There’s something about a perfectly made revolver that speaks to the soul of a shooter. The way the cylinder locks into place with absolute precision. The smoothness of the trigger’s pull. Finally, the satisfying thump of a .357 Magnum round leaving a well-tuned barrel. And yet, for decades, the market has been flooded with mediocrity—mass-produced wheelguns that are “good enough” but rarely exceptional. Enter Spohr with its 5.0 Club.
The 5.0 Club: Spohr Chases Perfection
While some manufacturers flirt with excellence, Spohr chases it relentlessly. The Spohr 5.0 Club is the latest product of that pursuit, and it’s already making waves in the revolver world.
Creating the “world’s best revolver” has been the white whale for many companies. It’s not just about making a beautiful gun; it’s about making one that runs flawlessly under any condition. If we’re only talking Revolvers, they have many intimately working internal components that need to operate in unison without fail.
Thomas Spohr’s approach to this challenge has been to break away from conventional designs while keeping the best parts of what’s worked. Sure, Spohr’s revolvers share some mechanical and dimensional similarities to the classic Smith & Wesson models. However, if we conduct a closer inspection, that’s where the comparison ends.
The 5.0 Club is a testament to the company’s innovative process. It’s clear they’ve taken the original design language of a quality double-action revolver and expanded upon it with mechanical precision and exceptional finishing.
The steps needed to complete a Spohr revolver are extensive, with meticulous attention paid to each one. This isn’t just hand-fitting and polishing—it’s completely rethinking what a revolver should be in 2025.
What Makes the Spohr 5.0 Club Special?
The Spohr 5.0 Club gets its name from its five-inch polygonal rifled barrel, immediately setting it apart from common four-inch service revolvers. But this is much more than just a barrel-length difference.
The Club models (not only the 5.0) sport upper and lower accessory rails, allowing you to mount lights and optics. Most revolvers are left to the mercy of traditional iron sights or other less conventional optic mounts. However, Spohr’s modularity is designed to be forward-thinking.
That pic-rail barrel offers some incredible advantages. Adding a light under the bore is a little trickier. But the capability is there if you’re willing to get creative with holster solutions (more on that later).
Even more impressive is the convertible cylinder system. With a simple push of a button, you can swap out cylinders to chamber .357 Magnum, .38 Special, 9mm Luger, or even .380 (I was curious).
This adaptability is something that purists will love, but it’s also practical for anyone wanting to train with cheaper ammunition while keeping the same gun and feel. Or someone could use this conversion system to qualify for different divisions within competitive revolver shooting division(s) (USPSA, IDPA, ICORE, etc.).
The two cylinders are beautifully machined and weigh 10.4 ounces for the 9mm and 9.3 ounces for the .357/.38. The lack of fluting on the 9mm cylinder offers a striking contrast to the deeply fluted .357 variant, giving each its own character and balance.
When those cylinders are loaded, they weigh almost the same. This means that the rotational mass of the cylinder is the same and doesn’t alter the trigger performance or feel as you change cartridges. A heavier cylinder will take more force to move and has more rotational mass to stop when it indexes. These factors, among others, can affect the trigger feel.
Spohr’s Craftsmanship & Attention to Detail
Thomas Spohr doesn’t just make guns—he and his team make tools. Tools that are meant to be run hard and passed down through generations. This is not a company focused on safe-queens or luxury-grade safe-fillers. They’re not making guns just to be expensive.
Everything about the 5.0 feels substantial. From the glassy trigger pull to the smooth rotation of the cylinder, you’re holding a gun that’s meant to be used—A LOT.
The revolver ships with Nill grips, known for their ergonomic design. Unlike most American grip styles, these are narrower with a larger swell, which fits the average hand size better than most of the oversized “big butt” grips we often see.
While they aren’t directly swappable with S&W K/L frame round grips, they’re pretty close. They only require a slight relief cut to accommodate the frame’s unique shape.
Everything about the 5.0 Club feels designed for performance. My experience firing this revolver was nothing short of impressive. The balance is remarkable, thanks to the precision machining of the frame and cylinders. Recoil management is as good as it gets for a gun chambered in .357 Magnum. Likewise, the five-inch bore really helps with the follow-through and keeps the follow-up shots quick.
Innovative 5.0 Club Trigger System
The trigger pull is perfect. It’s as crisp as a winter morning and as smooth as a fresh sheet of ice. You can tell that Spohr’s commitment to quality isn’t just marketing fluff—it’s genuine craftsmanship.
One of the most impressive features of the Spohr 5.0 Club is its adjustable mainspring and trigger return system. Unlike most revolvers where you’re stuck with whatever trigger pull the factory gives you, the 5.0 Club allows the user to fine-tune the trigger pull’s weight and smoothness.
Additionally, Spohr has integrated a trigger over travel stop, adjustable all the way down to DAO (Double-Action-Only). This feature is invaluable for precision shooting, allowing for incredibly accurate shots with minimal effort. The overall trigger system grants the 5.0 the ability to be custom-fit by the shooter for the task at hand.
Ammo Testing & Load Data
The 5.0 Club was tested with a variety of loads, providing exceptional accuracy across the board. As promised, here’s the straight data: Ammunition provided by Remington.
.38 Special & .357 Magnum:
- HTP 357 110gr SJHP – 1394.2 fps
- HTP 357 180gr JHP – 1032.8 fps
- Performance Wheelgun 357 158gr SWC – 1222.2 fps
- UMC 38+P 125gr SJHP – 989.8 fps
- HTP 38+P 110gr SJHP – 1066.4 fps
9mm:
- Bonded 9mm 147g BJHP – 1045.3 fps
- Range 9mm 124gr FMJ – 1135.3 fps
Control: Blazer 9mm 115gr FMJ – 1234.4 fps
The accuracy of this revolver is better than I can hold. Standing double-action groups at 30 feet were clover-leafed, and the action remained smooth even under rapid fire. The results speak for themselves.
The Spohr 5.0 Club Finds the Summit
Spohr has achieved something truly special with the 5.0 Club. They’ve taken everything revolver enthusiasts love about classic wheelguns and pushed it into the future.
Taking a look at all the big names—Korth, Manurhin, and the no-nonsense usability of a Smith & Wesson—all of them no longer make sense when Spohr enters the equation. The build quality of any Spohr revolver doesn’t just compete—it leads.
It’s a revolver meant to be run, not just admired. If this is the future of the wheelgun, sign me up.
Shoot Safe.
