Taurus 605 Defender 357 Magnum

[rugerman07]

I'm considering a Taurus 605 Defender 357 Magnum w/3 inch barrel. I've heard good things about them one of which is it has a pretty good, light, double action trigger pull, actually better than S&W or Ruger's. Anyone own one of these or had any experience with them? Feedback will be appreciated.

 

[RON in PA]

Trigger pull on mine is pretty good, probably better than a Smith J frame.
Also consider a 856, it's only a .38 special, but is a six shot.
Firing .357 magnum in small revolvers is not a very pleasant experience.

 

[Hole maker]

I'm considering a Taurus 605 Defender 357 Magnum w/3 inch barrel. I've heard good things about them one of which is it has a pretty good, light, double action trigger pull, actually better than S&W or Ruger's. Anyone own one of these or had any experience with them? Feedback will be appreciated.

I don,t have a Defender but I bought a Taurus 605 - 2" and love it, I mostly shoot 38sp +P but have shot a fare amount of 357mags through it any thing from 125 / 180grn loads, I do wish I got a 3" instead of 2", I have a Ruger 357-4" and use the Taurus mainly for cc, it is no where as stout as the Ruger so I choose not to shoot alot of heavy stuff, 125/140grn XTPs with HP-38 is more than manageable, I did shoot a mid to heavy load of H-110 and 180grn Hard cast Heat treated lead through it and you know when you pull the trigger on that one but if you are a seasoned shooter it,s not a problem, it,s like Wow Wee lets try that again, there is down side to the 2" the bad guy better be close, I paid $400 and didn,t care I was just happy to get it, Ron.

 

[Virginian]

A Taurus 605 3" has been my carry gun for almost 20 years. I added Wolff Springs, which I have done on ALL my revolvers and have been pleased with it. I can shoot baby food jar tops at 25 yards so it should be accurate enough for my needs. Loaded with Glaser Safety Slugs or 125 gr.SJHP recoil is not bad. I have a Taurus 431 4" 44 Spl. as my woods carry gun. I am a retired gunsmith and gun seller and I have had excellent results from Taurus since the 1980s.

 

[lee n. field]

I'm considering a Taurus 605 Defender 357 Magnum w/3 inch barrel. I've heard good things about them one of which is it has a pretty good, light, double action trigger pull, actually better than S&W or Ruger's. Anyone own one of these or had any experience with them? Feedback will be appreciated.

Have a 605, 15 years old now. It's been fine. Assuming it passed inspection, I would have no problem buying the current 3" Defender version.

Like the guy said, real .357 through that is not much fun.

 

[rugerman07]

Have a 605, 15 years old now. It's been fine. Assuming it passed inspection, I would have no problem buying the current 3" Defender version.

Like the guy said, real .357 through that is not much fun.

Assuming it passed inspection?

 

[WisBorn]

I have a 605 2". I don't have a ton of rounds through the gun, but have carried it for wilderness hiking. I mainly shoot 357mags in it as I have two j frame 38+p airweights.
The 605 handles standard 158 semi jacketed soft points very well. I also shoot 180 HSM Bear Loads in it. The Bear Loads is my primary carry load for the 605. Recoil is stout with the 180gr hardcast but still manageable. The HSM are not loaded to the same level as Buffalo Bore or Underwood.
The 2" 605 weights 24 oz so when you compare it to a 14 oz j frame with +p loads it's not as bad as you would think.

 

[Dan-O]

Rossi is back, and they are offering a 6 shot 3”. If i were in the market for a 3” .357 it would be my first choice.

https://www.ssusa.org/content/shot-show-2023-rossi-announces-3-new-revolvers/

 

[Tallball]

The basic revolver is the same small-frame revolver they've been selling since the 80's or before. I've had ten or so and only one lemon.

The triggers are variable: some great, most so-so, some absolutely appalling. A Wolff spring kit is your friend.

 

[Zendude]

Assuming it passed inspection?

Inspection at the gun shop when you purchase it. Check for basic functions, cylinder timing, etc.

 

[rugerman07]

I checked one out today at Dunham's Sporting Goods, $449.95. I thought it was somewhat high, I was expecting $400 or a little less. No salesperson in sporting goods so I didn't get to handle it, typical for Dunham's.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Inspection at the gun shop when you purchase it. Check for basic functions, cylinder timing, etc.

Taurus is absolutely a brand that you need fully examine the exact gun you intend purchase.

 

[JB111]

I checked one out today at Dunham's Sporting Goods, $449.95. I thought it was somewhat high, I was expecting $400 or a little less. No salesperson in sporting goods so I didn't get to handle it, typical for Dunham's.

I refuse to do business with the Dunhams near me. Terrible customer service, morons at the gun counter and a 20% markup over everywhere else.

 

[chaim]

How experienced are you with revolvers, especially small framed revolvers? Shooting .357mag out of a small framed revolver, even a 3" is an experience (I have had several: a Taurus 605, a 2" Rossi 461, a 3" Rossi 461, and a 3" Colt King Cobra). Most of us seem to shoot primarily .38spl out of ours. If you will use it as a woods gun and need the .357mag or have experience shooting small framed revolvers and know what you are in for, I see nothing wrong with it. Otherwise, I would suggest taking a close look at the 856 Defender. It holds 6 rounds of .38spl (+P rated of course), but is otherwise quite similar. Another option that will about split the difference in power and recoil would be the Taurus 905 Defender (a gun I'm seriously considering), a 5 shot, 9mm version of the same concept.

 

[rugerman07]

I refuse to do business with the Dunhams near me. Terrible customer service, morons at the gun counter and a 20% markup over everywhere else.

How experienced are you with revolvers, especially small framed revolvers? Shooting .357mag out of a small framed revolver, even a 3" is an experience (I have had several: a Taurus 605, a 2" Rossi 461, a 3" Rossi 461, and a 3" Colt King Cobra). Most of us seem to shoot primarily .38spl out of ours. If you will use it as a woods gun and need the .357mag or have experience shooting small framed revolvers and know what you are in for, I see nothing wrong with it. Otherwise, I would suggest taking a close look at the 856 Defender. It holds 6 rounds of .38spl (+P rated of course), but is otherwise quite similar. Another option that will about split the difference in power and recoil would be the Taurus 905 Defender (a gun I'm seriously considering), a 5 shot, 9mm version of the same concept.

I know what to expect from a smaller framed .357 magnum revolver as well as my other options.

 

[chaim]

I know what to expect from a smaller framed .357 magnum revolver as well as my other options.

In that case, I'd say go for it...

Taurus quality has been hit or miss over the years so you will see some detractors. Overall, their revolvers have been one of their strong points, though about 5-10 years ago they went through a patch where they had issues with cylinder binding (I had that issue with a Rossi I bought in the years after Taurus bought out Rossi). However, the last few years they seemed to have been working on improving quality control, and I've been reading a lot of good reports on them lately.

I'm definitely considering a few Taurus revolvers for purchase over the next couple years (the 905 Defender previously mentioned, the 856 Executive Grade, a steel 2" 856, a 66 or 65, and maybe even an 82). I have had great luck with my aluminum alloy 856UL.

Worst case, Taurus has a lifetime warranty, and you can buy 2 Taurus revolvers for about the price of a similar Colt or S&W version.

 

[Tallball]

I do like their little three inchers. This is the 3" stainless 38 special.

Taurus Model 85 3 inch Banana Grips

• Tallball
• Aug 25, 2022

 

[Hole maker]

In that case, I'd say go for it...

Taurus quality has been hit or miss over the years so you will see some detractors. Overall, their revolvers have been one of their strong points, though about 5-10 years ago they went through a patch where they had issues with cylinder binding (I had that issue with a Rossi I bought in the years after Taurus bought out Rossi). However, the last few years they seemed to have been working on improving quality control, and I've been reading a lot of good reports on them lately.

I'm definitely considering a few Taurus revolvers for purchase over the next couple years (the 905 Defender previously mentioned, the 856 Executive Grade, a steel 2" 856, a 66 or 65, and maybe even an 82). I have had great luck with my aluminum alloy 856UL.

Worst case, Taurus has a lifetime warranty, and you can buy 2 Taurus revolvers for about the price of a similar Colt or S&W version.

I have a 605 - 2" Taurus with about 150-200rnds of 357mag and alot of 38sps through it and still shoots fine, yes I hear Taurus is a hit or miss, I got lucky, I wish I got a 3" instead of the 2" but I hear Taurus repair or return takes forever, my 605 shoots very well and can handle 357mags mid loads with not that bad recoil, it,s forcing con cylinder gap is .006 abit more than I would like but shoots fine, I still like my Ruger Security Six 4"

 

[chaim]

I have a 605 - 2" Taurus with about 150-200rnds of 357mag and alot of 38sps through it and still shoots fine, yes I hear Taurus is a hit or miss, I got lucky, I wish I got a 3" instead of the 2" but I hear Taurus repair or return takes forever, my 605 shoots very well and can handle 357mags mid loads with not that bad recoil, it,s forcing con cylinder gap is .006 abit more than I would like but shoots fine, I still like my Ruger Security Six 4"

They've been hit or miss over the years, but most of their revolvers have been good (with the exception of 2 or 3 years about 5-10 years back where there were a lot of cylinder binding issues). Slow or not, they do have a lifetime warranty and will fix it for you if needed. When I bought my 856UL, I wanted a 6 shot revolver, so I also looked at the Colt Cobra and the Kimber K6s. If you are looking at 5 shot revolvers you'll be looking at S&W and Ruger. All of these are about double the price, and that was the bottom line for me on the 856 (even after the bad post-Taurus Rossi), I figured if I got a lemon and didn't trust it after it was fixed, I could get a second and have two guns for the same or less money than the Kimber and Colt I was considering (and a Kimber, Colt, S&W or Ruger is no guarantee against getting a lemon).

I wouldn't say you got lucky. The odds were in your favor. However, one should know the odds are generally greater with Taurus than S&W or the others to get a problem child.

 

[lee n. field]

Assuming it passed inspection?

timing, endshake, clocked barrel, push off, cylinder gap.

 

[rugerman07]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Much appreciated.

 

[LeftyRed]

Taurus revolvers are good handguns. Like others, I would choose the 856 over the 605.

I bought a 865 with CH to do a dry fire course on line. After 2K dry firing snaps, the trigger was smooth as butter. No spring kits needed.

 

[Big_Al]

I just bought a taurus 856 3" toro. Mechanically it is fine, not real enthused about the flat finish. Looking for an inexpensive red dot to install & see how it does.

 

[Brubz]

Love mine. Nice that it comes with the Tritium Night Sight standard.