TFB Review: Taurus Deputy 45 Colt 4.75” Single Action Revolver

Taurus has entered the single-action six-shooter fold with their Taurus Deputy in either .357 Magnum or 45 Colt. This blacked-out bad boy, inspired by the legendary Peacemaker, made its debut at the beginning of 2024 and made a good impression on yours truly. After handling it at SHOT2024 I had to get my hands on it and see how it performed under some old soul range time. Does it stand up to competing models? What sets it apart? Let’s dive right into my review of the Taurus Deputy!

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Specifications: Taurus Deputy 45 Colt 4.75” Single Action Revolver

For my T&E sample, I requested the 45 Colt 4.75” barrel version since that strikes me as the most stereotypical cowboy gun there is. They also offer the same gun with a 5.5” barrel. Besides that, they also offer them in .357 Magnum (which of course can also shoot .38 Special) in the same two barrel lengths and frame size. As of right now, all versions are the exact same polished black finish with checkered black plastic grips. Specifications for my specific model are as follows:

• Caliber: 45 Colt
• Capacity: 6 Rounds
• Front Sight: Fixed Blade
• Rear Sight: Fixed
• Action Type: Single Action
• Frame Size: Medium
• Barrel Length: 4.75 In.
• Overall Length: 10.25 In.
• Overall Height: 5.11 In.
• Overall Width: 1.65 In.
• Overall Weight: 36.40 Oz. (Unloaded)
• Twist Rate: 1:16.5 in RH Twist
• Grooves: 6
• Frame Material: Steel
• Frame Finish: Polished Black
• Cylinder Material: Alloy Steel
• Cylinder Finish: Polished Black
• Barrel Material: Alloy Steel
• Barrel Finish: Polished Black
• Safety: Transfer Bar

The MSRP of the Taurus Deputy is currently at a fair $606.99. I have seen on-the-shelf prices for around $100 less than that which makes this a pretty competitively priced peacemaker-inspired gun. Its more affordable nature is likely due to things like the plastic grips and alloy steel construction. It’s no hand-fit race gun, nor does it claim to be. It seems to be priced exactly at what you would expect it to be. Nothing to hide here!

“Old West Design meets modern manufacturing in the all new Taurus Deputy. The Deputy is immediately available in two barrel lengths, 4 3/4ths and 5 ½ inch. Available calibers are the iconic 45 Colt or 357 Magnum, easily two of the most popular revolver calibers.

Featuring a deep satin black finish, the Deputy’s single-action hammer falls easily under the thumb for fast shooting. Unlike clone revolvers, Deputy features a transfer bar safety mechanism, making it safe to carry with a round under the hammer.

This is the perfect choice for Western enthusiasts, backpackers, or any shooter that appreciates the look, feel, and aesthetics of a fine single action revolver.”

First Impressions: Taurus Deputy 45 Colt 4.75” Single Action Revolver

The first time that I beheld the Taurus Deputy was at the 2024 Shot Show and it made a favorable impression. As an old soul and western era fanboy I must have circled back to it three separate times. It was just intriguing and made me curious how well it would do under any sort of high round count because it’s cheaper on average than its competitors but doesn't come off looking that way.

Out of the box, it made a few impressions worth noting. The hammer was heavier than the show gun (that gun must have been played with a million times and broken in). Not overly heavy by any means, just noticeably stiff and new. The other thing I noticed when removing the plastic cylinder cap that comes installed when it's brand new was that the cylinder pin was VERY stiff. It took some time and sweat to get that sucker out. Yes, I was doing this correctly (half-cocked, depressing the cylinder rod button, and pulling forward).

Once this operation was completed I noticed a curious engineering change compared to your average run-of-the-mill peacemaker reproduction. The design of the ejector rod and the length of the cylinder pin make it so the piece can be pulled forward but not pulled all the way out. It is kept captive and blocked. I was sort of disappointed about this because it's a core design feature to the gun it was based on but in hindsight, it's a welcome change. One less part rolling around that doesn’t really need to be removed all the way anyhow. If it was necessary then the user would have to remove the ejector assembly to get the ejector out of the way.

Range Time: Taurus Deputy 45 Colt 4.75” Single Action Revolver

I have probably said this before and an exception could be a shotgun or two I have had the opportunity to play with, but I shot the bejesus out of this gun. At the very least in the top five as far as round count on a review gun goes. Altogether probably around 500 rounds of 45 Colt.

I want to mention I did some fanning with this revolver. As a gunsmith, I do not recommend doing this to a stock gun. Taurus likely recommends against it as well for any given reason you can think of. No one should try it. I did it because I wanted to see how the gun would handle some common single-action abuse. Skipping ahead a bit, it operated just fine and did not show any signs of outright wear and tear.

I shot everything through it and the Deputy took it like a champ. Whether it was factory loads, defense loads, cowboy loads, wax bullets, and even snake shot. I did everything in my power to give this underdog a chance to break down on me.

That being said, just about every other competing gun I have had the opportunity to handle has the same issue but with the grip screw and then the panels start going loose and leaving gaps that pinch you. I did not have that issue with the Taurus Deputy. I did take a peek under the hood so to speak while I went through and gave it a clean after the most recent range day. Everything looks standard as far as these revolvers go. That being said if you are one of those custom cowboy action shooters that do their own work this may be an affordable one to fix up and have fun with. Just be aware that it would obviously or at the very least likely void any warranty.

As far as holes in paper go the Deputy performed very well at 15 yards with run-of-the-mill factory loads. I think I used some old Herters 250-grain LRN and some Federal 225-grain SWC. I used some worn-out playing cards for the aesthetic of it. It grouped well although I should mention these sights work just like the old peacemakers did. If the front sight is level in the rear gutter like it comfortably sits, then you will normally shoot a little high. That being said, I adjusted my POA accordingly.

One thing I feel is me being nit-picky is the ejection operation. Yes, this is a well-established operation. Half cock, loading gate open, rotate the cylinder and line up the ejector rod, and then eject. Some revolvers don't suffer from my nitpick but this one does. When you rotate the cylinder and let it come back to a comfortable stop, the ejector rod will not be lined up with the center of the chamber. You have to line it up with the hole of the ejector rod assembly instead. It would just be faster to eject if there was a stop where you knew it was lined up every time.

Final Thoughts: Taurus Deputy 45 Colt 4.75” Single Action Revolver

My final verdict on the Taurus Deputy is it is a valid introduction into the single-action six-shooting world. It functions great. It's beautiful which I should have mentioned earlier but it almost goes without saying. The polished black is so deep and pretty. The action is smooth enough for normal average Joe usage. It hits what I aim at, it can handle whatever I put through it. It is hard to knock anything besides the screws coming loose every once in a while. An easy fix for an extremely accessible and notably affordable revolver. I give this one an old soul seal of approval.

In closing, I want to say thank you to Taurus for allowing TFB and myself the opportunity to try out their Deputy Single Action Revolver. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think. Do you believe that this classic old-school revolver is worth spending your money on? Would you take this out to the range on the regular? Would this be your go-to cowboy gun? Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.