As a revolver enthusiast, few things are more satisfying than the debut of a new revolver like the Taurus 850, tailored for concealed carry, outdoor use such as camping or hiking, or home defense. The excitement multiplies when an entire series of defensive revolvers hits the market, especially in a landscape dominated by micro-compact 9mm pistols.

Which is Better: Semi-Automatic Pistol or Revolver?

The .38 Special Snub-Nosed Advantage

The .38 Special snub-nosed revolver remains one of the most enduring close-quarters combat handguns in modern defensive use. While self-defense handgun trends rise and fall, the .38 snubnose continues to earn its place. Here’s why:

  • Wide availability and proven history: The .38 Special is a widely available cartridge with a defensive history dating back to 1898, trusted across the U.S. and worldwide.
  • Accuracy and control: Once celebrated for its inherent accuracy and soft recoil, the .38 Special dominated police competition shooting for decades. Loads like Remington’s Targetmaster .38 Wadcutter (a flat-nosed bullet for clean paper cuts) were prized in NRA-sanctioned matches.
  • Versatility: The .38 Special can be fired safely from any firearm chambered in the more powerful .357 Magnum.
  • Modern effectiveness: Though not a “Hammer of Thor,” modern self-defense ammunition elevates the .38 Special’s stopping power to effective levels. It remains controllable and confidence-inspiring, especially in a revolver like the Taurus 850.
  • Customizable grips: Revolver grips don’t house magazines, allowing easy replacement with aftermarket designs to better fit the shooter’s hand. That means a revolver can be truly personalized. For the record, the Taurus 850’s factory grips felt perfect to me. Any change would be purely aesthetic.
  • Discreet carry options: A snub-nosed .38 Special with an internal hammer — like the Taurus 850 — can be discreetly carried in a variety of on-body or off-body positions.
  • Simplicity and safety: Perhaps most importantly, .38 Special revolvers are mechanically simple, easy to learn and inherently safer for many new or occasional shooters than semi-automatics.

Meet the Taurus 850 Lineup

Taurus recently introduced the Model 850 revolver as part of a four-revolver series, each chambered in .38 Special. There are two key variations: barrel length and finish.

Shooters can choose between a 2-inch or 3-inch barrel, and each length is available in either matte black alloy steel or stainless steel. Importantly, all four models feature a concealed hammer design.

Test Model Details

The test model I received from Taurus was the 2-inch stainless steel version of the 850. Manufactured in Brazil, this revolver is a clear evolution from Taurus designs of decades past.

It even rivals many modern American-made revolvers in performance and craftsmanship, all while coming in at a more budget-friendly price point.

Design and Build Quality

The Taurus 850’s matte stainless steel finish is less flashy than polished stainless but still visually appealing. The trigger stands out with its polished, smooth surface. Similarly, the cylinder latch release is finely checkered and polished.

The matte black, serrated front sight contrasts well with the rear-sight trough, and it’s removable.

The ejector rod on the Taurus 850 is protected by a barrel shroud. While ejector rod damage without a shroud is rare, having this protective feature enhances the revolver’s durability without compromising its clean design. The rod itself is long enough to ensure reliable extraction of spent casings or live rounds, making maintenance and reloads straightforward and efficient.

The Best Taurus Handguns for Concealed Carry

Range Day with the Taurus 850

After a week of relentless Ohio rain, I headed indoors to the Buckeye Shooting Center, a top-tier indoor shooting range located east of Columbus in Central Ohio. For those in the area, it’s a premier facility: clean, professionally managed and focused on safety.

Choosing the Right .38 Special Ammo

At the range, I tested the Taurus 850 with two types of .38 Special ammunition:

  • SIG Sauer’s 125-grain +P V-Crown: A modern self-defense round boasting a muzzle velocity of 965 feet per second and 258 foot-pounds of energy
  • Vintage practice ammo: 25 rounds of ammo I had stored for over 45 years, dating back to the start of my law enforcement career. Despite their age, the rounds fired reliably, proving that properly stored modern ammunition can remain viable for decades

A Target Built for Defensive Training

For this session, I opted for a target that would stand out better under the indoor range lighting than my usual B27 PROS silhouettes. I chose the B27 Stop-Upper Torso target from Thompson Target Co., which is designed for “critical training on the upper chest and fatal-T areas.”

The silhouette target features a white and light gray base with an X-ray-style skeletal overlay, including a revolver image in the lower corner to clearly mark it as a “threat” target.

Two prominent orange scoring zones sit in the center of the head and chest, each with a white bullseye and surrounded by black scoring rings for 10 and five points. The target itself measures 19 by 25 inches.

I prefer Thompson Targets partly because their 19-by-25-inch size takes up less space than standard 25-by-38-inch silhouettes, making them easier to transport and set up. Once I secured the target to the cardboard backer, I sent it downrange to 20 feet, which is an ideal distance for evaluating the performance of a 2-inch snub-nosed .38 Special revolver equipped with traditional sights.

Shooting Impressions and Group Performance

I began with 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter handloads, firing from a two-handed standing position. The Taurus 850’s nearly 23-ounce weight provided excellent stability.

While Ultra-Lite titanium-frame .38 Special revolvers are a joy to carry all day, their snappy recoil can quickly wear down inexperienced or casual shooters. In contrast, the all-steel Taurus 850, particularly the 3-inch barrel versions, offers better balance and recoil control, settling naturally into the hand.

I aimed for the center of the target and fired 10 of the reloaded rounds. The recoil was just as manageable as I remembered. What caught me off guard, though, was the distinctive scent of older smokeless powder — which, back then, wasn’t quite as “smokeless” as modern formulations.

My first group measured 6 1/4 inches, though one flyer. The remaining nine shots formed a well-centered cluster measuring a more respectable 3 3/4 inches. From those initial 10 rounds, I discovered that while the Taurus 850’s trigger is smooth, accuracy improves noticeably when using a trigger staging technique.

Mastering Trigger Control with the Taurus 850

Trigger staging involves pulling the trigger back to a naturally felt resistance point — typically about 1/4 inch before the hammer releases — holding it briefly in that position, and then gently bringing the trigger back to complete the shot.

This method gives the trigger a feel similar to a cocked double-action revolver firing in single-action mode. With that in mind, I decided to apply the staging technique for my next series of shots with the Taurus 850.

Next, I loaded up with SIG Sauer 125-grain +P .38 Special rounds, which deliver significantly higher velocity compared to the older 158-grain reloads. I focused on the 10-point scoring zone on the head and carefully staged each shot, maintaining a steady combat shooting pace.

The recoil remained about the same, but the only notable difference was a slightly more pronounced muzzle blast compared to the lead semi-wadcutter handloads.

I fired a total of 10 rounds at the head zone. All but two shots cut the 10-ring or landed within the 5-ring. One round struck just outside the 5-ring, high on the target but still within the gray “skull” region. Excluding that flyer, the remaining nine shots formed a tight, consistent group measuring 3 1/2 inches. At this point, things were definitely looking up.

For my final group, I fired five rounds at 20 feet using only my right hand. The shots landed slightly low and to the left. I continued to stage the trigger but fired at a quicker pace. Whether it was luck or growing familiarity with the Taurus 850, the group measured 3 1/4 inches.

A Revolver with Staying Power

One benefit of having 55 years of experience with revolvers is knowing you don’t need to send a boatload of ammo downrange to evaluate one, unless, of course, it’s chambered in a brand-new caliber or one newly introduced to that particular revolver platform.

The Taurus 850 is a classic concealed hammer .38 Special revolver, elevated by thoughtful refinements and solid attention to detail. There’s nothing superfluous or poorly executed in its design.

My only personal suggestion — given that my eyesight is approaching its 68th year — would be to brighten the front sight. If I were keeping it, I’d add a touch of Birchwood Casey sight paint to enhance visibility.

If you’re in the market for a dependable concealed carry revolver that’s easy to shoot, accurate, soft on recoil, budget-friendly and highly effective for self-defense, the Taurus Model 850 deserves serious consideration. With an MSRP of just $439.99, it delivers exceptional value without sacrificing quality.

Taurus Model 850 Stainless .38 Special (2-Inch) — Specs

Specification Details
Model: Taurus Model 850
Caliber: .38 Special and .38 Special +P
Action: Double-action only (with concealed hammer)
Capacity: 5
Barrel Length: 2 inches
Overall Length: 7.66 inches
Height: 4.59 inches
Width: 1.34 inches
Weight: 22.75 ounces (unloaded)
Front Sight: Matte black serrated blade (removable)
Rear Sight: Fixed trough-style
Barrel and Frame Material: Stainless steel
MSRP: $439.99

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the trigger action type on the Taurus 850?

The Taurus 850 is a double-action-only revolver with a concealed hammer, meaning each shot is fired with a consistent trigger pull. This setup eliminates the option of manually cocking the hammer and is built for simplicity and reliability.

Is the Taurus 850 a good choice for concealed carry?

Yes. With its snub-nosed barrel, concealed hammer and compact frame, the Taurus 850 is well-suited for discreet carry. It can be concealed in a variety of on-body or off-body positions, and its all-steel construction helps reduce felt recoil during shooting.

What makes the Taurus 850 stand out from other .38 Special snubbies?

The Taurus 850 offers an excellent mix of affordability, shootability and user-friendly design. Unlike some ultralight revolvers, its all-steel frame improves durability and recoil control. Features such as a removable front sight and a smooth, polished trigger help elevate the 850 above earlier models.

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