Bigjake
Member
I recently aquired a NIB taurus model 85. its a little snub nose .38 special. I have pretty much no knowledge about this piece, and i was wondering if any of you folks out there have one, and what you think of it. thanks 
tell me about the taurus model 85
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Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Hello! I must admit, I've never fired a Taurus model 85, but last
Saturday I handled quite a few of them at my local gunshop.
From the standard models to the Ti's, from ported to not ported
I handled probably 10 different Taurus 85's. The DA trigger pull
on some was quite heavy, while on other's it was perfect. If
memory serves me correctly, the Ti's had the best pull of all.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Saturday I handled quite a few of them at my local gunshop.
From the standard models to the Ti's, from ported to not ported
I handled probably 10 different Taurus 85's. The DA trigger pull
on some was quite heavy, while on other's it was perfect. If
memory serves me correctly, the Ti's had the best pull of all.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
I own several Taurus handguns, an 85, 94, 605, 606 and a 9mm Millennium. I've put thousands of rounds through them without any problems.
They may not be as nicely finished as a S&W but the 85 is a good gun for the price.
The 85 loaded with Speer 135 gr Gold Dot hp's makes a nice little carry package.
They may not be as nicely finished as a S&W but the 85 is a good gun for the price.
The 85 loaded with Speer 135 gr Gold Dot hp's makes a nice little carry package.
wintermute76
Member
I picked up a LNIB Model 85 2" this spring with the rosewood grips and gold accents for $200. I have about 150 rounds thru it, my only complaint would be that I find it a bit hard to hold on to, teh grip is too small and my hands are too big 
I need to find some different grips for it. Other than that, it's been a good little carry piece.
I need to find some different grips for it. Other than that, it's been a good little carry piece.BluesBear
member
My brother has owned a Taurus 85 for about 8 years now.
He's never had a moments problem with it.
It handles well and shoots where you aim it.
I highly recommend them.
He's never had a moments problem with it.
It handles well and shoots where you aim it.
I highly recommend them.
Penny for Penny a used LNIB, well checked-out 85 are usually the best deals on the snubby gun market.
1) Downside - you can't get parts (like Smiths) so no kitchen table gunsmithing.
2) Upside - lifetime warranty and I think the new ones are made just as well as Smith's are today. - But you have to check out the gun - read the revolver checkout thread.
Elliot
1) Downside - you can't get parts (like Smiths) so no kitchen table gunsmithing.
2) Upside - lifetime warranty and I think the new ones are made just as well as Smith's are today. - But you have to check out the gun - read the revolver checkout thread.
Elliot
RUT
Member
3) Won't hold it's value like a Smith.
3A) RUT exactly - that's why I said a "used" 85. I can usually find them for $150 - $175 and trade them in for $75 to $100 if they don't work out. About the same kind of price hit as on a Smith.
I'm not talking collecting here - where the Smith will go up in price over the long run.
Elliot
I'm not talking collecting here - where the Smith will go up in price over the long run.
Elliot
The Mod. 85 has one very large advantage over the S&W...it is ok to use +P ammo in it. Taurus warranty's the use. My wife has had hers for about 5 years now. She has put quite a few rounds through it with no problems at all. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
by shooter 58:
Well Sir, I've been shooting +P ammo in my S&W old model 60
for quite a few years, with NO apparent problems...........
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Well Sir, I've been shooting +P ammo in my S&W old model 60
for quite a few years, with NO apparent problems...........
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
22luvr
Member
Owned two of 'em and liked 'em both
What color is it? Hammer or hammerless? Ported? Just curious because Taurus makes about a dozen different model 85's.
I've owned a model 85 and and model 605 and was impressed with both of them. Both had decent triggers and were 100% reliable. The 85 had a shiny almost baked enamel finish and I put Taurus rosewood grips on it for a slicker draw from the pocket. (it sure was perdy) My model 605 in SS is their .357 mag on a model 85 frame so it was very compact. I took the discarded rubber grips off the 85 and put them on the 605 to make an even more compact carry gun and it worked perfectly. Both of mine were beautifully finished, especially the 85.
My 85 was somewhat ammo-sensitive in that it would shoot a little high with heavier bullets (158 gr), a little low with lighter bullets (110 gr), and just about dead-on with medium weight bullets (125 gr).
From my experience, I think you will be pleased with your purchase; it is an excellent all-around handgun for self-defense and can be easily carried IWB or in the pocket.
What color is it? Hammer or hammerless? Ported? Just curious because Taurus makes about a dozen different model 85's.
I've owned a model 85 and and model 605 and was impressed with both of them. Both had decent triggers and were 100% reliable. The 85 had a shiny almost baked enamel finish and I put Taurus rosewood grips on it for a slicker draw from the pocket. (it sure was perdy) My model 605 in SS is their .357 mag on a model 85 frame so it was very compact. I took the discarded rubber grips off the 85 and put them on the 605 to make an even more compact carry gun and it worked perfectly. Both of mine were beautifully finished, especially the 85.
My 85 was somewhat ammo-sensitive in that it would shoot a little high with heavier bullets (158 gr), a little low with lighter bullets (110 gr), and just about dead-on with medium weight bullets (125 gr).
From my experience, I think you will be pleased with your purchase; it is an excellent all-around handgun for self-defense and can be easily carried IWB or in the pocket.
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Bigjake
Member
I appriciate all the input from you guys, it makes me feel much better about the thing! i picked it up on a whim from member HenryJ, on a trade for a mauser. he had bought it new and said it hadn't even left the box. I think it more or less "came to me" because 3 days before i was lamenting the fact i didn't have a nice .38 for my girlfriend (eventual fiance', aint got to that point yet). so i saw the ad, went and looked at it, and it just sorta followed me home
The gun is blue, not a hammerless,non-ported, and has factory houge grips on it. feels great even in my big paws (gun lust here, but i already told her she could have it....) we plan to take it to the range this weekend and break it in, so i can't comment on it yet. our deal is that its hers for now, and if it works good enough that i like it, i'll buy her a new ladysmith of her choice in a year or 2 and then i get it back
The gun is blue, not a hammerless,non-ported, and has factory houge grips on it. feels great even in my big paws (gun lust here, but i already told her she could have it....) we plan to take it to the range this weekend and break it in, so i can't comment on it yet. our deal is that its hers for now, and if it works good enough that i like it, i'll buy her a new ladysmith of her choice in a year or 2 and then i get it back
My 85 came with the bootgrips. Good for concelment, not so good for recoil control. I replaced them with a pair of Pachmayers and they made a big improvement in controlability. Same with the 605.
They make great shooters. If they happen to get beat up a little, oh well. I just figure it takes some of the wear and tear off my J frame S&W's.
They make great shooters. If they happen to get beat up a little, oh well. I just figure it takes some of the wear and tear off my J frame S&W's.
SouthpawShootr
Member
My first snubby (and second revolver) was an 85. I paid about $150 new for it (discount from a gunshop owner I knew). Fit and finish were excellent. Only put about 500 rounds through it, but it never missed a beat. If I remember correctly it was about as accurate as my S&W 640. Finish was a high gloss blue, but now I would go for stainless (I love a good blue job, but not for a gun I buy for carry). Grips were the old taurus lamnated wood grips that fully enclosed the front and back straps - considerably less bulky than the current rubber grips. I, personally would replace the Taurus rubbers with Uncle Mike's (Butler Creek) boot grips - they're more concealalbe. Ended up trading (big mistake) for an FEG Hi-Power clone.
Missed it for a while, then when the 85 TI came out, I bought one. Same boring reliability, although I don't like the compensator holes in the top of the barrel and the TI model isn't nearly as easy to shoot as the 85.
All in all, I think they're good guns. I would buy another regular 85 if it wasn't for the fact that I'm way overloaded on small frame guns (S&W 642, 640, Taurus 650 and 85TI, and Colt Detective Special).
Missed it for a while, then when the 85 TI came out, I bought one. Same boring reliability, although I don't like the compensator holes in the top of the barrel and the TI model isn't nearly as easy to shoot as the 85.
All in all, I think they're good guns. I would buy another regular 85 if it wasn't for the fact that I'm way overloaded on small frame guns (S&W 642, 640, Taurus 650 and 85TI, and Colt Detective Special).
billykaldrich
Member
I got one Blued and I bobbed the hammer and put a spring kit in it and it is a sweetheart.Hogue rosewood grips make it feel real good in my hands.And my wife likes it and that says a lot she only gets to the range once or twice a year with me,thats another story for another time.I also got a S&W 37 nickle with fancy grips ,keep it by the bed.Got to say the 85 is beefier
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