We were tempted to start our Taurus Deputy review with its cowboy good looks, but the real story is its ability to run 9mm, .38 Special and .357 Magnum by simply changing cylinders.
That cylinder-swapping flexibility is what makes the Deputy more than just another cowboy gun. It gives shooters one revolver that can handle casual range work, defensive carry around the home or property, and heavier magnum-duty use in the backwoods, all depending on which cylinder and load are in the gun.
Taurus returned to the single-action revolver category with the Deputy line, initially offering .45 Colt and .357 Magnum models with 4.75- and 5.5-inch barrels, boasting plenty of nostalgic appeal. This latest version adds the practical versatility that makes it far more interesting for today’s shooter.
Plinking, truck-gun duty, homestead varmint patrol, and backwoods defense all feel like fair jobs for this revolver. Swap cylinders, choose the cartridge that fits the task, and the Deputy suddenly becomes a lot more than a nostalgic six-gun.
- You want one revolver for three different cartridges
- You value Old West styling and a crisp trigger
- Its 41.6-ounce weight rules out lightweight carry
- Fixed sights and gate loading demand a traditional approach
Taurus Deputy Design: Steel Construction, 2-Pound Trigger and Fixed Sights
All Deputy models feature modern touches like a transfer bar safety and, at least in my time with the handgun, impressively tight tolerances.
In hand, the Taurus Deputy balances nicely and points naturally and quickly.
Its all-steel construction accounts for the hefty 41.6-ounce unloaded weight. Barrel, frame and cylinders are all steel. The only non-steel parts I could find were the textured black poly grips, which fit my hands nicely and provided a secure hold.
The barrel on my test gun measured 5.5 inches, while overall length came in at 11 inches. The backstrap is wide and gives the shooter plenty of surface area for a solid grip. The single-action trigger on my test Deputy averaged a crisp 2 pounds of pull.
The polished black finish on the barrel, frame and cylinders looks cool, tough and a little mean, in a good way.
How to Swap Cylinders on the Taurus Deputy
The base pin operates easily enough. Press the pin’s release button on the left side of the frame and pull the pin forward and out to release the cylinder. The ejector rod works smoothly, too. A firm rearward push on the ejector tab sends empty brass right out of the open loading gate.
Taurus has used this multi-caliber idea before: the Taurus 692 Executive Grade also uses interchangeable cylinders for 9mm and .357 Magnum/.38 Special.
The Deputy relies on the classic Colt SAA four-click single-action operation. Pull the hammer back to the first click and you’re in the old-school safety notch. The trigger won’t move while the hammer is there. The second click is the loading notch, where the cylinder spins free and, with the loading gate open, rounds can be loaded and unloaded.
The third click doesn’t really do much. Pull the hammer all the way back to click number four and the revolver is ready to fire.
The hammer spur sports crosshatched texturing to help the thumb cock the gun, though I did wish the checkering was a bit deeper for better control.
Taurus Deputy 9mm Range Test: 12-Yard Accuracy
In my review of the Taurus Deputy, I quickly confronted the reality of those Colt SAA-style sights, especially the tiny rear notch cut into the top strap. They work, but they take some practice, particularly for a shooter like me who has largely moved to reflex and red-dot sights.
The half-moon front blade shows up well enough, but there isn’t much room for error given the tight geometry of the rear notch. Let that front blade drift even a little to either side and shots can land several inches off target. I’ve got no doubt younger eyes will handle these sights better than mine.
Still, the learning curve wasn’t too bad.
I started with the 9mm cylinder and Remington UMC 9mm ammunition loaded with 115-grain full metal jacket and jacketed hollow point bullets. Once I got settled in behind the sights, I was able to shoot five-shot groups measuring 1.5 inches from 12 yards off a rest.
At seven yards, shooting offhand, I put two cylinders’ worth of 9mm into a Birchwood Casey Gunslinger target and thoroughly ruined that cowboy’s day.
Taurus Deputy .38 Special and .357 Magnum Range Test
Next, I swapped to the .357 Magnum/.38 Special cylinder.
I started shooting with a couple of .38 Special loads, including Federal Premium Punch .38 Special +P, which launches a 120-grain jacketed hollow point. Accuracy with that load was very good. From 12 yards, I printed a couple of five-shot groups at 2 inches, then finished with a 1.5-inch group.
Then it was time for .357 Magnum.
For this Taurus Deputy review, I fired about 80 rounds of different .357 Magnum loads, from 158-grain full-power Aguila ammunition to Winchester White Box loaded with 110-grain jacketed hollow points. Even with the revolver’s stout weight, the Aguila loads produced serious recoil. That’s just physics when a heavy bullet is moving around 1,500 feet per second.
The Winchester loads produced noticeably less muzzle flip and still delivered sub-2-inch groups at 12 yards.
But the sweet spot, for me, was Black Hills’ .357 Magnum Honey Badger load. That round uses a 127-grain all-copper bullet with aggressive flutes up front, designed to cut and penetrate. Black Hills rates it at 1,365 feet per second from a 6-inch barrel, generating 526 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.
I’ve used that load on hog hunts and know it’s a real pig stopper, thanks in no small part to those cutting flutes.
In the Deputy, the Honey Badger struck a nice balance between power and recoil. Yes, the revolver still kicked and there was still muzzle flip, but both felt manageable. Even after 30 rounds, my wrist wasn’t aching.
Accuracy was very good, too, including a 1.3-inch six-shot group at 12 yards.
If I were hiking in black bear country with the Deputy, that Honey Badger load is what I’d carry.
Can You Use the Taurus Deputy for Cowboy Action Shooting?
For gun people, owning and shooting a handgun like the Deputy creates an instant connection to American history, the Old West and the important role the Colt Single Action Army held in that era.
That’s one reason the Deputy feels like a natural fit for Cowboy Action Shooting.
According to Caleb Giddings, Taurus marketing manager, the new Deputy is a legitimate choice for Cowboy Action Shooting events. However, those competitions require use of the .357 Magnum/.38 Special cylinder and do not allow the 9mm cylinder.
No matter which cylinder is in the gun, the new Deputy carries itself with an unapologetically American Old West mystique.
Who Should Buy the Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder?
The Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder makes the most sense for shooters who want traditional single-action handling without committing to one cartridge. The 9mm cylinder keeps range sessions relatively mild, while the .357 Magnum/.38 Special cylinder accommodates lighter practice loads and more powerful field ammunition. Its weight, crisp trigger and natural balance also make it an approachable entry point into single-action revolvers.
It is less suitable for anyone wanting fast reloads, modern sights or a lightweight defensive handgun. At 41.6 ounces, with a fixed rear notch and loading gate, the Deputy demands more effort than a contemporary double-action revolver. Its appeal lies in combining Old West character with unusual three-cartridge versatility and credible range accuracy.
Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder Review: Final Verdict and Score
- Two cylinders cover 9mm, .38 Special and .357
- 1.3-inch six-shot group at 12 yards
- Crisp 2-pound single-action trigger
- All-steel build with impressively tight tolerances
- Cylinder swaps take seconds with the base pin
- $674.99 including both cylinders and a gun lock
- Tiny SAA rear notch punishes small sight errors
- 41.6 ounces is heavy for its size
- Hammer spur checkering could be deeper
- Product Origin
- Manufacturer sample
- Test Type
- Range — five-shot groups at 12 yards from a rest; offhand shooting at 7 yards
- Rounds Fired
- Around 80 rounds of .357 Magnum; count not stated for 9mm or .38 Special
- Ammunition Tested
- Remington UMC 9mm 115gr FMJ and JHP; Federal Premium Punch .38 Special +P 120gr JHP; Aguila .357 Magnum 158gr; Winchester White Box .357 Magnum 110gr JHP; Black Hills .357 Magnum HoneyBadger 127gr
- Cylinders
- Two — 9mm, and .357 Magnum/.38 Special
- Accessories
- None (factory fixed notch rear, half-moon front blade)
- Tested By
- Brian McCombie
- Range Data — 9mm — Remington UMC
- 1.5 inches, five shots at 12 yards from a rest
- Range Data — .38 Spl — Federal Punch +P
- Two groups at 2 inches, then 1.5 inches, at 12 yards
- Range Data — .357 — Winchester 110gr JHP
- Sub-2 inches at 12 yards
- Range Data — .357 — Black Hills HoneyBadger
- 1.3 inches, six shots at 12 yards
- Chamberings
- .357 Mag / .38 Spl, and 9mm
- Capacity
- 6 rounds
- Action
- Single action
- Barrel
- Steel, 5.5 inches (4.75-inch also offered)
- Frame
- Steel
- Cylinders
- Steel, two included
- Finish
- Polished black
- Sights
- Rear fixed notch, half-moon front blade
- Grips
- Textured black poly
- Safety
- Transfer bar
- Trigger
- Single action, averaged 2 pounds
- Length
- 11 inches
- Weight
- 41.6 ounces
- Included
- Two cylinders, gun lock, owner's manual
- MSRP
- $674.99
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