By way of the articles I’ve written, it ought to be apparent that I’m old-school. I like revolvers, and I personal a couple of. Weapons just like the Taurus Defender 856 TORO fulfill my want for old-school reliability in a revolver with new-school efficiency upgrades like a purple dot.
Taurus (whose first gun was a revolver manufactured in Brazil in 1941) is thought to be an innovator in firearms. Revolver reputation amongst hid carriers has risen steadily over the previous few years, as has purple dot utilization. A few of their engineers will need to have had a brainstorm.
TAURUS DEFENDER 856 TORO Revolver
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On January thirteenth of 2023, they introduced they have been introducing two revolvers lower for a purple dot sight. That, in itself, was fairly superb. I do know there have been different revolvers fitted with purple dots, however this was the primary time such weapons have entered mainstream manufacturing to the very best of my data. The engineering alone would have been fairly concerned. Weakening a revolver high strap by drilling holes in it isn’t conducive to lengthy revolver life if performed improper.
Positive, there have been scopes mounted on revolvers for many years, however not a lot different optics. (My 1982 S&W 629 with the lengthy barrel even included scope mounts). So, on that exact January thirteenth, the handgun taking pictures world took word. One of many two fashions launched was their 3-inch, 5-shot .357 Magum – the 605. I’ve reviewed each it and its Govt Grade model and located them to be strong performers.
The opposite mannequin, the one I’ve earlier than me, is their 6-shot .38 snubby, the Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O. In case you have been questioning, T.O.R.O. is Taurus-the-Bull’s intelligent approach of claiming a gun is optics-ready… Taurus Optics Prepared Possibility. I’ll wager the PR individual bought a elevate when she or he got here up with that!
Based mostly on their common 5-shot .38 snubby – the 5-shot mannequin 85 – the Defender 856 provides yet one more chamber. It brings the .38 stomach gun up by its bootstraps from 5 photographs to six — identical to a Colt. The Defender 856 additionally consists of a few aesthetic touches and a three-inch barrel, not a two-inch. It was solely a matter of time earlier than this common, 6-shot mannequin was up to date. Who knew that the replace could be for purple dot sight functionality? Intriguing, for positive!
However…
Nevertheless, not all is schnapps und Weiner schnitzel with this modification. One kick that rears its ugly head is pocket carry (or lack of that capacity) due to that giant chunk of sight sitting on the highest strap. A significant benefit that two- and three-inch snubbies have had for over a century is that they conceal so properly. I’ve carried a S&W 638 or a Taurus 85 in a pocket holster many instances through the years. Put a purple dot on the 856 and it’s like shoving your size-12 foot right into a size-10 boot. It doesn’t go in a pocket so simply.
One thing that may make {that a} non-issue is sticking the gun in a belt holster. Ankle holsters are OK, too, if you happen to’re cautious. Given my un-svelte physique, appendix carry is out for me however skinnier shooters would possibly have the ability to try this. The benefit of quick sight acquisition over the standard topstrap-trench-and-front-post snub nostril sighting system in all probability outweighs the carry issues… you’ll determine it out, for positive.
Not less than added gun weight shouldn’t be a lot of a deal… many purple dot sights solely add a few ounces or so to the general gun weight.
Photograph Gallery
These pics would possibly assist reply some questions, corresponding to “How did they engineer the mounting plate to slot in the gutter?” The reply is, that they didn’t. The gutter has two threaded screw holes, one in entrance of the opposite. The screws are seen within the picture under. That is an fascinating method to mount a revolver optic, nearly the one approach. Should you don’t just like the entrance sight, it’s pinned and you’ll exchange it.
Specs
Listed below are the specs, from the Taurus Defender 856 TORO website.
CALIBER. .38 Particular +P
FRAME SIZE Small
BARREL LENGTH 3 In.
OVERALL LENGTH 7.5 In.
OVERALL HEIGHT 4.8 In.
OVERALL WIDTH 1.4 In.
OVERALL WEIGHT. 23.5 Oz. (Unloaded)
TWIST RATE 1:16.5 in RH twist
GROOVES 6
CAPACITY 6
FRAME MATERIAL Stainless Metal
FRAME FINISH Matte Black
CYLINDER MATERIAL Stainless Metal
CYLINDER FINISH Matte Black
BARREL MATERIAL Stainless Metal
BARREL FINISH Matte Black
SAFETY Switch Bar
FRONT SIGHT Replaceable Entrance Sight
REAR SIGHT Fastened
ACTION TYPE DA/SA
How Does It Shoot?
The benefit of a purple/inexperienced dot sight on a short-barreled handgun ought to be apparent… you don’t must attempt to line up the rear sight, entrance sight, and goal to get off an correct shot. Quick barrels and clunky sights make it troublesome to get good teams – for many of us, anyway.
The purple/inexperienced dot negates all this. As soon as zeroed, place the dot on the aiming level and press the set off. All the pieces is in a single aircraft – no separate parts to align. I’m stating the plain, as anybody who has ever used a dot sight will attest. (A fast word about zeroing your dot… ensure the mounting plate is tight on the gun, and your sight is tight on the plate. Imagine me, it can save a whole lot of aggravation).
After ready for the Viridian RFX11 inexperienced dot to reach from Taurus and mounting it on the gun, I put targets up at 20 yards in my yard vary and shot a number of targets with a small number of .38 ammo. Listed below are the outcomes. I attempted three completely different .38 Particular hundreds: Winchester Goal & Apply 130-grain (targets not proven); Fiocchi 158-grain JHP; Fiocchi 125-grain +P JHP. As all the time, new house owners of this (or any) gun would do properly to strive many hundreds to seek out the very best performers for the particular gun. I shot what I had readily available… given extra time and sources, the outcomes might need been completely different.
When it comes to the set off, it was enough for the duty. I grabbed my Lyman digital gauge and located that the DA pull averaged 8 lbs, 9 oz. Single-action, it averaged 4 lbs, 13 oz. It labored advantageous for its supposed objective and was not gritty or overly lengthy. It was altogether a good set off for a carry revolver.
I’ll present two targets, as a result of the third model of ammo, the Winchester load, simply didn’t work out… it was extra of a sample than a bunch.
Fiocchi 158 grain JHP
This 158-grain load put a few of its photographs on the goal under the one I used to be taking pictures at. It shot that low. My Garmin Xero C1 Professional chronograph clocked it at solely 746 fps, so perhaps that has one thing to do with its impression level. Should you have been locked into related ammo, it would pay to exchange the entrance sight with one thing shorter. Because it’s pinned, that’s not a deal. (Or, you should utilize my normal redneck sight-reducing technique that consists of a file and cold-blue. However… you’d higher make sure that’s all you’re going to shoot!).
It’s robust to get a real concept of the scale of this specific group because it’s on two completely different targets however you get the concept, This load would work OK for observe, bearing in mind the elevation adjustment wanted.
Fiocchi 125-grain +P
This 125-grain load is definitely what I’d carry on this gun, of the three. It shot a good group, slightly excessive and proper, however that might be mounted. I may really feel the distinction in recoil… this load felt extra like some lighter .357 hundreds I shoot in my 3-inch Constitution Arms Magazine Pug. Velocity was clocked at 969 fps, with a normal deviation of solely 12.2. That speaks to its accuracy, for positive. Once more, that is what I’d carry on this gun, of the three hundreds examined.
Summing Up
The .38 snubby has not gone away, nor will it ever. It is just too helpful and straightforward to make use of. Six rounds of +P .38 Particular will rattle somebody’s cage, particularly if these photographs are centered with the assistance of a purple or inexperienced dot sight.
I just lately noticed the previous sci-fi film “When Worlds Collide”. I believed that title was acceptable for this assessment of an optic-capable revolver as a result of, in lots of shooters’ minds, these two objects reside in separate worlds. So, in contrast to having little inexperienced males from Mars, now we have slightly inexperienced dot from Viridian. Agree or not, you would possibly wish to examine the Taurus Defender 856 TORO out. You get the simplicity and ease of use of a 6-shot +P carry revolver coupled with present, efficient sighting expertise. In essence, you get a variation of the Reece’s Cup of the handgun world… “you bought inexperienced dot on my revolver!”. How can gun people not like that?
About Mike Hardesty
With expertise spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has lengthy loved taking pictures and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a various array of firearms, every dealt with with long-practiced precision. Dwelling in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a private 100-yard vary the place he shares his love for weapons to his 4 sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a acknowledged creator, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Nation, Bear Creek Arsenal Weblog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing ardour for firearms on the age of 72.
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