Some guns — such as this Taurus 650 — should never go away. It should always be available and everybody ought to have one in their collection. It’s just too practical and useful not to have. I’ll bet you’ve got a few guns you think every responsible gun owner should have; I’d love to hear from you about that. In the meantime, please allow me to make the case for this one.
Taurus 650, technically the CIA 650, is a steel, snub-nosed .357 Magnum revolver that shoots reliably and accurately and conceals easily. And if I had to end this article right here, I could. But let’s break down these descriptive elements and see how this gun qualifies for one that should never go away.
First, it’s made of steel. As such, it is very strong and durable and, in concert with the excellent rubber stocks, it helps absorb a bit of the recoil of the rounds you’re shooting out of it. Which is good for .38 Specials but great for .357 Magnums. Despite being a steel gun, the Taurus 650 weighs only 24 ounces. Other guns with twice the capacity weigh less than this, yes, but the point is that this is a very reasonable weight for a concealed carry gun, all other factors considered.
Second, it’s a snub-nosed revolver. While this means it is easier to conceal, it does not necessarily mean it is less accurate. Granted, it’s not a long-range gun. But, at self-defense distances, it will put the rounds where you aim them. And, if the distance is reduced to zero, you can press the snubby muzzle up against a target and the gun will still fire repeatedly.
Third, it’s a .357 Magnum. While I’m not advocating .357s as your first choice in self-defense ammo, at least it’s available as an option. But there’s also very capable .38 Special +P ammo available today, too.
Fourth, it’s a revolver. Today’s auto-loading pistols are very good and very reliable, but there’s even less opportunity for something to go mechanically wrong with a revolver. And, in a sense, they’re easier to operate. Aim, squeeze trigger. Repeat as needed. With an autoloader, if something goes wrong (a failure to go into battery, failure to eject, etc.), it’s tap, rack or some other combination of drills to clear and get back to ready. With a revolver, if a round doesn’t fire, just squeeze the trigger again to advance to the next round.
Besides basic concealed carry duty, the Taurus 650 — properly stored or carried — is a great backcountry gun, car gun, house gun and more. Other reasons I like the Taurus CIA 650? The rubber stocks provide excellent purchase and absorption of recoil, but they don’t get hung up on clothing. It shares the same specs as most other snub-nosed carry guns and so there’s a host of accessories available for it. Its retail price is $539 (but you can find it for less). Plus, it’s a classic, good-looking gun.
Related: Taurus 651 Protector .357 Magnum: Proven Versatile Value
More info at: taurususa.com
