It’s been an interesting year working with Taurus and Heritage Manufacturing to feature various guns available, and guns that we believe women will find enjoyable to shoot. Let’s take a look at 2024 and what we put our hands on here at The WON for Taurus and Heritage Manufacturing companies.
In January, Nancy Keaton took the Heritage Settler, chambered in .22 LR, to the range with her husband and son. She wrote, “While the 20-inch Settler by Heritage was a bit heavy for me to shoot for very long, it was still a ton of fun. My husband and son were itching to try it out as well and both enjoyed it and agreed it is a great gun. So, if you’re looking for fun lever action rifle for the whole family to share, the Settler would be just the one.”
Nancy also discovered that she likes buckhorn rear sites. She wrote, “This was my first time ever seeing a buckhorn rear sight. Buckhorn sights are where the sides of the rear sight come up and curve slightly inward toward each other. Then you place the front sight in between those curved sides and hold it lower in the ‘window’ for closer targets and move it higher in the window for further targets. I really liked it. In fact, I think I liked it better than traditional iron sights.”
MSRP $499.99
I admit, I’m not much of a revolver user, except as a sidearm here when I’m out on the old ranch in the Ozarks. So, when Taurus sent me the 605 Executive Grade Revolver, I wanted to make sure I could actually pull the trigger – one-handed. We like to go a little deeper than just a topical review here at The WON, so I tested it on the range with two- and then, one-handed grips in various drills. I wrote, “I could manage the double-action trigger with my strong side, both two- and one-handed, but had difficulty holding the gun steady and pulling the trigger on my weak side one-handed.” That tells me that if I truly wanted to shoot this gun for personal defense or otherwise, I’d need to bulk up the hand exercise regime.
However, my hands are not like your hands, so you’d have to be the judge. It is a beautifully designed gun, with presentation-grade walnut wood grips and a polished-satin finish. With a 3-inch barrel, and again, an ever-so smooth finish (nothing jagged or rough at all to catch on clothing), this gun measures 7.5 inches overall, and stands 4.8 inches tall. Its overall weight is 23.52 ounces unloaded. It holds 5 shots, and accepts the same speed loaders that you would use in other 5-shot revolvers. You may shoot either .357 Magnum or .38 Special, including +P loads.
MSRP: $759.99
Andrea Bogard hearkened back to the days when women ran homesteads, made sourdough regularly and had to shoot a rabbit or two for dinner when she reviewed the Heritage Settler Compact in .22LR. She writes, “Overall, the Settler Compact from Heritage is a beautiful, effective and purpose driven .22 rifle. With the essence of the Wild West and the classic utilitarian value for which .22s are known, it is an outstanding and fun addition to your firearms collection.”
We think this might be a wonderful family legacy rifle, one that a child could start on and well, Mom could employ when necessary, too.
MSRP: $499.99
Keeping with the theme of the Wild West, Michelle Cerino asked to check out the Taurus Deputy, a great, single-action revolver. The gun comes in .357 MAG and .45 Colt, and two barrel lengths: 4-3/4 inches and 5-1/2 inches.
Michelle adds, “The Taurus Deputy is an affordable revolver, especially for people getting into Cowboy Action Shooting for the first time. I certainly enjoyed shooting it at the range while practicing my manipulation skills (which will take a bit more practice). If you already know how to run a single-action revolver, I’m sure you will find this firearm well-built and pleasing to shoot. It’s a sharp looking gun that will definitely be the perfect accessory for any Western-themed outfit.”
MSRP: $606.99
After successfully shooting the full-sized Deputy, Michelle decided to try out the Heritage Barkeep, a small, single-action revolver chambered in .22 LR (interchangeable .22 WMR cylinder option). Supposedly, her cousin told her it would be “fun” to shoot, and she surmised: “As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, I’m new to shooting single-action revolvers and trying to learn different ways to manipulate them. However, after spending time plinking on the range with Heritage Barkeep, I better understood my cousin’s comment that it was a fun gun. I mean, who doesn’t love shooting a .22?” In fact, she liked it so much that she bought this one, and another one for a son.
MSRP: Prices vary, according to model. Check website and see for yourself!
I decided to see what all this raving about the Old West was about and requested the Heritage Badlander side-by-side shotgun in 20 gauge. Oh my, what fun and how much do I want to keep this one in the family? (Answer: much)
I decided to shoot it with personal defense in mind, much like an old stagecoach driver would have used the gun for back in the old days. I like the double trigger, and the straight shooting with the side-by-side barrels. In fact, I wrote, “After using it, I started thinking I didn’t need a stagecoach for this gun to be effective. If two quick shots would suffice, this break-open shotgun would serve quite nicely for home defense, or even, as a truck or side-by-side ride-along.”
It’s a keeper and I’ll be asking Heritage if I might purchase this one.
MSRP: $893.99
Andrea Bogard decided to take the Heritage Compact Settler afield, in search of squirrels. She wrote, “The Settler Compact felt light and nimble to carry. The sling swivels allowed for a sling to be attached, creating additional carry options. The radius of the grip was perfectly proportioned for my small hands and the short barrel was nimble enough to maneuver under low hanging branches.”
She liked these features of the rifle for field work:
MSRP: $499.99
Firearms instructor Avery Skipalis had not worked with a revolver, preferring to shoot semi-autos, until she received a Taurus 692 Executive Grade. She noted, “When I first picked up the Taurus 692 Executive Grade, I took note of its weight. It felt lighter than I expected at 35 ounces (2.18 pounds). The solid stainless steel frame with a smooth satin finish gave it a premium feel, and the walnut grips immediately stood out as both stylish and comfortable. I was impressed by the overall look of the revolver. No, this wasn’t just a typical entry-level gun; it is, and it felt like a carefully crafted tool.”
Since then, Avery has worked with the revolver even more, and we wouldn’t be surprised if she asked to buy it. She’s a fan, now.
MSRP: $1106.99
Andrea Bogard received the GX4 Carry TORO edition (Taurus Optic Ready Option) to review, and decided to opt for an open carry situation, something she prefers when out in the woods or afield, especially with a firearm like the GX4 as her sidearm.
She wrote, “The goal of this exercise though is not to convince you to trade in your concealed habits for open carry practices. The point is to demonstrate that ‘carry’ does not have to always be ‘concealed.’ It is also to showcase the adaptability of a concealed carry focused platform to a functional field-friendly tool.” She showcases her practice sessions on the range, using distances that she imagines she would need to shoot to defend herself.
MSRP: $515.99
We are looking forward to working with Taurus, Heritage and … Rossi for 2025. Check with us every month to see the guns we think women will like.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
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