What do you guys think of the Taurus 85?

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Got_Lead?

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What do you guys think of the Taurus 85?

I've had a couple of Taurus autos, one was a jam-o'matic, and I got rid of it, the other is a 945, and it's OK, but nothing to jump up and down over.

I probably wouldn't get another Taurus auto, but the Taurus revolver line looks like pretty good quality stuff, what do you guys think?
 
The 4 Taurus autos I own have been great, as have all the Taurus revolvers I've owned, including 3 model 85s. I owned an early 90s 85Ch in blue, which I loved but sold to get an 85CH stainless that I also love. My wife has an 85UL and we both love it.
The only jam that any of my Taurus autos have had was one limp wristed jam when my friend's young son shot it. And it was full of pocket lint and had never been cleaned at the time. That was with a 1999 Millenium 9mm.
 
I had an 85 with the bobbed hammer a few years back. I didn't shoot it a lot, but it seemed to work well. Traded it off for something or other later, but there was nothing wrong with the gun.
 
don't own one (yet), but have shot a couple
I think it's just maybe the best snubbie currently being produced, real nice trigger

Taurus is weird that way, some of their stuff I just have no respect for, but when they pay attention they can do it as well as anybody

their revolvers, some good, some not, just like their autos
always a good notion to ask opinions about SPECIFIC models
 
That is my wife's carry gun. No problems, very reliable, accurate, lite enough to be comfy for her. Good to go.
 
I really like the one I have. I bought it in the 80s for a beater gun to keep in the truck, and for atv use. I have several J frame S&W revolvers, but find I shoot the T85 more than any of them. It feels cheap when compared to my S&W guns, but it shoots just as well. I am happy to own it.
 
I've had one for about 20 years - back when they came with wood grips.


Never a problem.
 
I would never buy a Taurus.
That is just me.
I try to keep my purchases limited to goods that are manufactured in the US.
 
This seems to be one of Taurus' most popular models and quite a few people on the Taurus forum seem to own them. The consensus there seems to be that most who own them like them.
 
I have a Model 85UL .38 Special blued. I actually recently gave it to my Dad. Runs great, he just needed a gun for the house and I had a "few" revolvers, so I gave it to him. I bobbed the hammer on it. The one thing I liked about the Taurus over my Model 36 no dash was the Taurus was a good bit lighter than the Smith. Good gun though. A speed strip or 2 and a Model 85 and you should be doing good.
 
EMC45:

LOL, I know the term "few"...............How bad off are you?


I've kind of lost count myself, I know it's in the double digits though.
 
I have a older 85ss that I carried for around 22 or 23 years. Great revolver, very smooth and light action. I have had several friends used it for there cc class and then went out and bought older used ones for them selfs.. I changed the grips to hogue many years ago and after all the use it still looks almost like new. Would I buy a new model?? not sure , An older used one ,yes. No sw I have fingered is as smooth as this old taurus.
 
I bought a used, older model 85 about a year and a half ago from a local pawn shop.
I've since found it to be an accurate and reliable revolver. I like it.
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Regards,
Greg
 
Over the years - off and on - I have owned several Taurus model 85 revolvers, and none gave me any problem. However with one exception (which I'll get to) they have been blued/carbon steel models witn unported barrels. I am aware of some issues that cropped up with the Titanium versions so I avoided them.

Presently I have a 85UL (aluminum frame/stainless cylinder/no porting) that I bought because the deal was too good to turn down. I occasionally use it for pocket carry, and like the others it works fine.

I am sure there are some that don't measure up to what they should, but the same can be said about a more famous domestic manufacturer who offers a similar product for more money. :uhoh:
 
I have owned three so far and wouldn't hesitate to buy a fourth. Mine have all been steel and the one I still own is a blued steel model It weighs about 24-25 oz and is just a little lighter than an SP101.

All have been reliable an surprisingly accurate. The model 85 I have now has has lots of +P loads through it and is still tight. Nothing wrong with them. I do always recommend that you be able to hold the gun you are going to buy from Taurus. Inspect it for fit and function. I will not buy these sight unseen off the internet. Too risky.
 
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Had two or three way back in the day, loaned the CH version to a coworker and never got it back...almost 20 years ago. Wonder if she still has it.
Back then, good guns. Nowadays, I don't know if I would or not.
 
I've had one for 20+ years. Not a target gun, but about 2000 rounds through it. My wife claimed it- not leaving this household.
 
Friendly said:
I would never buy a Taurus.
That is just me.
I try to keep my purchases limited to goods that are manufactured in the US.
Click to expand...
Well..... except for those years when both S&W and Taurus were both owned by the same parent company -

- and those other years afterwards when S&W was owned by an overseas/foreign/non-american company

.....other than that - yeah.
 
I owned two model 85s. One a blue with exposed hammer and the other a SS hammerless. I sold the blue soon after purchase because of the hammer.

The hammerless model after a short time began misfiring with all ammo including factory. I returned it to Taurus several times, and although they were willing they never fixed it. I then sent it to a well known gunsmith who was known for his action work. He did not fix it. Although he offered to try again, I was disgusted with the gun, and decided to attempt to get it replaced or my money back. It took months to finally get the gun replaced. I promptly sold it without shooting it.

If you get a good one it has a good trigger and handles nicely. But as for me I do not have time to take a chance and go through the repair cycles.
No Taurus guns for me again.

Regards,
Jerry
 
I am sure there are some that don't measure up to what they should, but the same can be said about a more famous domestic manufacturer who offers a similar product for more money.
Click to expand...

I wonder who that could be?

:uhoh:
 
I have an 85UL that I bought from a friend, it was virtually new and the price was right. I've put maybe 200 rounds through it, no complaints of any kind.
 
My 85SSUL was bought in 1996. It's in my carry rotation to this day and I've carried it the last couple of months. I pocket carry and in sweaty summer, I like the stainless/alloy construction and light weight. It has the smoothest DA trigger I've ever felt in an out of the box revolver and it's very accurate. It's one of my faves, but I have a few faves. :D
 
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