Taurus 817 38 Special 2 in. Matte Stainless 7-Shot Revolver – Superb High-Capacity Snub

Description

The Taurus 817 is a seven-shot .38 Special with a two-inch barrel. That is two more rounds than the five-shooters that dominate this end of the market and one more than the six-shot 856, on a medium frame that is still small enough to carry.

The Taurus 817 is matte stainless throughout, with a black rubber grip, fixed sights and an exposed hammer. If capacity is what has been bothering you about small revolvers, this is the answer.

What the Taurus 817 offers

• The Taurus 817 holds seven rounds of .38 Special, the highest capacity of any small Taurus revolver
• 2-inch matte stainless barrel, cylinder and frame, unbothered by sweat or damp pockets
• Medium frame rather than small, which is what makes room for the seventh chamber
• Black rubber grip that spreads recoil and gives a repeatable hand position
• Exposed hammer, so you keep the single-action option for a deliberate shot
• Fixed sights machined into the frame, with nothing to snag or knock out of alignment
• Stainless construction throughout, which forgives neglect better than any other finish

Seven rounds, and what it costs

• On the Taurus 817, two more rounds than a five-shot is a forty per cent increase, which is not a small difference in a gun this size
• The cylinder is wider to fit them. The Taurus 817 is noticeably larger around the middle than an 856
• That extra width is what you trade for the capacity, and it is the main thing to check before buying
• Speedloaders are a seven-shot pattern of their own. Buy them for this gun rather than assuming a six-shot loader fits
• Chamber walls are thinner than on a five-shot, which is why this is a .38 Special and not a .357
• Practise double action. A snub revolver is a double-action gun in every situation that matters

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 2-817029
• Caliber: .38 Special
• Capacity: 7 rounds
• Barrel: 2 in., matte stainless steel
• Cylinder and frame: matte stainless steel, medium frame
• Grip: black rubber
• Action: single and double action, exposed hammer
• Sights: fixed
• UPC: 725327943471

.38 Special has been in continuous production since 1898 and remains one of the most thoroughly standardised cartridges anywhere, with pressure and dimensional specifications published by SAAMI. Modern defensive loads are designed around short barrels, which is why a two-inch gun is a sensible choice rather than a compromise.

One thing worth checking before you commit. Holster fit is the practical catch with a Taurus 817: because the cylinder is wider than a five or six-shot of similar length, a holster cut for an 856 or a J-frame will not necessarily take it. Ask us what fits rather than buying a holster on the assumption that a two-inch revolver is a two-inch revolver.

Why this revolver earns its place

• Seven rounds in a two-inch revolver, which almost nothing else offers
• Stainless construction that survives pocket lint, sweat and years of being ignored
• The Taurus 817 will fire wet, dirty or after a long spell in a drawer
• An exposed hammer for a precise single-action shot when you have time to take one
• Steel frame rather than aluminium, so recoil stays comfortable
• Simple enough that a new owner can be taught to run it in one afternoon

Anyone who likes small revolvers but has always wanted more rounds in the cylinder, and carriers who would rather have seven and a slightly wider gun than five and a slimmer one. The Taurus 817 is a specialist answer to a common complaint.

If a narrower cylinder matters more than capacity, the six-shot Taurus 856 is slimmer and the five-shot 850 is slimmer still with a fully enclosed hammer.

For magnum capability in a small revolver, the 605 in .357 is the five-shot answer and the 650 is the hammerless one. For cheap practice on a similar frame, the eight-shot 942 in .22 LR costs a fraction per round.

Every Taurus 817 ships with the factory case, the manual and a lock. Transfers go to your FFL and our end of the paperwork is done the same day.