Taurus 856 38 Special Revolvers

What’s so special about .38 Special revolvers? First, they’re reliable, second, they don’t have the recoil of a .357 Magnum, and third, they’re effective. Taurus introduced their 856 revolvers in 2019. It hit the market as a low-priced, reliable handgun, ideal for concealed carry or personal protection.

The 856 is chambered in .38 Special a cartridge that is often maligned in the modern movement of “bigger, faster, more powerful” but it was the standard caliber for police and military for much of the 20th century and remains a viable, effective and deadly cartridge today.

38 Special ammunition is inexpensive and widely available. Taurus marketed their 856 with that in mind. It is available in eight different models, from the standard to light, and ultra-light versions. Six shots, starting with a snub-nosed two-inch barrel and moving up from there, this is a quality revolver at an affordable price.

With a self-defense revolver, you don’t need a lot of bells and whistles. The 856 is a basic, six-shot revolver with a few nice options, but not the fluff you’ll find with many more expensive handguns. The first thing you will notice when you pick one up is how good it feels in your hand. Taurus designed an angled, ergonomic handle with comfortable soft rubber grips that increase control, while decreasing recoil. This makes the 856 a great revolver to shoot.

Many revolver advocates argue over the benefits of single vs. double-action. It won’t matter with an 856, they designed it to fire in either single or double action with just a click. If you’re a single action fan, that means greater safety against an accidental discharge.

The 856 comes standard with basic iron sights, which some claim is a detriment, but at the close personal distances you’re likely to need a revolver to defend against attack you won’t have time to take careful aim and fire at your attacker. This is an accurate, affordable revolver bearing the trademark of one of the world’s foremost handgun manufacturers.

Concealed carry and backup are the prime uses for the Taurus 856. It’s light, compact and easy to use. The recoil is minimal with .38 Special ammunition so anyone can safely control, target and fire with this handgun.

As a backup it fits nicely in an ankle holster, in a pocket or a rear belt holster. It’s small enough to fit safely in a handbag or purse as well.

You won’t win any shooting contests with the snub-nosed two-inch version of the 856, but that’s not what its designed for, its made for personal protection and it delivers at a low cost with low-cost ammunition.

• Standard – A black or matte finish with custom grips in either black or blue and a weight of just 22-ounces with a two-inch barrel and overall length of 6.6 inches.
• T.O.R.O. – Staineless steel, three-inch barrel, with black rubber grips and optic ready. A slightly more accurate revolver than the standard thanks to the longer barrel.
• Defender – Finger grooved black Hogue rubber grips, a three-inch barrel and a matte stainless-steel finish. A larger version at 23.5-ounces and an overall length of 7.5-inches.
• Ultra Light – Stylish with a black finish and black rubber grips highlighted by a gold hammer and trigger, this is an attractive lightweight revolver. It weighs less than a pound, is 6.55-inches long and sports a two-inch barrel.
• Executive Grade – A recessed hammer, with custom walnut grips and a stainless-steel finish this is at the higher end of the 856 series. A three-inch barrel, 7.5-inch overall length and a heavier 25-ounce weight make this a larger handgun with lower recoil.
• Defender – Style in silver and black thanks to its stainless-steel finish and black rubber grips. Good for larger concealed carry at 23.5-ounces and an overall length of 7.5-inches with a three-inch barrel.
• Ultra Light Defender – Matted anodized black finish with black rubber grips. I has a three-inch barrel and 7.5-inch overall length but it remains light at just 17.36-ounces.
• Ultra Light VZ Operator – Weighing an even pound empty it has the option of stylized, hypnotic finish grips. It’s a snub nosed at two-inches in barrel length and an overall length of just 6.55-inches.