Taurus Deputy .45 Colt Single-Action Revolver Review

Cowboy Up With The New 5.5-Inch Taurus Deputy 

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The single-action revolver with a large hole in the barrel has been a constant carry companion for over 150 years. Carrying a firearm while out and about in the wilderness, camping, hiking, fishing, or exploring to see what is on the other side of the hill seems only prudent. None of this is a new concept. The earliest settlers kept flintlock rifles and pistol muskets handy for peace of mind against nature’s threats—both four- and two-legged—and basic survival preparedness. The same trend continued as Europeans and then Americans spread westward. This practice continues today with a modern rendition—Taurus Deputy .45 Colt (also offered in .357 Magnum).  

Behind The New Taurus Deputy 

There is something wistful about the Taurus Deputy single-action revolver. It points like an extension of your index finger and the cocking of the hammer comes naturally and does not feel like a detriment to performance. Being able to manually rotate the cylinder allows a selection of rounds to be carried on board in case a snake or another target of opportunity presents itself—a real asset. The nostalgic sentiment just pushes you toward the Taurus Deputy. This is directly connected to Hollywood westerns with Colt Peacemakers in the hands of John Wayne, Glenn Ford, and Jimmy Stewart, making it an icon in the minds of the American gun culture. Single-action revolvers have experienced a resurgence of late as symbolized by the popularity of shooting events and associations catering to members who cannot resist the allure of firearms associated with the American West. Mark my words, the Taurus Deputy will be well received.  

The Taurus Deputy arrives with a deep satin black finish. The hammer is there begging to be pulled rearward to rotate one of the six cylinders into place to send lead downrange. There’s nothing like the sound of a single-action cylinder rotating into place. Kinda like the guttural appeal of a pump action shotgun being racked. The Taurus Deputy is equipped with a transfer bar safety system enabling a full load of six stubby .45 Colt cartridges. The transfer bar safety is a prudent improvement over vintage single-action revolvers. It acts as a barrier between the hammer and the cartridge, ensuring that the gun will only fire when the trigger is pulled. Back in the day, the prudent cowboy rolled around with only five rounds keeping the hammer nestled over an empty cylinder as a sudden jar or drop would have the hammer touching off the cartridge. 

Ammunition For The Taurus Deputy 

Speaking of ammunition, the original 1873 Colt Peacemaker .45 Colt black powder load “that won the west” had a 255-grain lead round nose bullet fired at 1,050 fps. This is nothing to smirk at. Its effective reputation against man and beast makes sense. This load was watered down a few years after introduction reportedly because soldiers complained it was too stout. The introduction of the S&W Schofield into the armory also occurred. The original .45 Colt load did not fare well with the Schofield. So instead of the nightmare of two separate .45 Colt loads the Army Supply Corps went with what worked in both which turned out to be 250 grains of .45 caliber lead at nearly 800 fps. This makes more sense than the soldiers complaining about having any impact. The story seems similar to the modern-day 10MM Auto that eventually got diluted down to the .40 S&W—but I digress. Today’s .45 Colt cowboy action loads shove 255 grains at 725 fps. More modern loads exist. For example, Hornady offers modern 185-grain FTX and 225-grain FTX bullets at 900+fps that are safe to use with the 1873 clones.  

Taurus Deputy On The Range 

It had been a very long time since I handled a single-action revolver before working on this Hook & Barrel Taurus INSIDER review. The Taurus Deputy was a pleasure to fire. The shape of the single action’s grip has always been an asset. The notch rear sight and front blade reminded me of the benefits of modern iron sights and had me smooching my red dot when I got back to it. Even with that said, at 7 yards I had five Black Hills Ammunition “Cowboy” 255-grain .45 Colt bullets placed into a jagged hole before dropping out the sixth. I dug out several old leather holsters and indulged myself in carrying the Taurus Deputy while riding a four-wheeler around the property. 

I resisted the urge for any quick draw “fanning” action with the Deputy…but it was a close call. The Deputy presented from the holster with the hammer naturally cocked in preparation for firing. If in a hurry to sling some lead the support hand’s thumb is the go-to for rotating the next cylinder into place. Six rounds can be sent downrange pretty damn quickly. That is where the speed stops though, as reloading has its own pace of hand ejecting empty brass out of the swiveling loading gate with rod offset under the barrel and then inserting fresh round. The photos of multiple single actions carried on one’s person or attached on a saddle are pretty self-explanatory when it comes to having any semblance of firepower past the first six.  

The nostalgia represented by the balancing act of terminal performance/recoil generated and the size/weight of the weapon of a single-action revolver is hard to improve upon. The Taurus Deputy is just handy to carry. Hard to believe it weighs 38 ounces. The 5.5-inch barrel (4 ¾-inch option is available) presents quickly out of any holsters the Taurus Deputy finds itself in. You are not always worried about a charging bear when in the woods. The six-shot Deputy cylinder facilitates the mixing of loads. For example, a couple of CCI .45 Colt shotshells can be staged in the cylinder along with standard .45 Colt rounds. This is awfully handy when encountering a snake unexpectedly or other vermin. Another use is potting a rabbit or squirrel that wanders into close range. It is much easier to hit a small target with a shot pattern than a single projectile.  

Parting Shot 

The single-action revolver harkens back to a special setting in our American psyche. It’s analogous to the medieval knight’s broadsword or a samurai’s katana in terms of pride—intended always to be on your person both due to its lethality and its role as a warrior talisman. The Taurus Deputy is a solid representation of this.  

Single Action Revolver Timeline

Day 1—First there was light

Day 6—God made man 

1836—Samuel Colt made all men equal 

1847—Colt Walker revolver .44 caliber 

1851—Colt Navy Revolver .36 caliber 

1860—Colt Army Revolver .44 caliber 

1873—Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker) 45Colt 

2024—Taurus Deputy Single Action Revolver 

Specifications: Taurus Deputy 5-inch .45 Colt 

CALIBER: .45 Colt  

ACTION: Single Action Revolver 

BARREL: 5.5 inches 

OA LENGTH: 11.4 inches 

WEIGHT: 38.2 ounces (empty) 

SIGHTS: Rear notch front blade 

FINISH: Deep Satin Black 

CAPACITY: 6 

MSRP: $606 

URL: taurususa.com

Performance: Taurus Deputy 5.5-inch .45 Colt