Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm 2.5in 7-Shot — Superb Convertible

Description

The Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm is a seven-shot convertible revolver that ships with two cylinders — one for .357 Magnum and .38 Special +P, one for 9mm Luger — on a 2.50-inch matte stainless barrel. Swapping between them takes seconds and no tools.

That is three cartridges out of one revolver, and it is the most practical feature Taurus makes. When .357 is scarce or dear, you shoot 9mm. When 9mm is scarce, you shoot .38. The Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm never sits in the safe because the shelf was empty, which over a decade of ownership is worth more than any specification on the box.

How the two-cylinder system works

• Push the cylinder release, swing the cylinder out, press the yoke retainer and the whole cylinder and yoke assembly lifts out. The second one drops straight in.
• The Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm holds seven rounds in each cylinder — one more than most medium-frame .357s manage.
• The 9mm rounds headspace on the case mouth, so the Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm will fire them loose in the chambers. The two Stellar clips supplied are for loading and extraction, which they make far quicker; they are a convenience, not a requirement.
• The .357 cylinder takes .38 Special and .38 Special +P as well, so the gun covers three cartridges in total.
• Matte stainless throughout — barrel, cylinders and frame — with an adjustable rear sight.

What a 2.50-inch barrel means here

• The Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm is the short version of the 692, and it is the one that carries. The 3-inch and 6.5-inch models are range and field guns; this one goes on a belt under a coat.
• A .357 Magnum load out of two and a half inches spends a lot of its powder as muzzle flash. You are not getting four-inch performance, whatever the box says.
• That is exactly where the 9mm cylinder earns its place. Modern 9mm defensive loads are designed around short barrels, and out of this gun a good one loses very little.
• Practise on 9mm, which is the cheapest of the three by a wide margin, and carry whatever you shoot best.
• Unlike the 3-inch 692, this barrel is not ported — quieter, and no muzzle blast directed upward into your line of sight.

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 2-692029
• UPC: 725327618638
• Calibre: .357 Magnum / .38 Special +P and 9mm Luger, two cylinders included
• Capacity: 7 rounds per cylinder
• Barrel: 2.50 in, matte stainless steel
• Frame: medium, matte stainless steel
• Cylinders: matte stainless steel
• Sights: adjustable rear, fixed front
• Action: double action / single action, exposed hammer
• Safety: transfer bar
• Included: two Stellar clips for the 9mm cylinder

All three cartridges this revolver handles are standardised by SAAMI, which is what makes the conversion possible at all: the 9mm chamber can be cut to a published dimension and trusted to headspace correctly on ammunition from any maker. Never put 9mm in the .357 cylinder or .357 in the 9mm cylinder — the cylinders are marked, and it is worth checking the marking rather than the habit.

MAG5 also stocks the ported 3-inch 692 Convertible. For a straightforward .357 without the second cylinder, look at the Taurus 605, the enclosed-hammer 650, or the seven-shot Taurus 66 in a service size.

Why the Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm earns its place

• The Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm gives three cartridges from one revolver, so it is never out of service for want of ammunition.
• Seven rounds instead of six, in a medium frame that still carries.
• 9mm practice costs a fraction of .357, which means more of it.
• Stainless throughout, adjustable sights, and no ports to shout at you.
• A cylinder swap that takes seconds and needs no tools.

This suits someone who wants one revolver to cover carry, practice and the nightstand, and who is realistic about ammunition prices. It is a good choice for a shooter moving from a semi-auto who already has 9mm on the shelf. The Taurus 692 Stainless 357 9mm asks a little more of the owner than a plain snub — there is a second cylinder to keep track of and clips to look after — but it gives back far more than that in flexibility.

In stock now at MAG5 Firearms in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Handgun sales ship to a licensed dealer in your state, where you will complete a Form 4473 and the background check before taking delivery.