I own the .357mag 651 Total Ti with the shrouded hammer. NO PORTS.
You are restricted to using nylon brushes on the Ti surfaces, making cleaning the cylander of .38spl carbon rings in the chamber a bit of a chore...OK its a real female pooch.
I will paste an email I sent to a buddy considering one below:
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OK, now the "Lessons Learned" on the Taurus:
*.357mag POI*
.357mag POI is 10"-12" low of POA...at 10 yards. This is true for 158gr & 125gr. Can't use 110gr .357mag, due to flame-cutting of the top strap of the frame. 158gr LSWCHP .38spl +P shoots to POA. I suspected as much before I bought, however, as most snubbies are regulated to the .38spl 158gr LSWCHP +P load.
*.357mag Recoil*
I don't mind it. It is not painful, though it might be for some. YMMV. The problem is multiple shots. A LONG time between 1st & 2nd round out of the tube.
*Galling*
Heat+Titanium+Steel=Galling
The number-one issue with Titanium revolvers: the Titanium-to-steel interfaces. Somewhat rough when the revo is cold. Get worse as the revo heats up. Freaking nasty when shooting .357mag.
Much friction between the little spring-loaded center pin in the center of the extractor that the cylander rotates on when the cylander is closed. It is fine when closed, but scraping it across the recoil shield of the frame when opening/closing the cylander generates ugly friction.
For an exploded view:
http://www.taurususa.com/pdf/revolver_manual.pdf
Similar issue with the thumb cylander release, but worse, as the contact surfaces are greater.
This can be managed with lithium grease at the contact surfaces and by shooting .38spl, not .357mag. Managed, but not completely eliminated. You gotta be firm when opening/closing the cylander. It will never be as slick as my all-stainless S&W 686.
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My no-bull recommendation is to rent a taurus snubbie & S&W snubbie side by side. My experience with the galling & .357mag POA/POI issues tells me that an aluminum/steel snubbie in .38spl (that can shoot +P) might be a better answer. Save .357mag for all-steel snubbies, IMO.
The S&W snubbies are having issues with thier finish flaking off on their new Sc & Al snubbies. Quite the quandry for the snubbie buyer, IMO. The ideal snubbie might be a gently used S&W 642/442 from a few years back, right after they were rated for .38spl +P.
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FWIW, S&W 637 (Al alloy/st steel) is being sold at fireslae prices. This is the one with the exposed hammer. As cheap as the Taurus Al alloy & Ti snubbies. S&W is just trying to move them, I guess, 'cause all dealers have a severely reduced price. If you don't like the hammer spur, a Dremel tool will fix it for you, quick.