Bucky Lawson takes the Taurus 850 revolver to the range for testing and evaluation. See how this budget-friendly revolver stacks up to other options and if it’s a legit choice for concealed carry.

Revolvers continue to rebound with modern shooters. They’re fun, reliable, and often just plain cool. I first got into wheel guns about a year and a half ago because, frankly, I wanted something different at the range and occasionally on my hip. I carry the same sidearm probably 85 percent of the time, but sometimes I just want some variety. And I want that variety to have some personality. Revolvers are the obvious choice.

Fortunately, gunmakers have noticed the resurgence and are responding with some nice options. No one believes wheel guns will replace Glocks or whatever, but I like that I don’t have to comb gun shows or used gun counters to find a good revolver (even though I do that too). Taurus is one of those companies offering good revolvers that meet modern demands. They were among the first to offer optic-ready wheel guns with their T.O.R.O line, and now they’ve entered the shrouded-hammer carry gun market with the Taurus 850. Think Smith & Wesson J-Frame, but all-steel.

Designed for concealed carry, the Model 850 is chambered for .38 Special ammo and is available with a 2 or 3-inch barrel. It is rated for +P ammo. You can choose either a matte stainless or matte black finish. The relevant information is in the specs section below. My Taurus 850 has the matte stainless finish and a 2-inch barrel. This review will address that gun specifically.

Taurus 850 Revolver Features

The 850 was a bit stiff out of the box, but it smoothed out with use and some gun oil. I have a 175 rounds through it as of this writing, and it got noticeably better around the 60-round mark. It clearly just needed a little breaking in. The cylinder and crane, while not exactly slick, operate easily, and I like the checkered cylinder catch.

Ejector Rod & Cylinder

The shrouded ejector rod is also checkered at the end, though I don’t use it. But it looks good and provides some grip if you do. The cylinder holds five rounds of .38 Special, which is standard for this size revolver. It’s compatible with a number of speed loaders. The shrouded hammer lends itself to concealed carry, even in a pocket, assuming a proper pocket holster. I’ve had no problems with snags.

Sights & Grips

The sights aren’t fancy, with a top groove and a black, ramped front sight. But they work. Again, that’s standard for this kind of gun and further reduces the chance of snags when drawing. I like the contoured rubber grips, even though I’m a sucker for wood grips on a wheel gun. These are nicely textured, with a comfortable thumb shelf on each side. I’m ambivalent about finger grooves, and these are fine. I do, however, like the slight pinky groove near the bottom. They are positive and ensure a good grip on the draw, so I see no reason to swap them out for anything else.

The Double Action Only Trigger

If you’re new to wheel guns, you may not like the DAO trigger. It’s long and seemingly heavy, and it admittedly takes more practice than the average semi-auto trigger. But I like DA triggers because they give me the potential for better control since I can stage it to the break and know exactly where I am. I also have the option to ease up and not take the shot if the situation changes suddenly. But again, that takes practice. A lot of it.

The long DA pull hits a definite wall before a clean break. My Lyman trigger gauge won’t read it, but I estimate the pull at around 12 pounds before an easy break once I commit. That’s not as bad as it might sound. Learning to stage the trigger to the break and pausing for a split second makes the trigger quite good. I really like it, but then again, I really like DA guns. I will say that I like the Taurus 850’s trigger better than my brother’s Smith & Wesson 442’s DAO trigger.

The Taurus 850 on the Range

As I said, I have 175 rounds through the Taurus 850. My friends at Ammo-to-Go generously provided the following loads:

• 125-grain Blazer Brass FMJ (50 Rounds)
• 130-grain Federal American Eagle FMJ (50 Rounds)
• 158-grain Fiocchi FMJ (50 Rounds)
• 125-grain Speer LE Gold Dot +P GDHP (25 Rounds)

The 850’s steel frame mitigates recoil, even with the +P defensive rounds. In another comparison of like revolvers, my brother’s S&W 442’s recoil is much snappier than my 850, using the same loads. The 850’s recoil was easily managed with each load and staging the trigger helped me hold 2-inch groups out to 8 or 9 yards. I was better than that from 5 yards in.. Things started spreading out once I got to 10 yards. I took it out to 15, but it got questionable after that. It is a snub-nose, after all, and the sights are only so capable. The 850 is designed for closer encounters.

The gun was completely reliable. It went “bang” every time I pulled the trigger and reloading was as smooth as I could make it. I admit to still learning how to properly run a wheel gun and reloads are still an adventure at times. But that’s on me, not the gun.

Carrying the Taurus 850

I waffled on how to carry this gun at first. I didn’t really want it on my belt. But I initially thought it too heavy for my pants pocket. I tried it anyway, using a Safariland Model 25 pocket holster. It did seem a little bulky at first. But a few trips to the grocery store and other places changed my mind. Once I got used to it, I barely knew the 850 was there. It draws easily, though I have to use my off hand to pull off the holster since that model doesn’t attach to the pocket itself. It all but disappears into a coat pocket and I expect to carry it a lot that way this winter.

Parting Shots

I like this gun. I’ve been wanting a snubbie for concealed carry since I started messing around with wheel guns. It won’t be my primary, but I expect it to shine as a backup riding in one pocket or another. It’s admittedly heavier than the Smith 442, but not prohibitively so, in my opinion. Of course, the backup gun can become the primary at any time, depending on the situation. I have no problem with the 850 in that role, though I really need to get better at reloading.

The 850 shoots well, it’s reliable, and the recoil is very manageable. I like the .38 Special chambering. I’ve fired a couple of snubs with .357 Magnum rounds and I did not care for that. At all. I shoot .38s in my 3-inch Taurus 605, even though it’s a .357, so I’m good with that for the 2-inch Model 850.

The Taurus 850 is a solid carry revolver. It’s not slick like some of the more expensive, higher-end guns, but it’s smooth and it works. That’s what I want. Just go “bang,” baby. That’s the end-all. The 850 does that, and it does it well.

Taurus 850 Revolver Specs

• Caliber: .38 Special (+P Rated)
• Capacity: 5 Rounds
• Double Action Only
• Stainless Steel Frame, Cylinder, and Barrel
• Finish: Matte Black or Matte Stainless
• Barrel Length: 2 or 3 inches
• Overall Length: 7.66 inches
• Width: 1.34 inches
• Height: 4.59 inches
• Weight (Unloaded): 22.75 ounces