Taurus 856 Defender .38 Special: A Well Balanced Revolver

By R.K. Campbell | Contributing editor

   In the world of revolvers J frame revolvers are the subcompacts. The J frame is traditionally a five shot .38 Special. The original I frame was a six shot .32 and the J frame was created by lengthening the frame window and cylinder into a five shot .38 Special revolver. Many refer to the type as a .38 on a .32 frame. This is easily the most popular concealed carry revolver of all time. The .38 Special isnt the most powerful cartridge but it exhibits all of the recoil the occasional shooter can manage in a light revolver.  Recoil in lighter revolvers can be sharp. A thirteen to sixteen ounce aluminum frame revolver kicks and recoil may be prohibitive for most shooters with +P loads. There are advantages in the short barrel revolver. It is simple to use and may be stored for long periods and come up shooting as the springs are not compressed when in the ready mode. The revolver is simple to use- grasp the handle and press the trigger. With a less than perfect grip it will fire and the revolver doesn’t rely on perfect ammunition for cycling. If an assailant grasps the barrel he wont have much to hang onto while you will have a handfilling grip as leverage. The revolver may be pressed into the adversary’s body and fired repeatably in situations where the self loader would jam. The advantages of the snubnose .38, particularly in the backup role, are such that the type is appreciated by experienced shooters. For the beginner or those with little time to practice the typical two inch barrel .38 isnt the best choice.

   Taurus introduced one of the true innovations in revolvers a few years ago. The 856 is a variation on their popular Model 85. The Model 85 is a five shot .38 Special that serves well in the concealed carry role. The 856 is a six shot version. By modifying the lockwork and cylinder Taurus managed to offer a six shot revolver very little wider than a five shot .38. If you think five shots is a bit short for a defensive handgun the 856 offers another shot without going to a larger and heavier revolver. Here are a few measurements of revolvers on hand, measuring the widest point of the cylinder.  All revolvers save for the Model 38 are six shot revolvers.

   When the revolver is carried in a proper inside the waistband holster one tenths of an inch isnt a consideration. The 856 is a popular pocket revolver if you wear crews or have side loading pockets. It is a fine gentlemen’s back pocket gun. For homeowners wishing to deploy a credible defensive revolver Taurus has introduced a superior version of the 856. The new Taurus Defender features advantages that make it a great all around concealed carry and home defender. It even has utility as a field gun, but that is of less importance. Our protein fed ex con criminal class is a large and busy group and the Taurus Defender is the kind of protection I recommend for young and old shooters and those on a budget. While training is necessary you may reach a degree of proficiency rapidly with this type of handgun. 

           The Defender features a three inch underlugged barrel. This makes for much better balance than the snubnose type. I cant say it points quite like a finger, I aim my guns, but the Taurus has a good heft and balances well. The second addition is handfilling grips. These grips make for a much better grip and alleviate the sting of .38 Special defense loads. The addition of a three inch heavy barrel and Hogue grips makes for a great handling revolver- and it is a six shooter. In concept the Taurus is similar to the once popular Colt Police Positive Special. The lockwork and appearance are more similar to Smith and Wesson. The Taurus features a transfer bar ignition. This makes for greater safety than early generation revolvers. The Taurus is of stainless steel construction in my version. (Variants with VZ grip, blue finish and an Ultralite 16 ounce are available as well.) My revolver weighs 24 ounces, a good balance for this type of handgun. The Taurus locks up by a detent on the crane. It fits tighter than the original J frame which locked up by a spring loaded detent under the barrel. The cylinder latch is a low smooth version not likely to smack your thumb when firing +P loads. The front  sight features a bright orange dot with a Tritium night sight set in the center. This makes for a great advantage in a dim light defensive situation. The revolver accepts standard K frame speedloaders from HKS or Quickload.

   Prior to test firing  I dry fired the revolver extensively. This is as smooth a Taurus revolver as I have tested, at least comparable to any modern revolver. The double action trigger is smooth and free of hard spots while the single action trigger break is crisp at just over four pounds. When firing a revolver the drill is to aim, press the trigger to the rear and fire. As the barrel rises in recoil allow the trigger to fully reset and press the trigger when the sights are re-aligned. I took the Taurus to the range with several types of ammunition from Black Hills Ammunition. These includes the 148 grain target wadcutter, the 158 grain RNL Cowboy load, the 125 grain JHP +P, and the innovative 100 grain Honey Badger. I began with the 148 grain wadcutter. Firing quickly at man sized targets at 7 and 10 yards I homed in on the X ring. Results were good. With the 158 grain much the same. This is a smooth revolver that is pleasant to fire and effective on man sized targets.  The Black Hills Ammunition 125 grain +P offers a good balance of expansion and penetration and makes a good general purpose defense load.  The Honey Badger uses a solid copper bullet with sharp cutting flutes on the nose. This means the bullet doesn’t have to expand to create damage it begins cutting as soon as it strikes the target. Fluid dynamics are in play as well and the Honey Badger, as the man says, doesn’t care what it hits it is going to do some damage. After beginning with the lightest loads and working with +P loads I find the Taurus 856 Defender a controllable and accurate handgun. Double action pairs were tightly spaced when the shooter does hit parts. The revolver is sighted for 158 grain loads with the 100 grain Honey Badger striking about two inches below the point of aim at 10 yards. This is a superior home defense revolver. It also has utility in field for defense against the big cats and feral dogs. A +P .38 Special you are able to control well is a good choice for many shooters. As for absolute accuracy, firing single action from a solid brace, five shot groups of two inches were possible at 15 yards.

   I have tested several quality concealed carry holsters with the Defender. These include the Galco Walkabout. This inside the waistband holster allows excellent concealment. The holster is worn between the trousers and the body. The majority of the handgun is buried in the trousers while a light covering garment conceals the handgun butt. Another good choice is the Wraparound body band. This is a high quality belly band with good adjustment and leather pockets. For concealment during the summer months, even if you cannot wear a belt, and offers both standard and crossdraw and even appendix carry. The Taurus 856 Defender is a great all around handgun and with careful holster choice concealable as well.