New to Me Taurus 605 (357 j-frame)

[Tallball]

Two of my friends have 357 j-frame snubs and kind of tease me about not having one. The friend I shoot with a lot genuinely enjoys shooting 357's out of his LCR.

I saw this little Taurus j-frame on GB a few weeks back and made a lowball bid. I was kind of surprised I won it. The total was $307 OTD.

If you haven't had a small-frame Taurus, they're a lot like S&W j-frames, but the finish isn't as nice and the triggers vary from "okay" to pretty bad. I've had a bunch of them. One was a lemon and the rest went bang every time.

This one was apparently made in 2005. The blued finish is worn in a few places, but it's actually very nice. One of the better Taurus finishes I've seen. It locks up nice and tight. The trigger is unusually good. I was prepared to change the springs, but there's no need. Either someone already did, or the original trigger is surprisingly nice. (I suspect the former.) I like the boot grips. They're like my preferred 38 special boot grips, but they also cover the back of the grip frame - important for a 357. Some of the 38's have aluminum frames, but this one is steel. Like most of the used handguns I've purchased, this one seems to have been carried some but not shot very much.

Some heathen crudely ground off the hammer spur. I appreciate that. It saves me from having to do it.

I shot 20 rounds of 38 special through it the other day, just to test it out. The trigger really is nice. It shot just fine. The groups of five were softball or baseball sized from seven yards standing. That's pretty good from a 38 snub for me, about as well as I can shoot most of them on a decent outing.

This revolver is pretty much just for practice. When one of my friends insists that I renew my man card by shooting a 357 j-frame, at least I'll have one with me that has some decent weight to it and decent grips on it. Other than that, it will shoot 38 special just fine. I sort of had my eye open for one, and was surprised to win it for a bid of $230-something.

Is it just me, or have used handguns been cheaper lately? I've gotten several in the past few months for what I considered to be unusually good prices.

Also, feel free to educate me about 357 snubs. I don't plan on using it for SD, but maybe you'll change my mind. Suggestions for ammo and holsters are always welcome.

Taurus Model 605.jpg

• Tallball
• Oct 11, 2023

 

[Pat Riot]

.357 from a snubbie is quite invigorating.

Congrats on your new shooter.

 

[lee n. field]

Two of my friends have 357 j-frame snubs and kind of tease me about not having one. The friend I shoot with a lot genuinely enjoys shooting 357's out of his LCR.

Lying, exaggerating, shooting remarkably wimpy .357, or totally ignores explosions going off in his hand.

<insert big smiley here>

BTW, I have shot .357 out of an LCR. It tames it pretty well.

I saw this little Taurus j-frame on GB a few weeks back and made a lowball bid. I was kind of surprised I won it. The total was $307 OTD.

Last I looked street price on new wasn't too horrible.

If you haven't had a small-frame Taurus, they're a lot like S&W j-frames, but the finish isn't as nice and the triggers vary from "okay" to pretty bad. I've had a bunch of them. One was a lemon and the rest went bang every time.

This one was apparently made in 2005. The blued finish is worn in a few places, but it's actually very nice. One of the better Taurus finishes I've seen. It locks up nice and tight. The trigger is unusually good. I was prepared to change the springs, but there's no need.

There's very seldom any real need.

Either someone already did, or the original trigger is surprisingly nice. (I suspect the former.) I like the boot grips. They're like my preferred 38 special boot grips, but they also cover the back of the grip frame - important for a 357.

The same grips my 605 came with. (2008 manufacture.) If you change them out, don't throw those away. Some folks like to put them on S&W J-frames., and they aren't available from Taurus any more (Yes, that works.)

Some of the 38's have aluminum frames, but this one is steel. Like most of the used handguns I've purchased, this one seems to have been carried some but not shot very much.

Some heathen crudely ground off the hammer spur. I appreciate that. It saves me from having to do it.

I shot 20 rounds of 38 special through it the other day, just to test it out. The trigger really is nice. It shot just fine. The groups of five were softball or baseball sized from seven yards standing. That's pretty good from a 38 snub for me, about as well as I can shoot most of them on a decent outing.

All you reasonably need from a .38 snub.

This revolver is pretty much just for practice. When one of my friends insists that I renew my man card by shooting a 357 j-frame, at least I'll have one with me that has some decent weight to it and decent grips on it. Other than that, it will shoot 38 special just fine. I sort of had my eye open for one, and was surprised to win it for a bid of $230-something.

In all my years of having my 605, I've only shot 2 or 3 cylinders worth of .357 through it. Not fun. I always involuntarily look down, to check to make sure everything's still together and in order.

Is it just me, or have used handguns been cheaper lately? I've gotten several in the past few months for what I considered to be unusually good prices.

Likewise. I've been watching for deals last couple years, since the world started going stupid.

Also, feel free to educate me about 357 snubs. I don't plan on using it for SD, but maybe you'll change my mind. Suggestions for ammo and holsters are always welcome.

Taurus Model 605.jpg

• Tallball
• Oct 11, 2023

Ammo. Mine does really well with .38 Special, 158grain lead semiwadcutter, 3.8 grains Bullseye.

Holsters. Leather for S&W J-frame. Kydex is a bit more difficult. The Dark Star Gear Apollo Taurus sells in their webstore is supposed to work with the 605 as well as the 856. I saw somewhere that the Phlster City Special, recently released for the Taurus 856, will work with the 605. I know Tulster has one, haven't tried it. Some others out there.

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

I love my 605 and I enjoy shooting it with 357 or 38. The concussion that runs through your body when trigger is pulled gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. Definitely don't get that same feeling when running some plastic semi. Mine is my primary edc and I built a open top avenger holster for it. And carry 2 speed strips.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I've shot a couple of snubbies using .357 mag ammo. Just brutal. I think that the only reason to own one would be to have a slightly heavier gun for shooting .38 special ammo that's on the warm side.

I had bad experiences with two Tauri 85s years ago, and for a long time wouldn't touch 'em. But I needed a trainer/loaner for new students who want to learn to shoot snubbies, and I'd heard that Taurus was cleaning up their act, so I thought I'd give them another chance.

So, I recently bought an all-steel, concealed hammer 856 face-to-face for $275. Like new condition. Good price for a six-shooter with potential to be pretty good.

Trigger wasn't as nasty as I expected, but very heavy. I inspected and polished the internals, and that smoothed it up quite a bit. After shooting 20 rounds, the cylinder began to bind, so I stoned the forcing cone down. Cylinder gap was 0.006", now its 0.010". No hint of binding now. I think that the last upgrade will be a reduced-power Wolff hammer spring.

Yeah, it took some work, but it was fun!

I just finished testing ten kinds of .38 special ammo (three of my reloads and seven factory SD loads) for 1) group size, 2) POA vs POI, and 3) bullet expansion. I shot these loads in the 856, an S&W 442, and a Ruger LCR. The 856 was just as accurate and shot to POA as well as these other more highly-regarded (and more expensive) snubbies.

I'm amazed how well the 856 shoots.

I'll post the details of the ammo tests in a new thread. A teaser: by far the best SD ammo I tested was Remington Golden Saber.

 

[Tallball]

@lee n. field and @luzyfuerza : It's interesting to read everyone's different points of view. Thank you for sharing.

My friend is only 50 and has never had hand problems. He carries his LCR loaded with 357's and enjoys shooting about 20 rounds per session through it.

All joking aside, I don't mind shooting maybe one cylinder of 357 through his LCR. It's kind of fun. Stings my palm a bit. The noise is impressive. I would develop a flinch if I did it a lot, though.

Probably won't shoot much 357 through this snubby, but it gives me the option. I stopped using 357 for SD after I had to fire a round. Lost another percent or two of hearing that night. I've loaded with 38's for SD ever since. 357 is a more fun/useful caliber out of an N-frame or a Blackhawk, IMHO.

I think this is my ninth Taurus j-frame. One was a factory lemon. They fixed it, eventually, and not to my satisfaction. The rest have been fine. I always assume they'll need new, lighter springs, but occasionally they don't. This is my second that's had a very nice trigger when I got it. Eight out of nine have shot pretty much to POA. I don't shoot them better or worse than my similar Smiths or Rugers or whatever. The old-style wooden grips don't fit my hands and I always have to replace them. The boot grips like this work well for me.

Probably got it mostly because it only totaled out to $300. I'll use it for practice when I have some extra 38's. Family/friends occasionally ask my help with procuring a reasonably priced handgun. It could be an option for that, or I can just keep using it for practice. Win/win.

 

[WisBorn]

Enjoy your new Taurus 605.

I shoot 158 grain semi jacketed soft points (Federal American Eagle) through mine. They are a light magnum and controllable in the steel frame Taurus.
I also have shot 180gr hardcast from HSM. If I am hiking I like the hardcast loads.
I pocket carry most of the time and find that the 605 fits in my pocket holsters that are made for j frame S&Ws.
I would think any 2" j frame holster would be worth trying.

Congratulations on your new pocket cannon.

 

[Hole maker]

I love my 605 and I enjoy shooting it with 357 or 38. The concussion that runs through your body when trigger is pulled gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. Definitely don't get that same feeling when running some plastic semi. Mine is my primary edc and I built a open top avenger holster for it. And carry 2 speed strips. View attachment 1175433View attachment 1175434

I have the same SS 605 but I wish I had gotten a 3" instead of 2" and I do enjoy mid to full 357 loads, it gives me the yeah that,s what i,m talking about felling and knowing the one receiving the projectile wont agree, I will not feed it top loads a lot but had to for sh#ts and giggles, I have a SS 4" Security Six for the heavy stuff, it is very pleasant with 38sp loads +P included, it is my CC gun with 357s loaded with HP-38/140 or 125grn XTPs, the gun has bin great for the 100 or so rounds I put through it, only problem is I need a big barn, it is a nice revolver, paid $399 and not bitching, Good shooting , Ron.

 

[StrykerByte.45]

Two of my friends have 357 j-frame snubs and kind of tease me about not having one. The friend I shoot with a lot genuinely enjoys shooting 357's out of his LCR.

I saw this little Taurus j-frame on GB a few weeks back and made a lowball bid. I was kind of surprised I won it. The total was $307 OTD.

If you haven't had a small-frame Taurus, they're a lot like S&W j-frames, but the finish isn't as nice and the triggers vary from "okay" to pretty bad. I've had a bunch of them. One was a lemon and the rest went bang every time.

This one was apparently made in 2005. The blued finish is worn in a few places, but it's actually very nice. One of the better Taurus finishes I've seen. It locks up nice and tight. The trigger is unusually good. I was prepared to change the springs, but there's no need. Either someone already did, or the original trigger is surprisingly nice. (I suspect the former.) I like the boot grips. They're like my preferred 38 special boot grips, but they also cover the back of the grip frame - important for a 357. Some of the 38's have aluminum frames, but this one is steel. Like most of the used handguns I've purchased, this one seems to have been carried some but not shot very much.

Some heathen crudely ground off the hammer spur. I appreciate that. It saves me from having to do it.

I shot 20 rounds of 38 special through it the other day, just to test it out. The trigger really is nice. It shot just fine. The groups of five were softball or baseball sized from seven yards standing. That's pretty good from a 38 snub for me, about as well as I can shoot most of them on a decent outing.

This revolver is pretty much just for practice. When one of my friends insists that I renew my man card by shooting a 357 j-frame, at least I'll have one with me that has some decent weight to it and decent grips on it. Other than that, it will shoot 38 special just fine. I sort of had my eye open for one, and was surprised to win it for a bid of $230-something.

Is it just me, or have used handguns been cheaper lately? I've gotten several in the past few months for what I considered to be unusually good prices.

Also, feel free to educate me about 357 snubs. I don't plan on using it for SD, but maybe you'll change my mind. Suggestions for ammo and holsters are always welcome.

Taurus Model 605.jpg

• Tallball
• Oct 11, 2023

These are excellent revolvers. It is the Big brother of the Taurus 85 that only fires 38 special. Believe it or not it is a very strong revolver. The Taurus 85 can handle some very hot +P. It is a very light 357, so you will want to use some light for caliber 357 magnums or anything that's 38 special. My advice would be that if you reload 357 Magnum make some loads that are halfway between 38 special plus p and 357 Magnum. Using 357 Magnum cases, of course. If you do shoot a lot of 38 special you will want to clean the chambers before loading up 357 Magnum.
Let me suggest to you to use some grips by a company called ATI. They are amazing and very inexpensive. They will allow you to have a solid two hand hold. The back strap is 1 in further back. They are a similar design to what the new model Taurus Raging Bull and Raging Hunter.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Regarding snubbie holsters, I've toyed with ankle carry in the past. Mostly in junk rigs that weren't comfortable or functional.

On a tip from Tom Givens, I decided to try a quality ankle rig from Alessi or Ken Null. Unfortunately, these aren't currently readily available. But Ritchie holsters makes a Null design that is, and I ordered one for my 442.

Ankle - Product Details

What a great rig. It uses felt next to the ankle that is both secure and all-day comfortable. Holds the 442 perfectly. After all the junk I've tried, quality feels so good!

 

[Buckeye63]

I have owned several 605’s in tbe past .. all functioned fine .. I found they make excellent
38 +P revolvers.. the steel frames and extra heft absorbs the recoil of the 38 +P vs the aluminum framed 38 Special revolvers
I never saw the reasoning buying a 85 over a 605
being you can have the 357 option with the 605

I owned a 605 .. polished stainless steel , ported barrel, listed as a 2.25 inch barrel.. but from forcing cone to crown it measured 2.5 inches… it came with larger rubber grips .. similar to J frame combat grips … I ran quite a bit of 357 mag through this revolver… actually was very shootable… with 357 and fun with 38spl wadcutters …

My purchase of a LCR357.. opened my eyes about how the right grips with a polymer grip frame helps absorb recoil . Just a amazing revolver..