i recently put 300 rounds (wadcutter and fmj ball ammo) through a nice, new taurus 856. for just $250 i really like it, and will serve as my bedside piece. my only (minor) complaint are the oem grips, which are sized small for concealment. since my 856 won’t be a ccw, i prefer thicker/longer grips that allow a full three finger purchase, cover the backstrap, ideally in rubber, all to mitigate recoil, yet under $50. i am not seeing many aftermarket grip choices for the 856, but alot for the 85. suggestions please! thank you!
taurus 856 grips
- Thread starter jstert
- Start date
thanks! odd thing is my first privately owned handgun is a taurus 85 from 1985, i.e. definitely the older version. i like it better than my 856, except for its wooden grips, which i swapped (and still have) for pachmayr grips. what gripes me about the new 85 and 856 is the oem grip’s roll pin, which also makes me cautious about finding replacement grips that are sure to fit. why doesn’t taurus affix grips with a set screw? it’s irksome to buy tools for one time use only. so to be more specific, if anyone has successfully put aftermarket rubber grips on an 856 would love to know maker, exact model #, vendor.
Diamondback
Member
If you haven't already, take a look at these on the official Taurus site :https://shoptaurus.com/grips/?_bc_fsnf=1&Model=Taurus+856 .See if there is something that appeals. As well, Midway has the Pachmayr rosewood Renegade wood grips that will fit. (I think you can find them on Amazon as well, if I recall). eBay has some Thailand wood grips if you do a search. Then there is a selection here : https://grips4guns.com/handgun_grips/Small_frame.html
And yes, I agree, the roll pin set up is a PITA.
And yes, I agree, the roll pin set up is a PITA.
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Pat Riot
Contributing Member
The older wood grips have the dowel pins too, unless someone removed them. Taurus has been using the same frame for a long time now.
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someguy2800
Member
The 3" ones come with a longer hogue grip that is pretty nice. I would assume you can buy it from hogue
yes, taurus (and s&w) used dowel pins but only to secondarily stabilize the grip. a screw was the primary means of affixing the grip to the frame on older taurus revolvers. using only a roll pin on its newer models saved taurus a few pennies i suppose.
what i’m learning is that the 856 and newer 85 share the same grip frame, so apparently aftermarket grips for the 85 also fit an 856…?
kerreckt
Member
Try this: https://www.jsesurplus.com/advancedtechnologyar15x2grip-flatdarkearth-1.aspx I have several on my Taurus revolvers. I like them. Best wishes
Tallball
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I haven't tried it, but everyone says that the Model 85 grips fit. It makes sense. Why would Taurus go to the trouble and expense of creating an entirely new grip frame? Manufacturers try to use the old stuff as much as possible.
You can find a bazillion Model 85 grips on Amazon or anywhere. These banana grips were ONS, but I liked the Hogues from Amazon okay, too.
You can find a bazillion Model 85 grips on Amazon or anywhere. These banana grips were ONS, but I liked the Hogues from Amazon okay, too.
Taurus might have saved a few pennies with not including a screw hole in the newer rubber grips. And there really isn't a need for screws on one piece grips that totally enclose the frame, a roll pin works just fine in this case. But that does not change the fact that Taurus has been using that frame for a long time and are still using it to this day.
Any grip that fits the following models will 100% interchange: 85, 94, 327, 941, 942, 856, 605, and 905. And all frames are threaded for grip screws.
Biblethumpncop
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I tried my wife's Herrett J frame square butt Shooting Ace on the 856. It has a small gap but it is an option!
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lee n. field
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Under $50. Ah, OK, so the CT lasergrip, my favorite, is out.
If you can find it, Pachmayr Compac meets your criteria (3 finger, cover the backstrap, rubber). So does the Uncle Mike's Combat. Again, if you can find one. Older Hogues also covered the backstrap. (Current ones, like Taurus includes on some 856s, do not. No idea why they redesigned.)
Grips for the 85 fit the 856.
lee n. field
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Don't care for the roll pin. The roll pin is a hair wider than the older stock pin, and you have to drive it out with a punch. Which is fine if you're using it to hold on the grip. The older stock pin will almost fall out, if you're not careful.
Sometimes, not always, you can get away without the stock pin.
Yes, with the caveat about the stock pin.
Tallball
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PSA: If your aftermarket grips don't fit perfectly and have a small gap inside, a small folded up piece of paper will solve the problem.
One of my friends was deeply disappointed when he learned that the fancy grips on one of my few valuable handguns are fitted properly because of a folded piece of paper inside the grips. He wondered why I didn't spend hours sanding and modifying the grips instead.
One of my friends was deeply disappointed when he learned that the fancy grips on one of my few valuable handguns are fitted properly because of a folded piece of paper inside the grips. He wondered why I didn't spend hours sanding and modifying the grips instead.
these grips look great, thanks kerreckt. how are they affixed to the frame, i don’t see any screws on the side.
Biblethumpncop
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I found a write up on this page:
https://www.firearmstalk.com/threads/purchased-another-taurus-revolver.145961/
Diamondback
Member
I'm just going to come out and say it....would it have killed Taurus to have foregone the roll pin and allowed for a screw so you don't have to punch out the pin every time you want to change grips. Otherwise, I like my 2" SS UL. But, yes...a little snappy with +p fodder.
My 3" Defender comes with the Hogue grips, as shown in post #8, which attach from the bottom with a screw making them a snap to change.
My 3" Defender comes with the Hogue grips, as shown in post #8, which attach from the bottom with a screw making them a snap to change.
kerreckt
Member
They are a clamshell design with two screws from the bottom holding it together. It works well. No loosening or changes after use. Best wishes!
lee n. field
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Punching out the roll pin -- yeah it's hard, but it's a one time thing. (But not that hard.)
FWIW. The "bull head" rubber grip is the only one that comes with the real long roll pin. My 3" 856 Defender came with Hogue rubber grips, and no long roll pin. Bull head grip was in the box, and I tried it. Didn't care for it, drove the long pin right back out and took the grip off.
The 2" 856 I bought a few weeks ago came with an Altamont wood grip, and short roll pin. I did a grip shuffle, and that ended up with the Crimson Trace that was on my 605, and the 605's original stock pin. (You need the stock pin with the CT laser, lest the laser point of aim drift.)
The Viridian lasergrip that Taurus sells, one of the mounting screws goes through the stock pin hole.
Yeah, I've got quite a collection of Taurus small frame grips.
Diamondback
Member
You are right...it's not that hard to drive the pin out. I'm just old and like to complain sometimes...I need to catch myself on that. I didn't like the stock grips on my 2" Taurus 856 (UL) either so I installed the Pachmayr rosewood Renegade. The jury is still out on performance. But I do like the way they fill my hand and enclose the backstrap.
Anywho...glad you found grips that work for you and are enjoying your Taurus 856's.
Anywho...glad you found grips that work for you and are enjoying your Taurus 856's.
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shoebox1.1
Member
Fella if I read it right the Taurus executive grade 856 “Altamonts” should fit all these guns and I’d love to have a set on this super sale brand new 856 snub at my local store for 229.00!
Biblethumpncop
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$229?
