Description
The Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum is a five shot snub nose built on a polymer over alloy steel frame, with a 2 inch stainless barrel and a matte black oxide cylinder. This version wears a brown polymer frame with a black ridged rubber grip. It chambers 357 Magnum and also fires 38 Special plus P, overall length is 6.5 inches, and the manufacturer part number is 2-605021B with UPC 725327617266. MAG5 Firearms stocks it as an affordable carry and nightstand revolver, and the notes below are honest about what that means.
What a Polymer Frame Changes
A polymer frame revolver is not the same thing as a polymer frame pistol. The Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum uses an alloy steel frame with a polymer shell over it, so the parts that take pressure are still metal and the polymer is there to cut weight and cost. The result is a revolver lighter than an all steel snub without the recoil penalty of a true alloy or scandium frame, which is the sensible middle ground a Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum occupies.
Five shots of 357 Magnum from a 2 inch barrel is a serious proposition. Recoil is sharp, muzzle blast is loud and the flash in low light is significant, because a barrel this short cannot burn the powder charge. Most owners of a concealed carry revolver in this configuration load 38 Special plus P for carry and shoot magnums only occasionally, which is a reasonable approach rather than a compromise.
The exposed hammer gives you both double action and single action. Double action is the carry mode and the one to practice, because thumbing a hammer under pressure is a poor plan. Single action is useful for deliberate shots at distance and for teaching a new shooter what a clean trigger feels like. A transfer bar safety means the revolver will not fire unless the trigger is pulled fully to the rear.
Honest Notes Before You Buy
Trigger pull on a budget double action revolver is heavy, and a Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum is no exception. Expect a long, firm double action stroke out of the box that smooths out over a few hundred dry fires and a few hundred live rounds. That is normal for a Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum at this price. What it means practically is that you need to train with it rather than assume it will shoot like a tuned wheelgun.
Taurus quality has improved substantially over the last decade, and the company backs its revolvers with a lifetime repair policy. It is still fair to say that quality control is less consistent than on a Smith and Wesson or a Ruger, and resale value is noticeably weaker. If you are buying a 38 special revolver to keep and use, that matters little. If you buy firearms partly as assets, it matters a great deal and you should know it going in.
Sights are fixed and low profile, which is the right answer on a carry gun because there is nothing to snag on a draw and nothing to knock out of adjustment. They are also not adjustable and not night sights. At the distances a two inch revolver is actually used, that is rarely the limiting factor, but do not expect precision work past about fifteen yards.
Specifications
- Manufacturer part number: 2-605021B
- UPC: 725327617266
- Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special plus P
- Capacity: 5 rounds
- Action: Double action and single action, exposed hammer
- Barrel length: 2 in, stainless steel
- Cylinder: Matte black oxide
- Frame: Alloy steel with brown polymer
- Grip: Black ridged rubber
- Sights: Fixed
- Safety: Transfer bar
- Twist rate: 1 in 16.5
- Overall length: 6.5 in
Who It Suits
A Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum makes sense as a first defensive revolver, a nightstand gun, a truck gun or a backup, particularly for someone who wants the simplicity of a revolver without the price of a premium one. Revolvers have a real advantage for occasional shooters: there is no slide to rack, no magazine to maintain and no failure to feed to clear. Details on the model line are published by Taurus.
If you want the smoothest trigger and the strongest resale, a Smith and Wesson or Ruger snub costs meaningfully more and delivers both. If you want more than five rounds and easier reloads, a compact striker fired pistol is the better tool. Browse the rest of our revolvers and handguns to compare honestly.
Practical notes. Buy a speed strip or a speedloader that fits, because reloading a five shot cylinder from a pocket of loose rounds under stress does not work. Run at least a box of your chosen carry load through the gun before trusting it. And consider carrying 38 Special plus P in a Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum rather than full magnums: the recoil difference is large and the terminal difference from a two inch barrel is smaller than the box claims.
MAG5 Firearms is a family owned FFL dealer in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. This Taurus 605 Poly Protector 357 Magnum ships to the licensed dealer of your choice, and local buyers can complete the transfer with us in person. Call 610-943-0010 with any questions about fit, holsters or ammunition.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.