Which 38 Special Revolver Should You Get? M200 vs. M206

If you’re shopping for a 38 Special revolver, the Rock Island Armory lineup makes the choice simple.

Pick the 4-inch barrel M200 for home defense and range days, or pick the 2-inch M206 for concealed carry. All four models house six shots, are chambered in 38 Special, and sells for under $350. The M200 and M206 are double-action, single-action, while the spurless models are double-action revolvers.

There’s no single best revolver for everyone, but there is a best fit for how you plan to use it. To help you find yours, we talked with John McClain, an in-house Rock Island Armory firearms expert with Armscor, about barrel length, home defense, concealed carry, ammo, and what separates each model.

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Choosing a RIA Revolver & Comparison | Spur vs. Spurless | Good First Revolver | 38 SPL vs. 9MM | Revolver FAQs

How Do the Rock Island Revolvers Compare?

Every model below is a six-round Rock Island 38 Special revolver with a fixed ramp front sight and fixed wide square notch rear sight.

Here’s how the Rock Island M200 and Rock Island M206 family line up in numbers and details. 

“The M200 is going to be more likely for range day and recreational shooting … versus the M206 line is going to be more heavily based on concealability as a backup gun,” John said.

The M206 Spurless Matte Nickel is the same revolver as the Spurless in a different finish, so choose the one that looks right to you. 

What Barrel Length Do You Need?

Choose a 4-inch barrel for home defense and range days, and a 2-inch barrel for concealed carrying a snub nose 38.

“It’s like that 4-inch barrel, so it’s going to be a little bit longer, a little bit heavier,” John said of the M200. “If you’re going to carry it around all day, you’ll notice the extra weight.”

That extra length gives the M200 a longer sight radius, which can make you a little more accurate. A 2-inch snub nose revolver trades sight radius for size, so it’s built for extreme close-quarters situations, not long shots at the range.

Compare every model on the Rock Island revolvers page. 

What Is the Best Revolver for Home Defense?

The best revolver for home defense in the Rock Island lineup is the M200.

“If the revolver was the only option that I had, then I’d definitely go with the M200 if the plan is for it to stay within the home,” John said.

Both models hold six rounds, but the M200’s longer barrel adds sight radius, and its spur lets you thumb back the hammer for a lighter single-action pull that makes your first shot easier to place. That lighter pull essentially puts the gun on a hair trigger, which raises the risk of a negligent discharge under the stress of a nighttime intruder.

Always identify your target, and train under pressure if you plan to use single action.

What Is the Best Revolver for Concealed Carry?

The best revolver for concealed carry in the Rock Island lineup is the M206, a 2-inch snub nose revolver, and John’s pick is the M206 Spurless.

“Since we’re talking about revolvers, if I had to carry a revolver outside, it would probably be a M206 Spurless,” John said.

As a 38 Special snub nose, the M206 is smaller and built around concealability, so it works well for deep concealment or as a backup to a primary carry gun. Concealment also keeps the element of surprise on your side, since no one sees you as a threat until you need to act.

If you’re comparing the best snub nose revolver options for carry, the M206 packs six rounds of 38 Special into a 1.5-pound revolver that’s 6.75 inches long. Wondering whether you need a separate carry gun at all? Read Range Gun vs. Carry Gun: Do You Need Both?

Spurless or Spurred: Which M206 Should You Pick?

Pick the Rock Island M206 Spurless if you want a snag-resistant draw and one consistent trigger pull. Pick the standard M206 if you want the option to shoot single action.

The spur is the paddle on the back of the hammer that lets you cock it for single action.

“Are you going to have enough time to physically pull the hammer back before you break the shot off in a self-defense, life-threatening situation? Probably not,” John said.

Without a spur, every pull on the Spurless is a long, heavy double-action pull. The upside is consistency, since you train one trigger weight instead of two.

“When you don’t have that paddle sitting on the back of the gun, when you go to draw your gun, it’s one less thing to get snagged on a piece of clothing or a strap or your belt or your shirt,” John said.

That streamlined draw is why John favors the Spurless for carry.

What Makes a Good First Revolver?

A good first revolver is affordable, easy to maintain, and simple to learn on, which makes Rock Island revolvers a great fit for beginners.

“At the price point, revolvers are a very easy way to get into the firearms world without having to lie to your significant other about how much you’ve actually spent on the gun,” John said.

Revolvers also teach the difference between single-action and double-action trigger pulls. Plus, a dud round is simple to handle by pulling the trigger again to rotate the cylinder to the next round.

The M200 is the best revolver for beginners in the lineup, with the lowest MSRP of the four.

38 Special vs. 9mm: Should You Pick a Revolver or a Pistol?

Pick a 38 Special revolver for simplicity and a heavier bullet, or a 9mm pistol for more rounds, a slimmer profile and cheaper practice ammo.

“Typically, 38 Specials can run a little bit heavier, and you’re going to be able to put more powder behind it,” John said.

In the 38 Special vs. 9mm debate, 9mm wins on ammo cost. It’s also rimless, so it won’t hold in a Rock Island revolver’s cylinder the way rimmed 38 Special does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a revolver more reliable than a pistol?

Not necessarily.

“I wouldn’t say it’s more reliable. I would just say it’s a different flavor platform for those that like shooting classic firearms,” John said.

Is 38 Special good for self-defense?

Yes. Pair it with a quality self-defense load, such as jacketed hollow points, and practice with it before you carry it.

Can the M206 shoot +P?

Yes, but sparingly. Armscor says its guns are +P ready and recommends using +P only when necessary. Heavy use is hard on the gun over time, so practice mostly with standard loads.

What’s the difference between the M206 Spurless and the Spurless Matte Nickel?

Only the finish. The Matte Nickel is the same revolver in a different color, with little higher MSRP than the Parkerized Spurless.

Is the M200 a good first revolver?

Yes. It’s affordable, easy to clean and maintain, and it teaches you both double-action and single-action trigger pulls.

Is a revolver good for home defense?

Yes. For a revolver that stays in the home, John would pick the M200 for its longer sight radius and single-action option. Households with kids or teens may want to keep it in double action.

Is the M206 Spurless a hammerless revolver?

No. It still has a hammer, but the spur, the paddle you pull back to cock it, is removed. If you’ve been shopping for a hammerless revolver for a snag-free draw, the Spurless delivers that benefit in a double action only design.

What Ammo Should You Run in a 38 Special Revolver?

Run full metal jacket for practice and jacketed hollow points or other self-defense ammo for carry and home defense. Learn the basics in Handgun Ammo 101.

The key is knowing how your two loads compare. Try to match your practice ammo’s bullet weight and velocity to your defensive load. If you can’t, take your carry ammo to the range and shoot it at targets. At 3 to 5 yards you may not notice a difference, but at 15 to 20 yards your point of impact could shift by an inch.

“You’re not setting yourself up for success,” John said of shooters who practice only with light loads but carry other kinds. Always get used to the ammo you plan to use.

So what is 38 Special +P? The +P stands for plus power, meaning a hotter charge with a sharper recoil impulse. Rock Island revolvers can handle it, but running a lot of +P, like shooting a full class with it, is hard on the gun over time. Save it for carry and practice mostly with standard loads.