chaim
Member
I love 3" revolvers. I don't really need an 856 Defender, but I would like one. I have several 2" small frame revolvers that I sometimes carry but only one 3" that I carry (a Taurus 85CH, a Taurus 856UL, a S&W 442, and a 3" new model Colt King Cobra). I also have a medium framed 2.5" Taurus 431, but I have only tried one defensive load in it, and I've had it FTF at least once a box, sometimes several times in a box (it doesn't strike the primer hard enough to fire, I don't know yet if it was a bad batch of ammo or if it is the gun, the one brand of practice ammo I've bought works fine). I have a S&W 65LS I love (a K-frame), but I won't carry it (it is too nice, and too expensive now, for me to feel comfortable carrying it).
Anyway, I would like a 3" Taurus 856 Defender Executive Grade. I am thinking about a regular 856 Defender as well. Taurus quality control and fit and finish does seem to have improved over the last several years and it should be a nice gun. I would love a night sight on one of my defensive revolvers (I bought the Colt with that in mind, one of the Cobras at the time came with a night sight and it is a pinned sight so I thought I'd be able to easily switch it out, but I have never found anywhere that carried the front night sight for the gun that had it in stock). Anyway, the Executive Grade will have much improved fit and finish over the standard 856 Defender and may be nice to have. I already have a night sight for it... I read everywhere that the 856 front sight is pinned, so I ordered a night sight for my 856UL before looking closely for the pin (and checking the internet). It seems that only the steel framed 856s have a pinned front sight, the aluminum 856UL has a standard non-removable ramp. So, I already have a front night sight, thus, I can have the nicer gun (that doesn't come with a night sight) and the night sight I'd like to have in the gun.
So, who here has a standard 856 Defender? How do you like it and is it as nice as the reports seem to suggest? Who has the Executive Grade? Is it as nice as it seems? Is the Executive Grade worth the extra money over the regular 856 Defender?
Anyway, I would like a 3" Taurus 856 Defender Executive Grade. I am thinking about a regular 856 Defender as well. Taurus quality control and fit and finish does seem to have improved over the last several years and it should be a nice gun. I would love a night sight on one of my defensive revolvers (I bought the Colt with that in mind, one of the Cobras at the time came with a night sight and it is a pinned sight so I thought I'd be able to easily switch it out, but I have never found anywhere that carried the front night sight for the gun that had it in stock). Anyway, the Executive Grade will have much improved fit and finish over the standard 856 Defender and may be nice to have. I already have a night sight for it... I read everywhere that the 856 front sight is pinned, so I ordered a night sight for my 856UL before looking closely for the pin (and checking the internet). It seems that only the steel framed 856s have a pinned front sight, the aluminum 856UL has a standard non-removable ramp. So, I already have a front night sight, thus, I can have the nicer gun (that doesn't come with a night sight) and the night sight I'd like to have in the gun.
So, who here has a standard 856 Defender? How do you like it and is it as nice as the reports seem to suggest? Who has the Executive Grade? Is it as nice as it seems? Is the Executive Grade worth the extra money over the regular 856 Defender?
Last edited: