If you’re not bothered by the fact that it’s made in Turkey (I know some aren’t), the SR-38 looks and feels and shoots like a 6-shot Smith & Wesson 686. It’s got all the bells and whistles: the fully adjustable rear sights, the Hogue-like rubber grips, the barrel rib and underlug design, the cylinder release button, even the leaf spring used as its mainspring. It also has an all-steel construction and its weight really helps soak up recoil.

So far, all the reviews on this newcomer are positive. Check out this review by sootch00 for more info. All in all, I think this is a beautiful, solidly built revolver that will get the job done for significantly less than the cost of a 6-shot 686.

The SR-38 is available in blued and stainless finish with 4-inch and 6-inch barrel configurations. Blued models regardless of barrel length (SKUs SR38-357-4 and SR38-357-6) cost $481, while stainless models, again regardless of barrel length (SKU: SR38-357-4-SS and SR38-357-6-SS) cost $558.

10. EAA CORP.

 Unlike the other brands on this list, EAA Corp. (European-American Armory Corporation) is not a firearms manufacturer. Rather, they’re an importer of firearms manufactured from different European countries. They are well known in the semi-auto handguns market for importing the Italian-made Tanfoglio 9mm pistols (in the US these are sold under the EAA Witness brand).

The revolver they import and market under their EAA Windicator brand is manufactured by Hermann Weihrauch, a firearms manufacturing company based in Mellrichstadt, Bavaria, Germany. Founded in 1899, Hermann Weihrauch is well known for their solidly-built target/sporting air rifles, air pistols and all sorts of firearms.

With its 6-shot cylinder and heavy construction, the EAA Windicator (known locally in Germany as the HW 357) is one ugly revolver in my opinion. The manufacturer attempted a vented-rib look but the vents look wrong (they aren’t even real vents — they don’t allow for air to flow through the top of the barrel because they don’t have holes), the rubber grips look God-awful and the cylinder release looks like a piece of serrated metal hastily screwed onto the frame.

But as EAA Corp. claims, “It not the sleekest, or the lightest, or even the prettiest, but the Windicator is ready when you need it!” This revolver is a beater, built to shoot every time the trigger is pulled. Just read through the comments on this blog post — people who own the EAA Windicator have a lot of nice things to say about it.

The EAA Windicator is available in 2-inch or 4-inch barrel configurations with a choice of blued and stainless steel finish. The 2-inch barrel blued model (SKU 770130) sells for $373 and the 4-inch barrel blued model (SKU 770133) sells for $392, while the 2-inch barrel stainless steel model (SKU 770127) sells for $442 and the 4-inch barrel stainless steel model (SKU 770128) sells for $458.

If you’re looking for the best bargain-basement type deals on .357 Magnum revolvers and you don’t mind buying things not made in America, these are some of the best you’ll ever find.

11. AMADEO ROSSI SA (BRAZIL)

I couldn’t get much info online about Rossi, the only thing I know is they were founded in the Brazilian city of São Leopoldo (the same city where Taurus originated) in 1889 which means they’ve been around longer than Taurus, and they manufacture shotguns, youth rifles, revolver rifles (like the Circuit Judge) and revolvers chambered for .38 Special and .357 Magnum.

Their production line of revolvers and handguns were acquired by Taurus sometime in 2008, and Taurus manufactures Rossi’s .357 Magnum revolvers under contract with them. This explains why, like Taurus, people either like Rossi so much or hate them so much.

Rossi only has three .357 Magnum revolver models available, all of which have a 6-shot cylinder. Unlike all the other brands’ revolver models on this list, Rossi revolvers aren’t available in different barrel length configurations and finish.

The stainless R92706 has a 6-inch barrel with adjustable rear sight, retailing for $429; the blued R97104 has a 4-inch barrel with adjustable rear sight, retailing for $399; while the R46202 is a 2-inch snub nose model with fixed rear sight, also in stainless finish, retailing for $359.

I personally wouldn’t bother with any of these revolvers as there are cheaper and more reliable options available (like the Sarsilmaz and EAA Corp. offerings on this list). But if these are the only revolvers available in your LGS and you really need one, or if you already happen to have one, it might be a relief to know that they have a pretty good warranty policy.

As long as your revolver has the “Braztech Int’l L.C. Miami, FL USA” stamp, then Rossi has you covered with their Revolver Lifetime Repair Policy (being related to Taurus, it’s no surprise they offer the same type of warranty policy). Hopefully, whatever problem your Rossi revolver has is fixable. If not, then unfortunately you have an expensive paperweight.

12. CZECHPOINT ALFA PROJ (CZECH REPUBLIC)

I’ve been reading about these revolvers since 2010. They’re manufactured by Alfa Proj based in Brno, the second largest city in Czech Republic which is a country well known for producing some of the best firearms in the world. I recently did a write-up on a handgun being touted as the most powerful double-stack semi-auto in the world — it originates from the same city and is even named after it.

Sadly, if you were looking to get info on any of these Alfa Proj .357 Magnum revolvers and you end up reading this article, I regretfully have to tell you that I can’t recommend them.

For one thing, they’re not in stock on the importer’s website (CzechPoint). Another reason is I’ve read this review by GunTests. It’s a very detailed review comparing a Smith & Wesson 686 to an Alfa Proj revolver.

After reading it, I’ve never been so disappointed. These revolvers are supposed to work great because they’re from the Czech Republic. But apparently, some of the parts can break and there are tool marks that can be seen all over the recoil shield.

Granted, the review I referenced is old, and there’s this other review by a guy on YouTube who seems pretty happy with his purchase. But still, I think an SR-38 or an EAA Windicator would be a better deal for around the same price. I can only hope that these Alfa Proj revolvers are better 11 years after that horrible review came out — I just love the way they look.

13. CHARTER ARMS

An American firearms manufacturer based in Shelton, Connecticut, Charter Arms has been around since 1964. The company was founded by a gun designer, Doug McClenahan, who reportedly worked for Colt, High Standard and Ruger before starting his own business.

As just another firearms manufacturer with a long history, I will not go too deep with Charter Arms’ background as a company. They state on their website that their company is 100% American-owned — and all their products are American-designed, American-made using American parts. I’ll take their word for it.

If you’re looking for a budget wheelgun but find it difficult to buy anything made outside of the US, then Charter Arms might be an option. Their Mag Pug line of revolvers chambered for the .357 Magnum all have a 5-shot cylinder and a stainless steel finish.

Prices are within the $400 range but they have a particular model 73524 selling for $609 fitted with Crimson Trace laser grips. There’s a Mag Pug with 4.2-inch barrel (model 73542) that sells for $470 but for some reason, there’s no picture of it on their website (I believe it’s the Target model).

Beware though. Like some of the other brands on this list that are geared toward budget-minded folks, the Mag Pug (and Charter Arms products in general) suffers from a bad reputation. The gun is highly inaccurate, often shooting way too low — up to 5 inches lower — from point of aim.

Some people like the Mag Pug, others hate them. The general consensus is the quality of Charter Arms’ revolvers is so-so. If you want to buy an All-American revolver but you don’t want to risk spending $400 on a piece that won’t work as intended, just save up another $300 and get yourself a Ruger SP101 (if you’re lucky maybe you can find one for around the same price, like the one on this ad).

RECOMMENDATIONS

All in all, we looked at 23 revolver models from 13 different manufacturers.

HERE ARE OUR TOP 10 PICKS FOR 2018:

1. Nighthawk/Korth Mongoose (the Rolls Royce of revolvers, also shoots 9mm)
2. Manurhin MR88 (the Korth’s and Colt Python’s rival in durability from France)
3. Dan Wesson 715 (offers the option to change barrels)
4. Chiappa Rhino (most innovative design, easiest to handle)
5. S&W 686 PLUS (still the top American brand with 7 shots to boot)
6. S&W 627 (when 7 shots are not enough)
7. Ruger GP100 (the stronger and beefier S&W 686 PLUS’ counterpart)
8. Ruger Redhawk (the stronger and beefier S&W 627 counterpart)
9. Taurus 692 (can shoot .357 Magnum, .38 Special and 9mm, also has 7 shots)
10. Sarsilmaz SR38 (new kid on the block that wows everyone, including me)