[viking499]

Anyone have this gun to shoot or carry? Like or dislikes? From what I have read, they had quality issues years back, but that has improved in the past few years. Like the smith 637, but their price has gone through the roof around here the past couple of months. Also, no one has them in stock. They tell me they have some ordered and the price is going up 40 more than the last ones.

[chupacabrah]

people seem to like them. if you do a search, i'm sure a ton of stuff will pop up

[Glockman17366]

There are a couple different "ultralight" .38 snubbies. The ones I have experience with are (both Taurus):

85 Multi-Alloy: Aluminum frame/titanium cylinder and barrel shroud. I've had this revolver for at 9 years and was my most frequently carried gun for many years. Initially there was a problem with light strikes which was fixed by the factory. The gun has been reliable since.
It is rated for +P, but I don't think a steady diet is good for any aluminum framed gun. Recoil isn't bad, in my opinion, but that is very subjective.

851 Ultra-Light: This is one of the "Total Titanium" guns that are available, but are discontinued for the most part. It's not as light weight as the Multi-Alloy described above (17 oz vs.14 oz) but quite easy to carry.
The main difference is the 851 has a shrouded hammer rather then the exposed hammer of the 85 Multi-Alloy. Easier to draw from a pocket holster.
Also rated for +P. Also a bit snappy with +P ammo.

If you pocket carry, these light weight little guns are worth looking at. I've never ankle carried, but I would think low weight is immportant there too. If you carry on the hip (IWB or OWB) or in a shoulder hoster, the steel guns would be a better, lower cost alternative.

IF you buy any of these little revolvers, put 200-300 rounds through it ASAP and before you carry for self defense.

Triggers weren't asked about, but the 85 Multi-Alloy is pretty sweet both SA and DA. But it is 9 years (or more) old and has at least a thousand rounds through it. The 851 DA pull is still a bit scratchy,

[mnrivrat]

Nothing the matter with the Taurus 85 and there are a lot of happy owners out there. And some unhappy ones that had a bad experience.

If Taurus makes them right, they are just fine . They have a reputation for putting out a higher percentage of bad ones than some other companies, and I can understand the frustration of getting a bad one. Odds are still in your favor for having a problem free gun , but stuff happens.

I own three of there guns by the way, and no problem. I have seen a couple of their problems guns and I can see why the owners weren't happy with them, and dealing with their customer service which is hit and miss for good results.

[Landric]

I have a good friend that has a Taurus 85UL (steel cylinder, alloy frame version) that he is very happy with. I've shot it. Hits point of aim and never any problems at all.

His was $275 NIB though (at a time when S&W and Ruger were both ~ $400 plus). Its a nice enough gun, but I wouldn't get one unless it was significantly less expensive than a S&W or Ruger small revolver.

[viking499]

Around here, the price of the smith has gone up and up. A new smith will cost me around $500 otd. A taurus is $300 otd.

[shootistpd27]

I am surgical with mine at 25 yards. Do as glockman says. Put some rounds through it. I had to send mine back to the factory once for light strikes on the primer. They fixed it free of charge. It cost 7 bucks to send it to them, they paid 28 bucks to send it back to me in less than a week. I got the reciept that they had the gun after I already had the gun back.