Taurus 85

[dbshelton]

Is it OK tp shoot .38 +P loads in a Taurus 2" model 85?

 

[OurSafeHome.net]

I do it about once or twice a year.

It stings a bit and makes a muzzle flash the size of a basket ball. Woo Hoo!

 

[Lariatbob]

Yes, they are +p rated.

 

[Texian]

I have never had a problem with mine....

 

[bestseller92]

Yes.

 

[3446]

Newer ones, yes. But hang on until you get the feel of them.

 

[MCgunner]

I fire 'em in my ultra lite, bought new in 96, +P rated, so don't worry about a steel 85. I limit them in the alloy frame, though.

 

[dbshelton]

Mine is an Ultra-Lite.

 

[armoredman]

I shoot +P in my UltraLite, but not many! Sucker will twist on ya! Keep it down to a few at a range session, just to keep in practice with that load, and use non +p for practice.

 

[Old Fuff]

I don't in my Ultra-Lite 85. The problem isn’t so much the revolver as it is the shooter. I am more then willing to sacrifice the supposed increase in power in exchange for faster recovery time between shots. Decreased muzzle flash is a bonus. Bullet placement is always a better answer.

 

[MCgunner]

Bullet placement is always a better answer.

Absolutely. I shoot my +P load well enough. It makes about 275 ft lbs from the 2" barrel. A standard load makes about 220. So, really, we're talkin' 55 ft lbs here? The extra velocity makes me a little more confident in expansion and it does work very well in the hogs I've shot in the trap with it, been rather impressed. As the 158 +P has a great rep on the street, I rather like the load for carry, but only fire a few now and then at the range just to stay used to it.

I shoot far harder kickin' guns, .357 magnums, hot .45 Colts and such, so I'm rather used to recoil. I really don't see the muzzle flip of the gun being worse than my .45ACP Ruger P90, either. That gun has some flip to it. When I was shooting IDPA, I went to 9x19 to see if I could gain some speed. I saw a minimal improvement and the tapered mag was a lot easier to reload which was more important than recoil recovery in the IDPA game. Double tapping the .45 isn't that tough.

 

[Old Fuff]

The extra velocity makes me a little more confident in expansion and it does work very well in the hogs I've shot in the trap with it ...

Are the hogs less impressed if you use your practice load? This presumes similar bullet placement. In the case of a trapped hog I suspect that penetration may be more important then expansion.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, my practice load is a 148 wadcutter over 2.7 grains Bullseye. I haven't tried it on a hog. I ain't really shooting the hogs and timing how long they last, I just shoot 'em in the shoulder, watch their reaction, and check out the wound channel which has shown good expansion and complete penetration on 150-200 lb hogs. I really don't think taking some heat off it would matter except that expansion might suffer. I'm already in the lower range of velocity for what Speer says the bullets work best at.

5 grains of Unique under a 158 SWC is another utility handload I shoot. I should try that one just for grins.