Firearm: Taurus 327 Defender T.O.R.O. Revolver (MSRP: $553.99)
So, there are many cool things about one of the newest revolvers from Taurus, the 327 Defender TORO. First, there’s the chambering: .327 Federal Magnum. If you’ve read Shooting Illustrated magazine, particularly our Ammo column, you know our Ammo editor Richard Mann is a big fan of this cartridge. Ballistically, it falls somewhere between .38 Special/standard 9 mm and .357 Magnum in muzzle energy, making it a perfectly solid choice for a defensive handgun. Since it can also chamber and fire the less powerful .32 H&R Magnum and .32 S&W cartridges, it has softer-shooting options for practice or plinking. It also gives the 327 a capacity of six rounds, compared to five for 38 Special in the same-size revolver.
Second, there’s the TORO part – that stands for Taurus Optic-Ready Option. With a plate set up to accommodate both RMSc- and Holosun K-footprint optics, it is now nearly as easy to put a powered optic on your revolver as it is on a standard, optics-ready semi-auto. Bolt the plate to the top of the revolver, where pre-set holes are already waiting, then secure the optic to the plate. Yes, that does mean that you need to tighten and/or Loctite two sets of screws, but remember this is on the topstrap of a revolver, not a moving pistol slide.
The third cool thing is part of the specs we normally list for handguns, the barrel length of three inches. That’s been considered the ideal length for a fighting revolver, as it gives enough room for a full ejector rod to remove spent cases from the cylinder while keeping the barrel short enough to conceal easily. This gives the 327 an overall length of 7.5 inches, a height of 4.8 inches (without optic) and a weight of 23.5 ounces (unloaded and, again, without optic). That’s easily in the realm of a concealed-carry handgun.
More cool things can be found in the bobbed hammer, keeping the 327 snag-resistant and leaving it as a dedicated fighting revolver. There are two different grips included with the gun, too—there’s a boot grip style rubber grip that’s slightly shorter to prevent printing when carried concealed as well as a full three-finger grip for more control when shooting the 327.
Interesting chambering, optics-capable and built for concealed carry? While we’re not saying that Taurus’s 327 Defender TORO revolver is the ultimate concealed-carry wheelgun, it checks just about all the boxes. In any case, it’s a six-shot alternative to the standard five-shot 38 Special, and there’s an awful lot of coolness in one revolver.
Holster: PHLster City Special Revolver Holster (MSRP: $88)
A revolver custom built for concealed carry should have a holster that’s equally suited for the task, which is why we’ve opted for the PHLster City Special Revolver holster for the Taurus 327 Defender Toro. This particular City Special is cut for revolvers with optics, which is pretty much the 327 Defender TORO and the 856 TORO at present time. It also offers adjustable retention, a tuckable clip and a small wedge to help tuck the rig into the body to aid in concealment.
The City Special Revolver holster is ambidextrous and offers a medium-height sweat guard to protect the firearm’s finish and to keep the metal separate from clothing. Retention is adjustable with a single screw, and the City Special is also compatible with grip-based laser aiming systems. It can also be used with PHLster’s Enigma system for those who want the ultimate in deep-concealment.
Optic: Gideon Optics Judge Red-Dot Sight (MSRP: $269.99)
Okay, I’m not gonna lie. The thought of putting an optic named “Judge” on a Taurus revolver? That sealed the deal on the Gideon Optics Judge red-dot sight for me. But, that’s not all the Judge has going for it. With its 7075-T6 aluminum construction, the Judge is shock- and water-resistant to IPX7 standards. Powered by a single CR 2032 battery, a claimed 50,000 hours of run time is achieved via a shake-awake-style power management system that turns off the unit when not in motion and turns it back on when motion is detected.
The 3-MOA dot is available as either a red or green dot, and is available with eight daytime brightness settings and two settings compatible with night vision. Windage and elevation adjustments are made via simple, 1-MOA-per-click dial accessed via a small, flat-head screwdriver. The Judge even comes with a small Picatinny-compatible rail mount to further increase its utility. And, you get all this for significantly less than $300.
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