Are Taurus revolvers any good, or does the right speedloader matter more?
Worth it
Why the revolver in your hand matters less than the reload
Your cylinder's empty, the timer's still running, and your hands are shaking a little from the last string. You're feeding six loose rounds into the chambers one at a time while the shooter next to you snaps a full cylinder shut with a single twist and gets straight back to the target. That's usually the moment someone starts asking whether Taurus revolvers are any good, right after watching somebody else's gear make the exact same gun look faster. The revolver was never the problem. The reload was.
How the HKS speedloader actually loads six rounds at once
A speedloader's whole job is to turn six separate motions into one. The HKS twist-knob loader holds six rounds by their rims in a star pattern, spring-loaded metal points gripping the case heads so nothing rattles loose in a range bag or a nightstand drawer. You open the cylinder, line the loader's six noses up with the six chambers at once, and twist the knob. The points release simultaneously, the rounds drop home together, and you close the cylinder. That's the entire mechanism, and it's why a twist that takes a beginner a few tries becomes muscle memory by the tenth reload.
The part worth understanding is fit, not speed. This loader is built to a frame size, the K and L frame class that S&W's 10, 64, 66, 67 and 19 share with Taurus' 65, 66, 606, 80 and 82. Cylinder bore spacing across that whole family is close enough that one loader design works across brands, which answers the are-Taurus-revolvers-any-good question sideways: a Taurus on that frame reloads exactly as fast as a Smith and Wesson, because the speed was never coming from the gun. It comes from six chambers, spaced the same way, meeting six rounds held the same way. The metal build matters too, plastic loaders flex under spring pressure and drop rounds early; these points keep their tension after years riding in a range bag. The two-pack means you can keep one loaded for practice and one staged for the next string, or split the pair between two guns on the same frame.
So the real question was never which badge is stamped on the barrel. It's whether the six chambers in your hand match this loader's six points, because once they do, brand stops being the variable and your hands become the fastest part of the gun.
Who this speedloader fits, and who it doesn't
Worth it if
- you own a K or L frame revolver on the compatible list, S&W or Taurus
- you want faster reloads for range drills or competition strings
- you want a durable metal loader over a plastic one
- you want a spare in the two-pack for practice and a staged reload
Skip it if
- your revolver is a small-frame snub not on the compatible list
- you shoot a semi-auto
- you prefer speed strips for concealment over a bulkier loader
Not for small-frame snubs or any revolver outside the K/L frame family this loader is cut for.
The HKS speedloader verdict: is it worth it
If you shoot a K or L frame revolver, S&W or Taurus, and you're tired of being the slowest reload at the line, this is a quiet yes. If your revolver's a small-frame snub or anything off that frame list, this particular loader won't seat right, no matter how good the gun underneath it is.
Picture the next range trip: cylinder empty, loader in hand, one twist, six rounds seated, cylinder closed, back on target before the timer catches up. That's the whole itch this scratches, the slow fumbling reload that made you second-guess your gun instead of your gear. Drop one in the range bag and one in the drawer and stop thinking about it.
Amazon shoppers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 741 ratings. That is their number, not ours.
Before you go
What are the common problems with Taurus revolvers?
Historically the complaints center on trigger feel and fit and finish compared to pricier competitors, not on the revolvers failing to function, and newer production has closed most of that gap.
Are Taurus revolvers junk?
No, Taurus is a mainstream manufacturer selling functional revolvers backed by a warranty; the junk reputation is older than the current lineup.
Which is better, Smith and Wesson or Taurus?
Smith and Wesson generally edges ahead on fit, finish and resale value while Taurus wins on price, and both feed from the same speedloader if the frame size matches.
Is Taurus a reputable gun brand?
Yes, it's an established manufacturer with a large revolver lineup and a warranty behind it, though it sits a notch below premium brands on fit and finish.
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By the numbers
earn an unconditional yes at full priceOut of 122 sports & outdoors products we have reviewed, and this is one of them.
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Full spec sheet
| Package Dimensions | 6.14 x 4.61 x 1.77 inches; 2.08 ounces |
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