New Guns 2025: Taurus 817 Revolver Review

It’s an unavoidable fact that the handgun market is flooded with striker-fired 9 mm pistols, 1911s, and a plethora of other models that seemingly blend right in to the sea of black polymer that encompasses the gun industry. Recently, we saw the release of the new Taurus 817, manufactured in its county of origin, Brazil, and which serves as a refreshing splash of variety as we enter the latter half of 2025. 

The 817 is a double-action revolver chambered in .38 Spl+P. Upon closer inspection, many are surprised to find that Taurus has switched things up a bit on this model, increasing the capacity of the 817 to seven rounds. Increased capacity, especially in a revolver being used for concealed carry, is always a welcome addition. With that being said, this revolver does have a bit of heft to it, weighing in at 30.26 oz. unloaded, an attribute that would be much appreciated when it was time for some live-fire testing at the range. The overall width of this revolver is approximately 1.53”, with an overall length and height of 8” and 4.78”, respectively. While the number of individuals who carry a revolver for personal protection is much lower than those who carry a semi-automatic pistol, there is still a strong enough presence that garners the attention of manufacturers.

Year to year we see new releases in the world of wheelguns for both concealed carry purposes, as well as for hunting, competition and recreational use. Keeping CCW in mind, curiosity got the best of me, and I compared it to my current 9 mm subcompact semi-automatic carry gun. Size-wise, the two were pretty darn close, with the revolver only 1.5” longer, .53” wider, and less than a half-inch shorter than my current sidearm. Once again, letting curiosity get the best of me, I holstered the revolver in my typical appendix and 3 o'clock carry positions, and it was surprisingly quite comfortable. Maneuvering stairs, drawing, sitting up and down, chasing the dog down when he escaped out the back door— all of these positions and activities were not impeded by the 817.

The Taurus 817 is a double-action revolver featuring an exposed hammer that allows for manual cocking prior to firing the first round, if desired. I don’t exactly have the longest fingers, and I often find that even with a picture-perfect grip on a revolver, my trigger finger lacks the strength to pull the trigger far enough to the rear. Much to my surprise, during our testing, this was not necessary as I was able to easily and smoothly bring the trigger to the rear.

The action on this revolver is made safe by way of a transfer bar. For those who have glazed over the term but never really given it much attention, a transfer bar is a safety mechanism on a revolver designed to prevent accidental firing by ensuring that the hammer can only strike the firing pin when the trigger is pulled. If the trigger is not actively being pulled, this piece remains out of the way of the hammer, staying clear of the firing pin. When you then pull the trigger, the transfer bar moves into place, subsequently being struck by the hammer and transferring that energy to the firing pin, thereby firing the round.

Sight-wise, the rear sight is a fixed notch milled into the top strap, with the front blade being removable and interchangeable with Taurus 856 sights. This is a bonus, especially for anyone entertaining the idea of installing night sights on this revolver, allowing for much better visibility in low-light scenarios. Another cross-compatibility feature comes into play with speed loaders. Speedloaders that are designed for other seven-shot Taurus revolvers, like the Model 66, are also compatible with the Taurus 817. 

For our live-fire testing, we selected options from Remington, Underwood, and Black Hills. Specifically, we chose Remington's UMC 130gr. FMJ, Underwood's 100gr. Xtreme Defender, and Black Hills' 148gr. HBWC. As expected, each round functioned without any issue whatsoever, with average group sizes averaging around the two to 3 inch mark when shot at a distance of 12 yards. One of the things that stood out the most to me when shooting this revolver was the lack of muzzle flip with each shot. This revolver, although small, wasn't snappy and therefore led to an extended range session after testing was complete, just to bang away at some steel for fun. Whenever a gun of any sort has a little bit of weight to it, it is nice for it to have additional features to help secure a better grip, whether that be stippling, rubberized grips, or a number of other features. The rubber grips on the 817 are the same as those used on the Taurus Judge and Taurus Tracker. During handling and firing, the revolver stayed put in my hands and did not slip or shift at any point during the firing process. Even when the heat of the sun was beating down and my palms began to get a little damp, the gun stayed nice and secure.

In a market saturated with black polymer striker-fired semi-automatic pistols, the Taurus 817 stands out as a refreshing reminder to switch things up. Variety is the spice of life, and if nothing else, another excuse to expand your gun collection. Whether you decide to carry it for personal protection or simply use it to bang away at steel, you can’t go wrong with this revolver. With its increased capacity, thoughtful design, and soft-shooting nature, you will be glad you branched out. For more information, visit taurususa.com.

Specifications:
Model: 817 Revolver
Manufacturer: Taurus (made in Brazil)
Caliber: .38 Special +P
Front Sight: Removable
Rear Sight: Notch
Cylinders Included: 1
Action Type: DA/SA
Frame Size: Medium
Barrel Length: 2”
Overall Length: 8”
Overall Height: 4.78”
Overall Width: 1.53“
Overall Weight: 30.26 oz.
Frame Material: Stainless Steel
Frame Finish: Matte Stainless
Cylinder Material: Stainless Steel
Cylinder Finish: Matte Stainless
Barrel Finish: Matte Stainless
Safety: Transfer Bar
MSRP: $713.99