Since January 1, 2001, no handgun may be manufactured within California, imported into California for sale, lent, given, kept for sale, or offered/exposed for sale unless that handgun model has passed firing, safety, and drop tests and is certified for sale in the state by the California Department of Justice. As a result, many popular handguns aren’t offered for sale in the Golden State.
However, Taurus has announced that its 856 T.O.R.O. and 605 T.O.R.O. (Taurus Optics Ready Option) revolvers have been added to the California DoJ’s roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, commonly called “the roster.”
“I’m thrilled to have the T.O.R.O. revolvers on the California roster,” said Caleb Giddings, general manager of marketing at Taurus. “With their addition to the roster, residents of California now have access to three of the fantastic revolver products we’ve introduced in the past couple of years. They can have a .357 Magnum T.O.R.O., a .38 Special six-shot T.O.R.O., or the hand-built 856 Executive Grade. We’re committed to providing quality defensive firearms to the law-abiding citizens of California.”
The Taurus T.O.R.O. revolvers were designed to address one of the most common complaints about small frame revolvers – namely the sights, a problem that can be easily addressed by adding an optic. When the new compact handguns were launched in 2023, the T.O.R.O. revolvers became the first-ever mass-market CCW revolvers that allowed users to mount a red dot sight. The optic plate secures to the top strap of the revolver and supports any sight that utilizes the Shield RMSc or Holosun K-series footprint.
The 856 T.O.R.O. and 605 T.O.R.O. models also feature CCW-friendly compact grips to provide recoil reduction and enhanced concealment, a black ramp front sight, and a stainless steel cylinder. A smooth target-style trigger enhances the shooter’s ability to shoot fast and accurately
Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O. Specs:
- Caliber: .38 Special +P
- Capacity: 6 Rounds
- Sights: Removable Front Sight/Fixed Rear Sight
- Magazines: One (1)
- Action Type: Double-Action/Single-Action
- Frame Size: Small
- Twist Rate: 1:16.5 RH Twist
- Grooves: Six (6)
- Barrel Length: 3-inches
- Overall Length: 7.50-inches
- Overall Height: 4.80-inches
- Overall Width: 1.40-inches
- Overall Weight: 23.50 (Unloaded)
- Frame Material: Stainless Steel
- Frame Finish: Matte Black/Matte Stainless
- Cylinder Material: Stainless Steel
- Cylinder Finish: Matte Black/Matte Stainless
- Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
- Barrel Finish: Matte Black/Matte Stainless
- Safety: Transfer Bar
Taurus Defender 605 T.O.R.O. /Specs:
- Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special +P
- Capacity: 5 Rounds
- Sights: Removable Front Sight/Fixed Rear Sight
- Magazines: One (1)
- Action Type: Double-Action/Single-Action
- Frame Size: Small
- Twist Rate: 1:16.5 RH Twist
- Grooves: Six (6)
- Barrel Length: 3-inches
- Overall Length: 7.50-inches
- Overall Height: 4.80-inches
- Overall Width: 1.41-inches
- Overall Weight: 23.52 (Unloaded)
- Frame Material: Stainless Steel
- Frame Finish: Matte Black/Matte Stainless
- Cylinder Material: Stainless Steel
- Cylinder Finish: Matte Black/Matte Stainless
- Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
- Barrel Finish: Matte Black/Matte Stainless
- Safety: Transfer Bar
The Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O. is available now with an MSRP of $445.99 in matte black or $460.99 in stainless steel; while the Taurus 605 T.O.R.O. is also at retail with an MSRP of $450.99 in matte black and $470.99 in stainless steel. Both have been added to the California DoJ’s roster of Handguns Certified for Sale.
