Taurus 617
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 51 mm
- Weight, empty
- 794 g
- Introduced
- 2001
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Taurus 617 is a compact, seven-shot, double-action/single-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum that also accepts .38 Special ammunition. Built on a medium-compact frame, the 617 distinguishes itself from the smaller five-shot Taurus 605 by offering two additional rounds in a slightly larger but still concealable package. The 2-inch barrel model weighs 28 ounces (794g) with an overall length of 6.625 inches (168mm) and a height of 5.3 inches (135mm). The stainless steel construction throughout the frame, cylinder, and barrel provides excellent corrosion resistance and durability. Fixed front and rear sights are designed for fast, instinctive point shooting at typical self-defense distances. The soft rubber grip helps manage the significant recoil of .357 Magnum loads from the short barrel. Safety features include a transfer bar mechanism and the Taurus Security System (TSS), an integral key-lock that allows the owner to disable the action. With 125-grain .357 Magnum loads from the 2-inch barrel, muzzle velocity is approximately 1,200 fps (366 m/s), producing around 686 joules of muzzle energy. The seven-shot capacity is a notable advantage over competing five- and six-shot snubnose revolvers.
Taurus's revolver manufacturing expertise traces back to their acquisition of the Smith & Wesson factory in Brazil, giving them access to decades of refined revolver-building knowledge that continues to influence their designs today.
The Taurus 617 occupies a unique niche as a seven-shot compact .357 Magnum revolver, offering two more rounds than the five-shot Taurus 605 and one more than most competing six-shot models. The additional capacity comes at the cost of slightly increased size and weight-the 617 weighs 28 ounces compared to the 605's 24 ounces. The rifling twist rate is 1:18.75 inches (476mm) right-hand twist, matching the 605 and optimized for 125-grain bullets. Some variants feature ported barrels to reduce muzzle flip, while the concealed hammer (DAO) variant eliminates the spur for snag-free drawing from concealment. The 617 was also offered in a blued carbon steel finish at a lower price point. Loaded weight estimate includes seven .357 Magnum cartridges at approximately 13g each. The muzzle velocity and energy figures represent 125-grain JHP .357 Magnum loads from the 2-inch barrel; significant velocity loss occurs compared to 4-inch or longer barrels. Many owners prefer .38 Special +P loads for practice and defensive carry due to substantially reduced recoil and muzzle blast in the compact frame.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Taurus
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- Brazil
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2001
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 51 mm
- Overall length
- 168 mm
- Height
- 135 mm
- Width
- 38 mm
- Weight, empty
- 794 g
- Weight, loaded
- 885 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Double action
- Firing mechanism
- Double action single action
- Trigger
- Double action
- Trigger pull
- 20.0 N
- Capacity
- 7
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Stainless steel
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Finish
- Matte stainless
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 366 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 686 J
- Effective range
- 25 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Compact frame
Seven shot cylinder
Fixed sights
Rubber grips
Recessed ejection rod
Dual caliber capability- Concealed carry optimized
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 79 .357 Magnum pistols | 794 g | 965 g | Lighter than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 78 .357 Magnum pistols | 168 mm | 236 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 79 .357 Magnum pistols | 51 mm | 102 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 79 .357 Magnum pistols | 7 | 6 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the Taurus 617
How much does the Taurus 617 weigh?
The Taurus 617 weighs 794 g (1.75 lb) empty and 885 g (1.95 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Taurus 617?
The Taurus 617 is chambered in .357 Magnum and .38 Special.
How many rounds does the Taurus 617 hold?
The Taurus 617 holds 7 rounds.
How long is the Taurus 617?
The Taurus 617 is 168 mm (6.61 in) long overall, with a 51 mm (2.01 in) barrel.
Who makes the Taurus 617?
The Taurus 617 is made by Taurus (Brazil).
When was the Taurus 617 introduced?
The Taurus 617 was introduced in 2001.
How does the Taurus 617 operate?
The Taurus 617 uses a double action, and its firing mechanism is double action single action.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Civilian Concealed Carriers
- United States
- Brazilian Security Personnel
- Brazil
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/taurus-617' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "taurus-617", "name": "Taurus 617", "manufacturer": { "id": "taurus", "name": "Taurus", "countryCode": "BR", "foundedYear": 1939, "website": "https://www.taurususa.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "71240218613bda05e45296e8997918c10d23b1d7627e46a424bd7e516e0fdffb" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "BR", "year_introduced": 2001, "barrel_length_mm": 51, "weight_empty_g": 794, "action_type": "double_action"}