8 Taurus Handguns for Hunting and Self-Defense That Won't Break the Bank

Taurus makes some of the most affordable handguns on the market today.

Today's firearms market is saturated with handgun brands, many of which are fine firearms. The only downside is that many of these guns prove to be quite the hit to the wallet. As a result, many shooters on a budget may not think they can afford a decent hunting or home defense firearm.

This is where Taurus firearms has filled a niche in the market. This company may not get as much love as a Beretta, Glock or Kimber, but they build a variety of solid revolvers and semi-automatic pistols that will fit any shooter's budget.

These guns are made right here in the USA and have become popular for their dependability and affordability. Today we'll have a look at a variety of handgun styles to fit a bevy of uses. With these guns, there's really no excuse to not own a pistol anymore.

Taurus G2S

We'll start things off with a compact polymer frame pistol designed with concealed carry in mind. Taurus makes the single-stack G2S chambered for both 9mm Luger and .40 Smith & Wesson. These guns come in a variety of finishes and feature fixed front and adjustable rear sights. These guns are also very safe. Each one has a striker block safety, manual safety and a trigger safety built in. There is also a loaded chamber indicator. The width of these guns is right around 1.10 inches and the weights are around 20 ounces. Combine those two factors and you have a comfortable carry gun. Perhaps the best part of this semi-auto pistol is the pricing. These guns come in under $300.

Taurus TX22

Looking for a handgun where you can burn through a ton of ammo training without breaking the bank? The single action only Taurus Model TX22 in .22 long rifle may be for you. This polymer rimfire gun feeds 10-round magazines. It has a plethora of uses from defense to competitive shooting. This a solid choice to train new shooters in proper handling techniques. It'll also be a gun you'll be comfortable to have them hold  thanks to the manual, trigger and striker block safety systems. These guns come with white dot sights. These guns get high marks for the PTS (performance trigger system) and ergonomic grips. There's a reason this has become one of the most popular Taurus pistols of recent memory.

Taurus 856

The line of 856 Taurus handguns proves you do not have to spend a fortune to get a concealed carry revolver that won't let you down when you need it. Chambered for the iconic .38 Special, the company offers a plethora of variants for this double action/single action gun to suit any shooter's needs and personal tastes. These guns have a two-inch barrel, transfer bar safety and a six-round cylinder. If you'll looking for a little extra firepower, consider one of the +P rated models. The frame and barrel are made from stainless steel. You can go with a classic matte stainless look, a practical matte black, or with several anodized color options including burned orange, bronze and rogue. At right around 16 ounces, this is a solid purse carry option for women.

Taurus Judge

Looking for a magnum-sized revolver for hunting or bear defense that won't also put your bank account in the red? Look no further than the Judge, a double action/single action monster built with stopping power in mind. Taurus builds this beast of a gun chambered for .454 Casull for hunting purposes and .45 Colt/.410 bore shotshell for just about everything else. Barrel lengths and finishes depending on variant, but these guns feature fiber optic front sights and fixed rears. They get high marks from users for how fun they are to shoot. These are heavy guns at 32 ounces, but that helps mitigate the recoil. The only real downside is finding a great holster for one of these beasts can be a challenge. Still, considering that many of these guns come in under $600 is amazing for a revolver packing this much punch.

Taurus 1911

If you have always wanted a 1911 pistol but have been held back by the intimidatingly high price tags, we don't blame you. Fortunately, Taurus can make that dream of holding John Browning's classic design a reality with one of their sub $600 1911s. The company offers both full size and compact pistols chambered for either 9mm Luger or .45 ACP. The latter models offer either a 6+1 or 8+1 capacity while the 9mm pistols offer a higher 9+1 capacity. Taurus builds their 1911s in a variety of finishes from stainless steel to gray Cerakote. They also offer a bevy of grip options. These guns come with Novak drift adjustable front and rear sights, but Taurus also offers variants with Hogue red laser grips for even more accuracy. No matter which route you go, this gun gives you the chance to finally own your dream pistol.

Taurus Spectrum

If you are looking for a concealable semi-automatic with manageable recoil, the Spectrum is a great option. Chambered in .380 ACP, these guns are under an inch wide, making for a super slim package. Combine that with a 10-ounce weight and you have a gun that is effortless for purse or IWB carry. These guns have a 2.80-inch barrel and feature soft touch panels for excellent ergonomics. These guns have a 7+1 capacity, low profile sights and a reversible magazine release. Taurus also offers this gun in a seemingly endless array of color options and patterns. The other great thing about this gun is that if you catch a sale at the right time, the price can be under $200. What's not to love about that?

Taurus Raging Hunter

Another double action/single action revolver designed specifically with hunting in mind. There's also the Raging Bull, but the "Hunter" has more caliber options available and is more affordable for the average Joe looking to try his hand at pistol hunting. This revolver comes chambered in popular hunting rounds like .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .454 Casull. The Hunter comes in barrel lengths between 5.13 and 8.38 inches to help mitigate recoil and give excellent accuracy. These guns are optics-ready with a picatinny rail and have excellent rubber grips to help tame the recoil. Most of the Hunters come in under the $800 mark. That makes these guns a steal when compared to the competition, which often goes for $1,500 or more for comparable models.

Taurus G3

Taurus International wanted a full size, striker-fired pistol that would offer a larger capacity and law enforcement-preferred features at a price that can fit into almost any budget. The company offers this gun with 17, 15, and 10-round magazine options depending on what you need and legalities of your state. These are extremely safe guns, featuring a trigger, manual, and striker block safety. There is also a loaded chamber indicator. They also offer a variant called the Taurus G3C. That gun offers the same great features as the full-size, but in a lighter, more compact frame ideal for conceal carry. This gun is also made in a variety of finishes to fit any shooter's tastes. At only around $300, there is no excuse to not have a quality defense firearm anymore.

For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Instagram For original videos, check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels. 

NEXT: SIG SAUER CROSS RIFLE FOLDS THE GAP BETWEEN TACTICAL, HUNTING PURPOSES