My First Revolver!!!

[Eightball]

It only takes one revolver to get hooked on 'em. I started off with a full-size .357.....and while it was awesome to shoot, I wanted one that was more concealable, so I got a J-frame. Now I want one with different styling, or a chambering to match my semi-autos, or one for........or one for......or one for.........etc.

They breed on you, man.

 

[lost river rat]

Try 38 specials

Congrats on trying out the revolvers. I think you will be very pleased with it.

I think you will really enjoy it more if you utilize revolvers ability to fire the parent non-mag cartridges. Buy some cheap .38 Special semi wad cutters. Your local gun shop may have remanufactured .38 Spl or the cheap comercial versions. The .38 allow for a great practice round and very pleasant shooting, espcially with the short barrel gun. After you try some, you may find your only need 5 (or 6) mags to fill the cylinder in case of an emergency.

Lead bullets loads will foul the barrel AND cylinder so a little extra cleaning every hundred or so rounds with a good brush is needed. The light loads at 800-900 fps don't lead very fast. Not a big deal. (Avoid lead .357 mags if you find them. Can lead rather quickly if loaded beyond .38 velocity)

If you get a chance, to try a quality 6" .357 like the S&W 686/586 or 27 with "3Ts" (target trigger, target hammer, target sights) After trying one, you will need one.


One thing I really like about a revolver for home defense is it does not have a mag spring that gets week over time from sitting compress from a full charge. Good law enforcement departments change out mag springs every year. I have had mags fail from years of sitting loaded. Also, there are no safeties to disengage under stress.

IMO

 

[Nicodemus38]

be happy. not only did you get a usable weapon you like, you bought it at a price far far below half of what the comparable smith or ruger weapon would cost.

 

[slr777]

Cool I have shot a buddies Taurus 605ss and like it very much. I all most bought one the other day. Seen a used one for $300. Like yours and seen the 605ss new for I think it was $489. dont quote me on that?. It seems like you got a great price. I hopped in my truck and went to a different gun shop and spotted a S&W M&P 360. I really liked it and bought it but now I cant shoot it because I cant afford ammo its nice but the S&W is not your value deal.

 

[atlanticfire]

Welcome to the world of wheel guns! No you can never leave! Bwa hahahahaha!

 

[Floppy_D]

ive got a 85 ul,everyone says there 2nd rate guns but ive had alot of them and have had good luck with taurus

There's an 85UL in my pocket right now. I can't comment on Taurus autos, but I'll continue to own their revolvers. A buddy of mine had a Taurus 357 Tracker, and it was all sorts of accurate. Enjoy your new wheelgun! Holler back when you get something in 45 Colt or 44 Mag, and you're looking for a new reloading press.

 

[chaim]

Unfortunately I live in New Jersey and I cant carry, and I have to apply for more permits, But this gun is my home defense gun.

NJ, like MD, is a state that no matter where in the state you live, you are probably no more than 30min from another state. You probably spend a fair amount of time in other states. If that other state happens to be PA, it is a carry state. You may not be able to get a PA carry permit (they require you to have one from your home state if it has a CCW system, and NJ, like here in MD, officially is "may issue" even though in reality, for most residents, it will never happen). However, there are plenty of out-of-state permits you could get that are good in PA (VA and FL are fairly easy to get, FL and UT are good in a lot of states- all three are good in PA). Just something to consider if you spend a lot of time in a carry state once you are used to your gun enough to feel comfortable taking the CCW training and getting the permit.

 

[Jermz1987]

Yes that is very true. I have family in PA and a sister who lives in the sticks in PA. I am considering very much getting a permit from Florida since I like to go there for a few days at a time.

 

[Dee]

That's a nice find there! I'm starting to look into snub nose .357's, I going to have to check that one out, seems like a great value.

 

[hohne1]

Great find - I have the 605 in stainless and it is a great revolver.

The recoil can be stiff with that short barrel, but you can handle it.

I have also owned a Taurus PT99 and my brother and dad each have a Taurus 380 - all have been great pistols.

Chris

 

[W.E.G.]

I'll be the nay-sayer.

I can't stand snub-guns in .357.
Recoil and muzzle blast is ungodly.

.38 Special is as much as I'll allow in a snub.

Further, if you shoot "mostly .38's" in the .357, you are probably also going to shoot the crummy "range ammo" with the soft lead bullets and sticky wax lube. Yes, with enough determination, you can scrub-out the residue left in the cylinders by that junky ammo. But, if you don't, and you shoot .357's, better have your rod and mallet handy when you want to eject the spent .357 cases.

If you completely stick to .38's in the .357, you end up with a gun that was supposed to be a lightweight that weighs more than it should with just dead weight in the cylinder.

 

[Jermz1987]

Yeah, I am only using this as my home defense gun. I took it to the range and put 20 rounds of 357 magnum and about 50 rounds of 38spl +P. It fired beautifully. The recoil was quite manageable. For home defense I keep it loaded with 38spl 127 gran Federal JHP. So far this gun has passed all my expectations. I wasn't expecting a lot because of the price and brand name. The saying "You get what you pay for" does not apply to this gun, In my opinion anyways.LOL

 

[BHP FAN]

It's a ''keeper''!

 

[Snowdog]

I have a lot of respect for the Taurus M85. Mine has had the snot shot out of it and it's still far tighter than I would have believed possible for Taurus before I actually owned one. The last 150 rounds were Winchester Ranger 110gr +P+ and they seemed to be rounds that stomp. The pistol is in remarkably excellent shape.

If I'm not mistaken, this M605 of yours is just a beefed-up M85. If so, you're going to love this revolver for a long time.

 

[orrwdd]

I'll be the nay-sayer.

I can't stand snub-guns in .357.
Recoil and muzzle blast is ungodly.

.38 Special is as much as I'll allow in a snub.

Further, if you shoot "mostly .38's" in the .357, you are probably also going to shoot the crummy "range ammo" with the soft lead bullets and sticky wax lube. Yes, with enough determination, you can scrub-out the residue left in the cylinders by that junky ammo. But, if you don't, and you shoot .357's, better have your rod and mallet handy when you want to eject the spent .357 cases.

If you completely stick to .38's in the .357, you end up with a gun that was supposed to be a lightweight that weighs more than it should with just dead weight in the cylinder.

W.E.G.

I'll agree with you that a .357 in a 2" barrel has excessive blast and noise (especially if fired indoors). But I take serious issue with the rest of your post.

I have had a S&W Model 19 .357 since 1971. I have fired many, many rounds through it, 90% of them 38's. And yes, most of them reloads with cast bullets over Unique or Bullseye powder. I have never had a problem with extracting fired 357's that required more than a little more pressure on the extractor rod. Rod and mallet not Required!

Oh, by the way, the gun weighs exactly the same 38 oz it did the day I bought it!

Jermz - Don't be afraid to shoot that gun often. While it is true that 38 Scpl loads will leave a ring of burnt powder, a good cleaning of the cylinder bores with a brass brush and solvent, followed by a pass with the bore snake will keep your cylinder clear. It won't require breaking your arm over.

Do practice a lot, a snub requires a little getting used to due to the short barrel. Once your proficiency reaches a comfortable level, shoot some 357's to get used to the difference.

My Model 19 is my house gun, but I don't have it loaded with 357's. It stands ready with 38 Spcl +P hollowpoints to avoid overpenetration. You may want to consider the same.

My carry gun is a Taurus M85 SS 3"inch, with Crimson Trace grips, loaded with the same +P and I love it.

Bill

 

[goodtime]

Great gun, great price. Shoot it often. Don't buy a single action revolver, or you'll really be addicted.