Taurus 85UL revolver function question - is this broken, or normal?

[Rumble]

Okay, here's a question. I just picked up a new Taurus 85UL, concealed-hammer version. Upon checking it out, I came across an odd behavior:

When examining the cylinder lockup, I notice that without much effort--just a little pressure from my fingers--I can rotate the cylinder backwards (that is, against the normal direction of cylinder rotation) without depressing the trigger to let it freewheel. This seems like a bad thing--I don't recall it being possible with my previous Taurus revo, but I don't recall actually trying it, either.

Thoughts? Is my new gun broken?

Thanks!

 

[revolverguy]

im not a gunsmith or nothing but i do have a taurus ultralight and i cant rotate my cylinder bacwards. mine is locked up tight when the cylinder is closed and has very little play eitherway. so i would say something isnt right !!

 

[MCgunner]

Sounds like maybe a timing problem, definitely not normal. Might just be something with the cylinder latch that fits in the little indents on the cylinder, whatever you call that part. Might not be grabbin' the cylinder right for some reason. I'd get it checked or sent it to Taurus. From what I've heard of Taurus customer service, I think I'd get a smith to look at it first. Might just need a part. Might just be something simple like dirt where it shouldn't be.

 

[Old Fuff]

No, the cylinder shouldn't turn as it is doing.

For some reason the cylinder stop (aka "bolt") isn't coming up and locking the cylinder. Open the cylinder, hold the latch thumbpiece back, and double action the trigger. Watch the cylinder stop to see what it does, and also press down on it with a finger and then move the finger to see if it pops up (it should).

There is a spring and plunger inside the yoke that presses on the cylinder stop. Something that's wrong with the spring could be causing your problem. If so it is a simple and easy thing to fix.

 

[Rumble]

I didn't think it was normal. Fortunately, the situation resolved itself quite well--I took the gun back to Gander Mountain, and presented the problem to them. They said, "Indeed, it is broken," and brought out another one from their stock. On the new one, the cylinder locked up properly--what's more, the trigger pull was far smoother and lighter than on the one I originally bought, which leads me to believe that there was more wrong than just the cylinder stop.

So, proper paperwork was completed, and the defective one was taken back, and a nice, functional Taurus 85 was given to me. I was very pleased. Needs to be cleaned and taken to the range still, but the bogus revolver is no longer my problem.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[Old Fuff]

Now do what I did with mine. Buy a set of snap caps (available at www.brownells.com), insert them into the chambers, and then dry-fire it about 900 - 1000 times. The lockwork will smooth out well, and nothing you've done will void the warrantee.

 

[Rumble]

That is precisely what I intend to do!

 

[ScottsGT]

It was probably still full of blasting media causing the mechanisms in it to lock up. I own an older 85 with a brushed, almost bright stainless finish. Great gun All the newer models seem to have the bead blasted finish as my LAST (ever) Taurus Raging Bull did. Trigger felt "gritty" with the crap still in it. I called Taurus, and no BS, they told me that it is left in there to smooth out the action, and over time, proper cleanings by end user would get it all out. I disassembled the gun and cleaned it properly right then.

 

[MCgunner]

My Taurus 85UL has the best DA I've ever felt out of the box on a revolver. It's normal accurate, 3" at 25 yards like about any snubby I've ever fired, but the trigger is just amazingly smooth.

I'm thinking, don't know about blasting media, but whatever got under that cylinder STOP (had to go back to Old Fuff's post to remember what it is called ) and was keeping it from coming up all the way into the notch in the cylinder. But, all's well that ends well.