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I got a 4" stainless steel Model 66 Taurus---in 357. I'm going to put in 125 grain HP 38 special + P ammo. Sound about right?

Also the 66 is a six shot-----What is it a clone of from Smith & Wesson?

You'd be better off, IMO, with +P 158 grain lead, semi-wadcutter, hollowpoints. Four inches is plenty to generate enough velocity to expand nicely. Not sure which model S&W it replicates. Perhaps a Model 66 Combat Magnum.

Replica nothing, it just has a similar model designation as the Smith. There is no correlation whatsoever. They may fit in the same sized box however.

My understanding is that they actually started in business by taking over a factory that was manufacturing S&W revolvers. They just started making S&W revolvers and labelled them Taurus.

Yes, the Taurus model 66 is very similar to the Smith model 66. I would say you're on the money with 125 grain +P JHP. That is the same load I stoke my Colt Official Police with that resides in my bedroom. Extremely effective stopper. The standard round of choice many years ago, before the +P, was the 158 grain lead RN.

It wasn't so much a matter of choice as being the only loading available in the old days. To make it more effective, people used to split them two or four ways nearly down to the cartridge mouth. They called them "dum dums."

If it were me I would load a 357 with 357, the 357 is higher on the food chain than a 38 +P

Problem is flash in the dark blinding the shooter. Remember, this is a nightstand gun, not a service gun.

From 1970-1977 Taurus and S&W were both owned by Bangor Punta, which considered them 'sister' companies. The bulk of Taurus's revolver line are S&W copies with a coil main spring.

You're probably thinking of the Beretta clones. Beretta won a military contract in Brazil with the caveat of building a plant there. When the contract expired Taurus purchased the factory.

If your going to use 38+P's. Try the Gold Dot 135gr. 38+P short barrel ammo. It was designed to produce less muzzle flash according to the manufacturer. I've used it in 1 7/8" to 3" & 4" revolvers.

I would either go with Buffalo Bore .38 Special 158 gr. LSWC-HP +P or the Remington mid-magnum .357 loading with a 125 gr. jacketed hollowpoint at 1,250 fps. Either would be more effective than the regular flavor .38 Special +P and still be easily handled.

Two similar stories having basically the same effect. I guess I got them crossed.

I have had two of the Taurus model 66's, and they are near clones of the S&W version. Good guns. I kept 357 125gr HP's in mine.

Buffalo Bore ammo is loaded with a low flash powder, probable others as well. Flash would be the least of my worries if I needed to use the revolver to defend my home. The 357 is considerably noreeffective than any 38 +P

My wife's nightstand 2 1/2" Security Six is loaded with 129 gr Federal 38 Sp +P Hydrashok's. It is what she is comfortable shooting and she does shoot it well. I am confident in the total package.

Have you ever tried the Gold Dot 135gr short barrel 38+P's? Try them you/she might like them.

I would load the Winchester .38 Special 158 gr. LSWC-HP or the so called FBI Load

A couple of these on the nightstand (appropriately connected) are comforting...

Claymore detonators??

For night-stand duty, I prefer calibers beginning with "4". In the revolver world this would be a good choice:



That said, if all I had were a .38-.357, I wouldn't choose a snub-nose or other small revolver: you're not carrying the darn thing, so why not have a little bit longer barrel which will dampen recoil and muzzle rise and thus speed shot to shot time? Something like this would suffice, with Buffalo Bore 158 LSWC +P ammo this Smith & Wesson postwar Heavy Duty is a soft-shooter: