Taurus Model 85 .38 Special Revolver: Polymer Protector

The Evolution of Modern Defensive Revolvers

Despite the popularity of semi-automatic pistols for self-defense, the 21st Century defensive revolver continues to evolve into both new and improved makes and models.

No longer confined to blued or even stainless steel, compact revolver frames are constructed of newer space-age materials that allow the firing of ammunition that not so long ago would have been prohibited in guns this small.

Advanced Materials Revolution

For example, as recently as the 1980s, you could not fire +P .38 Special ammunition through aluminum-framed Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers. You could fire it through the slightly larger Colt Agent aluminum-framed .38s, but use of +P was limited to around 1000 rounds before the gun needed a factory “checkup.”

Today, all major revolver manufacturers rate their compact .38 Special revolvers for +P ammo, with no need for factory checkups. This is due to today’s aluminum alloy construction.

Even the mighty .357 Magnum round, which packs twice the power of the .38 Special, has found a home in Smith & Wesson J-frame five-shot revolvers, including models with ultra-light scandium/aluminum frames. There is no warning and no limit on the number of rounds that can be fired.

The Polymer Frontier

Recoil of these small .357s is pretty brutal, and no one is likely to go much beyond a cylinder of .357 Magnum ammo during any shooting session. I imagine that the light-recoiling .38 Special is fired FAR more often in these guns than .357 Magnum ammo during trips to the range, even though it may be later carried for self-defense.

The latest material being used for compact revolver frames is polymer, which is something I didn’t foresee happening. I thought it was only going to be used in semi-autos. But Ruger, Smith & Wesson and now Taurus all have models utilizing polymer in varying degrees of frame construction.

Taurus’s Polymer Protector Line of Firearms

Taurus’s Polymer Protector line is not quite as extensive as Ruger’s, offering only .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum calibers. As in the other polymer-framed firearms, Taurus uses more than just polymer in the frame.

(You can actually think of the polymer used in these guns as more of an exoskeleton for the steel and aluminum components lying underneath.)

Weight Comparison Analysis

But why use polymer construction at all? We can assume that like on semi-automatics, revolvers enjoy significant weight savings when polymer is used. However, that assumption is not necessarily accurate — at least not when you compare the weight savings gained by polymer vs. aluminum alloy.

For example, the Smith & Wesson aluminum-framed 642 .38 Special five-shot revolver weighs just about the same as the partial-polymer-framed Smith & Wesson M&P .38 Special Bodyguard (roughly 14 ounces). Obviously compared to all steel equivalents, the use of polymer construction does offer a weight savings, but it happens to be just as much as one might expect when compared to aluminum alloy.

Further, the weight of the Polymer Protector — 18.5 ounces — is only four ounces less than the original stainless-steel Model 85. So it’s apparent that weight savings is the primary advantage found in the use of polymer in handgun construction since the MSRP of the stainless Taurus 85 and the Polymer Protector are exactly the same.

Design Features and Appearance

The Taurus 85 Polymer Protector revolver has the most space-age appearance of any of the aforementioned polymer revolvers on the market, likely due to the short vent rib atop the polymer barrel shroud, which the eye is drawn to by the orange-light-gathering front sight pipe. The rear sight is a plain notch in the topstrap of the frame and is not adjustable.

Unlike the Ruger and Smith & Wesson polymer handguns, the Taurus Polymer Protector series of revolvers has an exposed, checkered hammer that allows for single-action fire; no concealed-hammer models are currently available.

Ergonomics and Controls

The ribbed rubber grip of the Polymer Protector is very comfortable and ambidextrous in design, with finger grooves on the frontstrap. The backstrap of the frame is fully covered by the rubber grip, thus insulating the hand from the shock of firing, which would have been transmitted through the frame.

The grooved cylinder latch release is recessed into the extended recoil shield and is operated by pushing forward. The cylinder, cylinder yoke, cylinder latch release, grooved trigger and checkered hammer (which houses the Taurus Security System Key Lock) are all matte-finished with what appears to be a rust-resistant coating.

Gun Range Test: the Taurus 85

Ammunition Selection

I took the Taurus 85 Polymer Protector to the gun range with three different loads:

• Winchester 158-grain round-nose lead rounds (which was the old police standard .38 duty load many years ago)
• 22-year-old Ultramax Remanufactured 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter rounds (which are still available from Ultramax today)
• 125-grain +P SIG V-Crown Elite Performance defensive ammo rated at 900 feet per second muzzle velocity

Performance Results

The trigger of the Polymer Protector was a bit rough out of the box, but it smoothed up nicely with some dry and live firing, ending up reasonably comparable to the Smith & Wesson and Ruger polymer-framed handguns.

The excellent Taurus grips helped to control the recoil of even the SIG V-Crown loads. Test-firing was at 30 feet, fired two-handed standing and double action only.

I was able to consistently turn out groups in the 3-inch (or somewhat smaller) range, depending on the load used, which is more than acceptable for a revolver of this type. Cylinder lockup was tight.

Sight Performance

The orange front sight pipe was very easy to pick up in the dimming light during the afternoon range session. It aligns easily due in part to the natural pointability of this gun and the ergonomic grip. The sights were aligned properly and the rounds struck dead-on to the point of aim.

Conclusions on the Taurus 85 Polymer Protector Revolver

I ended up liking the Taurus 85 Polymer Protector a lot. It is a very well-thought-out design and an excellent — yet reasonably priced — choice for self-defense.

Its tough polymer finish should resist just about any kind of abuse you can throw at it. It is the kind of gun that would be happy on the trail in the lousiest weather conditions.

Important Considerations

Note that the barrel shroud, particularly in terms of width, may not readily fit in holsters designed for the standard-steel Taurus 85, so make sure you are searching for holsters for the Polymer Protector model.

MSRP: $371.21

For more options in the Taurus lineup, explore our comprehensive guide to the best Taurus handguns for concealed carry.