After years of being a semi-auto snob, the last year or so has seen me getting into revolvers. I’ve quickly come around to how useful, reliable, and just plain fun they are. My latest acquisition is the new Taurus 850 snubby with an internal shrouded hammer. It hasn’t disappointed and has provided another facet to my concealed carry lineup.
Taurus offers the 850 in 2 and 3-inch barreled versions, each with a matte black or matte stainless finish option. My 850 is the stainless 2-inch model, so the review will focus on that. Let’s begin with some specs.
Taurus 850 Revolver Specifications
- Caliber: .38 Special (+P Rated)
- Capacity: 5 Rounds
- Stainless Steel Frame, Cylinder, and Barrel
- Barrel Length: 2 inches
- Overall Length: 7.66 inches
- Width: 1.34 inches
- Height: 4.59 inches
- Weight: 22.75 ounces (unloaded)
Taurus 850 Features
The five rounds of .38 Special are standard for a revolver of this size, and the 850 is compatible with a wide variety of speed loaders. The cylinder and crane swing out smoothly, though the operation was a bit stiff at first. It got much better after an extended range trip and the judicious application of some lubricant.
The checkered cylinder release was also tight but is loosening up with use. The shrouded ejector rod has a textured nub and works great. Taurus could have left the ejector unshrouded, or partially so, to save weight, but it wouldn’t have been much, and I like the full shroud.
The sights are basic, with a grooved top strap behind a black, ramped front sight. I like the contoured rubber grips. They’re well-textured with a nice thumb shelf on each side. They also have finger grooves, including a slight pinky groove down low. Revolver grips are easy to swap out, but I see no reason to change these. They’re comfortable and positive.
The internal hammer makes for a smooth, snag-free draw from the holster or coat pocket, enhancing the carry experience.
The Trigger
The double action only (DAO) trigger feels a little heavy, but I like it. I played around with it a little and hit on a staging technique that works very well.
The long, double action pull hits a perceptible wall just before the break. I practiced pulling to that wall, where I hesitated for a split second before firing the round. I normally pull straight through a DA trigger, but I noticed that wall and took advantage of it. It increased my accuracy, though it will take more practice to do it naturally every time.
I can’t say whether I will fully develop this technique. My Taurus 605 has the same trigger characteristics, so I could easily repeat the staging effect from the 850. But the triggers on my Colt Viper and Ruger GP100 are different, and I can’t do it with them. I’ll need to play with it a bit more to see what happens, and whether it affects how I shoot my other DA guns.
Shooting the Taurus 850
The Taurus 850’s heavier steel frame makes shooting it very pleasant. The recoil isn’t as snappy as the lighter, aluminum-frame revolvers, but the 850 isn’t so heavy that it feels clunky. I was able to get back on target quickly with follow-up shots, including with +P rounds.
From a shooting standpoint, I prefer the 850 to the lighter models. The sights are a little iffy past 15 yards, but it’s a snub-nosed revolver. I don’t expect long-range accuracy.
My friends at Ammo-to-Go generously provided a variety of .38 Special ammo for my tests:
- 158-grain Federal +P semi-wadcutters
- 158-grain Magtech FMJ
- 158-grain Remington Lead Round Nose
- 125-grain Speer Lawman TMJ
- 130-grain Winchester Target & Practice FMJ
- 110-grain Winchester Silvertip Defense +P JHP
My co-tester and I were able to stay reliably within the 10 ring at 5 yards, and the 9 ring at 10 yards. Our groups started to spread out at 15, though we consistently hit a man-sized steel plate out to 25.
Again, this is a snub nose, and it performed like a snub nose. Reliability was 100%, including with the JHP defensive ammo. Frankly, I would have been surprised by anything less, given my recent experience with Taurus revolvers.
How Does it Carry?
Quite well, actually.
The Taurus 850 is very similar to the Smith & Wesson 442/642 J-Frame revolvers. In fact, I laid my 850 alongside my brother’s 442, and the dimensions are so close to identical that it doesn’t matter. That’s no surprise given Taurus’ past relationship with Smith & Wesson.
The only real dimensional difference is weight. I will say that I tried the 850 in a Safariland Model 25 pocket holster, but it was a little too heavy for pocket carry. The 442 was better in that role. But carrying the 850 on my belt has been great, and I hardly know it’s there.
Final Thoughts on the Taurus 850
I like it. Honestly, I like it better than I thought I would. As I said before, I’m still getting into revolvers, and this is the shortest and smallest wheel gun I’ve run yet. But it was far more pleasant to shoot than I anticipated, and it carries very well indeed.
I had hoped it might work as a pocket pistol, but no dice. It’s just too heavy for pants pockets, and probably a bit large too. It will, however, work very well for a coat pocket, assuming you have a proper pocket holster. I can see myself using it that way quite a lot in colder weather.
The crane and cylinder release took a while to loosen up, but loosen up they did. The gun ran better the more we shot and manipulated it. That was also my experience with the Taurus 605. I expect that trend to continue over the next few months, as with the 605, which is now right where I want it.
The Taurus 850 is also a great value. With an MSRP of $439.99, I easily found it for about $100 cheaper online. I think it’s a steal for that price.
This is a solid revolver. It’s reliable, shoots well, and carries well. Yes, it requires a little breaking in, but you have to practice anyway, right? If you’re looking for a small carry revolver, you should give the Taurus 850 a hard look. I’m glad I did.
