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

The Six Hour Gun 1
The Six Hour Gun 1

The Six-Hour Gun: Saving a Family Heirloom

Simple math would have told anyone it wasn't worth fixing a $150 revolver. But to one family, this simple, common revolver meant everything.

Idaho Voters Choose the Winchester Model 1873 for their Official State Firearm

On November 3, Idaho voters picked the Winchester Model 1873 rifle (nicknamed the “Gun that Won the West,” in .44-40 cal.) as the leading candidate to be their state firearm.

PROOF Research Opens New Montana Facility

PROOF Research held a grand opening of its new manufacturing facility in Columbia Falls, Mont. at the end of October.

Making the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

After more than 10 years, Smith & Wesson discontinued production of its original M&P Bodyguard .380 and began plans for a second-generation model. But the path to the Bodyguard 2.0 wasn't a linear process.

NRA-ILA: Election Results Put Second Amendment Rights Under Immediate Threat

NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford issued a statement following the 2026 midterm election results.

Short & Fresh: The Derya TM22 Fresh & RANX Mag Fed

Derya Arms now offers two radical versions of several of its traditional firearms with the new TM22 Fresh and RANX Mag Fed pistols.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.