[leejack]

Well, I got my first look at the 856 today at Academy and I must say the following:

Not the finish of old, but livable

little groove for the pinky, not much but it's there

no key lock (what?) no lock

6 shots

I kinda liked it

What ya think ladies and gents, does this gun belong on Lee's list? It's $289 at Academy, not bad at alll!

Tell me what you think of it....

 

[silverstring]

I keep looking at these, seems to be a pretty good offering. $289 is about right, online I've been seeing mid $200's. Hoping this new offering works better than the last new offering I bought, The PT1911 commander - lots of feed issues with any magazine. Currently I am in week 10 waiting for Taurus warranty support to move it from receiving to the bench.

 

[leejack]

Anybody out there own one????

 

[slong115]

I haven't seen one yet but it is on my radar along with the Charter Arms Police Undercover model (also a 6-shooter). My Academy doesn't list one on their website but I haven't gone there to check in-person yet. (They did have the first Spectrum I ever saw, though). The reduction in the Taurus warranty to 1 year is a strike against it, in my opinion. I have ZERO experience with Charter Arms revolvers (but do have a steel Taurus 85 that I really like..except for the weight so I don't CCW with it).

Gun shop near me has the 856UL for $274 and the Charter Arms Police for $346. Standard 856 is listed for $262. Again, this is from the website. I don't know if they have them in their store yet where I can examine each of them.

 

[leejack]

Hopefully, a member who owns one will step up and give a good review to consider. Like I said, I did kinda like it.

I guess I'm just accepting the fact that they cheapened the finish on these guns.

I also think that's part of why they shut down the Rossi revolvers as they have beautiful finishes for less money.

 

[KidVermin]

What's to worry ? It's a Taurus revolver which rarely have feed problems or fail to fire and you kinda liked it. Not like you're buying a $500+ target gun and expect sub 1" groups at 25 yards. I bought an early 90's used M85 Internet sale sight unseen and yet with zero issues and a new 2012 M44 bead blasted stainless. I saw, I liked, I bought. It's not like a quandary about a $40G SUV.

 

[leejack]

Not worried at ll. I'm surprised that no owners of the gun showed up.

Thanks for the input...

 

[doghouse]

I bought a stainless 856 yesterday and was able to shoot it today. It has a really good trigger, both single action and double action. I didn't shoot for accuracy, but just checked that it worked. It is now my carry gun. Checking the Taurus site, I was thinking it was going to be 38 Special only, but it is 38 Special +P. I have been carrying my Ruger SP101 with 125 grain 357 JHP ammo, but I have decided that I would rather have 6 rounds of 38 Special +P. I couldn't be happier with my new gun. I am tempted to get a second one.

 

[leejack]

I bought a stainless 856 yesterday and was able to shoot it today. It has a really good trigger, both single action and double action. I didn't shoot for accuracy, but just checked that it worked. It is now my carry gun. Checking the Taurus site, I was thinking it was going to be 38 Special only, but it is 38 Special +P. I have been carrying my Ruger SP101 with 125 grain 357 JHP ammo, but I have decided that I would rather have 6 rounds of 38 Special +P. I couldn't be happier with my new gun. I am tempted to get a second one.

Welcome to the forum doghouse and thanks for posting!

I liked the fact that they dropped the lock off the gun too.

 

[GhostHorse]

I've been watching 856 threads/posts for years now. I don't ever recall an owner complaint.

Personally, I'd go with a RIA 206 if I wanted a six-shot snubby .38. That's mostly because its cylinder rotates the same direction as my Colts', but it's a similar price (or cheaper) and has the same finish/capacity.

 

[NativeTexan]

I have an 85 and it's just a 6 shot 85. Go for it! Personally, I'd get the stainless gun, though. My 85 is a stainless ultralite. I'm not sure the 856 is available in an ultralite, but that's what I'd get, personally, if it were.

 

[G8R8U2]

I have an 85 and it's just a 6 shot 85. Go for it! Personally, I'd get the stainless gun, though. My 85 is a stainless ultralite. I'm not sure the 856 is available in an ultralite, but that's what I'd get, personally, if it were.

Your 85 holds 6 rounds?

 

[NativeTexan]

Your 85 holds 6 rounds?

The 85 holds FIVE rounds, the 856 is the same gun that holds SIX rounds.

 

[G8R8U2]

The 85 holds FIVE rounds, the 856 is the same gun that holds SIX rounds.

Gotcha; the 856 is also an UL, but looks like it's only available in matte black so far.

 

[doghouse]

The new 856 models are not UL. So far, they are making a blued steel model and a stainless steel model.

 

[G8R8U2]

The new 856 models are not UL. So far, they are making a blued steel model and a stainless steel model.

They better get that information fixed on their website...

 

[doghouse]

5240165[/URL]]Welcome to the forum doghouse and thanks for posting!

I liked the fact that they dropped the lock off the gun too.

I was surprised that the lock is gone, but really glad that it is a thing of the past. I never thought that, this day and age, Taurus would remove them.

 

[doghouse]

They better get that information fixed on their website...

View attachment 421415

Just a couple of days ago, they didn’t list a UL model. They also didn’t have it listed as a +P rated model in the revolver manual. It is listed as such in the manual that came with the gun, and the barrel has 38 Spl *. Looks like they are slowly getting it updated.

 

[G8R8U2]

Just a couple of days ago, they didn’t list a UL model. They also didn’t have it listed as a +P rated model in the revolver manual. It is listed as such in the manual that came with the gun, and the barrel has 38 Spl *. Looks like they are slowly getting it updated.

In the reverse image of the other side of the revolver, you can just make out the UL below "Made in Brazil".

 

[doghouse]

They better get that information fixed on their website...

View attachment 421415

They list the UL weight as 22 ounces. That is the same weight as my stainless steel model. Also, the Taurus site doesn’t list it as a +P model in the revolver manual. It is listed as +P in the manual that comes with the gun. My barrel is listed as 38 Spl *. I have read that the old UL model wasn’t rated +P but don’t know for sure.