New For 2023: Taurus USA 856 & 605 T.O.R.O. Revolvers

by
posted on January 13, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Stainless steel Taurus 605 revolver chambered in .357 Mag. shown with an attached Holosun red-dot sight.

Topping the list of consumer requests for Taurus USA was an optics-ready, small-frame revolver. For 2023, Taurus answered those calls with the release of two Taurus Optic Ready Option (T.O.R.O.) revolvers, the 856 and the 605. These two revolvers are sized for concealed-carry and are based on the popular Defender Series, which incorporates a number of must-have features for defensive use.

The Taurus 856 is a six-shot, steel-frame revolver chambered for .38 Spl., and all-black or stainless-steel models are available. The unique feature of the 856 T.O.R.O. is the inclusion of a milled topstrap that accepts micro red-dots (MRDs) of the Holosun K footprint, which is similar to the popular Shield RMSc footprint. The Taurus 605 T.O.R.O. incorporates the same optics footprint, and like the 856, is equipped with a 3" barrel and offered in black and stainless-steel finishes. However, the 605 is chambered for .357 Mag. and has a five-shot cylinder.

Left side of the all-black Taurus 856 revolver in .38 Special shown on white, with a Holosun red-dot sight mounted on top.

The Taurus 856 revolver shown above is chambered in .38 Spl. and has a capacity of six rounds.

Adding a micro red-dot to the top of a revolver like the 856 or 605 provides several benefits. Of course, many people are able to pick up a red dot easier, which helps them to quickly acquire a target and get shots off accurately. However, an additional benefit of adding an MRD to a revolver with fixed sights is that optics can be sighted for specific loads and distances, which is difficult to adjust on a gun with fixed open sights.

Each Taurus T.O.R.O. revolver uses a double-action/single-action operating system with an external hammer, and the guns include compact rubber grips, as well as a replaceable front sight. Suggested retail pricing on the Taurus 856 T.O.R.O. starts at $446 for the all-black model, while the stainless-steel model retails for $461. The all-black and stainless-steel models of the Taurus 605 T.O.R.O. retail for $451 and $471, respectively. For more information, visit taurususa.com.

Latest

Cz P10 Ported Review 1
Cz P10 Ported Review 1

Review: CZ USA P10 Ported

CZ expanded its popular line of P10 handguns with a specially configured model that features integral barrel ports just behind the muzzle to aid in recoil management.

Keeping The Wilderness Quiet: Bergara's BTi30 Suppressor

Bergara joined the growing crowd of suppressor manufacturers in 2026 with its BTi30 design.

New for 2026: Ruger American Rifle Generation II Scout

Ruger adds a Scout rifle option to its Generation II American rifle.

New for 2026: Springfield Armory SA-35 Polished Pistol

Springfield Armory’s homage to the Hi Power now has an even better-looking option.

New for 2026: Franchi Momentum Mule Rifle

Franchi’s do-it-all MULE rifle is designed as a general-purpose carbine.

New for 2026: Smith & Wesson Spec Series M&P9 and R Handguns

Smith & Wesson expands its Spec series with the Spec Series IV M&P9 M2.0 Metal Compact pistol and the Spec Series R revolver.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.