Taurus 856UL

[Spencerivey101]

So I was at the gun show yesterday and I was looking for a carry revolver. I'd been looking for one for awhile, and was considering the Taurus, the LCR, and a j frame. The taurus was cheaper and has that extra shot. I got it for cheaper with tax than sticker price on the other two. I've actually had a taurus revolver break on me before, but so has my S&W. Things break. This one seems well made. The finish is very smooth. Trigger isnt bad, but it's not stackable. No matter to me. I actually like the grips. One thing that is weird to me is nowhere on the gun do they put the caliber. Not even just a random "38". I know it's rated for +p. But it's just strange that that's not on the barrel. All in all it feels pretty good and I don't regret it.

 

[Mdclinks]

I could very well be wrong but I think the caliber might be in small print/stamp engraving on the bottom side of the barrel.

 

[CajunBass]

Thanks Md. I didn't know that, but sure enough it's there on my Tracker 44 Magnum. It has the number "44" just under the S/N on the right side, but nothing else. With your help, I found "44 Magnum" under the barrel.

Who knew?

 

[Spencerivey101]

Yep. You're right. Under the barrel. Like it's engraved in but then just has the finish applied over it, with nothing to make it stand out like the serial number or anything. Still think it's odd, but whatever.

 

[Ashlander]

I have the 856 in stainless. Great carry gun (on the waist under a Hawaiian shirt). I have that and a Kimber K6S in my rotation (both 6 shot snubbies). I carry them in a holster designed for my old S&W Model 60-14 (which I sold -- just didn't need a 5-shooter anymore).

 

[Echo40]

Friends don't let friends buy Taurus.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to contact Smith & Wesson about a canted barrel on a recent revolver purchase.

But seriously, Taurus Revolvers tend to be an excellent value for the price, so I doubt you'll regret it.

I've said it before and I'll say it as many times as necessary, in terms of quality/reliability Taurus is on par with Ruger, the difference is that Taurus has what is quite possibly the worst Customer Service among mainstream firearms manufacturers, ergo when somebody gets a lemon and has to deal with their terrible CS, it often sours them to the brand, and in a world in which folks are far more likely to speak up when something goes wrong, it creates the illusion from the outside looking in that things are far worse than they actually are.

 

[Spencerivey101]

So my Taurus actually did break on me. The firing pin broke. They only have a thin piece of metal on the back end of the firing pin and it seems to have broken off before I bought it, or in the few times I dry fired it. So it was sliding forward upon firing, and getting stuck there. So I bought a shipping label and sent it back. They sent it back still broken. So today I called. This time they're paying for shipping. Their customer service was nice, but man is it annoying breaking a gun you haven't even shot yet. The gun must shoot fine as they say they shot it, but I won't trust it with a broken part.

 

[Execpro]

Stuff happens! I feel the pain.Bought a new S&W 360j on a Thursday and mailed it out to S&W on a Monday. In the store the cylinder had a very slight drag. After dry firing some 30 or so times (with snap caps),the cylinder was dragging very badly on opening and closing and the bluing was worn off the front of the cylinder. S&W replaced the BOLT and refinished the cylinder. Had it back in a week.
No pun intended: It was good as new.
CControl isn't perfect with any Company.
I purchased a Taurus 685UL a couple of months ago and it rocks. It's a great gun.
I'm sure once the firing pin is replaced, you will be very happy with it.


Be SAFE and Shoot often!

 

[sodacan]

In evaluating a Taurus revolver on its own merits, and not making any comparisons to any other gun, I would rather rely on a pocket full of rocks.

 

[tenntex32]

I bought a shrouded hammer Taurus UL with a windage adjustable rear sight about the same time and for the same money as I paid for the wife's S&W 638.

I rather liked the slightly beefier looks of the Taurus but sadly no matter what I did I never could get it's trigger or groups to do as well for me as the wife's 638, which I shot much less often.

That being said I sold the Taurus and bought a 642, which has an even better double action trigger than the wife's 638!

I really wanted that Taurus to be as good as a Smith, but no matter what I did it just didn't measure up. Possibly it was just the one example I owned and most likely not a fair representation of all Taurus examples.

I have seen a 442 example that came straight from the factory with an ejector rod that would not latch properly in the barrel underlug lock and the cylinder dragged against the forcing cone enough to leave scrape marks and gouges on the front cylinder face...…..so for around the $400 price point you better look them over well even when new!

It is an imperfect world.

Dale