This Taurus 905 review will cover the 5-shot 9mm Taurus 905 Revolver. There are not many options if you’re searching for a 9mm rimfire revolver.
We’ll cover Taurus 905, grips, triggers, sights, shooting, and more.
The 905 is a unique gun that comes at a reasonable price. But, is it worth the money or just a paperweight?
Taurus 905 is an affordable small frame revolver that can be used for concealed carry, or even just to have fun at the range. The 9mm revolver is cheaper than the 38 special or other revolver calibers, so you can save a lot of money.
This is a great option for training your 38 carry gun. The trigger pull and the recoil are different.
The 9mm cartridge is also fed by moon clips, since it has no rim. They are required to hold in the rounds.
Loading with the moon clips is also a completely different experience, but you can still get a few good reps with it.
These revolvers are lightweight small frame revolvers. The 2 inch models are 21 ounces, and the 3 inch models are just under 24 ounces.
The 3 inch Taurus 905s we tested have a bit of heft, but they are still not heavy.
The weight of the revolver helps with recoil.
This is a good weight for concealed carry when wearing a waist belt. If you are carrying it with athletic clothing without a belt, then this is probably too heavy.
If weight is an issue, I would suggest a gun such as the Smith and Wesson 642, or Taurus 856 Ultralight.
The 905 is built on a small Taurus revolver frame and fits into our 856 holsters. I assume it will work in other 856-holsters.
The small frame of the Taurus is a very convenient size. Specially for concealed carry. The 3 inch barrel is large enough to shoot accurately but small enough to be carried.
Taurus 905 has a 3 inch DOA and a 2 inch DA/SA snub at the time of this review.
The Snubs come in matte stainless, black oxide or black cerakote.
The Taurus 905 DoA has a hammer that is exposed but bobbed.
It would be nice to have DAO hammerless options for all guns. This is why I’ll have a few points deducted from this Taurus 905 Review.
DA/SA is not much more useful than a DOA for a defensive revolver, but it introduces more failure points.
A bobbed hammer will not snag as easily, but it has all of the disadvantages of a DA/SA hammer. Closed hammer revolvers, also known as hammerless revolvers, keep dirt and debris from getting into the action. They can’t be pin back in a defensive situation.
DA guns are faster to fire within 25 yards. SA triggers only offer an advantage if you have enough time to make an accurate shot. This is rare in defensive encounters.
The Taurus 905 revolver runs out of 9mm rounds quickly with only 5 in the moon clips. The 9mm rounds are short and round, so they tend to go into the gun very quickly.
This is a distinct advantage over most revolver calibers with rims. The longer revolvers are slower to align and the bullet shape is often more squared, making it harder to get the bullet into the chamber.
The cylinder release of the Taurus 905 is identical to a Smith and Wesson Release. It is located on the left-hand side of the gun, right behind the cylinder.
Its position should allow any right-handed shooter to reach it without having to break their grip.
A left-handed shooter must either break their grip, or use their other arm.
The sights of any revolver are not always great, and the Taurus 905 is no exception.
The version I own has a pinned-in front sight and the rear sight is milled directly into the gun. The rear sights on guns with milled sights are better when they are black.
The rear sight is easier to see on black guns than stainless steel guns.
The front sight has an orange outline. The front sight works well. It’s a bit wide, considering how narrow the rear is.
Taurus offers different heights of front sights if you are willing to use black front sights. This allows you to change the point-of-impact to match the ammo you choose. This revolver is cool and unique for its price point.
It would be better if this gun had a larger rear notch.
When you line up your sights, the night vision is not visible.
The theory is that in low light, you will aim for the center mass. Tipping the gun slightly up to see the tritium will place the rounds slightly higher on the chest.
The 2 inch guns currently being shipped have milled-in front sights. The sights on the black gun aren’t too bad, but those on the stainless gun will be difficult to see.
The only way to make these sights better is to paint the front view. Taurus should update their future models with the pinned front sights.
The 905 series has a heavier mainspring compared to the 856 series, so the trigger is heavier. The triggers on these guns are very good for the price.
I don’t know why, but I find the DOA triggers to be superior to the double action triggers on DA/SA guns.
The single-action triggers on the DA/SA guns are as expected, short and crisp.
The double-action triggers are consistent and smith, but you can feel an obstruction at the end your trigger stroke.
The grips that come with the 905 3 inches are useless. The grips are so small that they make it difficult to fire the gun.
The gun comes with Taurus rubber grips that are small, concealable, and acceptable for recoil. If you plan to carry the gun concealed, I would add Goon Tape on the grips.
Install the Taurus 905 grip using a hammer and punch. This would be easier for most people if it was attached with a screw.
It’s easy if you have a punch and hammer. Not everyone owns a punch set.
Aftermarket Grips for Taurus 905 Review
Taurus 905 grips are available in a variety of styles and materials depending on your needs.
Hogue Monogrip
The Hogue monogrip gives you a complete grip.
They do a good job with recoil, but not as well as you’d expect for a 3-inch steel gun.
I’d attribute it to the exposed backstrap. They’re not good for concealed carry, unless you use a holster with a claw like our Icon. They’re too long and will print on holsters without a claw or wing.
I would cover them with Good tape because they are tacky. This may also give you a little extra cushion on the backstrap.
VZ G10 Taurus Grips
VZ produces G10 grips to fit the Taurus 905 The grips are made of G10 and have a good texture. They don’t grab clothes.
They don’t allow a high grip and can really beat your hand when firing the weapon.
I’m not a big fan, but for some strange reason their Smith and Wesson grips work better.
Taurus 905 Laser Grip
Both Viridian & Crimson Trace make laser grips to fit the Taurus small-frame revolvers.
The longer length makes it easier to conceal, but also more difficult.
Pachmayr Grips
They’re thin at the top, but wide at the bottom.
They are well-made and look great. Unfortunately, they are not as good as the other options.
They don’t reduce recoil at all. The thin part at the top digs into my hands. If they were more proportionate, I think they would be a great choice.
The grips on the gun look great.
Amazon Wood Grips
These are a disappointment due to their poor fit and felt recoil.
These were the most expensive items I’ve ever bought. I would have expected a lot more for what they cost. I was disappointed that they were only $10 and cost $65
Uncle Mike’s Combat Grips
They are similar in concealment and profile to Hogue Monogrips but cover the backstrap.
They are easy to use and have a nice texture. They are very good at handling recoil and don’t require goon tape.
Unfortunately, they are no longer being produced. You’ll have to find a used one. If you can find one, they are usually not cheap.
I really like how my 3 inch Talo Taurus 905 revolver appears. I installed the Pachmayr wooden grips, which look amazing.
I’ll probably switch them out for the Hogue monogrip, or another set of Uncle mikes. If I can find them.
Wrap some goon-tape and I will have a awesome post-apocalyptic looking gun. You can dress this gun up or down by changing the grips.
The finish on the standard 2inch DA/SA gun is not as elegant and basic.
The standard 2 inch gun ships with a matte stainless or black oxide finish. In my experience, these finishes are durable and prevent rust very well. However, they don’t have a great look.
The material is porous, so they will collect Kydex and Carbon from your gun and the shooting and carrying of it.
This 905 revolver is no different. 9mm revolvers are known to have a bit of a kick. What grips you use will determine your shooting experience.
The trigger is good enough to get good hits. I was able hit a golfball at 10 yards using 115 grain CCI Bulk ammunition.
The sight will be a limiting element, especially when shooting at speed.
Street prices for the Talo Taurus 905 revolver tend to be around $400 and the MSRP is just below $500.
I think the 3 inch guns are a better value. Due to the cheaper full-power ammo, I use this primarily as a trainer. It is a great deal. The current ammo prices will have me paying for the gun with 2000 rounds.
So I don’t have anything to complain about.
The biggest disadvantage is that I was not set up to use moon clips. I had to purchase the tools to use moon clips. The tools to load and unload the moon clips plus the cost of the tools was almost $200.
You can make your unloading tool, but you risk damaging the clips if you don’t. This means you need to buy another 1000 rounds to break even.
The finish, sights and the ability to fire 9mm rounds are a great value.
This gun has one problem. The ejector stick. The small spring was not assembled correctly.
I’m going take it apart to see if I can repair it. I won’t be carrying the gun at this time.
I have a lot guns, so it’s not an issue for me to have one that’s not 100%. For many others, this could be a deal-breaker.
It is alarming that this gun left the factory with such a problem. We hope you found our Taurus 905 review useful.
Tell us what you think about the Taurus 905 in the comments section below.
Pros
Price
Finish
Front Sight Options
Cons
Rear Sight
Heavier Trigger
Grip options
