Taurus 357

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have a few Taurus 357s. One over 30 years old. The rest are over 20 years old. The triggers will never match a Smith but are all something you can work with. I don't hesitate to carry any of them as a SD gun. No problems with any of them.

JMO
 
I own a model 66 (the new model) and had a older 66(short barrel). The older model was traded for a Taurus 856 Defender. The older model was with me for over 25 years and the newer one is now15+ years old. I recommend the model 66. The older Taurus 65 (25+years old) was sold and replaced with Taurus G2Ss for CCW.
 
How is the trigger on your 856?

Trigger is consistent..semi-auto guys would say , to heavy ..... but Im a revolver guy .. Its OK .. It seems to be lighter than my new 642 ...but heavier than any of my Charters ... but it is functional for its attended purpose... I really see zero need to alter it
 
I've probably owned three or four Model 66's over the years. And one Model 65, it's fixed sight cousin. They were all good, solid guns, a couple of which would have rivaled any Smith and Wesson I've owned. I freely admit that I can't say I shot the snot out of them or anything, but then I don't really do that with any of my guns. I'll shoot them a while, get bored with them and trade/sell them off for the next bright, shiny thing I see, but those Taurus revolvers impressed me.
 
I had a 6” Model 66 just like Tallballs that I bought in the late 1980’s, my first centerfire handgun.
It was a great gun, I sold it to pay bills as a starving student a year or two after buying it.
I think the choice of a 66 with a 4” barrel will be perfect for the shooter and the role it will play.

Stay safe.
 
"I think the choice of a 66 with a 4” barrel will be perfect for the shooter and the role it will play."

Yeah. That 4" Model 689 is my preferred HD handgun.

A good 4" medium-framed 357 is a nice combination of handiness, accuracy, and lots of ammo options.
 
If you know what to look for when you buy a revolver, fine. Get a Taurus 66 .357 and you should be fine.

I love the .357mag caliber. It's effective against man and beast. It has great penetration, excellent stopping power and if you buy the right gun, it should last you and your grandchildren a long life.

In my view, the S&W 686 is the BEST production .357 ever made. It's stainless steel and made to last. If weight and durability are issues, you might want to consider a used Ruger Security-Six might be your best bet. It's one of your most durable .357s and is specifically designed to last. It's got a solid frame and can be disassembled and reassembled using only a dime. It's modular design makes it one of the best .357s money can buy. You can find one that's pretty beat up looking and it'll last almost forever.

SW_Ruger_1.jpg
The S&W 686 (right) and Ruger
Security-Six revolvers.


The 686 is a superb gun and one you'll never regret buying. The Ruger Security-Six and Speed-Six revolvers are a bit lighter, easier to pack and are a bit cheaper (both are superb if you're going to be using them a lot). The 6-inch stainless model is great for power and accuracy. The Taurus 66 I bought back in the 80s were okay, but they were neither accurate nor durable. The 5-shot Ruger SP-101s were also fine revolvers it they were 2.75-inchers and very potent. I would prefer the 6-shot Speed-Six if you can find them, as both are outstanding.

The 6-shot Speed-Six revolvers are great I if you can find them, but finding them can be difficult. They're very attractive revolvers, and not blocky looking like the GP-100s.

Rugers-357.jpg
The SP-101 5-shot revolver (top)
and 6-shot Speed-Six (discontinued)
revolver, often available used at
attractive prices.
 

Attachments

  • Rugers_357.jpg
    Rugers_357.jpg
    31.5 KB · Views: 1
  • Magnums.jpg
    Magnums.jpg
    150.8 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:
A couple of friends of mine have Taurus 66's, the older one is a 6 shot, and the newer one is 7. Both have been great, no issues at all, and I nearly pulled the trigger on one last summer, but I bought an S&W 28-2 4" instead, for about 2x what a 66 goes for.
 
I have a Taurus model 66 with a 4" barrel. It shoots nice, seems plenty accurate and has been reliable for me. When I use 38 special ammo in it, it's very soft. Full boat 357 magnum could get uncomfortable after 20 rounds or so.
 
Tracker in .44 mag. A very nice gun that I ended up having to sell during hard times. I still miss it. I have a M94 that serves me well for what it is used for, and a M731 that serves as my carry piece. It is a TT in .32 H&R. They made very few of them. Never a problem.
 
I bought a new 66 4" gun in 1987. It was my first handgun, and a 21st birthday gift to myself.
Always liked it; even carried it on the job for a little while. Later, in 1989, it became my truck gun, and was promptly stolen from the truck (in 1989.) It was recovered about two years later, a bit nicked up, but still works well.

I think a 66 is a good choice for this purpose (as long as it doesn't say "Smith and Wesson" on it.)
 
My father in law is stepping up wanting to get a handgun for SD. Mostly a truck gun, probably won't conceal. I have found a Taurus model 66 357 but have no experience with this gun. I'm recommending 357 because he can choose between that or 38 with the current ammo shortage, giving more chances to find ammo. Any experiences or opinions with this gun?
I've had two. Loved the dickens outa them.

Shot MANY hundreds of rounds of hot and mild ammo from both with never a glitch.

I say *had* in the past tense only because they are currently in the keeping of folk important to me but cash-strapped.

Todd.
 
I just bought my first revolver, and it’s the Taurus M605 .357. I’m not expecting the greatest gun ever and it’s not a gun I need so I’m not counting on it for CC or HD. I’ve just always had a thing for those snub nose revolvers I’d see on old cop shows.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top