The Taurus 605 Defender's compact size gets consistent positive mention. It carries well and the 3-inch barrel avoids some of the concealability issues of longer revolvers. Night sights and the Hogue grip are specifically called out as practical upgrades over bare-bones snub variants.
Reliability is generally well-regarded, which matters more in a revolver than in a semi-auto given the simpler action. Users who shoot both calibers note that .38 Special is comfortable through the Hogue grip; full-power .357 Magnum is manageable but demanding.
The double-action trigger pull is reported as heavier than some shooters expect, which can affect accuracy until the shooter adapts. At 40 oz it is notably heavy for a 5-shot revolver, though that weight helps absorb recoil.
Finish wear and Taurus quality control come up occasionally in critical reviews. The 5-round capacity versus semi-auto options is a genuine tradeoff that prospective buyers weigh based on their carry priorities. Customer service response times have drawn some complaints.
AI-generated insights derived from customer reviews and discussions on popular gun-enthusiast forums.