Taurus 605/627 .357 Mag: first hand experiences only, please

James, I have a new M605, 2" Taurus in.38/.357. Just got it a month ago and had it to the range 3 times.

I cannot find any cosmetic defects. There is a bit of cylinder movement which disappears when the gun is cocked. From 10 yards the accuracy is acceptable, shooting at commercial plastic water-filled bottles of various sizes, using 125gr JHP for both .38 and .357.

I am happy with it.
 
Pond said:
Yesterday I handled a 3" blued 605, .357Mag.
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3" 605. I've seen pics. Never seen one over here in the United State, and only one 3" Model 85. Not common here.

The weigh was nice, the barrel length exactly as I'd like it, the grip was comfortable.
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Grips can be changed, though what options you have in Eurolandia, I don't know.

It pointed well. DA was a bit heavy and rough. SA was pretty clean.

I would certainly hope that the DA would smooth out with time.
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It does. At least, mine smoothed up nicely. I've never been tempted to do amateur action work, or install lighter springs.

Could I live with a 5-shot?
Well, yes. I think so.
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A lot of people do. I do.

If I carry, I'm already better prepared for any unpleasantness, and I feel I at least have last resorts to protect my kids, partner and myself.
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I would suggest you go listen to or watch P&S ModCast 197 - Snubbies!. (Yeah, yeah, 3.5 hours. It's worth it. You can skip the first 30 minutes, as they're waiting for someone to show up.) Especially Darryl Bolke's comments, about the snubby's place being a "getting out of trouble gun". (When you're done with that, also check out Realistic Carry Expectations. A little less information dense, but still very worth the listen.

Would I prefer 3"?
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For holster carry only, probably. Likely won't be able to pocket carry, which is a huge consideration for me. "Your Mileage May Vary".

Would I prefer .357?

Yes.
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And I'm going to say "probably not". At least, mind the load. I like having the option but It's not fun at all for me to shoot .357 through mine.

Am I concerned by Taurus QC?
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Check it over real good, first. See Jim March's revolver checkout document, thread pinned to the top of the Revolver subforum. Visually check alignment. Based on what random folks complain about on the internet, check sideplate screws, and check cylinder gap.

(and whatever became of Jim March? Anyone know?)
 
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My feeling is summed up by an old adage my dad used to say “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
The Astra is a known entity that you like and that works well for you. Not so much with the Taurus. 357 is great for woods carry. And it does bring more power even in a snubnose. But I’m not sure that it’s measurably more deadly than a hot and properly constructed 38. Maybe a little. But the extra round of 38 is its own benefit.
That said, if you’re ready to roll the dice with a new gun because you’d like a change of scenery, go for it.

BTW, i would love to own a 680. They are impossible to find in the States.


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"Is the accuracy due to the lack of adjustable sights?"

If I can hit a 12-oz bottle of water from 10-15 yards with a snub-nose .357, I can hit anything larger, and that's good enough for me, so I really don't need the adjustable sights.
 
I will say this: you lot make me swing like a metronome of indecision.

It is true that I do like the Astra. It is so solid feeling.
And I do know it pretty well. I will say that I find it hard to shoot well with the current grips (I have to readjust my grip with every shot and even .38 is quite punishing with 158gr) and I'll have to craft my own to get passed that. But that is doable.

The Taurus would not be my first choice if I could have whatever I wanted to replace the Astra, but is the closest that this tiny firearms market seems able to muster.

If I could wave a wand, I'd have a Ruger 3" SP101 in .357, or perhaps even the GP100 in .44Spl, although that as appendix carry would make for some awkward conversations.

I guess I like the greater flexibility of the .357 given that I spent a lot of my time in the sticks, although I have my .44 for that.

I certainly don't have the money right now, so I suspect my choice will continue to oscillate for months to come, and if business picks up, then I'll have to make a decision or stick to it.

Or buy that new safe!
 
Definitely get the safe.
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Which then snowballs into "buy a bigger flat to accommodate the bigger safe"!

I tell you: the hoops I have to consider launching myself through should be testimony enough to my passion for shooting!
 
To top it all, I have found a 3" 5-shot Model 60 on sale.

Second hand, it is 80% more expensive than the new Taurus... Ouch. (Taurus just under €600, S&W €900!!)

But if I had the money I'd jump on that S&W!!
 
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I recently picked up a 605 stainless 2" snubbie. Waiting on a Veridian Laser Grip from Taurus to show up (my revolver has a 30 dollar off coupon in the box). Also waiting on lighter hammer and trigger return springs to install after I get a few hundred rounds through the gun. The real issue is finding affordable ammunition. I have 500 Hornady 125 gr XTP bullets, 100 Hornady FP/XTP bullets 500 X-Treme 125 gr plated flat point bullets, a pound of HP-38, a pound of Unique, and 400 brand new 38 Special cartridge cases. But I only have 500 primers. Even found a new 38 Special Lee Loader in stock at a local gun shop so IO will be doing kitchen table reloading with a brass mallet. Will let you know how the spring job goes and if it affects reliability after I get the gun broken in.
 
I haven't owned the 605, but the largest local gun store owner can carry anything he likes and chooses that exact model. A good endorsement. I can chime in on some that approximate the model of your question.

Model 85 blue 2004 purchase : bought used, excellent model. No issues. Possibly most accurate snub I've owned out of many. Very rich, nice blue that I don't believe they do anymore. Wish I had it back!

Model 85 stainless ultra lite : great, no issues, light enough for pocket carry. Wish I had it back (notice a trend?)

Taurus judge : loved it until the cylinder fell off. 7 dollars got it running again. The all steel cylinder was too heavy for the yoke spring according to gun Smith.

All told, I think I may have ended up having more issues with Smith revolvers. The revolver check out from Mr March will help you avoid 99% of the issues.

If a few hundred between Smith or Taurus. I would still probably go with Smith. I think overall quality /small parts/ springs etc may be better.

It sounds much harder to "horse trade " and try a bunch if guns there, so I would save up bigger money and try to go with the generally community approved standards of "quality ", with Taurus being accepted as a budget minded brand. Is it due to Brazilian labor or cost cutting methods in parts, construction or Q and A? I'm not sure.

Rule of thumb, Smith is top with production revolvers with a long history of police and military use. Ruger is next with a reputation for strength and durability. Taurus comes in third as the up and comer with models that seem to knock on the door in quite a few categories as several reviews here show.

In your shoes, perhaps the model 60! What's a few hundred if you keep it for life and pass it along (if that is possible).
 
The two biggest factors in making a small and powerful revolver useful, and even enjoyable, to shoot are the grip and the sights.

Grip:
Grips are always a compromise between comfort and concealability. As I said before, the third time was the charm for me. The original rubber grip was comfortable, but too large for concealment and the rubber tended to grip cover clothing too much.

The Alamont wood grips were smaller, hence easier to conceal. Also, the smooth wood didn't grab my clothing. But they felt awful to shoot, especially with .357mag loads.

The G10 grips are bigger and fill the hand, but still smaller than the original grips. They are slick enough to not grab clothes, but stick to the hand very well. They fit my hand very well and are much more comfortable to shoot plus give better control for quicker follow-up shots. Bonus: they allow speed loaders to work, which was not true of the frist two grips.

Sights:
Most small revolvers have vestigial sights. The rear is normally just a notch cut into the frame. The front is typically a ramp that is the same color as the frame. Sometimes, you get a dot front sight with a flat face, but then you have a sight that can snag more easily when you draw from concealment. I bought a Birchwood Casey sight pen set and colored my front sight neon orange. Now my eyes can pick up the front sight much quicker and distinguish the front blade from the rear notch more easily.

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Of course, a nice smooth trigger is always good, too. Just about any trigger can be improved with a little polishing.
 
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