A Moment of Weakness

[Tallball]

I have quite a few snubbies, including a Taurus Model 85 Ultralight. My original Model 85 was an excellent revolver that I bought brand-new around 1990 or so. It was stolen in a burglary in the early "oughts", and I replaced it with the Ultralight. My first one was blued steel and had a great trigger. The Ultralight is stainless with a mediocre trigger.

The Ultralight has been completely reliable, but I remember reading something about them possibly having trouble over time near the firing pin area if you shoot them often enough... something about the aluminum wearing in that area. It's not that I shoot it that often. Really I just carry it in my back pocket if I'm walking the dog. My Ruger LCR is for "out and about" cargo pocket carry, and my Charter Arms Bulldog is for coat pocket carry in the winter.

But darn it all, I ran across a steel hammerless Model 85 in good shape for only $200.... I thought about the possible problems with the Ultralight... and I had a very pretty Hogue Monogrip that would fit it... then somehow something happened and now I own my third Taurus Model 85.

Its trigger is no better or worse than the Ultralight. The minor weight difference doesn't seem to matter in the back pocket of my jeans. I always thought that the hammerless models looked kind of nice. According to their website it was made in 1994. I'll shoot 50 or a hundred rounds through it on Wednesday and see what I think. If it's reliable and accurate after a few hundred rounds, it might take over the "back pocket walking the dog duties".

And for the "Taurus is Junk" folks... that's your opinion and that's okay. Feel free to express it. I've owned three Model 66 variations and this is my third Model 85. The previous five have all been somewhere between good and great (my Old Model 66 has a fabulous trigger). I expect that this one will be functional, too. I own Smiths and Rugers and Colts and what-have-you. I like them. A few of my Smiths are amazing. I just happen to have a soft spot for certain of the older Taurus revolvers. It's probably because I'm crazy.

Here's a bad cell phone picture of it. I can't remember what kind of wood the Monogrip is, but it sure is purty. It fits my hand better than the original wooden grips, without really being any larger.

And one quick question, does anyone have a favorite OWB holster for hammerless revolvers? I might end up wanting to carry this one OWB sometime, and my Bulldog has a shrouded hammer, so "normal" holsters don't work well for it. Any advice would be appreciated. I carry a Glock 43 OWB sometimes, and have a 26 that I'm slowly getting used to, but I'm really more of a revolver guy.

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[chicharrones]

Congrats. For $200.00, I'd have probably bought it too.

 

[DazedandConfuzed]

My first handgun purchase was a Model 66. I was young and low on funds, so it was affordable. Love that gun!

Still own it and still my favorite revolver to shoot.

 

[Tallball]

Same. My first FiL wanted me to have a real handgun (not a 22), and a friend's brother really needed cash. I gave him the $200 he'd paid for his Model 66, since it was practically new. It was 4" and blued, with a great trigger. I think I bought it in 1988. It was my HD gun for over 12 years. I had to use it twice. Unfortunately, it was stolen when the Model 85 was. And like the 85, I've bought two more since I lost the first one.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I have quite a few snubbies, including a Taurus Model 85 Ultralight. My original Model 85 was an excellent revolver that I bought brand-new around 1990 or so. It was stolen in a burglary in the early "oughts", and I replaced it with the Ultralight. My first one was blued steel and had a great trigger. The Ultralight is stainless with a mediocre trigger.

The Ultralight has been completely reliable, but I remember reading something about them possibly having trouble over time near the firing pin area if you shoot them often enough... something about the aluminum wearing in that area. It's not that I shoot it that often. Really I just carry it in my back pocket if I'm walking the dog. My Ruger LCR is for "out and about" cargo pocket carry, and my Charter Arms Bulldog is for coat pocket carry in the winter.

But darn it all, I ran across a steel hammerless Model 85 in good shape for only $200.... I thought about the possible problems with the Ultralight... and I had a very pretty Hogue Monogrip that would fit it... then somehow something happened and now I own my third Taurus Model 85.

Its trigger is no better or worse than the Ultralight. The minor weight difference doesn't seem to matter in the back pocket of my jeans. I always thought that the hammerless models looked kind of nice. According to their website it was made in 1994. I'll shoot 50 or a hundred rounds through it on Wednesday and see what I think. If it's reliable and accurate after a few hundred rounds, it might take over the "back pocket walking the dog duties".

And for the "Taurus is Junk" folks... that's your opinion and that's okay. Feel free to express it. I've owned three Model 66 variations and this is my third Model 85. The previous five have all been somewhere between good and great (my Old Model 66 has a fabulous trigger). I expect that this one will be functional, too. I own Smiths and Rugers and Colts and what-have-you. I like them. A few of my Smiths are amazing. I just happen to have a soft spot for certain of the older Taurus revolvers. It's probably because I'm crazy.

Here's a bad cell phone picture of it. I can't remember what kind of wood the Monogrip is, but it sure is purty. It fits my hand better than the original wooden grips, without really being any larger.

And one quick question, does anyone have a favorite OWB holster for hammerless revolvers? I might end up wanting to carry this one OWB sometime, and my Bulldog has a shrouded hammer, so "normal" holsters don't work well for it. Any advice would be appreciated. I carry a Glock 43 OWB sometimes, and have a 26 that I'm slowly getting used to, but I'm really more of a revolver guy.

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I also had an early '90s stainless 85 and an early 00s Titanium .357 7-shot, and my Dad has a really old Falcon by Taurus.

IMO, your gun is from the high water mark in Taurus quality, nice work! Their newest guns such as the View, .380 mini revolver, and even the latest 85s are dreadful by comparison.

 

[entropy]

No Taurus hater here. Ironically, my snub is an S&W, and my two semis (PT145 and PT1911AR) are Taurus. My son has a 66, we've had no problems. Well, the PT145 kept shooting way low-I took the sights off, problem solved.
I think you got a good deal, Tallball!

 

[MedWheeler]

DazedandConfuzed writes:

My first handgun purchase was a Model 66. I was young and low on funds, so it was affordable. Love that gun!

Still own it and still my favorite revolver to shoot.

Mine, too, in 1987. Even carried it for a short while on "the job".

Yes, I still have it, and it probably is my favorite at the range, too.

I have a really nice stainless 3-inch barreled 85, made in 1995, that I got about a year or so back. Also a pretty slick shooter.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

I love my taurus revolvers as much as my rugers and smiths. I want to add a charter arms to my collection too. Also I love those grips!

 

[bannockburn]

Tallball

Like chicarrones, at $200, I would be sorely tempted to buy it. A friend of mine has an old stainless Model 85 that was his Dads. The gun itself has seen lots of use but it's still holding up just fine after all these years.

 

[Sistema1927]

I had an 85CH stainless that I used to carry when fly fishing. The trigger was almost as good as my Smith J's, and it was a serviceable revolver that gave me no problems. Funny, I can't remember what happened to it, but I am guessing that some friend wanted it more than I did.

 

[RKRCPA]

Here's my M85 that I purchased in 1984. It has been a faithful servant for all these many years, countless hours in an ankle holster with nary a complaint.



While I can not comment on newer production, I have had no trouble with this one and can't imagine letting it go.

 

[Tallball]

RKRCPA, that's a good looker. The grip is interesting.

Thanks for all of the nice comments. I get to shoot it tomorrow morning. I'm bringing the aluminum one, too, to see which one I prefer. I'm guessing the steel one with the slightly larger grips will shoot a little better.

I ordered a DeSantis "scabbard" holster that should work well for OWB carry. That's my preferred holster for my Glocks and so forth. I'm hoping it will fit my CA Bulldog, too.

 

[RKRCPA]

RKRCPA, that's a good looker. The grip is interesting.

The grip is a Barami Hip Grip and a Tyler T grip adapter, just what the doctor ordered when it Shorts and T-shirt weather.