Gear And Accessories
Taurus 850 Revolver: A Great Inside the Waistband Option
Taurus 850 Revolver: A Great Inside the Waistband Option
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Bainbridge, Georgia, USA
You cant beat the basics, and thats exactly what the new Taurus 850 delivers: a five-shot, double-action-only snubnose .38 Special revolver. Its available in black or stainless and with a two- or three-inch barrel. Suggested retail price is only $425, and you know youre going to be able to score it for less, probably under $400, at your local gun shop. This is an all-steel gun with, in the case of this sample, a corrosion-resistant matte-black finish. The test gun sported the shorter two-inch barrel, producing an overall length of about 7.7 inches and a weight of 22.75 ounces. The 850 is 1.3 inches wide at the cylinder, and height is 4.6 inches. Sights are dead simple: a gutter milled into the top strap paired with a serrated black blade front. The front sight is pinned, which allows you to change it if you want to. And you might, which Ill get into later. This particular sample has been used hard between my range testing and on the set of Handguns TV, and the finish shows scratches fairly easily. That doesnt bother me on an all-business gun like this. The cylinder is likewise marked from a slight mistiming, but not to an unusual level. Since its a double-action-only revolver, theres no hammer spur, removing a potential draw-snagging projection. With a gun thats so inexpensive, you might be expecting a super-heavy, big-stacking trigger pull. Nope. The 850s pull weight was right at 10 pounds on average, with minimal stacking. The finger lever is relatively widenot quite target width but wide enough to provide extra leverage, which makes the pull seem easier. Taurus knows how to make a grip, and the rubber wraparound on the 850 is a good one. The composition of the rubber helps soak up the recoil, and the two different texturing patterns anchor the gun well. The sides have relatively fine checkering while the back strap is more aggressive, with rows of small rectangles. Two finger grooves grace the front strap, and theres a shelf for your thumb thats on both sides and therefore works for righties and lefties. The 15-yard accuracy results are solid for a double-action-only gun with rudimentary sights. However, remember earlier when I mentioned changing the front sight might be in the cards? Thats because, at this distance, the 850s point of impact was low to the tune of four to five inches with the tested loads. When working with the gun for the 3x5 index card drill I demonstrated on the TV showwhich starts at three yards and works backI experimented with various loads to find one that shot to point of aim. I found it in Hornadys American Gunner 125-grain load, so depending on your needs and expectations in terms of ammo, you might find the right load and not have to change the front sight. I did have three light primer strikestwo with the Black Hills HoneyBadger and one with Hornady Critical Defense. With this type of malfunction, you never know if its the fault of the ammunition or the guns mechanics. But thats three light strikes out of probably 300 rounds I put through the 850, and its also the beauty of a double-action revolver. A round doesnt fire for some reason? Just pull the trigger again. Regarding the grip, while I really like the way it helps in control, the aggressive back strap texture began to bother my palm after about 30 to 40 shotsespecially with +P loads. But most people arent going to shoot that much with a gun like this in one sitting. The 850 is rated for +P ammo, although Taurus does caution that extensive use of it could shorten service life. However, unlike the maxim preaching Dont train just with .38s and then load .357s for defense in .357 Magnum revolvers, I think practicing with .38s and carrying .38 +P is a sensible approach. Just be sure you know what, if any, point-of-aim disparity exists between the two. As a defensive gun, you might find this one a bit heavy for pocket carry, but as an inside-the-waistband gun, the 850 would be an excellentand affordableconcealed-carry choice. With its solid build, user-friendly features, and attractive price point, the Taurus 850 stands out as a dependable option for those seeking a reliable revolver for personal defense and everyday carry. In summary, this revolver encompasses the essence of simplicity and practicality, making it a timeless choice in a crowded market.