I *heart* Taurus Model 85UL

[Floppy_D]

This guy.
So, 3 or 4 years ago, I started carrying a Sig P229. I loved the gun, but carry was a burden. The only place I could carry it comfortably was at about 1 o'clock, and then it was a slow draw at best. I switched to a full size 1911 for carry, which still remains my cold weather choice. At half past 3 o'clock, it hides well in a hoodie or jacket, and I'm happy. But Virginia, the fickle critter that it is, will soon allow the warmer weather to stay. I wear cargo shorts 9 months out of the year, and t-shirts about 5 or 6 of those 9.

Enter the 85UL. I dropped it in an Uncle Mike's #4 pocket carry, and right into my front right shorts pocket, and almost wondered where it went. It's a featherweight carry I could almost jog with. Nothing digging into my sides or back or front, just an easy carry revolver. It does have a hammer, so I practice drawing it with my thumb under and to the left of the hammer, so it slides out neatly, and my thumb transitions to a nice grip. Double action I can hit a dinner plate every time at 7yds (in a hurry), single action I can hit a tea saucer every time at 7yds (a little less hurry). I don't feel undergunned with 135g +P SBGDHP.

The DA trigger out of the box was 12 miles of bad road. SA was light. I put some aluminum snap caps in it, dry fired it 1200-1500 times, and the DA trigger is heavy but smooth now, and the SA is again, butter.

Two weeks into 85 carry, it's going to be an SOB to go back to anything heavier. As far as carry goes, it's the best $275 I could have spent.

 

[Glockman17366]

Nice revolver.
I've had an 85 Multi-Alloy (aluminum frame, titanium cylinder/barrel shroud) since they first came out 10 or so years ago. My most regularly carried gun for most of those years.
I still have that gun (desk gun now), but it's been replaced (for carry) by a shrouded hammer 851 in titanium...the 851 draws a bit easier and less wear on the pockets.
I carry in a Galco or Mikas holster.

 

[Guillermo]

I had one. Shot well and never broke (unlike my other Taurus revolver which broke repeatedly).

Was easy to carry and were it not for the former Taurus' total undependability I would still own it.

Traded it for a Smith 19 that I gave my teenage daughter.

If I were to dip in that pool again, the 851 is a lovely piece that I might like to have.

I wish you the best.

 

[reloadn]

I have owned one for 4 yrs with about 1000 flawless rds. My best friend owns a S&W642 and I can honestly say I wouldn't traded for his.

 

[Eightball]

Nice well-written post.

Any pictures of your firearm specifically, or no? And, is that one of their 5 shots, or one of their 6 shot j-frame-ish things?

 

[Floppy_D]

Yeah, I'll get 'em up. Mine's filthy from the range, needs a bath... so I googled a pic. It's a 5 shot; that small cylinder doesn't show through cargo shorts at all.

 

[halfded]

Floppy, what a coincidence. I too just bought the 85ul, the exact same one you have, because I too live in Virginia and wanted something I could carry anytime, especially the summer, August around here is relentless. Put the hogue grip on mine that allows you to get a proper handful of grip. It makes a huge difference in controllability for your follow up shots. More comfortable on the recoil too. Where did you buy yours, just out of curiosity?

 

[Floppy_D]

I bought mine from THR member "manofsteele." That price included shipping, so I couldn't say no. He's an FFL, and a good guy to work with.

 

[halfded]

$275 huh? Better than me. I got mine for $330 plus tax. Still worth every penny in my opinion though. 1.10 lbs loaded if anyone asks you, by the way.

 

[Old Fuff]

When I got mine I expected the hammer to hang up when drawn from a pocket holster. Other makes of revolvers usually did. But unexpectedly this one didn't. I had planed to bob the hammer, but so far I haven't.

Again, like others, I bought it because the price was too good to turn down. Dry firing burnished the action, and it is smooth as any similar-sized Smith & Wesson I've owned. I haven't touched the springs, and I won't. I like the assurance that the revolver will, without question, go BANG! and not click if or when I need it.

Experiment drawing the gun without covering or blocking the hammer with your thumb and see what happens.

 

[MCgunner]

Got mine a dozen or so years ago. It has somewhere around 6-7k rounds through it, most of which are light loads. It's still tight and true as ever and quite accurate as snubbies go. Mine had the lightest, smoothest DA trigger out of the box of any revolver I'd ever owned. I'm still amazed at the trigger quality. I carry it alternately with a Kel Tec P11 which gets the most use for ccw. The 85UL is a fantastic little carry, though. It fills the snubby niche so well for me, I don't really look much at snubs anymore when I get a desire for a handgun. I think the price tag was about $285 for mine new, but that's 12 years ago. But, it didn't cost me that. I forget, think I booted a little money, don't remember, but I traded a P95 Ruger in for it.

Mine doesn't give me much problem in the way of hanging on pockets, either, though I naturally cover the hammer by force of habit. But, I have noticed that, Fuff. I like having SA capability in the gun as I often carry it afield and have taken small game with it. I've put down more'n a few hogs in the trap with it, tranquilized sharks with it, like it for carry especially fishing due to the stainless construction. It has accuracy enough to take rabbits at 25 yards, yet rides in a pocket for self defense, which is sorta cool to me, sort of an outdoor tool as well as a good gun to have if a BG comes along.

 

[halfded]

Yeah, anytime i draw from a coat pocket or something I put my thumb behind the hammer to keep it from catching on anything. Feels more secure drawing that way and doesn't really slow me down any. Everytime I take mine out to shoot I'm surprised how it feels a little smoother. Seems to be breaking in nicely. Have you taken the side plate off yet to clean in there? That helped a lot for me, a lot of leftover grease and crud in there. Cleaned it with a q-tip and some solvent, and added a couple drops of lube here and there. Big difference.

 

[Old Fuff]

Have you taken the side plate off yet to clean in there?

When I bought the revolver I followed what is a standard procedure with me - it was completely disassembled, inspected, lubricated and put back together. As it was, I found it to be clean, but dry. Thereafter I have lubricated it on occasion, but not removed the sideplate. Doing so more then necessary can have negative effects on the sideplate's close fit, and this is especially true on aluminum revolvers.

These days' new guns from any manufacturer suffer from a lack of inspection and quality control. The need to check out used ones should be obvious, as you never know what a former owner(s) might have done. I will say that my limited experience with Taurus revolvers has been positive.

 

[Floppy_D]

Sorry for the delay, I finally got some pics together. I blackened the rear sight, and nail polished the front one white and then orange; I'm still on the first coat of orange, so they will be brighter soon enough. The plain irons did little for quick acquisition, the orange post helps.

 

[jahwarrior]

nice. i'm getting my hands on the Taurus 85 on monday.

 

[steveracer]

Floppy, you're going about it all wrong. When it's summer weather here in Tidewater, I switch from the HiPower to the 629 MG. It's stainless, see, and won't get messed up.
Remember, in VA, the people get BIGGER in the summer, so you have to carry a bigger gun to put em down. Been to the beach in the last two weeks? People there are plain HUGE!
Now, in August, when the last of the fat tourists have gone home, I carry the .38, but not till then.
Steve
(Nice little gun. I have been looking for a .44 special from those Brizilian freaks a long while now.)