If I mention I still carry a revolver, some may ask if I began writing soon after the invention of moveable type. Not quite that long ago.
Though I started with a Military & Police .38, the summit of my handgun ambitions was a Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum in .357 Magnum. With proper training, these excellent revolvers solved a lot of problems.
If I’m able to outshoot my old Combat Magnum with a new revolver right out of the box, it means something. And if that new revolver is lighter too, something good is coming our way.
The Taurus 66 Combat is just such a revolver. After more than 500 rounds, I consider it among the most capable personal-defense revolvers I’ve fired in some time.
What Makes the Taurus 66 Combat Different?
I’ve followed Taurus revolvers for years. Most were affordable, reliable handguns with some corners cut in fit and finish. They were good revolvers for the shooters they were intended to serve.
Gradually, Taurus improved its quality. The company continued offering affordable revolvers but discovered customers were willing to pay more for excellent performance and finish. The Executive models were the outcome.
The Taurus 66 Combat builds on some of my favorite revolver designs, with features upgraded for personal defense and concealed carry. It compares favorably with modern revolvers and in several respects, is superior to the general run.
This medium-frame revolver has an unfluted seven-shot cylinder chambered in .357 Magnum and features a 3-inch barrel and double-action-only trigger. This revolver is pleasant to fire with .38 Special ammunition and more than bearable with Magnum loads.
The spurless hammer has no single-action notch, and the smooth trigger face is just what experienced double-action revolver shooters prefer.
The Taurus 66 features a fixed-notch rear sight and a fiber-optic front sight. Some shooters will find these sights as useful as any found on a fixed-sight revolver. For those who prefer an optic, Taurus includes a mounting plate with an RMSc footprint.
Taurus 66 Combat Specifications
Type: Double-action-only revolver
Material: Stainless steel
Capacity: 7 rounds
Weight: 33 ounces
Length: 8.4 inches
Barrel length: 3 inches
Height: 5.67 inches
Cylinder: Unfluted, seven chambers
Sights: Fixed rear/Fiber optic front
MSRP: $1,084.99
Taurus 66 Combat Features and Handling
The Taurus 66 weighs just over 2 pounds. A 33-ounce revolver with a 3-inch barrel balances well. With a 3-inch barrel, the revolver isn’t unnecessarily cumbersome. More important, the 3-inch barrel provides enough ejector-rod travel for positive ejection during speed-load drills.
I prefer this arrangement to the 2.5-inch barrels found on some defensive revolvers. The additional barrel length also develops more velocity with Magnum loads and +P .38 Special ammunition.
Hogue Grips
Taurus used the popular round-butt grip frame design. It works well for concealed carry and fast shooting. Taurus wisely equipped the 66 Combat with Hogue Monogrip rubber grips
These grips are comfortable and provide good adhesion when firing. Modest finger grooves fit the hand well, and the raised pebble texture helps maintain control. As combat revolver grips go, this is about as good as it gets.
The cylinder latch is the familiar push-forward design. Operation is simple and familiar to experienced revolver shooters.
A Smooth Double-Action Trigger
One of the Taurus 66 Combat’s greatest advantages is its smooth double-action (DA) trigger. A good DA trigger is contributes to combat accuracy and helps the shooter control flinching.
Flinch is an involuntary reaction to recoil, often made worse by the muzzle blast of a .357 Magnum. A smooth, consistent trigger press makes the exact moment of the trigger break less predictable. And what a pleasant surprise this action is.
My digital trigger gauge measured just 10 pounds. Though light for a double-action trigger, the revolver never failed to crack hard Magnum primers, which have a thicker primer cup to prevent primer flow into the firing pin channel. Ignition was 100 percent during testing.
The revolver also features a transfer-bar ignition system. When at rest a hammer bar prevents the hammer from contacting the firing pin. As the trigger is pressed, the transfer bar rises into position, allowing the hammer’s energy to reach the firing pin.
Taurus 66 Combat vs. Smith & Wesson Model 19
I compared the 66 Combat to several Smith & Wesson revolvers I had on hand, including the S&W Model 19. It seems to be a good fit for K-frame revolver holsters.
Here are the dimensional differences.
| Measurement | S&W Model 19 | Taurus 66 Combat |
| Frame thickness, including cylinder latch | 0.656 inch | 0.658 inch |
| Cylinder width | 1.446 inches | 1.55 inches |
In weight, heft and feel, the 66 Combat reminds me of a K-frame S&W, though the cylinder is about as wide as an L-frame. Not a bad combination. The dimensions suggest that some K-frame holsters may work, but the wider cylinder could require an L-frame holster. Fit should be checked rather than assumed.
Taurus 66 Combat Range Test
The Taurus 66 Combat is among the best-shooting revolvers I’ve tested. It gets on target quickly and responds well to a trained shooter.
Most of my initial evaluation used American Eagle 130-grain full-metal-jacket (FMJ) ammunition. This is a clean-burning load with good accuracy and modest recoil. The revolver proved comfortable with .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads.
The real improvement in practical accuracy came when I mounted a red-dot optic.
The factory fiber-optic front sight and fixed rear sight provide a practical arrangement for defensive use. However, shooters who prefer a different sight picture have options.
XS Sights offers a Big Dot tritium front sight for the Taurus 66 Combat. I own several XS sight sets and appreciate their speed in defensive shooting. XS also offers an Acro-footprint mounting plate for shooters who prefer an Aimpoint Acro-style optic.
Testing With the Riton Tactix MPRDXL Red Dot
Taurus includes an RMSc-footprint mounting plate that attaches to the revolver’s topstrap. I installed the plate and mounted a Riton Tactix MPRDXL optic. The process was straightforward.
This is an interesting sight. Like other Riton optics I’ve used, this sight is priced fairly for its performance.
The RMSc footprint was ideal for a narrow topstrap, though the Riton provides a sight window comparable in size to an RMR. The result is a compact sight body with a generous viewing window.
The optic features a green reticle with three settings: dot, circle and circle-dot. I used the circle-dot configuration for most of my testing.
It also includes automatic battery shutoff and motion activation. Based on my experience with other Riton optics, I consider this a service-grade sight.
Some shooters have questioned whether Magnum recoil is too much for a pistol-mounted optic. In my experience, the sight remains stationary. While the revolver certainly recoils, I suspect the repeated movement of a semi-automatic pistol’s slide may be more stressful to an optic.
When using a pistol-mounted optic, shoot with both eyes open and maintain focus on the target. I put rounds into the X-ring at distances from 7 to 25 yards with excellent precision.
The Taurus is fast, reliable and accurate. A quality red-dot sight makes an already capable revolver even more useful.
Accuracy Testing
Firing a double-action-only revolver from a benchrest can be challenging. I leaned over a Birchwood Casey shooting rest and carefully pressed the trigger through several five-shot groups at 15 yards.
Some groups measured as little as 2 inches.
My best result with Federal Hydra-Shok Deep .38 Special ammunition placed three shots into 1.5 inches, with the remaining two opening the five-shot group to 2.5 inches.
That is surprising performance, even for an old wheelgunner like me.
A smooth trigger and quality red-dot sight work wonders. The Taurus 66 Combat delivers practical accuracy well beyond what many shooters might expect from a defensive revolver.
Taurus 66 Combat Ammunition Results
I’ve fired more than 500 cartridges through the Taurus, including 80 Magnum loads, with good results.
The revolver functioned reliably throughout the evaluation. The .357 Magnum remains one of my preferred defensive cartridges, and the Taurus 66 Combat provides an excellent platform for delivering accurate shots.
I tested several .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads through the Taurus’ 3-inch barrel. The following are my recorded velocities.
.38 Special Velocity
| Ammunition | Velocity |
| Federal Premium 148-grain wadcutter | 690 feet per second |
| Federal Train + Protect 158-grain LSWCHP | 800 feet per second |
| Remington Express 158-grain LSWCHP | 850 feet per second |
| Federal 110-grain Hydra-Shok Low Recoil JHP | 822 feet per second |
.357 Magnum Velocity
| Ammunition | Velocity |
| Federal 130-grain Hydra-Shok | 1,340 feet per second |
| Federal Train + Protect 125-grain JHP | 1,322 feet per second |
| Federal 154-grain Personal Defense HST | 1,255 feet per second |
The 3-inch barrel offers useful performance with both chamberings. For practice, .38 Special ammunition provides modest recoil. Magnum loads are more demanding but remain manageable in this revolver. This is easily the most capable personal-defense revolver I have fired in some time.
Carrying the Taurus 66 Combat
Finding a suitable holster for an optics-mounted revolver isn’t always easy. I contacted ANR Design and selected an inside-the-waistband Kydex holster with an appendix foot, sometimes called an anti-rollout device.
As the designer puts it, wheelguns don’t have to print like bricks!
The holster provides a good balance of speed and security. After a few draws from concealment, I was presenting the Taurus rapidly on target. The reverse presentation was equally efficient. Good kit!
Because the Taurus has a wider cylinder than a Smith & Wesson K-frame, a holster designed for a similar-size revolver may not provide the necessary fit, particularly with an optic installed.
Don’t overlook reloads, either. I recommend quality HKS speedloaders and regular practice with speed loads. A seven-shot revolver is useful, but the shooter must still be proficient at reloading.
Is the Taurus 66 Combat Worth It?
The Taurus 66 Combat is an excellent personal-defense revolver. It combines a smooth double-action trigger, 3-inch barrel, comfortable grips and seven-shot capacity in a well-balanced package.
The factory sights are practical, and the included optics mount adds versatility.
The Taurus 66 Combat is among the revolvers best suited for personal defense that I’ve tested. As always, the most important factors remain the shooter, sound training and a consistent practice regimen.
