Taurus has a clear view of what it takes to make an effective compact defense gun. The CCW crowd wants all the firepower a big caliber has to offer, but they want it in a small, compact package. It should also be easy to operate, extremely safe, lightweight, easy to maintain and economical to own and train with. That’s no small order to fill. The reality is that many want a concealed carry pistol that’s as easy to carry around as a cell phone, wallet, purse or car keys. The Taurus 85VTA “View” revolver fits that need.
The View is a radical-looking, five-shot revolver. What makes the View so distinct is the Lexan side plate on the right side of the frame. This clear side plate allows a user to “view” the mechanism of the revolver. The trigger is chromed and the bobbed hammer has a gold finish.
The View is based on the Taurus Model 85 revolver, but you will not recognize the View as a Model 85. The grip is a radical departure that is well suited for concealed carry. The diminutive grip is contoured and sits in the palm of your hand. The stubby barrel is 1.4 inches long. The barrel’s housing is titanium, while the barrel liner is made of steel. A ramped front sight is machined into the titanium. A groove in the top of the frame serves as the rear sight. The View’s frame is aluminum and the cylinder is titanium. It weighs a mere 9 ounces unloaded. Loaded, it weighs about 17 ounces, depending on the cartridge weight. Measuring 5.67 inches long, it dropped into a pocket of my cargo shorts, and no one was the wiser.
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The View is made for point shooting at close distances. I fired the View with a mix of .38 Special ammo, starting with Winchester 158-grain Super-X. As expected, the accuracy was acceptable for close shooting. I stood 15 yards away from a target and was capable of placing all five shots in center of mass.
Slim-Line Nine
The Taurus 709 is a striker-fired, semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm. It is thin, lightweight and compact, and can fit in about the same space as a smartphone. It is about 1-inch thick, 6.25 inches long and weighs 19 ounces unloaded. The Taurus 709 has all its corners rounded over. The trigger is particularly interesting. It uses a striker firing mechanism and normally operates as a conventional single-action (SA) system—every time the slide cycles the trigger is reset. In the event a round fails to discharge, the system automatically goes into double-action mode (DA), allowing a user to fire again by pulling the trigger with no need to cycle the slide.
.380 Backup
Pistols in .380 ACP are very popular these days, offering a nice compromise between firepower and concealability. The Taurus 738 TCP is a good choice for those willing to give up a bit of firepower for a pistol that is more concealable. It weighs only 10.2 ounces unloaded, is 5.25 inches long and less than 1-inch wide.
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The 738 TCP is a hammer-fired design with a double-action-only (DAO) trigger pull. The trigger must be fully pressed to cock and fire the hammer. This diminutive pistol is built with a steel slide machined to relieve metal and make it lightweight. The fixed sights are minimal and machined into the slide. The external extractor acts as a loaded-chamber indicator, protruding slightly when a round is in the chamber.
Though small, the 738 TCP points naturally in hand. The frame is lightweight polymer with grooves in the grip. A recess in the left side of the frame holds the slide stop. Many .380 ACP pistols do not lock back the slide after the last round has been fired, but the slide on the 738 TCP does.
Snub-Nose Security
The 605PLY offers .357 Magnum firepower in a lightweight, polymer frame. The cylinder is steel as well as the barrel sleeve in the polymer frame. The 605PLY weighs only 19.75 ounces and measures only 6.7 inches long. It holds five rounds of either .357 Magnum or .38 Special ammo. The 605PLY is also rated for +P .38 special ammunition.
The 605PLY’s hammer is shrouded but still gives the user the ability to thumb it back manually. The grip is rubber and goes a long way in helping absorb recoil from the revolver’s stout chambering.
For those who want a capable compact carry gun, take a look at Taurus’s extensive line. I am sure you will find something right for you.
For more information, visit http://www.taurususa.com or call 800-327-3776.
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