Taurus 85 Ultra-Lite .38 Spl+P 2" Snubbie

[TheIrishJedi]

I am going to pick up this firearm and was wondering if someone could simply recommend a good carry ammunition for it?

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/50_494/products_id/31516

 

[Guillermo]

125 grain Gold Dot are very good for a snubbie. They might shoot a little high but velocity is good and the flat nose hits like a hammer

 

[TheIrishJedi]

thanks buddy.

 

[GP100man]

When I bought a 85 for the mrs. the dealer gave me a box of Hornady 38spc. with 140gr. xtp , I think that was in `92. When she slips it in her in-the -pants holster & beatin `round the farm she prefers a loading with a Lee 158 gr. rnfp with 2.5grs. of CLAYS

She bought some Hydra Shocks I think .She`ll dispatch a snake with the shotshells in a minute though!!!!

 

[armoredman]

Carried that same revolver with 158 grain +P LSWCHP Winchesters, the old Treasury load. Good stuff.

 

[Charliee]

I use the 850 ul for my edc. I keep it loaded with Speer 135GR Gold Dots.

 

[MCgunner]

FBI/treasury load here. No need for improvement on that one. Any good HP from 125 grains up should do the job, I just go with the proven load. My 85SSUL is regulated for 'em.

 

[Guillermo]

BTW

Many recommend 158 grain bullets and there is much to argue for more heft to the round. Obviously you give up velocity. Besides, they say, your gun is sighted for 158.

They are absolutely correct.

My thoughts are that out of a short barrel, in order to get good penetration, more velocity is needed. A lighter projectile accomplishes this.

Of course we sit at our word processors and debate this stuff, all hoping that we never have to find out who is correct.

And if the truth be known, bullet placement matters more than anything.

So in the end, being really good at shooting is more important than which round you load your Taurus with. Get a good self defense round, pray for the best and practice, practice practice. Being a light snub it requires (for me) a lot of "trigger time".

And it doesn't hurt to learn from the best. http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/JERRY_MICULEK/jerry_miculek.html

(or ask Old Fuff or David E for tips if you are not getting the hits you want)

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Remington Golden Sabers .38 +P,125 gr.bjhp. Same for the S&W Model 36.

 

[gym]

I have that gun in the titanium, they made it for 1 year, it's a pleasure to shoot, Federal plus P in whatever recoil level you can shoot well.

 

[Erik M]

I have a two-tone model 85 that I bought from Bud's as my edc. I switch between Hornaday 158 grain XTP and Buffalo Bore 148 grain HCWC. I was given a box of 158 grain Mag Tech +p but I havent test fired any of them yet.

 

[bakert]

Remington Golden Sabers .38 +P,125 gr.bjhp. Same for the S&W Model 36.

I bought a few boxes of the 125 gr Rem Golden Sabers a few yrs ago for carry in my steel frame 85. The ones I've shot for test purposes worked fine so I'm still using them for carry ammo.

 

[weregunner]

If there is anyone in the crowd recoil sensitive there is a Federal Nyclad 125gr. LSWCHP with the nylon coating that's back out. It's a standard pressure round.

Nyclad was designed several decades ago to be a practice round that kept lead emissions to nill. Turned out that made a very good self defense round.

I like the +P rounds, but have some for my Taurus 856 Lyte model.

I shoot the +P and standard pressure rounds out of my 85CH.

I shoot mostly standard pressure 158gr. rounds for practice and then 20-30 rounds of +P to stay current with them.

 

[MCgunner]

I tried the Federal hydroshocks some years back and they weren't worth a toot in accuracy. I like the Treasury load, but will concede that in the ultralight, especially, the 158s to have some snap and might not be for the recoil sensitive. A lighter bullet will reduce recoil. And, hell, you put it center mass, it's going to hurt the BG, I guarantee you that. All this "I like this or that" stuff is kinda nit picky. I mean, any serious .38 special defense load is going to be effective for self defense IMHO. I sweat the penetration thing with .22s or .32s, but not .38s.

On penetration, I don't know if velocity is the thing here. The higher sectional density and the greater momentum of the 158 grain bullet, seems to me, would win. BUT, that's just an opinion based on net opinion and not scientific. I don't really sweat it, just go with what the gun shoots best, tell ya the truth. I'd be happy with a 125 JHP if it was accurate and shot to POA.

 

[Gottahaveone]

I have an 85SSUL (OK, the GF has it) and I recently bought a 851SSUL. I keep the Speer 135gr +P Short Barrel load in both of them. Recoil is fine and point of impact is close enough to point of aim that I can live with it. I have a lot of faith in the Gold Dot design, and this load was specifically developed with the .38 snubbie in mind.
YMMV....

 

[weregunner]

As stated already the real world track record for stopping attacks goes to the 158gr. LSWCHP. Then comes the Speer Gold Dot not far behind and and then the 125gr. JHPs that are +P.

I think you've got it right McGunner!

 

[32 Magnum]

Hornady Critical Defense FTX 110 gr. - the best expanding, least muzzle blast and flash, and good penetration 10 -12" on clothed gelatin - AND it doesn't clog up with the fibers from the clothing. Designed especially for use in "SNUBBIES".