Taurus 85 frame on a new 605?

[Cump]

Picked up a Taurus 605 today. Timing and lock-up are good. Trigger good. Cosmetics good. Shot 50 light 357 reloads and 50 38spl and accuracy is what i expect from a snub.

But I always seem to miss something until the first cleaning, often pretty obvious things.

The numbers "85" are engraved on the right side of the frame, under the serial number and "made in Brazil."

Wondering if I have model 85 frame on my 605 ...

It says 357 magnum on the barrel and box. I called Taurus and they said that based on the serial number, the frame is a 357.

But they couldn't explain what the "85" means. Was it engraved by mistake, or could perhaps a M85 frame have been used.

A google image search shows most Taurus models don't have a code under the serial number, but I found an M85 with the 85 code and a Judge with "4510" in the same place.

I know the stainless 605 and 85 have almost identical frames, but there is a 2 ounce difference. Without a scale on hand to measure reliably the difference between 22 and 24 oz, are there any other measurements I can make to tell the difference. And confirm it is a .357 frame.

The customer service rep couldn't tell me the difference, aside from the weight.

Otherwise, I am pleased with the gun, and I don't want to send it in for a proof mark or engraving mistake if I can confirm it is the appropriate frame.

Thanks.

 

[Cump]

Couple more points of confusion:
1) I'm assuming Taurus uses the same cylinder blanks so both the cylinders for the 85 and 605 would be the same length. If the 605 cylinder is in fact longer (and thus the frame), mine would clearly be a 605 frame with the odd 85.

2) The height of my gun measures slightly under 4.5 in (which is the same as the 85). The specs for the 605 height I can find (not with Taurus) are 4.75, but that may be with the combat grips. If 605s are actually 4.75 high from base of grip frame to top of sight, I must have an 85 frame.

Could someone measure the height of their 605 with boot grips (or without grips)?

Any other measurement that might help would be appreciated.

 

[Cump]

I think we can close this one as a conversation with myself

The guys at the Taurus forum are straightening me out.


I'll update if I find out something surprising.

 

[Miked7762]

Open the cylinder and look at the frame where it was covered by the yoke. You'll see a four digit number (which hopefully matches the one on the yoke) and below that you'll see a number stamped into the frame. That stamped number denotes what model your particular frame was intended to be made into.

 

[Cump]

Thanks Mike for the simple answer. The numbers match and it is a 605.

Obviously my powers of perception are lacking, and my revolver experience superficial. The Taurus rep didn't seem to know many details about the gun, so I was skeptical about the "85" being some proof mark.

But now I'm interested: Aside from the chambers, what dimensional differences are there between the 605 and 85? Are the external measurements of the cylinder actually different? Does the 605 have a larger frame window? What amounts for the reported 2 ounce difference?

Is that the extra weight of a .357's soul?

 

[CoalTrain49]

I have a M85. Unless Taurus has changed the frame it won't accommodate a .357 cylinder. Mine is about 1990 production and I believe they are still being made the same way but I could be wrong.

 

[Cump]

i think that is the case.

since the 85, 905 and 605 are all reported to be 6.5 in long, i thought it possible that they used the same frame for cost (as they do with the 85 and 905), just leaving more of a gap to jump with the 85 (as with the 905).

but why? taurus has been making the 85 longer than the 605, i think.

still not sure how or why they are all 6.5 in. maybe rounding up ...

 

[ugaarguy]

Cump, all current S&W J Frames have identical dimensions too. They've all been built on the J Magnum Frame for years, even though the aluminum J magnum frame isn't used for .357 mag guns. I wouldn't be surprised if Taurus does the same thing. IIRC, it's done so all frames can be forged on the same machines, which keeps costs down.

 

[Miked7762]

The frames are identical between them, Taurus doesn't make very many distinct frame types. The longer cylinder is the weight difference. On the 605 the cylinder is really shoehorned in there. There is very minimal forcing cone protrusion into the cylinder window and the yoke lacks the full front bushing for the cylinder. If you see a 605 next to an 85 it's pretty obvious how tightly fit the cylinder is.

If you find what the 85 is please let us know. I'm curious, I've not seen that before.

 

[Cump]

Thanks again.

The Taurus rep wasn't definitive, but after consulting with a manager, suggested it might be a factory mark indicating additional qc tests were performed by a particular smith.

If you scroll through a google image search, you'll see an occasional revolver with a similar code under the serial. So maybe it denotes a random inspection on a certain percentage of guns in factory.

Or maybe it indicates there was a fitment issue and it had to have some additional work gun. Hopefully the former.

I don't think a lot of rounds were fired through it though. It was clean. And aside from a couple of the burrs Taurus is notorious for on forums, It looks really nice.

I'm happy with it anyway, and happier still that I don't have to send it in.

 

[Onward Allusion]

J-Frames have identical frames across the board. That's why the 43c's I have need a barrel insert to make it look "normal" like a J-Frame in 38. With regard to Taurus, they have the compact, medium, & large frames. Your Taurus 605 grip will fit the 85 and vice versa.