The MR88 Sport is a heavy-duty .357 revolver with a robust frame that’s rated for 50,000 rounds. The unique Trausch grip provides excellent ergonomics and recoil control. (Photo courtesy of Bob Campbell)
March 03, 2026
By Bob Campbell
I am somewhat of a Francophile.
I visited our first ally in 1979 and have returned twice since. I noticed during these trips there were many Mac 50 9mm pistols in use by the Gendarme and an equal number of revolvers.
During the first War on Terror, many European agencies dropped their .32 and .380 ACP handguns, and some adopted revolvers. The French were proponents of the .357 Magnum cartridge, appreciating its lethality and the ability to penetrate vehicle doors.
French maker Manurhin—Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin—traces its history to the early 1900s, and it introduced the MR73 in 1972. A .357 Magnum designed to withstand 100,000 rounds, it was...
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