Taurus 850 38 Special 2 in. Matte Black 5-Shot Hammerless Revolver – Superb Discreet Carry

Description

Matte black, five shots of .38 Special, and a hammer sealed inside the frame where it cannot catch on anything. The Taurus 850 in this finish is about as discreet as a revolver gets: there is no shine to give it away through a light shirt, no spur above the top strap to print or snag, and nothing on the outside that needs explaining.

This Taurus 850 has an alloy steel barrel, cylinder and frame, a black rubber grip, fixed sights and a two-inch barrel. Double action only, because a gun designed to be drawn in a hurry has no business offering a second way to fire it.

Why the matte black finish matters here

• The Taurus 850 in matte black gives no reflection. A stainless revolver catches light through thin clothing in a way a matte black gun does not
• Holster wear on matte black is a dull grey line rather than a bright one, so a carried gun stays discreet as it ages
• Alloy steel barrel, cylinder and frame, with the weight to keep .38 Special recoil comfortable
• Fully enclosed hammer, so the draw is completely clean from a pocket or an inside-the-waistband holster
• Double action only, with a long deliberate trigger press and no thumb-cocking
• Black rubber grip that wraps the backstrap and spreads recoil rather than concentrating it
• Transfer bar safety, so the firing pin stays away from the primer until the trigger is fully back

Practical notes from behind the counter

• A hammerless revolver can be fired from inside a coat pocket. Nothing else in this size class can honestly claim that
• Five rounds goes fast. Buy a speedloader or a speed strip at the same time and practise with it
• Matte black over alloy steel is not stainless. Carried against skin all summer it will show surface rust if it is never wiped down
• An oiled cloth once a week is the whole maintenance regime. If that sounds like too much, buy the stainless Taurus 850 instead
• Point of impact with fixed sights is set at the factory for a particular bullet weight. Try 130 and 158 grain and use whichever prints to the sights
• Check the manual before making +P a steady diet in any small revolver

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 2-850121
• Caliber: .38 Special
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Barrel: 2 in., matte black alloy steel
• Cylinder and frame: matte black alloy steel, small frame
• Grip: black rubber
• Action: double action only, fully concealed hammer
• Safety: transfer bar
• Sights: fixed
• UPC: 725327200963

.38 Special is one of the oldest cartridges still in mainstream production, and it is fully standardised: chamber dimensions and pressure ceilings are published by SAAMI. That is worth knowing because the gap between a cheap lead round-nose practice load and a modern bonded defensive bullet is enormous, and both are the same cartridge on paper.

A word on expectations. Nobody buys a Taurus 850 because it is fun to shoot. A two-inch five-shot revolver is loud, it kicks more than its cartridge suggests and the sights are small. It gets bought because it disappears, works without maintenance and needs no manual of arms. Judge it on those terms and it is a very good gun; judge it as a range pistol and it will disappoint you.

Why this revolver earns its place

• A completely snag-free profile in the least conspicuous finish available
• Steel construction, so recoil is controllable rather than punishing
• The Taurus 850 needs no maintenance beyond an occasional wipe to stay reliable
• Five rounds that will fire wet, dirty, or after years of being ignored in a drawer
• Small enough for a pocket holster, an ankle rig or a bag
• Inexpensive enough to own as a backup rather than a primary

Deep-concealment carriers, backup-gun buyers, and anyone who wants a firearm that can sit in a drawer for a decade and still work. The Taurus 850 in matte black is the version to buy if discretion matters more to you than corrosion resistance.

If you would rather have stainless and forget about maintenance, the matte stainless 850 is the same gun. For six rounds instead of five, the Taurus 856 is barely any larger.

On an aluminium frame, the 856 Ultra Lite hammerless saves several ounces. For magnum capability, the enclosed-hammer Taurus 650 in .357 is the natural step up, and the 605 gives you an exposed hammer with it.

Every Taurus 850 ships with the factory case, the manual and a lock. Transfers go to your FFL and we handle our end of the paperwork the same day.