While the world is awash with polymer-framed, striker-fired, high-capacity 9mm pistols, some still continue to trust their lives to revolvers. In fact, sales of revolvers continue to grow at an astonishing pace. And it’s not just limited to America’s big three—Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger. Taurus and its sister company, Rossi, report sales of their revolvers at an all-time high. I recently had the opportunity to run the Rossi RM64 at Gunsite, and it excelled.

The Rossi RM64

Revolvers are the original point-and-shoot guns. Their uncomplicated manual of arms makes them popular with beginning shooters and experienced tacticians alike.

I had the opportunity to examine the Rossi revolvers at the 2025 SHOT Show and was impressed enough to order a Test & Evaluation sample of their RM64 chambered for .357 magnum.

The RM64 in Detail

The gun features a medium-sized frame and possesses a 6-round capacity. My test sample is equipped with a 4-inch slab-sided barrel with a full-length underlug and an integral top rib. The fit and polish of the gun is exemplary, and the revolver boasts an all-business matte black finish.

Rossi equips the RM64 with a hammer-mounted firing pin and a wide spur. Its trigger is wide, with a smooth face. Additionally, the cylinder release is located in the familiar location and requires a push forward to release the cylinder. It is profiled to work with a speed loader.

Because the RM64 is chambered for .357 Magnum, the gun can also fire .38 SPL ammunition. Correspondingly, Rossi outfits the gun with a rear sight that is adjustable for windage and elevation. Its front sight is pinned into the barrel’s integral sight base and can be replaced with a different style if desired.

If you’re a revolver person, by now you’re saying to yourself, “This sounds a lot like an S&W K or L frame,” and you wouldn’t be wrong. It’s obvious the RM64 draws inspiration from the medium-framed Smith & Wesson revolvers.

In fact, even with the sideplate removed, the only significant difference is that the Brazilian gun uses a coil mainspring instead of the flat leaf mainspring S&W uses.

As luck would have it, I received my sample gun just before heading to Gunsite for a 4-day event. Two of those days would be spent with revolvers. So, I loaded a good supply of .357 Magnum and .38 SPL ammunition in my SUV before making the 4-hour drive from Tucson to Paulden, Arizona, where Gunsite is located.

For the Record

Our first day was dedicated to range work. We sighted in our guns, gathered chronograph data (below), and shot groups for record. I couldn’t have been more pleased with the way the RM64 performed.

I brought along my DOA Tactical bench to Gunsite and shot all of my groups from a seated rest. Each group had five shots to a group, and I set my target stand at 15 yards. I rested the RM64’s underlug on a Ransom Rest Multi Cal Steady Rest to obtain the perfect sight picture while adding the 2 ¼ pounds necessary to drop the hammer.

I fired all groups in the single-action mode, and the gun’s oversized, checkered hammer spur made this easy.

My very best group was fired with magnum ammunition, and that surprised me. Doubletap’s .357 125-grain Controlled Expansion JHPs grouped five rounds into a ragged little hole measuring just over one inch. This load is by no means a pussycat round. It will clear your sinuses!

So, too, will Black Hills 125-grain JHP. Those bullets generated more than 3 times the energy of my .38 SPL wadcutter loads. I started shooting groups with the magnum ammunition, knowing I’d fatigue after a few cylinders of the hot stuff. By the time I switched to the .38 SPL wadcutter rounds, I felt like I was shooting a .22.

The RM64 is far from a lightweight, weighing almost exactly two pounds. All of its major components are machined from carbon steel, and this weight helps soak up recoil. Its hard rubber finger-grooved grips are well designed and comfortable.

Shooting from a standing position with a 2-handed grip, the RM64 was controllable, even with the hotter magnum loads.

The RM64 on the Range

Lew Gosnell was our rangemaster the following day. We started at the 3-yard line doing presentations and head shots. We followed with pairs to the upper chest and repeated these drills all the way back to the 15-yard line.

I would have preferred the RM64 to have a thinner trigger for double-action work. However, I was able to do just fine as is. By the way, my test gun’s double-action pull was right at 9 pounds. It was smooth without much stacking, and I could concentrate on the front sight as I pulled the trigger through its arc.

For a holster, I used a G-Code Kydex holster designed for a S&W K frame with a 2 ½-inch barrel. It held the gun securely and was lightning fast. Well, maybe lightning is an exaggeration, as it was only as fast as this 66-year-old could move my hands. But it felt fast!

I used HKS speedloaders designed for S&W K-frame guns, and they worked perfectly. For square range work on paper targets, I used Doubletap’s (one of our event’s sponsors) .357 Magnum 158-grain FMJ rounds. It produced negligible recoil and muzzle flash.

Good Enough for Customization?

Fink’s Custom Guns is located on Gunsite’s campus. At lunch, owner Dave Fink asked me if he could look at the Rossi, as he hadn’t examined one before. Dave has built probably a dozen custom revolvers for me, most based on S&W K frames but also a couple of Colts as well. He’s a first-class revolversmith, and I value his opinion.

“It’s essentially a S&W K-frame revolver. It even looks like some parts will interchange,” said Fink. “For the money, it looks like a great value. Its fit and finish are outstanding, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use one of these guns for a custom project.”

Heady Endorsement of the Rossi RM64

I was impressed with the RM64 before Dave looked at it. However, I am even more fond of it after his endorsement. You can spend a lot more money on a revolver, but why? The Rossi’s all-steel construction and rugged design should ensure a lifetime of trouble-free use.

My test sample performed flawlessly during my 300-round evaluation at Gunsite, and its accuracy was beyond exemplary. If you’ve been pulling your hair out trying to find an affordable .357 Magnum revolver, do yourself a favor and get a Brazilian!

Rossi RM64 Specs

Performance