As shooters, whether we are competitors, hunters, or just having fun on the range, we all strive to be as accurate as we can. This desire to be or become more accurate leads us down a rabbit hole with endless possibilities. Of course, nothing replaces practice and building our skills, but equipment upgrades come into view.
Custom or Top shelf?
As we shooters progress, we start to look at having our guns customized to give us an edge. I spent quite a bit of time building customs and customizing guns for customers looking for that perfect firearm. They would be able to pick and choose parts and other customizations to get exactly what they wanted.
Another option is to go top shelf for your firearm. There are lots of top-shelf firearms out there that are equal to or even exceed a custom gun right out of the box.
After building custom guns for a career, I’d prefer to go shoot more and be in the shop less. Thus, a few years ago, I began my search for that perfect top-shelf gun that fit my needs.
Shot Show, hands-on
Being primarily a wheelgun shooter, that is where I naturally gravitated. At SHOT Show 2023, I stumbled onto what I was looking for. I rounded a corner while I was working my way out of the show for the day, and there I spotted it, a booth full of revolvers. As I gazed into the glass cases, probably drooling, I heard a foreign accent offer to show me some of the revolvers.
Within a few moments of handling these revolvers, manipulating them, and bouncing those features off my gunsmith knowledge, I was hooked. The brand name Spohr was stuck in my head. That night in the hotel room, I thought about it some more, researched online, and read a few articles I found on the Spohr revolvers.
I was not able to find much info online that spoke to accuracy or the revolver’s capabilities. All I found was information that basically stated they were available, 100% machined from barstock, and the basic details you could have gathered from Spohr’s website.
History of Spohr Revolvers
The next day, I went straight to the Spohr booth and spoke with Thomas Spohr, the company’s owner. I learned that he was part of Germany’s prestigious Club 30. Summed up rather briefly, Club 30 is a group of gunsmiths who build high-quality custom revolvers in Germany. I also found out that Thomas wasn’t happy with the current state of MIM parts used within the revolvers that he was customizing.
This apparently led to him going off on his own, grabbing a chunk of bar stock, and making the finest double-action revolvers known to man. Prior to leaving the booth that day, I had placed an order for a Spohr 286 Competition.
first range trip
When I arrived home from Shot Show, I was on the range testing almost immediatly. After just a few cylinders full of ammunition I knew I had something. Right out of the box this gun was shooting about 1 inch at 50 yards, fit and finish were amazing, and the gun felt great.
the features
All of the revolvers are 100% machined from barstock. This allows them to hold extremely tight tolerances in manufacturing and sets them apart from the rest of the competition. They use Nill grips, which are highly regarded as the finest handgun grips available. In addition, the revolvers utilize LPA sights and are drilled and tapped for Smith and Wesson optics bases.
One feature not often seen in revolvers is Spohr’s polygonal barrel. They chose polygonal barrels for their ease of cleaning. I also found them to increase velocity compared to similar revolvers I own.
handgun hunting
Handgun hunting is what I do, and with it being the off-season for hunting, the opportunities were limited. I quickly booked an exotics hunt with the Spohr and capitalized on the gun’s performance.
Using the Spohr 286 Competition with an Ultradot Gen2 30mm and a 105-grain Cutting Edge Bullet, I was able to take multiple game animals. Shots were from 50 to 85 yards, and the gun, optic, and ammunition performed flawlessly.
Fast forward to 2024. I began competing with the Spohr revolvers and getting a whole lot more range time with multiple models.
I found their trigger system to be a major improvement over the other double action revolvers I have used in the past. The trigger pull is much smoother, has a crisp break, and is adjustable by the user.
By incorporating the drilled and tapped top strap, they give the end user more options for optics, and as we all know, optics are in fashion for handguns.
With the frames of the .357 Magnum being the same size as an L-frame S&W, it allows us to use S&W grips, Safariland Speedloaders, and holsters.
The more I competed, hunted with, and shot the Spohrs, the more I realized how much their quality and features elevated them over the competition.
spohr Club: top of the mark
I assisted Spohr at 2025 2025 Show Industry Day at the Range. There, I got a chance to get my grubby hands on a Club Edition Spohr 357. Well, that ruined my financial well-being, as I had to have one!
For 2025 Action Pistol season, I have been competing with that revolver regularly. The Club Editions are one step above the already perfected Spohr. Fit and finish are a little more refined, with more features, and an even more adjustable trigger system.
The one major difference is that the Club Edition is not drilled and tapped. The rear sight is machined into the top strap, allowing it to sit as low as possible. Additionally, the trigger rebound spring pressure is fully adjustable versus the standard model, where just the hammer spring is adjustable.
The Club makes for the ultimate competition revolver for those striving for the best gear and performance.
.44 magnum
And in July 2025, what I have been waiting for all along finally arrived. Spohr launched their .44 Magnum, and I received the first one sent into the USA.
Just like the smaller frames, it is 100% machined from barstock, the accuracy is phenomenal, and it has not disappointed in the least.
I have just begun my testing of the .44 Magnum Spohr. But I can say this, I know which revolver I am carrying into the field this fall with a pocket full of Wyoming tags.
If you find yourself looking for the pinnacle of revolver accuracy, give Spohr a look.
