aI find it to be fuction over form. It looks like a great gun for what it's intended purpose is and hard to beat.
I give Taurus credit for making this product. They are one of the few who are actually making a truly concealment oriented firearm that has both adequate power and is comfortable to carry not a range gun with big sloppy "ergo" grips and a fat frame.
You can actually carry this thing all day comfortably at that weight and due it's design under some pretty thin clothing. At 6 feet away it won't matter if it's not a 50 yard range tack driver and will do quite well for what it's made to do.
I also happen to like the side window it makes for a more thorough function check.
Polymers from what I understand especially those used in the gun industry are very strong and I happen to like the use of a clear see through polymer side plate.
I do not see a side plate as making any frame stronger. It's just a removable plate to access parts and any gun that relies on one for reinforment must have a flexy quirky frame to begin with but I don't know of any revolver that does (don't throw any weird exceptions at me please.)
The see through side plate is asthetics that I happen to like and will make very little difference to the rapist or home invader that gets shot with it.
People whine about the lack of truly concealment oriented guns on the market and then complain when one is made.
I think this one is well thought out in reality and does a really good job in judging what compromises have to be made to reach the goal this revolver was meant to fulfill. So forget your fat "ergo grips" if you don't want the world to see your bulge under thin clothes, forget about your picky unrealistic craving for pea shooter recoil in a small effective adequate power concealment oriented gun that does not weigh 2 lbs, it's still more managable than shooting an earshattering, eyeblinding, wrist warping, heavy on weight .357 snub nose revolver which by the may must be a real challenge to reaquire your sight picture after wasting so much powder into thin air at night.
If you a want a light small gun with the ergos optimized for concealment fat frame autos required to accomodate double stack magazines are not quite what I would have in mind either.
I recall an ad by what I consider one of the only true pocket pistol (not a fat bulgemaking double stacker) makers left and they were quite right in saying no one makes a true pocket pistol these days like they do. They are still holding that market but this Taurus does come closer than most with equal or more power, reliability, and managability than than a true .380 pocket pistol.
I give it a big thumbs up finally a modern day concealment oriented firearm being made in a concealment oriented firearm hostile political climate with a market full of people who are ignorant of it's purpose and advantages.
I feel bad for the treatment Taurus is getting here for attempting to lead a horse to some good drinking water.
