Taurus 856 Black Stainless 38 Special 2in 6rd — Superb Carry Revolver

Description

The Taurus 856 Black Stainless is the dressed-up version of the six-shot 38, catalogued as 2-85623. Barrel, cylinder and frame are black stainless steel, the barrel measures 2 inches, the cylinder holds six rounds of 38 Special rated for +P, and the grip panels are figured rather than plain rubber.

Black stainless is worth understanding, because it is not the same thing as a blued gun. The corrosion resistance is in the alloy rather than in a layer applied on top, so the Taurus 856 Black Stainless gives the appearance of a blued revolver with the durability of a stainless one. On a small gun carried against the body, that is the combination that actually matters.

MAG5 Firearms has it in stock. Handguns ship to a licensed FFL on a signed 4473, and we coordinate the transfer with your dealer.

Black finish, stainless underneath

• Stainless steel throughout, so sweat and humidity do not start rust where you cannot see it.
• A black finish over that steel, which keeps the gun from catching light the way bright stainless does.
• Six rounds in a small-frame revolver, where five has been the standard for a century.
• Figured grip panels rather than plain rubber, which is the visual difference against the rest of the 856 range.
• The Taurus 856 Black Stainless is rated for 38 Special +P, so a defensive load is on the table.

Handling, controls and safety

• Steel construction puts the weight above an alloy-framed revolver, which turns a sharp recoil impulse into a push.
• Exposed hammer, so it can be thumbed back for a light single-action press or fired double action.
• Transfer bar safety blocks the firing pin mechanically until the trigger is fully pressed, so all six chambers can be loaded.
• Fixed sights with nothing protruding to catch on a holster mouth or a pocket seam.
• A 2-inch barrel, short enough to conceal and long enough that the Taurus 856 Black Stainless is controllable at speed.

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 2-85623
• Model: 856, small frame
• Caliber: 38 Special, rated for +P
• Capacity: 6 rounds
• Barrel: 2 in, black stainless steel
• Cylinder and frame: black stainless steel
• Grip: figured panels
• Action: single and double action, exposed hammer
• Safety: transfer bar

Ammunition choice matters on a short barrel. Everything in 38 Special is loaded to the dimensional and pressure standards published by SAAMI, but a hollow point designed to expand at four-inch velocities will often not open at two inches. A heavy wadcutter or a purpose-built short-barrel load is the more dependable answer. We stock Remington UMC 38 Special 158gr for practice and the Buffalo Bore 150gr wadcutter for carry.

The plain-finish 856 Stainless costs less, the 856 Concealed Hammer removes the snag point for pocket carry, and the 856 Ultra Lite saves weight. Browse our other revolvers too.

Why this 856 earns its place

• The Taurus 856 Black Stainless looks like a blued revolver and wears like a stainless one.
• Six rounds rather than five, at no cost in size.
• Figured grips make it the presentable one in the range without changing how it shoots.
• Speedloaders, speed strips and holsters for the 856 are widely stocked.
• Taurus backs it with a limited lifetime repair policy that follows the firearm rather than the original buyer.

This suits a buyer who wants a small revolver that is pleasant to own as well as to carry. The Taurus 856 Black Stainless is heavy enough to practise with properly, small enough to conceal on a belt, and simple enough that a new owner has very little to learn. It also makes a sensible gift or a first handgun for someone who would rather not carry something that looks purely utilitarian.

Ordering is simple. Choose it, tell us which FFL should receive it, and we handle the dealer side. If you have not picked a transfer dealer, call us and we will help you find one nearby.