Taurus Steals SHOT Show 2023

Taurus Firearms swung into SHOT Show hard with a handful of new guns that have left an impressive mark on SHOT Show attendees.

I could list probably close to a dozen new guns from Taurus, Rossi, and Heritage, but I’ll keep it to the four that impressed me the most at the show. Two under the Taurus namesake and two under the Rossi brand. All four are revolvers, and all four are impressive weapons. Let’s start with the Bull.

Taurus 605 and 856 TORO Models

The Taurus 605 and 856 are nothing new, but the TORO editions take the new cake and surprise everyone. These guns represent competent combat revolvers that just so happen to be blessed by the red dot fairy. TORO is Taurus’ optics lineup, and this is the first time they’ve applied it to revolvers.

One of the benefits of red dots on revolvers is that they don’t move. On an automatic, they sit on a slide and move back and forth as the gun functions. On a revolver, they stay put, making them very easy to track and super get to get oriented back on target. These micro optics allow you to shoot faster, further, and with greater accuracy. At the range, I thoroughly enjoyed shooting the 605 and 856 revolvers. The red dot makes a huge difference, and it’s very much point, click, hit.

Both of these guns feature three-inch barrels, which to me, is just right for concealed carry and for maximizing control and velocity. The 856 is a classic .38 Special that holds six shots. The 605 ups it to the .357 Magnum but tops out at five rounds. Both represent a modern take on a classic design, and both were impressive. I’m a bit more partial to the 605, but I wouldn’t kick an 856 out of the holster.

The Rossi RP63 and RP66

If you haven’t seen Rossi’s new release video for their new revolver series, go give it a watch. It’s a movie trailer-like feature with plenty of Rossi’s being shown off. Rossi revolvers are back, and according to that ad, there are three of them. We have the three-inch RP63, the four-inch RP64, and the six-inch RP66.

Sadly, the RP64 seemed to have stayed home, or I’m blind. I only found the RP63 and RP66 at SHOT and at Range Day. Both of these are .357 Magnum revolvers and only differ by barrel lengths. The Rossi revolvers are aiming to be the high-quality, premier models of the Taurus brands. These guns will compete with the big boys in the revolver industry.

They did feature extremely nice triggers and were super accurate and very fun to shoot. These big, stainless steel hand cannons are suitable for a variety of purposes. The RP63 and RP64 are perfect for home defense and concealed carry. The big RP66 would be great for hunting. They blasted through thousands of rounds at range day until their cylinders were back with carbon. Yet, they never tapped out.

These guns seem to be a worthy successor to the old days of Rossi revolvers. They are beautiful guns that utilize high-quality materials. They are six-shooters, but the frames are fairly lithe for a .357 Magnum. It’s certainly not your dad’s Rossi. It’s nice to see new revolvers hitting the market, especially quality revolvers.

Blasting Away

Taurus has taken some major steps forward in the industry. They seem to be stepping up their game, becoming more and more innovative and modern. Taurus makes a wide variety of products, and I’m excited to see what comes next from Taurus. By extensions, I’m excited to see the next new guns from Rossi and Heritage as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record-setting 11 months at sea. Travis has trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army.

He serves as an NRA-certified pistol instructor and pursues a variety of firearms-based hobbies.

 

 

 

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