & Wesson Model 19
The Model 19 is a classic for a reason: it carries like a dream and shoots like it belongs there. For open carry, especially in a 4-inch, it’s about as handy as full-size gets without feeling like you’re wearing a boat anchor.
Just be honest about how you’ll use it. A steady diet of the hottest .357s is not what made the Model 19 famous. Mix your ammo, practice smart, and it’ll treat you right.
12. Smith & Wesson Model 66
The stainless Model 66 is basically the Model 19’s tougher, weather-friendlier cousin. If you’re around sweat, rain, creek water, or just live where humidity never quits, stainless matters more than people admit.
It still carries easy and points fast. It’s a great “woods walk” gun that doesn’t feel like it’s dragging your belt down all day.
13. Smith & Wesson Model 10 (Military & Police)
A .38 Special in a full-size K-frame sounds boring until you’ve owned one. The Model 10 is one of the easiest revolvers in the world to shoot well, and it’s the kind of simple that you start to appreciate as you get older.
For open carry around a farm or while checking property, it’s plenty. If you need magnum power, look elsewhere. If you need a revolver that will quietly do its job forever, this one’s hard to argue with.
14. Smith & Wesson Model 64
The Model 64 is the stainless version of the Model 10, and it’s a smart pick if you actually sweat on your guns. It cleans up easy and doesn’t punish you at the range, which means you’ll practice more. Ask me how I know.
It’s also a revolver that doesn’t attract the “too pretty to use” problem. You carry it, it gets scuffed, you keep going.
15. Ruger Blackhawk (convertible models included)
Single-actions aren’t for everyone, but open carry is where they make sense. A Blackhawk rides well in a strong-side holster, and it’s a great field revolver if your day is mostly about animals and distance, not fast reloads.
The loading and unloading is slower, and you need to be comfortable with the manual of arms. But for hunters who grew up on single-actions, it’s as natural as carrying a knife.
16. Ruger Super Blackhawk
If you want a .44 Magnum revolver that feels like it was built for big loads, the Super Blackhawk is a straight answer. It’s not delicate, it’s not trendy, and it’s not trying to be a concealed carry gun.
Where it shines is in the field: solid sights, solid lockup, and a grip that helps with recoil once you learn it. It’s also one of those guns that teaches you quickly whether your loads are reasonable.
17. Smith & Wesson Model 25 (N-Frame .45 Colt/.45 ACP variants)
A full-size .45 Colt revolver is easy to like if you shoot it side by side with a snappy magnum. The Model 25 gives you big-bore authority with a push instead of a crack, and it’s accurate enough that you start blaming yourself when you miss.
It’s not a budget pick, and it’s not a “beat it up” gun for most owners. But if you want a belt revolver that hits like a hammer without the magnum drama, it fits.
18. Smith & Wesson Model 625 (JM or standard)
The 625 in .45 ACP with moon clips is one of the most useful revolvers ever made, especially if you actually shoot a lot. Reloads are fast for a wheelgun, ammo is common, and the recoil is friendly for the power level.
It’s a big N-frame, so it’s not light. But open carry doesn’t require you to pretend physics isn’t real. If you want a revolver you can run hard in training and still carry comfortably, the 625 belongs on the list.
19. Taurus Tracker 627 (7-shot .357)
I’m not going to tell you every Taurus is perfect, because that’s not true. But the Tracker 627 has earned a spot for a lot of guys who want a working revolver with an extra round on board. The size is right for open carry, and the ported models can feel surprisingly controllable.
My advice is simple: inspect it carefully, run it hard early, and don’t assume. If you get a good one, it’ll do what you need without wrecking your wallet.
20. Kimber K6s (4-inch Target)
The K6s gets talked about like it’s just a compact, but the 4-inch version is a legitimate belt revolver. It carries flatter than you’d think and the six-shot cylinder in that frame size is a real perk. The sights on the Target models make it easier to shoot well than many “carry” revolvers.
It’s not the cheapest path, and it’s not built with the same overbuilt vibe as a GP100. But if you want a modern revolver that feels slick on the belt and shoots straight, it’s a solid choice.
Open carry with a full-size revolver isn’t about looking tough. It’s about having a gun that rides securely, draws clean, and works even when the day turns into sweat, dust, and bad light. If you match the revolver to your real use and spend money on a real belt and holster, you’ll stop thinking about the gun and start paying attention to what’s in front of you. That’s the whole point.
Like The Avid Outdoorsman’s content? Be sure to follow us.
Here’s more from us:
