The Eldritch Archer can technically utilize any ranged weapon, and the Myrmidarch gains Ranged Spellstrike to use with a ranged weapon attack, but technically firearms are a separate category of weapons… and are only “ranged” in the most literal sense, right?
Is there a way to make a Magus that can properly incorporate a one-handed firearm with Spell Combat and Spell Strike?
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Firearms are generally only good for Gunslingers: They are generally treated as Exotic weapons, are slow to reload, their damage tends to be unimpressive, and they tend to misfire when you roll badly. Also, availability is pretty left to the GM's discretion.
Other than that, they work fine with Magus mechanics, as they are Ranged weapons.
EDIT: Golarian is a 'Emerging Guns' setting, so don't expect to find revolvers or other advanced firearms.Firearms become more common. They are mass-produced by small guilds, lone gunsmiths, dwarven clans, or maybe even a nation or two—the secret is slipping out, and the occasional rare adventurer uses guns. The baseline gunslinger rules and the prices for ammunition given in this chapter are for this type of campaign. Early firearms are available, but are relatively rare. Adventurers who want to use guns must take the Gunsmithing feat just to make them feasible weapons. Advanced firearms may exist, but only as rare and wondrous items—the stuff of high-level treasure troves.
Oh, absolutely, I’m just musing about a marriage of the Eldritch Archer with the Gunslinger themes from the Stephen King novels, to include the use of a revolver. With that in mind, I’m fairly certain the Spell Cartridges feat, will take care of reloading—as “Force bullets do not use black powder or ammunition.” It just means my Swift Action economy would be shot (pun intended) unless I also had Quick Draw and a second revolver available with conventional ammunition.
That said, are firearms really categorized as Ranged weapons by RAW? Does the fact that they’re listed in their own category, and not under, e.g., Exotic Ranged Weapons not preclude them from being used with the Eldritch Archer or a Myrmidarch? I’m not trying to be difficult here—I want you to be right!
To your closing point, this would not be for use on Golarion.
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but technically firearms are a separate category of weapons… and are only “ranged” in the most literal sense, right?
I don't think so. The first line of the firearm rules is "Firearms work differently from other ranged projectile weapons" (UC pg. 135) - see the word "other"? This sentence only works if firearms are ranged weapons.
Firearms are generally only good for Gunslingers: They are generally treated as Exotic weapons, are slow to reload, their damage tends to be unimpressive, and they tend to misfire when you roll badly.
All of that can be fairly easily fixed without needing to be a Gunslinger. You need a class or archetype that grants a firearm if you want to start with one at 1st (or other low) level, but not only do such ioptions for other classes exist, after a few levels, there's a multitude of ways to make firearms work without direct support from a class.
And all that's only true for early firearms, although I can't fault you for assuming those to be the topic. Advanced firearms most certainly do not require a class or archetype made for them.
Oh, absolutely, I’m just musing about a marriage of the Eldritch Archer with the Gunslinger themes from the Stephen King novels, to include the use of a revolver. With that in mind, I’m fairly certain the Spell Cartridges feat, will take care of reloading
You wouldn't even need that feat, Rapid Reload allows reloading any advanced firearm as a free action.
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Eldritch Archer magus begins play with a masterwork ranged weapon of their choice as a bonded object so obtaining a firearm isn’t a problem with this archetype. The Air repeater firearm is a good choice for a spell cartridges build as it can’t explode on repeated misfires it only destroys the ammunition inside it. The only real downsides of an air repeater are low damage and long reload time both of which are eliminated by Spell Cartridges. Heck it’s even essentially a silenced weapon as an air gun doesn’t make much noise when fired. Certainly doesn’t make a loud explosion like a regular firearm.
The Air repeater firearm is a good choice for a spell cartridges build as it can’t explode on repeated misfires it only destroys the ammunition inside it.
You should read the thread more carefully, the OP wants to use a revolver. Which, as an advanced firearm, doesn't get destroyed from misfires, either.
Also, Spell Cartridges "do not use black powder or ammunition", no mention of the air an Air Repeater (normally) requires. Very subject to GM goodwill, much more so than other firearms.
Especially since "The following new guns and ammunition are available to players with access to firearms technology from Alkenstar." Alkenstar is a city-state that developed more advanced firearms because it's in a region where magic doesn't work (either not at all, or unpredictably). A prepared arcane caster that's nonetheless familiar with those weapons is a seriously case of special snowflake syndrome.
The OP did mention that this was not meant for a Golarion setting so any restriction to alkenstar is irrelevant. Also spell cartridges states that they don’t use “black powder OR ammunition” not “black powder AND ammunition”. Since Air repeaters do use ammunition I see no reason they would not work with spell cartridges. Also the air repeater has a 6 shot capacity just like a revolver and would be a good backup for any firearms user where you may want more range or a quieter weapon which is why I suggested it.