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

Description

The Taurus 856 Ultra Lite is a six-shot 38 Special +P revolver built on a frame most makers only fit five rounds into. Taurus catalogues it as 2-85629UL: a matte anodized aluminium frame carrying a matte stainless alloy steel barrel and cylinder, a 2-inch barrel, a transfer bar safety and an exposed hammer.

The sixth round is the reason this revolver sells. A snub-nosed 38 has never had capacity on its side, so twenty percent more of it in the same footprint is a real advantage rather than a specification-sheet flourish. The aluminium frame keeps the weight down to the point where the gun gets carried instead of left at home.

MAG5 Firearms has the Taurus 856 Ultra Lite in stock. Handguns ship to a licensed FFL on a signed 4473, and we coordinate the transfer with your dealer.

Six shots, and what the light frame costs you

• Six rounds of 38 Special in a small-frame revolver, where five has been the standard for a century.
• An anodized aluminium frame keeps the Taurus 856 Ultra Lite light enough for pocket or ankle carry all day.
• Stainless barrel and cylinder handle the pressure and the wear, so the alloy is only doing the job it is good at.
• Light guns kick harder. That is the honest trade, and it is why standard-pressure practice loads are worth buying by the case.
• Rated for 38 Special +P, so a defensive load can be carried even if practice is done with something milder.

Controls, grip and safety

• Exposed hammer, so the Taurus 856 Ultra Lite can be thumbed back for a light single-action press or fired double action.
• Finger-grooved black rubber grip, which spreads recoil across the palm on a revolver that needs the help.
• Transfer bar safety blocks the firing pin mechanically until the trigger is fully pressed, so all six chambers can be loaded.
• Fixed sights, which is the right answer on a gun that lives in a pocket and will snag on anything that protrudes.
• Matte finishes throughout, so nothing reflects and nothing catches the eye at the wrong moment.

Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 2-85629UL
• Model: 856 Ultra-Lite, small frame
• Caliber: 38 Special, rated for +P
• Capacity: 6 rounds
• Barrel: 2 in, matte stainless alloy steel
• Cylinder: matte stainless alloy steel
• Frame: matte anodized aluminium
• Grip: black finger-grooved rubber
• Action: single and double action, exposed hammer
• Safety: transfer bar

Ammunition matters more on a light revolver than on a heavy one. Everything in 38 Special is loaded to the dimensional and pressure standards published by SAAMI, but a 158-grain standard-pressure practice load and a stout +P defensive round feel like different cartridges out of a gun this size. We stock Remington UMC 38 Special 158gr for practice and the Buffalo Bore 150gr wadcutter, a load with a long reputation in short barrels.

If you want more power in a similar package, the Taurus 605 in 357 Magnum is the next step up. The rest of our revolvers and handguns are listed alongside it.

Why the 856 Ultra Lite earns its place

• The Taurus 856 Ultra Lite gives up nothing in size to a five-shot revolver and gains a round.
• There is no magazine to seat and no slide to work, which is why revolvers still suit shooters with limited hand strength.
• Light enough that it actually gets carried, which is the only quality that matters in a gun you hope never to use.
• Speedloaders, speed strips and holsters for the 856 are widely available.
• Taurus backs it with a limited lifetime repair policy that follows the firearm rather than the original buyer.

This suits someone who wants a carry gun with the fewest possible moving parts. The Taurus 856 Ultra Lite is also a common recommendation for a shooter who finds racking a slide difficult, and a sensible backup for anyone already carrying a semi-automatic, since a revolver fails differently and a second gun that works the same way is less useful.

Ordering is simple. Choose it, tell us the FFL you want it sent to, and we will handle the dealer side. If you have not chosen a transfer dealer, call us and we will help you find one nearby.