SP101 or Taurus 605?

[PawDaddy]

I am looking for a new concealed carry gun and I WAS thinking seriously about the Taurus 445. But, with the price and availibility of ammo, I am rethinking things.

I currently carry a 3" Taurus 85, but would like something more potent. So, now I am considering the .357.

The SP101 does come with the 3" barrel and I like that, but I can get the Taurus for less money and with porting if I want. (Can you get the Ruger with a ported barrel?)

Is it worth the time and money in changing guns, to go from the .38 to .357?

IF so, which revolver would you go with, (SP101 or Taurus 605), and why?

 

[4v50 Gary]

SP101. Why? Better built gun. Stronger, tougher and takes more abuse.

 

[Drifting Fate]

Ruger. Better quality, made in the USA, and doesn't come with ports (that's an advantage in my eyes - did you get the pun?!)

I'll throw this in for what it is worth - the Ruger is pretty chunky for a 5-shot. I have known people who went to a Smith K-frame without noticing much difference. Something to chew on, at least.

 

[Neal Bloom]

I had both. Kept the SP101 and traded the 605 for another Ruger. IMHO go with the Ruger.

 

[22luvr]

I owned a SS mod 605 but.....

if I had ONE LAST .357 mag to buy, it would be the SP101. My Taurus was a wonderful shooter - accurate, comfortable, and reliable. But, considering the pressure of most .357 rounds and the beating the mechanics of a .357 are subject to, I'd opt for the SP101.

On reputation alone, the SP101 is regarded as one of the toughest, most durable handguns ever constructed.

I believe I paid $315 for my stainless mod 605 NIB and I believe you can get an SP101 for a shade under $400,

Size-wise, I took the grips off my mod 85 and put them on the 605 which gave me a smaller profile for conceal carry. I believe the mod 605 weighs in at around 24 oz and the SP101 at around 27 oz. Both are similar in dimensions but the mod 605 shares essentially the same frame as the Taurus mod 85 in .38 spcl.

I've never owned an SP101 but it is probably the only one I should have bought because I'd probably still have it and be happy with it!

Hope this helps.....

 

[PawDaddy]

Okay, it looks like the SP101 has gotten all the votes so far.

One thing that I did not mention is the fact that I shoot very little compared to most people. I've had my Taurus 85 for several years and I doubt that it has had more than a couple of hundred rounds through it total. I shoot enough to familiarize myself with the gun and then occasionally when I am out shooting something else, I will put a few rounds through my carry gun. I know that this is not what most people do, but that's the way I have always done it.

I know that I will probably need to spend more time with a .357 snub, but with my shooting history, I doubt that I will ever wear out a gun. That being said, and with the Taurus Lifetime warranty, I don't think that I would go wrong with the Taurus.

In light of the above, does anyone think that I would be okay with the Taurus?

 

[Okiecruffler]

I carry a Taurus 650 and I'm completely comfortable with it. I doubt you'd be disappointed with the 605. But there's no way I'm going to try to tell anyone that the Taurus pistols are in the same class as the Rugers.

 

[Jim March]

The Ruger will be as comfortable to shoot without porting as the Taurus will be WITH porting. The difference is weight, and grip design.

The Ruger will need a good quality holster to be comfortable IWB. If you're thinking about fanny pack or shoulder rig carry, the difference in heft won't make much difference (except in shooting comfort, where the Ruger will be worlds ahead.

You have to understand that in terms of toughness, the Ruger is in a whole 'nuther world over the Taurus. So far as I'm aware, it's the smallest gun made with true double-cylinder-end lockup, see also:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32357

The metallurgy is also worlds better.

If you overload a Taurus to where the cylinder blows, "generally" the topstrap will also fail, and the resulting shrapnel will go God knows where . You can blow a Ruger up too, but it takes a lot more to do so and typically when the cylinder blows, the topstrap bulges but holds. The gun is still destroyed, but the shrapnel is directed sideways and up. The Rugers lack sideplates, so that's another part that doesn't go flying off. Even moderate personal injury from a blown-up Ruger wheelgun is almost unheard of.

The Ruger cylinder strength is a result of metallurgy plus offset timing bolt notches, so that the notch isn't at the thin part of the cylinder wall.

 

[PawDaddy]

Okiecruffler,

I certainly don't get the impression, or think that anyone else has the opinion that the Taurus is built as good/strong as the Ruger.

I have a Ruger GP100 stainless with 4" barrel. I know how well Rugers are made.

What I'm asking is that with my needs and shooting habits, would the Taurus fill the bill for me?

 

[schapman43]

What I'm asking is that with my needs and shooting habits, would the Taurus fill the bill for me?

Probably, but why not spend under $100 more and get something thats of much better quality?

My Brother owned a Taurus and I wasnt impressed at all. After maybe 100rnds the trigger was almost impossible to pull.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Look at the internal lockwork of a Taurus and then compare it with S&W. Then you'll be even less impressed with Taurus. I'll take S&W over Taurus (but Ruger is still stronger and my first pick).

 

[tbeb]

I'd buy the Ruger. It's one of the best .357 magnum revolvers in that size and weight class. A couple times I bought the cheaper gun and later "kicked" myself for not buying the better one that cost just a little bit more. Maybe you could find a used one and that would save you money. Your .38 is an effective CCW if loaded with a good round such as the .38 special +P 158 gr. lead hollowpoint. (However, a snub .357 magnum is more powerful than a snub .38 special.)

 

[coldshot03/04]

For the money Taurus 605. I carry one daily.

 

[Rob96]

I honestly think you should lean toward the Ruger, like everyone is suggesting. Everyone is posting from experience. Right now on my hip is a Ruger SP-101 in a Don Hume IWB holster. Makes for a great carry set up. Shooting magnum loads in this gun is pretty easy to do. Carry load- Winchester 145gr Silvertip Hollowpoints. If you are worried about lifetime warranty. Ruger will take care for as long as you own the gun. Chances are you won't need it. New SP-101's go for around $349 where I live. You can pick up a great used one for $269 or less.

 

[Old Fuff]

Will the Taurus work for you? Yes, it sure will. I have had several, and not had any problems. However I tend to stick to blued/carbon steel models with non-ported barrels. On occasion Taurus has had some quality control problems so it's a good idea to pick out a gun from a dealer's stock where you can check it out. (See Jim March's check-out procedure in the Revolver Forum).

While many like the .357 Magnum in a smaller, short-barreled revolver, I don't. The .357 is a fine cartridge in it's place, but this isn't it. I prefer to move up to a larger bore, such as .44 Special and avoid the excessive muzzle blast and flash usually associated with the .357 - especially out of a ported barrel. You can download the .44 and still have an "expanded bullet" before it leaves the bore. In the Taurus line other options would include .45 ACP and .45 Colt.

Ruger's 101 is a fine revolver, and built like a brick outhouse. If it was offered in something larger in bore then the .357 I'd go for it. As it is I'd sooner chose a slightly larger 6-shot revolver with a 4 inch barrel, or going the other way - a .38 Special lightweight with a 2 inch length.

 

[Quantrill]

Get the Ruger!! Quantrill

 

[Brian Williams]

Wait until Taurus starts shipping the 9mm versions this Summer and see what they are like. I carry a S&W 940 I got for $300 and it is great. As for switching from the 85 to something more powerful look for a S&W 13 or 65 I got my 13 3" for $300 also and it is my favorite gun. If I was going to shoot Full Loudenboomer loads from a 5 shot revolver I would go to a Ruger sp101 but my 13 has not much more weight and is a 6 shooter, besides it is a nice blue and has some self customized Ajax grips on it that fit me like a glove.

 

[Okiecruffler]

"What I'm asking is that with my needs and shooting habits, would the Taurus fill the bill for me?"

The Taurus is working for you now isn't it? One advantage to going with the 605 is that it will feel pretty much the same as your 85. When I bought my 650, money wasn't an issue. I looked at the 650, the SP101, and a S&W 649. The Ruger is built like a tank, but when I was looking at it, all I could think about was that I was going to have to carry that monster all day. The S&W was ok, but I have this mental thing against SS carry guns. The Taurus works for me. So far I have a little over 6000 rds thru it, mostly mid range .357 loads and it's still just as tight as it was the day I bought it. I have heard that the Taurus customer service leaves a bit to be desired, but I've never had to use them so I wouldn't know.

 

[10-Ring]

I'd go w/ the Ruger.

 

[PawDaddy]

Okay, guys! You have convinced me. That is if I can work out a deal to trade my Taurus. I was thinking of keeping the 85 if I went with the 605, but I cannot afford it with the Ruger.

We also have an unexpected bill, so if I can get that taken care of, I will try to get the Ruger.

That will give me 3 Rugers; a P-95DC, a GP100, and then the SP101.

All I will need then is a good .22. Probably be a Mark II. But that will be later on.