Is a Taurus 605 a decent buy?

KarateCheeks · October 19, 2024, 07:56 PM

I've heard they've had their problems. Have they ironed their issues out or have they settled on being a mid-at-best brand?

Would it be worth buying a 605 snubby in .327 or .357 as a range toy or carry piece? Could one rely on something like that?

Thanks.

MrChick · October 19, 2024, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarateCheeks

I've heard they've had their problems. Have they ironed their issues out or have they settled on being a mid-at-best brand?

Would it be worth buying a 605 snubby in .327 or .357 as a range toy or carry piece? Could one rely on something like that?

Thanks.

I carry a 605 in.357 and it shoots well and has been reliable.

**44 AMP** · October 20, 2024, 02:59 PM

After seeing more than a few over the years, and reading many, many posts about them, I'd say that if you get a good one, you get a decent gun for the money.

BUT, if you don't get a good one, you might have to go through multiple trips back to the maker to get it fixed PROPERLY.

Buy Quality, buy once, buy cheap, buy often seems to fit Taurus guns often. In other words, while it may be better today, historically, the quality of Taurus guns has been ...variable, shall we say?

NH15-45 · October 20, 2024, 03:12 PM

I agree with 44 AMP. I have owned a Taurus (not that model) and have handled many Taurus and the triggers leave A LOT to be desired. Buy a Smith and be happy ever after

**4V50 Gary** · October 20, 2024, 05:17 PM

Taurus transfer bars are notorious for breaking. Taurus is aware of the issue but won't change their metallurgy or heat treatment. It's one of those calculated risk that they figure in the cost of production/sales. Works great for them but not for you in a life/death siituation.

If you look at the internal action of a Taurus, you can see how cheap they are. Buy a Smith.

Ricklin · October 21, 2024, 01:23 PM

I bought a Taurus 94 their target .22 revolver. 199 bucks if memory serves. If I had do overs I would have purchased a .22 revolver with a larger frame size. The Taurus 94 is J frame size.
There is no "fixing" the trigger pull on small frame .22 rimfire guns. It's basically a geometry problem, .22 needs a healthy whack for ignition.
Did a full disassembly and polished trigger parts, also freed a chip stuck in it that was preventing easy cylinder release.
It is NOW a great little target pistol, single action. I did lighten it up enough the DA trigger is usable, I shoot it single action mostly.
My eyes are getting too old for iron sights... love red dots but it should be illegal to put them on revolvers. That is a bridge too far, even for my old eyes.

lee n. field · October 21, 2024, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarateCheeks

I've heard they've had their problems. Have they ironed their issues out or have they settled on being a mid-at-best brand?

Would it be worth buying a 605 snubby in .327 or .357

Their .327 is a different model gun. Still small frame Taurus, but different model number.

Quote:

as a range toy or carry piece? Could one rely on something like that?

Yes

I have carried a 605 for a bunch of years, on and off. Only retired it last year when I got the Taurus 856. Six shots of .38 vs. 5.

lee n. field · October 21, 2024, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4V50 Gary

Taurus transfer bars are notorious for breaking.

Got a reference on that? I've seen that said, looked for anecdotal reports on that, and come up empty.

(The ones I know break, reliably, every time & same place, are Charter's.)

Quote:

Taurus is aware of the issue but won't change their metallurgy or heat treatment. It's one of those calculated risk that they figure in the cost of production/sales. Works great for them but not for you in a life/death siituation.
.

**4V50 Gary** · October 22, 2024, 10:57 AM

No reference but experience. I made a replacement transfer bar for one out of spring steel. I wasn't the first student at the College to do that either.

Give 'em time and you'll experience it too. I prefer Rugers, S&W and Colts.

**Aguila Blanca** · October 22, 2024, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee n. field

Their .327 is a different model gun. Still small frame Taurus, but different model number.

I have a Taurus Model 94, and I also have a Taurus .327 Magnum. They are the same gun.

Super Sneaky Steve · October 22, 2024, 08:14 PM

I'm very happy with my 856 Defender. Six rounds is always better than five. It's an alloy frame model and came with a bright orange front sight with a tritium vial.

I kept the mainspring but gave it a lower powered trigger return spring to lighten the pull without compromising reliability.

TruthTellers · November 16, 2024, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

After seeing more than a few over the years, and reading many, many posts about them, I'd say that if you get a good one, you get a decent gun for the money.

BUT, if you don't get a good one, you might have to go through multiple trips back to the maker to get it fixed PROPERLY.

Buy Quality, buy once, buy cheap, buy often seems to fit Taurus guns often. In other words, while it may be better today, historically, the quality of Taurus guns has been ...variable, shall we say?

Past performance is not indicative of future results. Applies to both investing and all manufactured products from either the firearm or automotive industry.

IMO, I don't much care for what any company that makes revolvers has done in the past, I care about the present. Presently, I find Taurus to be exceptionally high value and good quality. I have not had the pleasure or displeasure of using their customer service for repairs and I've bought half a dozen new handguns from them the past 5 or 6 years.

Unlike betting on a Tyson fight, Taurus revolvers are worth the gamble in 2024, odds of losing are very low.

TruthTellers · November 16, 2024, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee n. field

Got a reference on that? I've seen that said, looked for anecdotal reports on that, and come up empty.

(The ones I know break, reliably, every time & same place, are Charter's.)

Can confirm the Charter's break. Can't say the same for Taurus, but we'll see if that happens. At the very least they will last a lot longer than Charter's transfer bars will.

Algunner · November 17, 2024, 02:08 PM

Never heard of CA transfer bars breaking, which seems odd since they invented them. Never heard of Taurus transfer bars breaking either. Other than anonymous posts from people who have never owned one. Actually I have heard that Charter Arms don’t ever break, but may come that way. I have a hunch all of these stories are BS.

October 19, 2024, 07:56 PM	#1
KarateCheeks Junior Member Join Date: October 19, 2024 Posts: 1	Is a Taurus 605 a decent buy? I've heard they've had their problems. Have they ironed their issues out or have they settled on being a mid-at-best brand? Would it be worth buying a 605 snubby in .327 or .357 as a range toy or carry piece? Could one rely on something like that? Thanks.

October 20, 2024, 02:59 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,007	After seeing more than a few over the years, and reading many, many posts about them, I'd say that if you get a good one, you get a decent gun for the money. BUT, if you don't get a good one, you might have to go through multiple trips back to the maker to get it fixed PROPERLY. Buy Quality, buy once, buy cheap, buy often seems to fit Taurus guns often. In other words, while it may be better today, historically, the quality of Taurus guns has been ...variable, shall we say? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 20, 2024, 05:17 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,133	Taurus transfer bars are notorious for breaking. Taurus is aware of the issue but won't change their metallurgy or heat treatment. It's one of those calculated risk that they figure in the cost of production/sales. Works great for them but not for you in a life/death siituation. If you look at the internal action of a Taurus, you can see how cheap they are. Buy a Smith. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 21, 2024, 01:23 PM	#6
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,244	My old Model 94 ten shooter I bought a Taurus 94 their target .22 revolver. 199 bucks if memory serves. If I had do overs I would have purchased a .22 revolver with a larger frame size. The Taurus 94 is J frame size. There is no "fixing" the trigger pull on small frame .22 rimfire guns. It's basically a geometry problem, .22 needs a healthy whack for ignition. Did a full disassembly and polished trigger parts, also freed a chip stuck in it that was preventing easy cylinder release. It is NOW a great little target pistol, single action. I did lighten it up enough the DA trigger is usable, I shoot it single action mostly. My eyes are getting too old for iron sights... love red dots but it should be illegal to put them on revolvers. That is a bridge too far, even for my old eyes. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

October 22, 2024, 10:57 AM	#9
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,133	No reference but experience. I made a replacement transfer bar for one out of spring steel. I wasn't the first student at the College to do that either. Give 'em time and you'll experience it too. I prefer Rugers, S&W and Colts. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 20, 2024, 03:12 PM	#4
NH15-45 Member Join Date: April 15, 2018 Posts: 18	I agree with 44 AMP. I have owned a Taurus (not that model) and have handled many Taurus and the triggers leave A LOT to be desired. Buy a Smith and be happy ever after

October 22, 2024, 08:14 PM	#11
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,306	I'm very happy with my 856 Defender. Six rounds is always better than five. It's an alloy frame model and came with a bright orange front sight with a tritium vial. I kept the mainspring but gave it a lower powered trigger return spring to lighten the pull without compromising reliability.

November 17, 2024, 02:08 PM	#14
Algunner Member Join Date: October 14, 2024 Posts: 47	Never heard of CA transfer bars breaking, which seems odd since they invented them. Never heard of Taurus transfer bars breaking either. Other than anonymous posts from people who have never owned one. Actually I have heard that Charter Arms don’t ever break, but may come that way. I have a hunch all of these stories are BS.

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