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

Description

The Taurus 856 TORO Black is the matte black build of the optics-ready six-shot 38, catalogued as 2-856P31. Black 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 for a micro red dot.

Black stainless is the detail worth understanding here. It is not a blued gun and not a coated one: the corrosion resistance sits in the alloy, and the black is on top of steel that was already going to resist rust. The Taurus 856 TORO Black therefore looks like a traditional blued revolver while wearing like a stainless one, which on a carried gun is the combination that counts.

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

The optic mount, and why it belongs here

• A factory-machined mounting surface on the top strap with a cover plate fitted, so no gunsmith is involved.
• A dot is easier to find in poor light than a black rear notch, and poor light is where a defensive gun gets used.
• The Taurus 856 TORO Black keeps its iron sights underneath as a backup.
• There is nothing bright on the gun once the optic is on, which suits an owner who wants the whole package subdued.
• Three inches of barrel rather than two, which gives a little more velocity and a steadier hold.

Six shots and the frame around them

• Six rounds in a small-frame revolver, where five has been the standard for a century.
• Black stainless barrel, cylinder and frame, so the finish is not a layer that can wear through.
• Black rubber grip that spreads recoil across the palm on a gun light enough to need the help.
• Exposed hammer, so the Taurus 856 TORO Black 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: 2-856P31
• Model: 856 T.O.R.O., small frame
• Caliber: 38 Special, rated for +P
• Capacity: 6 rounds
• Barrel: 3 in, matte black stainless steel
• Cylinder and frame: matte black 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 at this length. A heavy wadcutter or a purpose-built short-barrel load is the dependable choice. We stock Remington UMC 38 Special 158gr for practice and the Buffalo Bore 150gr wadcutter for carry.

The same optics-ready revolver in bright stainless is the 856 TORO. Without the optic cut, the two-inch 856 Stainless costs less, and the 605 TORO offers the same idea in 357 Magnum. Browse our other revolvers too.

Why this 856 earns its place

• The Taurus 856 TORO Black 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.
• Black stainless gives the look of a blued revolver with the durability of a stainless one.
• Three inches is the sweet spot between velocity and carry on this frame.
• 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 a red dot and would rather the whole gun stayed dark. The Taurus 856 TORO Black is the obvious pick for anyone whose close vision has made iron sights harder work, and for shooters already running a dot on a pistol who want the same sight picture on the wheelgun. Six rounds and a 3-inch barrel make it a serious carry revolver.

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.