Via Safariland by Kat Stevens
While many gun owners associate Taurus with affordably priced firearms, the reality is that the company’s history and vision reaches far beyond that. Taurus has been in the business of designing and manufacturing firearms for almost a century and in that time has gone through countless changes.
The company that some might believe is simply a gateway to getting into guns is really one worth knowing more about, and we’re going to tell you why. Welcome to the wide world of Taurus firearms.
WHEN WAS TAURUS FOUNDED?
Taurus technically got its start in 1939 as Forjas Taurus S.A., which is the conglomerate behind the company’s creation. The parent company was located in Sao Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and got its start in tool and die forging.
Today the gun arm of the company is known as Taurus here in the United States but Taurus Armas is its actual division title. Furthermore, in 1982, Taurus Holdings, Inc. was formed in Georgia.
Taurus Holdings, Inc., is the holding company over three brands: Taurus, Heritage, and Rossi. As time has gone by, the vast majority of Taurus’ firearms sales have taken place in the United States. The Brazilian-founded gun maker has successfully carved out a niche in the American firearms world.
WHERE ARE TAURUS GUNS MADE?
Although the company got its start in Brazil, over time the manufacturing process moved. For some time, Taurus firearms were distributed through Miami, Florida. Today, they manufacture handguns out of a facility in Bainbridge, Georgia that was officially opened in 2019. Certain models are still imported from the main Taurus Armas facility in Brazil.
WHO MAKES TAURUS GUNS?
Taurus manufactures their own firearms. There’s often confusion regarding whether another manufacturer is involved in the production of Taurus firearms, but these guns are entirely backed by the Taurus name.
THE G SERIES
The Taurus G Series of handguns includes a variety of firearms. It covers the gun maker’s flagship family of pistols in all sizes—compact, full-size, and hybrid—from the G1 to the current G4 generations.
The G Series guns are made for carry and defensive applications. This includes models such as the Taurus G3, G3C, G3X, and G3XL. There’s also the micro-compact GX4 and all its iterations, and the G2 line. And if you’re curious about the G1 guns, check out the Pt 111 Millenium G1.
The G3 line is designed as a technologically advanced take on the classic striker-fired platform. The gun maker describes it as being innovative and range-friendly—and designed for EDC (everyday carry). The Taurus G3C is the compact of the line and is a gun that’s easier to conceal while remaining large enough to wield smoothly.
Within the G3 family of guns is also the Taurus G3 Tactical which has iron sights made for co-witnessing with red dot sights. It also features an accessory rail in front of the trigger guard.
Safariland offers holsters for a variety of Taurus firearms including the G Series. If you want to carry the G3C concealed, try the Safariland Species IWB Holsterwhich is specifically designed for superior concealment and retention. The Species IWB Holster for the G3C is available in black with a right-hand draw.
THE TAURUS JUDGE
The Taurus Judge is a five-shot revolver that’s made to be compatible with both 45 Colt and 410 Bore ammunition. That means yes, it can fire both a handgun cartridge and a shotshell. It was launched in 2006 as a more versatile option for defensive use. It’s offered in several barrel lengths including 3-inches, 4-inches, and 6.5-inches.
Over time the original Taurus Judge resulted in variants such as the Raging Judge which takes not only 45 Colt and 410 Bore but 454 Casull. There’s also the Raging Judge XXVIII which was made for 28 gauge and never entered production, and the Circuit Judge Carbine (which is exactly what it sounds like, a carbine version of the original revolver). Ever so often there are rumors about different variants of the Judge coming out and it makes sense that Taurus will eventually release yet another style of the popular revolver.
While the Taurus Judge most often sees use as a plinking or fun gun, it’s also great for some pests and varmints for handgun hunting. Some gun owners do use the Judge as a carry gun or home defense firearm as well. Whatever you use your Judge for, take care to select the correct ammunition for the task at hand.
DOES TAURUS MAKE 1911S?
Many gun owners associate Taurus with polymer pistols thanks to the popularity of guns like the G3C—and revolvers because of the Judge—but Taurus does make others.
The Taurus 1911 line includes handguns chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum and 45 ACP. Sizes include Commander and Government models as well as some Officer-size models. These 1911s give gun owners interested in getting into the 1911 world an easy entry into the platform. Thanks to the variety within the line of Taurus 1911s, gun owners can choose the size and caliber that best suits their needs and personal preferences.
WHAT IS THE TAURUS T.O.R.O.?
Well worth a mention is the Taurus T.O.R.O. family of handguns. The T.O.R.O. stands for Taurus Optics Ready Options and refers to handguns that ship from the factory compatible with red dot sights. This line isn’t limited to striker-fired guns, either; the T.O.R.O. includes revolvers and G-Series guns like the G3. The Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O. and Defender 605 T.O.R.O. have the distinction of being the first mass-produced optics-ready revolvers designed for defensive applications.
With the creation of T.O.R.O. guns, Taurus successfully ushered in an era of modernization and superior performance for revolvers. Not only did the gun maker draw more attention to revolvers in general but they made it clear revolvers aren’t tools of the past but weapons designed for the future.
SHOULD YOU GET ONE?
Taurus continues to make advances in quality control and overall design, and that means it’s a good idea to consider adding one of their guns to your firearms collection. Whether you’re interested in concealed carry, handgun hunting, or range time, Taurus has a gun that will fulfill that need.
Read in its entirety at inside.safariland.com.
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