Taylors Gunfighter Defender 45 Colt Tuned 4.75 in. – Flawless Single Action Revolver

Description

The Taylors Gunfighter Defender 45 Colt is Taylor’s & Company’s Gunfighter Defender in .45 Colt with a 4.75-inch blued barrel, a case-hardened steel frame and checkered walnut grips. This is the Taylor Tuned version (model 555168DE), which receives Taylor’s custom action work before it ships.

Taylors Gunfighter Defender 45 Colt Overview

Taylor’s introduced the Gunfighter Defender in 2022 as part of its Performance Series. It builds on the Gunfighter, a single action revolver aimed at cowboy action shooters, and adds a lowered Runnin’ Iron style hammer spur along with the larger 1860 Army size grip on a Cattleman-style frame. The result is a classic six-shot single action that fills larger hands better than the standard Navy-size grip and offers a flatter, lower hammer for a clearer sight picture.

What Taylor Tuned Means

Taylor’s offers standard Gunfighter Defenders with a hand-polished action and custom springs, while the Taylor Tuned models are individually tuned for a lighter, smoother hammer and trigger. That work is a meaningful upgrade for competitors who cock the hammer hundreds of times in a match. It also raises the price above the standard model. If you just want a classic single action for occasional shooting, the standard version may be enough.

Grip and Hammer

The 1860 Army size grip is longer and slightly wider than the common Navy size, giving shooters with larger hands room for all fingers and better control under recoil. The checkered walnut panels add traction. The low Runnin’ Iron hammer spur sits flatter than a traditional spur, which helps the sight picture, though shooters with small hands may find it a bit harder to thumb-cock quickly.

Safe Ammunition Choices

Use standard-pressure .45 Colt ammunition only. Heavy +P or so-called Ruger-only .45 Colt loads are intended for much stronger revolvers and should never be fired in a Single Action Army style revolver like this one. Light lead match loads and standard 225 to 255 grain lead or jacketed loads are ideal. .45 Colt ammunition costs more than 9mm or .38 Special and is stocked less often, so buy in quantity when you find it.

Finish and Sights

The frame is color case hardened, which produces the mottled blue, gray and amber pattern traditional to single actions, while the barrel, cylinder and other steel parts are blued with a blued steel trigger guard. Sights are a fixed front blade and a notch in the topstrap, so you adjust point of impact with ammunition choice or by having a gunsmith file the front sight. Expect the case colors to fade gradually with handling and solvent use.

Loading and Carrying Safely

This revolver uses a retractable firing pin safety on the hammer, but the traditional practice of loading five and leaving the hammer down on an empty chamber remains good advice with any single action. Loading and unloading is done one chamber at a time through the loading gate with the hammer at half cock or as directed in the manual. Read the manual fully before first use, since single action handling differs from modern double action revolvers.

State Laws and Ownership

Revolvers are legal in most states, but some states maintain handgun rosters or permit-to-purchase rules that apply regardless of style. California, Massachusetts, Maryland and New York, among others, have roster, permit or licensing requirements that may limit availability. Pennsylvania buyers complete the standard background check through the dealer. Review your state and local laws before ordering, and confirm that your receiving dealer can transfer it.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Taylor’s & Company (Performance Series)
• Model: Gunfighter Defender, Taylor Tuned (555168DE)
• UPC: 810012512121
• Caliber: .45 Colt
• Action: Single action revolver
• Barrel: 4.75 in., blued, 1-in-16 twist
• Capacity: 6 rounds
• Frame: Case hardened steel, Cattleman style
• Grips: Checkered walnut, 1860 Army size
• Sights: Fixed blade front, notch rear
• Overall Length: 10.35 in.
• Weight: About 2.45 lbs

Before You Buy

Federal law requires handgun purchases to go through a licensed FFL dealer with a background check, and you must be 21 or older to buy a handgun from a dealer. Use standard-pressure .45 Colt ammunition only.

Who It Is For

The Taylors Gunfighter Defender 45 Colt is a great fit for single action match competitors, collectors and shooters with larger hands who want a factory-tuned .45 Colt revolver with a low hammer spur.

Buy the Taylors Gunfighter Defender 45 Colt at MAG5 Firearms

MAG5 Firearms is a family-owned FFL in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Order the Taylors Gunfighter Defender 45 Colt online and ship it to your local FFL dealer, or browse our full selection of firearms for more revolvers. For factory details, visit Taylor’s & Company.