Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder: One Revolver, Three Calibers

Last updated June 2026 · By Nick Hall, tracks new revolver and wheelgun launches for USA Gun Shop

Quick take: Taurus just gave its single-action Deputy a trick the cowboy-gun world almost never offers from the factory: a second cylinder. The new Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder ships with two cylinders that together cover .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and 9mm, so one traditionally styled six-gun shoots three of the most common handgun rounds on the shelf. It keeps the 5.5-inch barrel, the period looks, and a modern transfer-bar safety that lets you load all six.

Single-action revolver cartridges in .357 Magnum, .38 Special and 9mm laid out on weathered wood, illustrating the Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder launch

What it is: The Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder, a single-action, SAA-style revolver that ships with two interchangeable cylinders covering .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and 9mm.
Why it matters: A factory dual-cylinder single-action is rare. It turns one gun into a cheap-to-feed range plinker on 9mm and .38, and a magnum when you want it, without the aftermarket conversion hassle.
What’s next: It joins the existing single-cylinder Deputy line. Taurus has shown the gun and its features; full US pricing and on-shelf dates are still firming up.
Who it’s aimed at: Cowboy-action shooters, new revolver buyers who want one do-everything wheelgun, and anyone who likes the look of a Colt Single Action Army but wants to shoot it on a budget.

Three Calibers, Two Cylinders, One Six-Gun

The headline feature is the dual-cylinder setup: one cylinder handles .357 Magnum and .38 Special, the other handles 9mm, so the Deputy covers three rounds from a single frame. Swapping cylinders is a tool-free, field job on a single-action.

That .357 cylinder also chambers .38 Special, the same way every .357 revolver does, because the two share a case and the .38 is just the shorter, milder version. So in practice you get magnum thump when you want it, soft and cheap .38 wadcutters for a lazy afternoon, and 9mm when that is what is stacked up in your ammo can. For a lot of shooters, 9mm is the cheapest, most available centerfire round going, and being able to run it through a cowboy gun is a genuinely useful trick.

This is the kind of versatility you usually have to buy aftermarket, if you can find it at all. Getting it from the factory, in the box, is the whole story here.

Built on the Taurus Deputy

The Dual Cylinder is a variant of the Taurus Deputy, the company’s traditional single-action revolver built in the mold of the Colt Single Action Army. If you have handled a Deputy, you know the shape.

It keeps the 5.5-inch barrel, a length that splits the difference between a snappy 4.75-inch gun and a long-barreled 7.5-inch hog leg, and gives the Deputy that classic balance in the hand. Taurus finished this one with a high-gloss polish that plays up the old-west look, and fitted a half-moon front sight, the period-correct detail you would have found on a 19th-century SAA. The grips are a durable polymer wearing the Taurus bullhead logo. It is a working-man’s cowboy gun, not a safe queen.

Old Looks, Modern Safety

Unlike a true vintage single-action, the Deputy uses a modern transfer-bar safety, so you can safely load all six chambers. That is a meaningful upgrade over the guns it imitates.

The original Colt design was not drop-safe on a loaded chamber under the hammer, which is why old hands carried them with five rounds and an empty chamber under the firing pin. The transfer bar fixes that. The bar only rises to connect the hammer and firing pin when you deliberately pull the trigger, so a knock on the hammer will not set off a round. Load six, carry six, and let the gun do the worrying.

Why a 9mm Single-Action Makes Sense

The 9mm cylinder is the part that turns a fun cowboy gun into a practical one, because it lets you train and plink on the cheapest centerfire ammo in the country. Cost per trigger pull matters when you shoot a lot.

9mm typically runs cheaper than .357 Magnum and often undercuts .38 Special too, and it is on every shelf in America. A single-action revolver is never going to be a defensive speed-demon, but as a low-cost, low-recoil way to put rounds downrange and learn smooth single-action shooting, the 9mm Deputy makes a lot of sense. Then, when you want to feel some authority, you drop in the .357 cylinder and load magnums. One gun, two personalities.

Price and Availability

Taurus has shown the Deputy Dual Cylinder and its specs, but final US pricing and on-shelf timing are still settling. Use the standard Deputy as your yardstick.

The single-cylinder Taurus Deputy has lived in the affordable end of the single-action market, well under the price of a Ruger or a Colt, and a dual-cylinder version should still land as one of the cheaper ways into a quality three-caliber wheelgun. We will update this post when Taurus locks in a number and a date. If you are shopping wheelguns right now, our best revolvers roundup covers the field across price points, and our 9mm vs .357 Magnum breakdown is worth a read before you decide which cylinder you will reach for most.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder?

It is a single-action, Colt SAA-style revolver from Taurus that ships with two interchangeable cylinders. Together they cover .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and 9mm, so one revolver shoots three common handgun cartridges. It has a 5.5-inch barrel and a transfer-bar safety.

What calibers does the Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder shoot?

Three: .357 Magnum and .38 Special share one cylinder (the .38 is the shorter, milder round in the same family), and 9mm uses the second cylinder. You swap cylinders by hand to change calibers.

Can you safely carry the Taurus Deputy with all six chambers loaded?

Yes. Unlike a true vintage single-action, the Deputy uses a modern transfer-bar safety. The transfer bar only connects the hammer to the firing pin when you pull the trigger, so it is safe to load all six chambers.

Why would you want a 9mm single-action revolver?

Cost and availability. 9mm is usually the cheapest, most available centerfire round in the US, so the 9mm cylinder makes the Deputy inexpensive to practice and plink with. Drop in the .357 cylinder when you want magnum power.

What barrel length is the Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder?

5.5 inches, a middle-ground length between the fast-handling 4.75-inch and the long 7.5-inch single-action barrels. It also has a high-gloss polish finish, a half-moon front sight, and polymer grips.

How much does the Taurus Deputy Dual Cylinder cost?

Taurus has not finalized US pricing yet. The single-cylinder Deputy sits in the affordable end of the single-action market, well below a comparable Ruger or Colt, so the dual-cylinder version should remain one of the cheaper ways into a three-caliber wheelgun. We will update this when Taurus confirms.

Is the Taurus Deputy a Colt Single Action Army clone?

It is built in the same traditional single-action mold as the Colt SAA, with the classic shape and manual of arms, but it adds modern features the original lacks, most notably the transfer-bar safety that allows six-round carry.