Taurus Twins

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Tallball

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I have changed every spring (and the firing pin) in my S&W Model 642. A local gunsmith also worked on it. It has yet to meet my standards for reliability in a SD handgun.

As a result, I "rescued" an abused/neglected Taurus Model 85 2" snub as a sort of stopgap 38 j-frame snub to carry every once in a while in my back pocket until the Model 642's problems were resolved.

The little Taurus had surface rust all over it, a few spots of the finish were totally ruined, the grips were full of grease and dirt, the cylinder area and barrel were filthy, the trigger was stiff, the cylinder spun slowly, etc.

After some hours of work I had it cleaned up and functioning properly. It's the fourth Model 85 I've owned, so it was no surprise to me that it shot various varieties of 38 special just fine. And its trigger is pretty good for a Taurus. After I put a couple hundred various rounds through it for reliability check, I ground off off the hammer spur, and now I carry it in my back pocket when I walk the dog.

One day I was hiking around in the woods near the creek with my aforementioned doggy, and realized it would be easy to carry something larger when I'm out in the countryside. I have some semiauto pistols that would work, but I grew up with revolvers and they're more natural for me.

I wanted something bigger than a j-frame, but not as big as a 4" Model 10 with large grips. I found a 3" Taurus Model 82 from 1992 in very good to excellent condition. It had the tiny wooden OEM grips. I replaced them with some NoS "agent grips". I guess most people would call them boot grips. They're easier to conceal than the original grips, and they fit my hands better. They extend more towards the trigger guard than the originals, like adding a t-grip. Towards the butt they get thinner than the original grips, but that doesn't matter to me because with my gorilla hands I have to tuck my pinky under the butt of every j-frame and k-frame that I shoot anyway.

I took the Model 82 to the range with a friend today. We put maybe 75 rounds of assorted ammo through it - some of his reloads, and various stray rounds from my range ammo can. It was completely reliable. The trigger was smooth for a Taurus. We shot it at paper targets at seven yards. In single action either of us could put six rounds quickly into a baseball-sized group every time. In double action it was more like a softball, and maybe a flyer sometimes, but still pretty good. The sights are good for fixed sights, though I need to paint the front sight a brighter color. After I get used to it over a few more range visits, I will get better shooting it in double action.

The "new" Taurus is a medium-framed service revolver, which is something I'm very used to shooting. But the barrel is an inch or three shorter than I'm used to, and the grip is smaller (I use big target type grips on my K-frames). I kept having the feeling that I had a squib, or that I'd just shot a 22. The recoil felt way too light. My friend laughed and told me that I was shooting it just like I shot my j-frames.

Yeah, he was right. The barrel and grips are kinda short, so my hands thought they were shooting a j-frame and they were expecting more recoil. It was interesting and probably helped me shoot better.

Anyway, that's the true story of why I bought this Model 82. I did some digging and discovered I have a nice leather service type holster and nice leather higher up on the belt holster that both fit it. After I shoot another bunch of rounds through it, I'll see how I like carrying it. If I end up carrying it regularly, I'll regretfully grind off the hammer spur. If it ends up being more of a range toy, I'll leave it as is.

I'm not sure if it's rated for +P. Any advice on non +P SD ammo would be appreciated. I also need to paint the front sight something other than black. I've been doing red lately, but I'm open to other options. If there is a better carry grip for a medium-framed revolver like this, I have no objection to trying others.

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I only carry in my back pocket if I know that I'm not going to sit down (such as walking my dog around the neighborhood).

I could belt carry my 2" Model 10 or my 4" Model 64, but I don't think I could make myself grind the hammer spur off of one of them, and I would be very sad if one fell into the soft mud at the bottom of the creek and was lost forever. It's silly of me, but they're such nice tools that they're almost works of art. Works of art that need to be shot a lot. :)

If one of my inexpensive but functional Taurii gets all scratched up, dinged up, falls in the water, lost forever, finish all worn off, etc...shrug, NBD. There are a bazillion of them out there and they don't cost a lot. They're just functional tools. As you can see in the picture, they're not even pretty. :)
 
Personally I wouldn't hesitate to use +P ammo in that gun for SD. I would use standard pressure for practice and range blasting, ending each session with my choice of +P carry ammo to keep myself used to the difference in recoil.
 
Back in the early 90's I bought a Taurus Model 85 CH. It had the bobbed hammer and was double action only. I was quite satisfied with it, the bluing was nice and it locked up tight. Put a lot of rounds through it and never had a single problem, wish I hadn't sold it
 
Tallball

Congrats on the two "new" Taurus revolvers! Like the 3" barrel version a lot.

Also kudos for finally getting your photo going horizontal versus your usual vertical orientation!
 
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments.

I'm inordinately pleased with the latest Taurus, even though It's just an inexpensive "utility" piece.

The 3" barrel and shortened grip feel comfortable and point well, and it shoots like a service revolver.

I'll get a proper belt in the next week or so and start carrying it on walks. If the weight doesn't bother me, it will take its place in my carry "rotation".

I have a soft spot for the old Taurii from this era. I got a Model 66 as my first "real" handgun in 1988 or so, and a Model 85 around 1990. They were both solid handguns and served as my primary HD and CC pieces until they were stolen in a burglary in 2000. Now the circle has turned all the way around again. :)

All of my handgun purchases in the past year or so have been revolvers. I have plenty of semiautomatic pistols. I shoot them okay and like them okay, but I don't enjoy them nearly as much as my revolvers.
 
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments.

I'm inordinately pleased with the latest Taurus, even though It's just an inexpensive "utility" piece.

The 3" barrel and shortened grip feel comfortable and point well, and it shoots like a service revolver.

I'll get a proper belt in the next week or so and start carrying it on walks. If the weight doesn't bother me, it will take its place in my carry "rotation".

I have a soft spot for the old Taurii from this era. I got a Model 66 as my first "real" handgun in 1988 or so, and a Model 85 around 1990. They were both solid handguns and served as my primary HD and CC pieces until they were stolen in a burglary in 2000. Now the circle has turned all the way around again. :)

All of my handgun purchases in the past year or so have been revolvers. I have plenty of semiautomatic pistols. I shoot them okay and like them okay, but I don't enjoy them nearly as much as my revolvers.

My first CF handgun was also a used Taurus. It was a 6 inch 689. Beautifully blued with an above average trigger. After the purchase I realized it had a bulged barrel. Sent it to Taurus and they replaced the barrel and rezeroed the sights at no charge to me. I've had it now for over 25 years and not a single problem with it ever. I understand your soft spot for the Taurus revolvers of that era. The fit and finish of my 689 rivals my S&Ws.
 
My first centerfire handgun was also a Taurus I bought new back in 1988, a satin nickel M-66 6” .357 Mag. :thumbup: I only sold it because it helped me sleep under a roof when times were thin back in my college years.:(

I still have two Tauri; a 94 .22 LR and a 941 .22 Mag., both 4”. I’m glad your pocket guns are working well for you, I think they’re good little guns.

Stay safe.
 
I have changed every spring (and the firing pin) in my S&W Model 642. A local gunsmith also worked on it. It has yet to meet my standards for reliability in a SD handgun.

As a result, I "rescued" an abused/neglected Taurus Model 85 2" snub as a sort of stopgap 38 j-frame snub to carry every once in a while in my back pocket until the Model 642's problems were resolved.

The little Taurus had surface rust all over it, a few spots of the finish were totally ruined, the grips were full of grease and dirt, the cylinder area and barrel were filthy, the trigger was stiff, the cylinder spun slowly, etc.

After some hours of work I had it cleaned up and functioning properly. It's the fourth Model 85 I've owned, so it was no surprise to me that it shot various varieties of 38 special just fine. And its trigger is pretty good for a Taurus. After I put a couple hundred various rounds through it for reliability check, I ground off off the hammer spur, and now I carry it in my back pocket when I walk the dog.

One day I was hiking around in the woods near the creek with my aforementioned doggy, and realized it would be easy to carry something larger when I'm out in the countryside. I have some semiauto pistols that would work, but I grew up with revolvers and they're more natural for me.

I wanted something bigger than a j-frame, but not as big as a 4" Model 10 with large grips. I found a 3" Taurus Model 82 from 1992 in very good to excellent condition. It had the tiny wooden OEM grips. I replaced them with some NoS "agent grips". I guess most people would call them boot grips. They're easier to conceal than the original grips, and they fit my hands better. They extend more towards the trigger guard than the originals, like adding a t-grip. Towards the butt they get thinner than the original grips, but that doesn't matter to me because with my gorilla hands I have to tuck my pinky under the butt of every j-frame and k-frame that I shoot anyway.

I took the Model 82 to the range with a friend today. We put maybe 75 rounds of assorted ammo through it - some of his reloads, and various stray rounds from my range ammo can. It was completely reliable. The trigger was smooth for a Taurus. We shot it at paper targets at seven yards. In single action either of us could put six rounds quickly into a baseball-sized group every time. In double action it was more like a softball, and maybe a flyer sometimes, but still pretty good. The sights are good for fixed sights, though I need to paint the front sight a brighter color. After I get used to it over a few more range visits, I will get better shooting it in double action.

The "new" Taurus is a medium-framed service revolver, which is something I'm very used to shooting. But the barrel is an inch or three shorter than I'm used to, and the grip is smaller (I use big target type grips on my K-frames). I kept having the feeling that I had a squib, or that I'd just shot a 22. The recoil felt way too light. My friend laughed and told me that I was shooting it just like I shot my j-frames.

Yeah, he was right. The barrel and grips are kinda short, so my hands thought they were shooting a j-frame and they were expecting more recoil. It was interesting and probably helped me shoot better.

Anyway, that's the true story of why I bought this Model 82. I did some digging and discovered I have a nice leather service type holster and nice leather higher up on the belt holster that both fit it. After I shoot another bunch of rounds through it, I'll see how I like carrying it. If I end up carrying it regularly, I'll regretfully grind off the hammer spur. If it ends up being more of a range toy, I'll leave it as is.

I'm not sure if it's rated for +P. Any advice on non +P SD ammo would be appreciated. I also need to paint the front sight something other than black. I've been doing red lately, but I'm open to other options. If there is a better carry grip for a medium-framed revolver like this, I have no objection to trying others.

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Buried in your post is a standard pressure carry recommendation. I use the Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr Standard Pressure load in my older non + P rated J frames, and the +P version of the Critical Defense load in my stronger revolvers.

While I (fortunately) have never had to fire these in defense of hearth and home, I was sufficiently impressed with their performance at a Hornady law enforcement ammunition demo several years ago to trust the Critical Defense and Critical Duty ammo to perform these roles.

61EED98C-B316-4F4A-80B5-C471F8D73A37.jpeg 318D8C21-48FC-4254-800D-C0405015D2B2.jpeg

(I also like the Federal HST and Remington Golden Saber loads as well, I just don’t have any in .38 Spl.)

Just a suggestion… :)

Stay safe.
 
Thanks for the ammo suggestion. I will order some when I see it online. My carry ammo is getting kind of "stale" lately anyway.

Yeah, the 689 has nice fit and finish. The trigger isn't as good as a good Smith trigger, but it's a nice revolver. It shoots better than I do, that's for sure. It was made in 1990, IIRC.
 
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I purchased a new Taurus 85 back about 1992or so.
It was stolen once, but I (eventually, after arguing with the Undersheriff, and enlisting the aid of the DA) got it back. It's Mrs Thunkits' favorite revolver. Sometimes she lets me shoot it.

I am almost certain that the factory paperwork claimed it was +P rated. I still have the box etc, I need to dig it out and check.
 
Well, I dug out the box etc from my Taurus M85 purchase. I bought it new in Spring of 1993, paid $169 for it.

I was incorrect about what ammo Taurus says can be used. Here is the lowdown, straight from the manual (dated 1992) included with the revolver.

Essentially, no +P.

Although, that 357 is screaming along...
 

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Thank you very much, Hooda Thunkit! :)

I'll keep the loads in both of the Taurii down to reasonable levels, as per the recommendations.

I have 357's, if I want to shoot them, so there's no need for me to hot-rod my 38's.

I've had very good luck with the Model 85's. This is my fourth one, and all of them have gone bang every time.
 
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