Taurus 66

[Boogsawaste]

Well I swore I would never own another Taurus after having issues with 2 of their revolvers in the past (my only 2 I had).

I sold a few items (not gun related), and while I was out stopped at a gun shop figuring I had a few bucks in my pocket and might stumble across something.

Found this 66 with a low price on it and thought it looked pretty nice. Checked it out and function check was spot on. Haggled a little and got it for less than 2 bills.

Took it out with a few other 357’s and must say I was pleasantly surprised! Accurate and nice trigger. I especially liked the wide smooth trigger. It shot a couple inches high with 158’s over 4 grains of hp-38 so I’ll try it with some 125’s. And yes, the sight was adjusted all the way down. No big deal and it rang steel just fine! I don’t know the round count I put through it but probably around 100. I brought a bunch with me!

While it hasn’t changed my mind completely on the company I won’t turn my nose up at one as long as I can check it out in person. It’s not a bad little piece, especially for the price.

 

[xring33]

I had a Taurus .38 Special once. Nice little revolver and was well made. I also had a .22 Taurus revolver that was piece of junk. You practically had to pry the spent shell casings out. Guess it can be a crapshoot.


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[Texas Star]

I had a Taurus .38 Special once. Nice little revolver and was well made. I also had a .22 Taurus revolver that was piece of junk. You practically had to pry the spent shell casings out. Guess it can be a crapshoot.


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I had the same extraction problem with a S&W M-34. Had to POUND empties out. Used a plastic mallet!

Never again bought a .22 revolver.

I'd be leery of 125 grain bullets and hot loads in that gun for the same reason as in K-framed S&W .357's.

If a good, accurate load hits just a bit high, the gun may be right on at 50 yards.

As a .38 or .357, this Taurus looks like a pretty nice gun. The trigger is contoured like a S&W, not just a spindle hanging down under the frame. I think the looks of that older, slimmer trigger hurt Taurus sales. Their blue finishes have been quite good on those I've examined, as have the stainless.

 

[Fishslayer]

Their blue finishes have been quite good on those I've examined, as have the stainless.

A blued '82 vintage 669 was my first revolver. It has the usual wear one would expect but the finish is drop dead pretty.

I bought it because it was cheap, I wanted a revolver and I figured any problems would have already been addressed.

It's no S&W but it shoots just fine.

 

[merl67]

That is an older Taurus you will be well pleased with that one.

 

[spad124]

Well I swore I would never own another Taurus after having issues with 2 of their revolvers in the past (my only 2 I had).

I sold a few items (not gun related), and while I was out stopped at a gun shop figuring I had a few bucks in my pocket and might stumble across something.

Found this 66 with a low price on it and thought it looked pretty nice. Checked it out and function check was spot on. Haggled a little and got it for less than 2 bills.

Took it out with a few other 357’s and must say I was pleasantly surprised! Accurate and nice trigger. I especially liked the wide smooth trigger. It shot a couple inches high with 158’s over 4 grains of hp-38 so I’ll try it with some 125’s. And yes, the sight was adjusted all the way down. No big deal and it rang steel just fine! I don’t know the round count I put through it but probably around 100. I brought a bunch with me!

While it hasn’t changed my mind completely on the company I won’t turn my nose up at one as long as I can check it out in person. It’s not a bad little piece, especially for the price.

Back in the late 80s I had a Taurus PT99 that was extremely reliable and had good combat accuracy. I only traded it because I wanted a S&W 25-5 more. The 25-5’s POI is 6” high at 15 yards, so the POI discrepancy can happen regardless of the manufacturer. I just adjusted my point of aim and still have the 25-5. But I wouldn’t have passed on the Taurus you bought. That’s the perfect woods/trail revolver.

 

[Boogsawaste]

I'd be leery of 125 grain bullets and hot loads in that gun for the same reason as in K-framed S&W .357's.

I should have said 125 38’s.

Edit. It also appears to NOT have the flat bottom of the barrel line on S&w k frames. However I don’t feel the need to beat this gun needlessly anyway.

 

[rjm6120]

I had a stainless variant of a Taurus model 66 snub, which was a very accurate shooter with a great trigger. Sold it to help me "upgrade" to a Smith (which model, I can't recall), but looking back it's a gun I wish I had held on to.

 

[gwpercle]

Bought a Taurus model 455 in 2005 , 5 shot , 45 acp with a 2 inch barrel . Reloads with full moon clips ... Sweet little shooter .

Love It ! I will never sell it ...never !
Gary

 

[Eddietruett]

I have this Model 66 I picked up a few months ago. Have had a blast shooting it. Has a great action and is very accurate. Only flaw I’ve found is with .38’s it shoots about 1.5-2” high at 25 yards but with .357 loads it’s dead on the money.

 

[shouldazagged]

I had a terribly finish-worn Taurus 65 years ago. Shot just fine, trigger quite decent. Sold it for more than I paid for it, to buy a gun I wanted more, but it was perfectly satisfactory.

 

[MCorps0311]

I have a Taurus 65 & 66 both 4" barrels. I have put a couple of fifty round boxes through both without any problems.I know that's not many rounds.

 

[Boogsawaste]

I have this Model 66 I picked up a few months ago. Have had a blast shooting it. Has a great action and is very accurate. Only flaw I’ve found is with .38’s it shoots about 1.5-2” high at 25 yards but with .357 loads it’s dead on the money.

I’m betting this one will be the same. Either a faster (lighter bullet), 38+p or a 357 with a 158 would probably be right on. I don’t shoot a lot of full power magnums any more so some with unique, power pistol, or herco and a cast 158 would probably be great!

 

[stansdds]

Not all Taurus firearms are bad, not all S&W firearms are good. I have only one Taurus, a Model 96 with the 6 inch barrel. Is it as nice as a S&W K22? No. The action is completely different from the S&W design, it is not as smooth, but perhaps some gunsmithing could fix that. It was a whole lot less expensive than a S&W and has been reliable and makes for a good practice, learning, and fun shooting revolver. Enjoy that Taurus Model 66, it sounds like you got a really good one.

 

[gwpercle]

I have this Model 66 I picked up a few months ago. Have had a blast shooting it. Has a great action and is very accurate. Only flaw I’ve found is with .38’s it shoots about 1.5-2” high at 25 yards but with .357 loads it’s dead on the money.

If it has adjustable sights ....how can it be a "flaw" ?
Sights can't be on for every load and every bullet weight made .
That long barrel is quite impressive...
Dead on with 357 magnum and only 1.5" - 2 " high with 38 special...that's impressive , I would be as happy as a clam at high tide with that !
Gary

 

[CajunBass]

I've owned both a Taurus 66 (adjustable sights) and a Model 65 (fixed sight) version of their "K-frame" sized revolvers. They were both just as nice as any other D/A revolver I've ever owned.

I wouldn't mind still having either of them.

 

[Funflyer]

I have zero complaints with my model 65. I've had it since 95. Just had it out last week to test some reloads. Surprisingly it's extremely accurate with the fixed sights, both 38 Special and full power 357 mags. Target was at 10 yards. A little left, but I'm sure that's me.

 

[Texas Star]

I have zero complaints with my model 65. I've had it since 95. Just had it out last week to test some reloads. Surprisingly it's extremely accurate with the fixed sights, both 38 Special and full power 357 mags. Target was at 10 yards. A little left, but I'm sure that's me.

Does this have a coil or flat mainspring?

 

[stansdds]

Does this have a coil or flat mainspring?

I think all of Taurus' revolvers use a coil main spring. I know my old Model 96 has a coil spring.

 

[kmyers]

We have this one Taurus that I picked up 15 or 20 years ago.

.45 Colt snub nose that I got as a knockabout revolver for just putting in tackle box or glove compartment. Shoots to point of aim at 7 - 10 yards with 250 or so grain weight bullets. It stays in the kitchen cabinet because we both like to have a firearm handy in the rooms we spend most time in so there isn't a need in case of something happening to have to go and get one.

 

[Boogsawaste]

I think all of Taurus' revolvers use a coil main spring. I know my old Model 96 has a coil spring.

The 3 I owned were coil springs too.

85, judge, and this 66.

 

[Mistered]

I took a Mod 605 in trade and it was an excellent gun - it was every bit as good as a Mod 60 Smith - yes it was. Accurate, tight with a great trigger.
My daughter fell in love with it and well I no longer own it!

 

[Bill Lear]

I had a Model 66 about 30 years ago - blue, built solid and every bit on par with my M-19 and dare I say it, my Ruger Security Six. I'm sure I sold or pawned it for money.

I've had a stainless Model 65 for several years now which I think is very well made, and I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about revolvers. The gun has a very nice finish, SA let-off is clean and crisp, and DA pull is smooth and not at all heavy. The only think I don't like about it are the rubber grips that wrap around the back of the frame and disturb the gun's natural grip profile.

More recently I acquired a Model 605 2" stainless that is a superb little blaster! Again, the stainless steel is done is a consistent matte-satin - or it was until I brought the cylinder up to a high polish which creates an interesting contrast. DA pull is excellent as is SA let off. The action is smooth and timing is spot on.

I know the internet is rife with Taurus bashers, but I have not experienced any problems with their revolvers.

If it weren't for S&W's alloy J-frames being so competitive price-wise I'd probably own a few more Tauri, though here in California it often comes down to what can be obtained based on the Roster.

 

[BC38]

I have a couple of Taurus revolvers, and a couple of Rossi revolvers, plus a couple of Taurus semi-autos.
All of them have worked flawlessly.
None of them are S&W quality, but all 6 of them together cost about what 2 or 3 identically configured S&W's would have cost.

 

[Ashlander]

I have the new 6 shot 22 ounce 856 snubbie in .38 Special and a 28 ounce 7 shot Taurus 617 snubbie in .357 Magnum. S&W has nothing to compete in those weight/capacity categories. And the Taurus 617 is the most accurate revolver I own (and I have a lot of S&W revolvers). Apparently, when Taurus built it's new factory in Brazil a couple (or 3) years ago, they really made a big step up in consistency in unit to unit production (the new CEO commented that there no longer are any Dremel tools at any assembly work stations).

 

[Funflyer]

Does this have a coil or flat mainspring?

Coil. I believe all the older models used coiled main-springs.