Taurus 856 TORO 38 Special 3in 6rd — Superb Optics-Ready Revolver

Description

The Taurus 856 TORO is the optics-ready version of the six-shot 38, catalogued as 2-856P39. Matte stainless barrel, cylinder and frame, a 3-inch barrel, six rounds of 38 Special rated for +P, and a top strap machined at the factory to take a micro red dot.

A dot on a small revolver is a bigger upgrade than it sounds. Fixed sights on a short barrel give a brief sight radius and a black rear notch that disappears in poor light, which is exactly the light a defensive gun is most likely to be used in. The Taurus 856 TORO replaces all of that with one illuminated reference, and the cut is already done.

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

Why an optic on a snub makes sense

• A factory-machined mounting surface with a cover plate fitted, so there is nothing to drill or tap.
• An illuminated dot is far easier to find in low light than a black notch and a front blade.
• The Taurus 856 TORO keeps its iron sights underneath as a backup if a battery or emitter quits.
• Older eyes do markedly better with a single reference on one plane than with two sights that cannot both be in focus.
• Three inches of barrel rather than two, which gives a little more velocity and a steadier hold.

The revolver underneath

• Six rounds of 38 Special in a small-frame revolver, where five has been the standard for a century.
• Matte stainless barrel, cylinder and frame, so corrosion resistance is in the alloy rather than a coating.
• Black rubber grip that spreads recoil across the palm.
• Exposed hammer, so the Taurus 856 TORO can be thumbed back for a light single-action press.
• Transfer bar safety blocks the firing pin mechanically until the trigger is fully pressed, so all six chambers can be loaded.

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 2-856P39
• Model: 856 T.O.R.O., small frame
• Caliber: 38 Special, rated for +P
• Capacity: 6 rounds
• Barrel: 3 in, matte stainless steel
• Cylinder and frame: matte stainless steel
• Optic: optics-ready top strap, cover plate installed
• Grip: black rubber
• Action: single and double action, exposed hammer
• Safety: transfer bar

Ammunition choice still matters on a three-inch barrel. Everything in 38 Special is loaded to the dimensional and pressure standards published by SAAMI, but a hollow point engineered for a four-inch service revolver may not open reliably here. A heavy wadcutter or a purpose-built short-barrel load is the safer choice. We stock Remington UMC 38 Special 158gr for practice and the Buffalo Bore 150gr wadcutter for carry.

Without the optic cut, the two-inch 856 Stainless costs less. For the same idea in 357 Magnum, see the 605 TORO. Browse the rest of our revolvers too.

Why the 856 TORO earns its place

• The Taurus 856 TORO is one of very few small-frame revolvers sold with a factory optic mount at any price.
• Six rounds rather than five, at no cost in frame size.
• Three inches of barrel is the sweet spot between velocity and carry on this frame.
• Stainless tolerates being carried against the body in any weather.
• Taurus backs it with a limited lifetime repair policy that follows the firearm rather than the original buyer.

This suits a revolver shooter who wants to shoot better rather than differently. The Taurus 856 TORO is the obvious pick for anyone whose close vision has made iron sights harder work, and for shooters who already run a dot on a pistol and want the same sight picture on their wheelgun. Six rounds and a 3-inch barrel make it a serious carry revolver rather than a novelty.

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.