Deborah L. Frazier pleaded guilty on Monday to murder and other charges after looking up how to load a gun before shooting herself and faking a home invasion to cover up a murder.

Wheelguns are still a viable option for self-defense, offering some real advantages—but keeping them in the fight requires mastering a few tools and techniques.

One major advantage of revolvers is their simplicity. You load the cylinder, close it, and you’re ready to fire. No worrying about whether you racked the slide or if a round is chambered. This ...