chaim
Member
So my new Taurus 856 Defender and 2.75" S&W 66 have now been to the range a couple times and I've shot 200-300 rounds through each.
Of course, the K-frame is more comfortable to shoot. Shooting reasonable magnums out of it (low recoil 158gr Buffalo Bore, most 125gr magnums, any 110gr magnums) is similar in feel to heavier .38+P out of the Taurus. Shooting .38 and .38+P I can shoot it all day. It is becoming one of my favorite guns to shoot out of any of my guns. I no longer shoot revolvers as accurately as I do my better autos (CZs and 1911s), though a big part of that is the sights (I may have a fixed sight added to the rear with a night sight on the front). Still, after a cylinder or two to adjust, I'm still accurate with it, at least as good as with my P365. Quick follow up shots are easy with it.
The 856 Defender is a different beast. The grips look great, but, while they allow a 3 finger grip, they are thin and do not fill my hand. It really doesn't absorb recoil any better than my 16oz aluminum 856UL with the standard 856 grip (it only has a little ledge for my pinky, but it is thicker and fills my hand better). 10-20 rounds of +P defensive ammo or 158 grain rounds are not comfortable, let alone a box of 50. The front night sight is easy to pick up against the standard revolver fixed trough rear and it is a bit easier to shoot accurately than the 66, though quick follow up shots are a bit slower. I'm torn between replacing the grips for something more hand filling for the range (and quicker follow up shots) or keeping these as they'll likely conceal very well. I could mostly shoot lighter recoiling rounds for most of my practice with a couple of cylinders of defensive ammo at a time, though being able to shoot what I want out of it with more hand filling grips would be nice.
The 66 has a fairly standard modern S&W finish (matte stainless) and I am a fan of the black accents (ejection rod and cylinder release). After a box of rather dirty lead practice rounds (classic LSWC) it took some serious scrubbing and still isn't 100% clean. The Ceracote of the Defender not only looks good, it cleans up very easily. Both finishes should hold up well to the abuses of regular carry.
I have been on a revolver kick lately, carrying my 856UL a lot more than my SIG P365 lately (2 or 3 months). I'm looking forward to both of these getting some serious carry time from here on.
Edit:
I forgot to mention the trigger, not much difference there. Fairly typical of S&W and Taurus (when Taurus gets the trigger right)... a little heavy in DA and much lighter SA, but smooth as butter in either.
Of course, the K-frame is more comfortable to shoot. Shooting reasonable magnums out of it (low recoil 158gr Buffalo Bore, most 125gr magnums, any 110gr magnums) is similar in feel to heavier .38+P out of the Taurus. Shooting .38 and .38+P I can shoot it all day. It is becoming one of my favorite guns to shoot out of any of my guns. I no longer shoot revolvers as accurately as I do my better autos (CZs and 1911s), though a big part of that is the sights (I may have a fixed sight added to the rear with a night sight on the front). Still, after a cylinder or two to adjust, I'm still accurate with it, at least as good as with my P365. Quick follow up shots are easy with it.
The 856 Defender is a different beast. The grips look great, but, while they allow a 3 finger grip, they are thin and do not fill my hand. It really doesn't absorb recoil any better than my 16oz aluminum 856UL with the standard 856 grip (it only has a little ledge for my pinky, but it is thicker and fills my hand better). 10-20 rounds of +P defensive ammo or 158 grain rounds are not comfortable, let alone a box of 50. The front night sight is easy to pick up against the standard revolver fixed trough rear and it is a bit easier to shoot accurately than the 66, though quick follow up shots are a bit slower. I'm torn between replacing the grips for something more hand filling for the range (and quicker follow up shots) or keeping these as they'll likely conceal very well. I could mostly shoot lighter recoiling rounds for most of my practice with a couple of cylinders of defensive ammo at a time, though being able to shoot what I want out of it with more hand filling grips would be nice.
The 66 has a fairly standard modern S&W finish (matte stainless) and I am a fan of the black accents (ejection rod and cylinder release). After a box of rather dirty lead practice rounds (classic LSWC) it took some serious scrubbing and still isn't 100% clean. The Ceracote of the Defender not only looks good, it cleans up very easily. Both finishes should hold up well to the abuses of regular carry.
I have been on a revolver kick lately, carrying my 856UL a lot more than my SIG P365 lately (2 or 3 months). I'm looking forward to both of these getting some serious carry time from here on.
Edit:
I forgot to mention the trigger, not much difference there. Fairly typical of S&W and Taurus (when Taurus gets the trigger right)... a little heavy in DA and much lighter SA, but smooth as butter in either.
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