Taurus Model 66
- Category
- Revolver
- Barrel
- 102 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.08 kg
- Introduced
- 1978
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Taurus Model 66 is a Brazilian-made double-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum (also accepting .38 Special). Introduced in 1978 as a six-shot medium-frame wheelgun, it gained an additional chamber in 1999 to become a seven-shot revolver. Built on a stainless steel frame with a swing-out cylinder, exposed hammer, transfer-bar safety, and adjustable rear sight, it is offered with 4-inch and 6-inch barrels and is positioned as an affordable .357 Magnum service and sporting revolver.
Taurus built its reputation in the North American market on medium-frame .357 Magnum revolvers like the Model 66, offering a lower-cost alternative to comparable Smith & Wesson K-frame and L-frame wheelguns.
Originally a six-shot revolver; capacity was increased to seven rounds in 1999. Commonly fitted with the Taurus integral hammer lock (Taurus Security System).
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Taurus
- Category
- Revolver
- Country
- Brazil
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1978
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 102 mm
- Overall length
- 267 mm
- Height
- 145 mm
- Width
- 38 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.08 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Revolving
- Firing mechanism
- Double action
- Trigger
- Double action
- Capacity
- 7
- Magazine
- Revolving cylinder
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Stainless steel
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Stock
- Rubber
- Finish
- Matte stainless
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 440 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 784 J
- Effective range
- 50 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.
Adjustable rear sight
Ramp front sight
Exposed hammer
Swing out cylinder
Soft rubber grips
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 53 .357 Magnum revolvers | 1.08 kg | 1.10 kg | Near the median |
| Overall lengthAmong 50 .357 Magnum revolvers | 267 mm | 245 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 53 .357 Magnum revolvers | 102 mm | 107 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 53 .357 Magnum revolvers | 7 | 6 | Holds more rounds than about 90% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Taurus Model 66
How much does the Taurus Model 66 weigh?
The Taurus Model 66 weighs 1.08 kg (2.37 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Taurus Model 66?
The Taurus Model 66 is chambered in .357 Magnum.
How many rounds does the Taurus Model 66 hold?
The Taurus Model 66 holds 7 rounds, fed from a revolving cylinder.
How long is the Taurus Model 66?
The Taurus Model 66 is 267 mm (10.51 in) long overall, with a 102 mm (4.02 in) barrel.
Who makes the Taurus Model 66?
The Taurus Model 66 is made by Taurus (Brazil).
When was the Taurus Model 66 introduced?
The Taurus Model 66 was introduced in 1978.
How does the Taurus Model 66 operate?
The Taurus Model 66 uses a revolving action, and its firing mechanism is double 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.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
80%
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-model-66' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "taurus-model-66", "name": "Taurus Model 66", "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": "revolver", "name": "Revolver", "description": "Handguns with a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers" }, "country_of_origin": "BR", "year_introduced": 1978, "barrel_length_mm": 102, "weight_empty_g": 1077, "action_type": "revolving"}