Taurus 85

[bullseyebob47]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxJzWCE5XJ4&list=UUSpG73Z1l3Wwu7GW7R31R6w

what do you think about that. im not sure if i like a 1" barrel. might as well load it with non hp solid rounds? but the weight under 10 oz. means i will always have it in my pocket 24/7 even at home.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Not for me...First and foremost, it's a taurus.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Old Fuff, who has had no problems with a number of Taurus revolvers he's owned, will pass on this one. Before you jump consider the recoil you'll get with any .38 Special load in a platform that only weighs 9 oz, and has a small undersized handle.

For a more practical alternative, look at this maker's model 380 that is chambered in .380 ACP (using moon-clips of course) and has a shorter frame & cylinder scaled down to the cartridge's length. The reduced dimensions still offer a (give or take) 2" barrel combined with a shorter-then-.38 Special platform length. Cartridge recoil is still much more manageable.

 

[Flashcube]

At the right price I'd buy one for just the novelty of it.

 

[Waveski]

A gimmick.

Gimmicks are OK if it's a new fishing lure , or a beer with 2 1/2 calories , but a gimmick gun?

I would not shoot it if it were given to me for free.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I have had five Taurus 85s over the years and all were good guns. But I'll pass on this one! A 1" barrel, next to no grip and 9 oz? Sounds like holding an M80 in your hand!

 

[Confederate]

I'll pass! Even Tiffany didn't look like she was all that fond of it. Also, call it what you want, the sideplate is still plastic. Great for yo-yos -- not so good as sideplates. The last thing I need is a 1-inch barrel. When I was a kid, I wanted my guns to look real. Now that I'm an adult, I don't want my guns to look like toys. Tiffany couldn't even shoot it rapid fire in front of a target right in front of her! I'll take a Ruger any day.

 

[MCgunner]

Love my older 85 UL and my new 605 poly. I don't have the need for the View. I don't think the grip looks particular comfy, would want a boot grip on it. But, my 85UL rides fine in my pocket in a Blackhawk number 4 pocket holster. 17 ounces ain't too much to carry and sure helps when actually shooting the gun. I don't think the View is +P rated, either.

 

[WestKentucky]

Novelty is the word that comes to mind. Too small to grip, to light to shoot, too short of a barrel to get velocity, too everything. This one was designed by a committee that said Carry gun, give me a trait and we will make it happen. One person said light, one said small, One said cute, one said 38 special...it came together in a manner that works but it doesn't work real well. Like a weekend rig that is powerful, low slung, and 4x4. It might go from a to but your going to have trouble with hemorrhoids if you play much.

 

[Haywood]

I Hurd it was uncomfortable to shoot. I can shoot 100 rounds in a half hr. from my 442 and it's accurate. You can keep anything lighter. The 442 carries in my front pockets just fine.

 

[smalls]

I thought she was going to start crying after shooting it.

 

[Agsalaska]

I have told this story on here a few times but thought I would again. I bought a 2000 Model 85 in 38 sp for $200 in 2007 at a gun shop in Anchorage. Me and the owner of the shop who is a good friend of mine took it and several other guns to the range that afternoon.

We get there and, since its the most recent gun I bought, start with the 85. I put a target out at ten feet, load, pull trigger, bang, bullseye. Cool. Four more times right down the middle. Cool. Back it out to 15 feet. Same thing. 20 feet. Same thing. 30 FEET, same thing.

We couldn't believe it. It was the most accurate gun we had with us in an inventory that included GLocks, Sigs, a Kimber 1911, a Colt Anaconda, and a Smith & Wesson something in .357.

So we brag about it and tell the story all week and of course we find four or five people who don't believe us. There is only thing you can do at that point of course, and that is go back to the range to prove it.

So we go back with a couple of other guys and they all have the same experience. The thing is dead nuts down the middle. Nothing out to 30 feet was better. It was absolutely crazy.

Obviously it was not designed or engineered to be as accurate as it is. But I have, by sheer luck, a true one of a kind 85. For a while I safe queened it but then figured it is a Taurus after all. It is now in my wife's pathfinder and gets carry duty on occasion.

 

[MCgunner]

My 85UL will shoot 3" at 25 yards off the sandbags. The limit is me and the sight radius, not the actual gun, I'm sure. Just shot the head off a cottonmouth from 15 feet with it today. It rides in my pocket every day.

I've got 3 other Taurus revolvers and all are as accurate as any comparable Smith or Ruger I've ever owned. My 4" Taurus 66 will outshoot my Smith 19, Smith M10, and my Ruger Security Six, all 4" guns.

 

[C0untZer0]

I would get one if they chambered it in 9mm or 380 ACP

 

[MCgunner]

if they chambered it in 9mm or 380 ACP

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/taurus-m380-mini-revolver-review/

 

[C0untZer0]

The Taurus 85 is smaller and lighter than the M380.

And I think it has a better trigger - could be wrong about that but I've heard the M380 has a gritty trigger.

 

[Got_Lead?]

Interesting. I like it. I would consider a place for it in my collection. The view plate is unique, if you ever wanted a cut-away gun for display, this one lets you have your cake and eat it too.

I have a Taurus 85, about 1995 vintage, which shoots great. I would certainly consider one, if anything for the novelty.

 

[Onward Allusion]

If it was priced the same as a regular 85, sure. I'd buy one just for the heck of it. However, at a street price of ~$500 - $550, I would rather buy a J-Frame Airweight with a laser or or an Airlite by itself.

 

[george burns]

I had the "alloy" for many years with darker, Titanium, cylinder. It weighed so little I had to check every once in a while to make sure it was still there.
Was a good little gun, made a lot of noise. You could fit it in a pocket with no problem, and shot +p's. The model I had was only made for 2 years. I finally sold it because I stopped carrying it when the wonder 9's took over, with single stack, 7-9 rounder's. I just felt that a 38 with 5 rounds was not enough, after a couple close calls. I started with revolvers in the 60's, and finally cut that last one loose.

 

[JR47]

Isn't it amazing how so many of those who have never shot it have such well-formed opinions?

I shot one, just to see what it was like. It is extremely light, with an short sight radius. I used 90 gr. Hornady FTX ammunition, and shot it at 3 and 7 yards.

It's a handful. However, I WAS able to destroy the X-ring of a B-27 target at both ranges. No, I couldn't rip off .5 second splits, and it squirmed all over the place, but I am not injured, my hands aren't numb, and the target would have been dead.

I actually found it nicer to shoot than that fiasco S&W sells in .357 Magnum in a J-frame. THAT one hurts with 125 gr JHP loads. It is also harder to control. Yet, we don't hear comments from the "I didn't shoot one, but......." crowd about the holy S&W.

As for the plastic side-plate, I'm guessing that the yo-yo comment comes from someone who never shoots a polymer framed pistol. They are also plastic, but in a much larger amount.

 

[C0untZer0]

If it was priced the same as a regular 85, sure. I'd buy one just for the heck of it. However, at a street price of ~$500 - $550, I would rather buy a J-Frame Airweight with a laser or or an Airlite by itself.

You can get these for $470-ish

IMO it takes money to get these guns below 14 ounces and under 5", especially money in materials. This revolver has a lot of titanium.

 

[kcofohio]

Hate to be a nay-sayer, but I think this is an accident waiting to happen.

Reason, with the view panel, some could have their attention diverted from safety while showing off the mechanisms. Some people tend to get a bit giddy showing off guns, and this one you pull the trigger to show its' workings.

But, that is just my thinking.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I guess I get it.

The shot of it hugging her hip goes a long way towards selling the "curve" and diminutive grip. Otherwise I was prepared to call it gimmicky.
Clear side cover - even less weight.
1 inch barrel as a concession to minimal length and weight.

Sure,, I guess I get it but I won't get one.

 

[Old Fuff]

The use of a plastic sideplate is questionable as it reduces the frame's structural integrity, but at least it should be made out of a synthetic that is fiber or metal particle reinforced. Having a "window" so one can watch the internal lockwork offers no useful purpose, and is out of place on any revolver intended to be used as a defensive weapon. The basic concept behind it may have some merit, but what Taurus came up with in "The View" is an example of poor execution, that is a sad reflection on some of the more worthy products they've come up with in the past.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Taurus 85 is smaller and lighter than the M380.

No, it is mostly identical to the model 85, but with a shortened cylinder and frame to match. It would be lighter then a model 85 so long as both were made with the same materials in the various parts. In particular, a Titanium version of the M380 might be both interesting and practical.