Taurus Gaucho

     Notes: This is a special edition Taurus revolver designed for Cowboy Action shooting, and designed to look very similar to the Colt Single Action Army.  It is a single-action revolver made of heavy steel and having composite checkered grips with the Taurus insignia in the place on the grips where the Colt insignia normally would be.  The Gaucho uses the later cylinder latch feature of the Colt SAA, the one used after the conversion to smokeless powder.  The cylinder is removed from the frame merely by depressing the base pin, instead of a screw having to be removed first like on the original Colt SAA.  The fit and finish of the Gaucho are excellent, with all parts operating smoothly and cleanly.  The finish is polished stainless steel, a finish which looks like that of a nickel-plated Colt SAA while offering greater corrosion resistance. The Gaucho may use both blackpowder and smokeless powder.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This revolver does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus Instant Backup

     Notes: A modified Taurus Model 17, the Instant Backup is a snubby revolver primarily designed for .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire and .17 Mach 2 Rimfire, but also available in 9mm Parabellum.  The finish may be blued or matte stainless steel, and the grips are of checkered rubber.  The design is “hammerless”, with the hammer barely visible when it is down.  The rear sight is a simple trough in the top strap, while the front sight is a low ramped blade.  The weapon is made of steel, and has a transfer bar safety.  It is surprisingly heavy, which aids in controllability.  The barrel is a tiny 1.75 inches.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These revolvers are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus Model 17 Tracker

     Notes: This member of the Tracker family fires .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire ammunition.  The Model 17 Tracker is similar to other members of the Tracker series, with Taurus-pattern rubber grips (known as Ribber grips), a matte stainless steel finish, an adjustable rear sight, a front sight which may be removed and replaced with another if desired (the standard is a ramp-and-blade type with red insert for visibility), and a heavy 6.5-inch barrel with a ventilated sighting rib.  As a matter of fact, the mouth of the barrel is so tiny as to appear comical!

     A newer version, the Model 17C UltraLite, has a light alloy frame; this alloy is advertised on the Taurus website as “nearly indestructible.”  The Model 17C has a stubby 2-inch barrel with a shrouded ejector rod that also strengthens the barrel.  However, as of late 2008, the Model 17C has been discontinued.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This revolver does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus Model 22/30/41/444/45/454/480/500 Raging Bull

     Notes: This is a large caliber revolver, and is described by Taurus as a "big revolver for big men."  The weapon is heavy, sturdy, and easier to shoot than one might expect, the only handicap being that the shooter must have rather large hands. It was primarily designed for hunting, and is equipped with a scope mount.  Versions of the Raging Bull with 6.5, 8.5, or 10-inch barrels have muzzles tipped with muzzle brakes.  The version firing .454 Casull is known as the Model 454, while the .480 Ruger version is the Model 480, the .45 Long Colt version is the Model 45, the .44 Magnum version is the Model 444, and the .41 Magnum version is the Model 41.

     Two unusual variants of the Raging Bull were introduced in 2002.  The Model 22, called the Raging Hornet, is a version with a 10-inch barrel and chambered for .22 Hornet rounds.  The revolver is made entirely from stainless steel (with a matte finish), and has a ventilated sighting rib above the barrel.  It is a large, heavy weapon, over 16 inches long.  The Model 22-H is similar, but adds a micrometer-adjustable rear sight and a rail for mounting telescopic sights.  It is otherwise identical to the Raging Hornet for game purposes.

     The Model 30, called the Raging Thirty, is similar to the Raging Hornet, but is chambered for .30 Carbine rounds.  It comes with full-moon clips, required to load the rimless .30 Carbine rounds into the revolver and extract them.  It too has a 10-inch barrel with a ventilated sighting rib above the barrel.

     In 2005, another variant was introduced – chambered for the new .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum round.  This model has since been discontinued. In addition, several more barrel lengths were introduced for the standard Raging Bulls (but not the Raging Hornet or Raging Thirty), including 2, 4, and 10 inches.

     Taurus has a new revolver in the Raging Bull line, the Raging Judge XXVII, chambered for short 28-Gauge shells.  Well, sort of.  The Raging Judge was introduced at the 2011 SHOT Show, but according to rumors, the BATFE examined the Raging Judge (it was due to go on sale soon in the US, Taurus’s primary market).  Supposedly, the agents determined that the Raging Judge was going to be an NFA regulated firearm, and be classified as either a Destructive Device or a Short-Barreled Shotgun; either determination would have meant that prospective buyers would have to get expensive special permits.  Other rumors say that Taurus actually went to the BATFE first, but it took several weeks before they got any sort of answer, and that answer took the form of agents visiting the Taurus booth as the SHOT Show.  The current status, however, is that the Raging Judge has been removed from Taurus’s website, and Taurus is no longer taking pre-orders and individuals who previously got pre-orders have had their money returned..  The BATFE and Taurus supposedly got together on possible modifications to the Raging Judge to make it legal without special permits.

     According to Taurus, however, none of this is true.  No determination on the Raging Judge’s status was made at the SHOT Show or anywhere else, though Taurus did introduce the Raging Bull to the BATFE and allowed them to fire it.  The BAFTE agents suggested several modifications to the Raging Judge, most of which are currently being implemented.  In short, though the Raging Bull was shown at the 2011 SHOT Show, this will not be the final version of it and the Raging Bull is not now ready for sales.  Taurus says that the Raging Judge will not be on the market until the end of 2011. Public opinion of the Raging Judge has been mixed, to say the least; some feel the Raging Judge is of limited utility at best and consider it more an expensive toy than anything else; others feel it would make an effective home defense weapon; still others acknowledge the limited utility, but want it for the “gee-whiz” quality.  Even with the long barrel, range is highly limited due to the limits of the 28 Gauge round.

     Regardless, the version of the Raging Judge shown at the SHOT Show has a 6.5-inch barrel, and can be had finished in blue or matte stainless steel.  Inset into the top of the barrel is a ventilated sighting rib, and the barrel has a heavy shroud. Construction includes a frame and cylinders of Ordnance-grade steel and a stainless steel barrel.  It’s a huge revolver, almost 35 centimeters (13.75 inches) long.  Safeties include a transfer bar safety, a passive trigger safety, and the Taurus Security System which allows the revolver to be locked with a key, preventing the hammer, trigger, and cylinder from being moved.  The Raging Judge has the standard Raging Bull cushioned rubber grips to soften recoil (unfortunately, not quantifiable in Twilight 2000 v2.2 rules).  The trigger action can be set for single action or double action.  The rear sight is a simple notch, but the front sight has a highly-visible fiberoptic inlay.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus Model 44

     Notes: This is a high-caliber Taurus revolver, roughly equivalent to the Smith & Wesson 29.  The 44 has a barrel compensator to help fight barrel climb, but is more lightly built than the S&W 29.  The version with the 12-inch barrel is typically known as the Hunter model.

Taurus 44 Ten Tracker-B

     Notes: This is an unusual variant of the Tracker series, able to fire three different types of ammunition through the same cylinders and barrel.  This steel compact-framed revolver has the standard Ribber grips of the Tracker series, and comes in a blued finish or stainless steel.  The standard model has a 6.5” barrel, but a 3-inch barrel is also available.  The 44 Ten is fairly light in weight considering the ammunition it fires, which leads to heavy recoil (though the Ribber grips make this a bit more comfortable, if not actually reducing the felt recoil).  The rear sight is adjustable, and the front sight is a fixed target-type with a fiberoptic high-visibility inlay.

     Along a similar vein is the Model 4510 (called “The Judge,” due to the rumor that some judges are carrying them into courtrooms under their robes).  Though not able to fire the .44-40 Winchester cartridge, it can fire the .410 and .45 Long Colt cartridges.  Though it uses a 3-inch barrel, it is much heavier than it’s corresponding Model 44 Ten revolver.  The Model 4510 basically similar in design to the Model 44 Ten, but has a front sight with a red fiberoptic inlay instead of orange, and no rear sight.

     The Model 4510PLY Public Defender Polymer is also of basically the same design, but the frame is of polymer instead steel or light alloy. The barrel and cylinder are steel, though the barrel has a polymer shroud. The barrel length is also shorter at 2.5 inches.  Needless to say, it is a bit of a handful to shoot. Finish is largely matte black, though the cylinder may be polished blue or stainless steel; it also has Ribber grips.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This revolver does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus Model 65

     Notes: One of Taurus’ oldest models still in production, the Model 65 is a magnum revolver which can be identified by its small grips.  The barrel can be 2.5, 3, or 4 inches; the 2.5-inch barrel was not available until 1992, when it replaced the 3-inch barrel version.  All barrels have a solid sighting rib above the barrel, in addition to fixed sights.  The finish remained blued until 1993, when a stainless steel version arrived.  The Model 65 is a basic, easy-to-use weapon, popular with police and civilians alike.

Taurus Model 66

     Notes: The original Taurus 66 was introduced in 1978 as a .357 Magnum revolver with a micrometer rear sight and a steel frame.  The barrel lengths of this original model were 3, 4, or 6 inches.  The revolver could be blued or matte-nickel finished.  In 1993, Taurus added a 2.5” barrel to the line.  In 1997, production of the old Model 66 ended, but a new Model 66 was introduced with a 7-shot cylinder and a 4 or 6-inch barrel.  The old Model 66 may no longer be in production, but the Model 65 is, as well as the new Model 66.  Other variants include the Model 66CP, introduced in 1993, with a ported 4 or 6-inch barrel (which unfortunately doesn’t help in game terms); and the Model 66 Silhouette, introduced in 2001, a target revolver with a 7-shot cylinder, a black rubber grips, blued or matte stainless steel finish, and a long 12-inch barrel.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The old Model 66 did not leave production until 2010, replaced at that point by the new Model 66.  The Model 66 Silhouette does not exist.

Taurus Model 76

     Notes:  This is a target revolver with a fully adjustable rear sight.  It is a medium frame revolver firing a relatively light cartridge, which makes it very stable.  It is a rough equivalent to a Smith & Wesson K-Frame revolver.  The .32 Magnum version came later in production.  The Model 76 is finished only in blue, has a 6-inch barrel, and has adjustable sights.

Taurus Model 80

     Notes: The Model 80 was introduced in 1980, and as far as is known, remained in production until 2001, though it may remain in production for South American-only sales today.  The Model 80 has fixed sights, small hardwood grips, and a heavy tapering barrel 3 or 4 inches long.  The ejector rod is unshrouded.  The Model 80 was originally produced only with a blued finish, but later a nickel-plated model was added, as was a stainless steel version (sometimes called the Model 80SS) in 1993.

     The Model 82 is a similar revolver made at the same time.  Like the Model 80, it was a popular export to the US and Europe.  Unlike the Model 80, it has a full-length bull barrel with a prominent top rib and is heavier than the Model 80.  The same finishes were used on the Model 82, though the stainless steel version was offered only with a 4-inch barrel.  Another variant, the Model 82B, is virtually identical, but is strengthened to handle +P ammunition.  It was offered only with a 4-inch barrel and is again heavier than the standard Model 82.  

Taurus Model 83

     Notes: Another basic sort of police-type revolver, the Model 83 features a 4-inch heavy ribbed barrel, half-length ejector rod shroud, and large wooden grips.  The front sight is Patridge-type, and the rear sight is micrometer-adjustable.  A medium-frame revolver, it was introduced in 1977 and may still remain in production, though it was taken off the international market in 2001.  The original finish was blue, though they could also had in nickel plating, and in 1993 a stainless steel model, the Model 83SS, was introduced. 

Taurus Model 85

     Notes: This is a Brazilian snub-nosed revolver.  It was popular as a backup gun with US police departments, especially among older officers who were used to revolvers.  The revolver, as introduced in 1980, is blued or nickel-plated steel (with stainless steel as an option after 1993) and has a ported ribbed barrel of 2, 3 or 4 inches (though the 4-inch barrel was discontinued in 1992), with a fixed rear sight.  It had a hard rubber grip, but in 1996, this was changed to an Uncle Mike’s Boot grip.

     In 1997, Taurus introduced the Model 85UL (Ultra Light), with a light alloy frame.  Since 1999, Taurus has also offered the Model 85 Total Titanium, with a titanium alloy frame, cylinder, and barrel.   In 1999, a double-action-only version of the basic steel model with a shrouded hammer was also introduced.  (This is identical to the standard Model 85 for game purposes.)  In 2000, another version was introduced, the Model 85 Police Ultra Light Titanium, with a titanium barrel and cylinder.  It is the lightest version, but can still fire +P cartridges.

     Since 2008, Taurus has sold the Model 856 variant, so named because its main feature is that it is a Model 85 with a six-round cylinder.  They are built from steel, and come in blued and stainless finishes.  The grip is rubber with stippled sides and a finger groove in front.  A further variant, the Model 856HL2MG, is basically the same as the Model 856 but uses a magnesium alloy frame, and is extremely light in weight yet strong.  The Model 856 is still capable of firing +P loads.  Barrel lengths are all 2 inches and are not ported.  The Model 856 uses a low-profile front sight blade, but has no rear sight.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: All of these but the basic steel Taurus 85 are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Taurus Model 86

     Notes: This target-type revolver was based on the Model 83, but has a 6-inch tapering heavy barrel, adjustable trigger, micrometer-adjustable rear sight, Patridge-type front sight, a wide hammer spur, and Brazilian walnut grips.  Some versions were made with a ribbed barrel, but these were rare; these versions were apparently made for specific buyers and could also take adjustable counterweights.  The ejector rod is unshrouded.  They were originally chambered for .32 Smith & Wesson Long or .38 Special, but the .32 caliber chambering was dropped in 1991.  The only finish offered is blue. The Model 96 is virtually identical, but is chambered for .22 Long Rifle ammunition.  It was taken off the international market in 2001, but is apparently still in production for domestic sales.

Taurus Model 94

     Notes: The Model 94 was introduced in 1973.  It was a very different weapon at the time, having only a 6-round cylinder and available in only one barrel length (6 inches).  It had a micrometer adjustable rear sight, and could be blued or nickel-plated, with wooden grips.

     In 1989, a new model of the Taurus 94 was introduced.  This revolver has a high cylinder capacity of nine rounds.  The sights are micrometer adjustable.  It is otherwise made of light steel, with black rubber grips.  In 1992, the Model 941 was introduced; this was chambered for the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire cartridge.  Until 1996, the Model 941 had only a 2 or 4-inch barrel, but in 1996 a 5-inch barrel was added to the line. 

     A later addition to the line was the Model 94 Ultra-Lite Nine; it is basically a post-1989 model with an aluminum alloy frame instead of a light steel frame (the rest of the metalwork is still light steel).  The finish is blued, and the sights are improved (an adjustable rear with a white-lined square notch, and a front ramp with a red insert).  The Ultra-Lite Nine is also built with tighter tolerances.  A minor defect with the Ultra-Lite Nine is case ejection; even with a full push on the ejector rod, about an eighth of an inch of the expended shells are still left in the cylinders.  The hammer spring might also be a little too strong for some shooters.

Taurus Model 405

     Notes: This revolver was introduced in 2001 chambered for an unusual cartridge for revolvers, .40 Smith & Wesson.  The Taurus 405 has a heavy ported 2-inch barrel that limits the effectiveness of this round, but makes the weapon light and handy.  The frame and barrel are of stainless steel, while the cylinder is of titanium alloy, with a rubber grip.  Due to the non-rimmed ammunition, the Taurus 405 must be loaded with half-moon or full-moon clips.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This revolver does not exist.