Description
The Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR is a small frame eight shot rimfire revolver with a 3 inch barrel and an anodized alloy frame in a stainless finish. It weighs 18.8 ounces, measures 6.6 inches overall and 4.64 inches high, and uses a double and single action trigger with a transfer bar safety. The manufacturer part number is 2-942039UL and the UPC is 725327638636. MAG5 Firearms lists it as a training, plinking and small game revolver, and it is one of the more genuinely useful 22 handguns on the market.
Eight Shots of Rimfire in a Carry Size Frame
Most small frame revolvers hold five rounds. The Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR holds eight, because a 22 LR cartridge is small enough that a cylinder of normal diameter can carry more of them. That makes it an eight shot revolver in a package the same size as a 38 snub, which is a genuinely useful combination for anyone who wants trigger time without the ammunition cost or the recoil.
As a rimfire training revolver it is hard to beat. The trigger, the grip, the manual of arms and the sight picture all transfer directly to a centerfire snub nose, but 22 LR costs a fraction of 38 Special and produces almost no recoil at all. A shooter who has developed a flinch on a lightweight 38 can rebuild good habits on this and then carry the habits back across. A Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR is a real training tool rather than a novelty.
The sights are better than most in this class. A serrated ramp front and a drift adjustable rear sight mean point of impact can be corrected for a specific load rather than accepted, which matters more on a rimfire than on a centerfire because 22 LR ammunition varies so much between brands. Fixed sight snubs give you no such option, which is a quiet advantage for the Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR.
Honest Notes on Rimfire
The double action trigger on any rimfire revolver is heavy, and the Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR is no exception. The reason is mechanical rather than corner cutting: a rimfire cartridge needs a firm hammer strike on the case rim to ignite reliably, so the mainspring has to be stronger than a centerfire gun would need. Expect a firm double action pull that smooths with use, and use the single action mode for accuracy work.
Rimfire ignition is less consistent than centerfire, full stop. Even good 22 LR ammunition produces the occasional dud, and that is why this is not the right choice as a primary defensive handgun no matter how appealing eight low recoil shots sounds. It is an excellent trainer, a fine small game and pest gun and a very good first revolver. For defense, a centerfire is the honest recommendation.
At 18.8 ounces with an alloy frame this is light to carry and light in the hand, which cuts both ways. It carries easily and it is a little less steady offhand than a steel gun. The 3 inch barrel on a Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR is a sensible middle ground, giving more velocity and sight radius than a two inch snub while staying compact enough to holster comfortably.
Specifications
- Manufacturer part number: 2-942039UL
- UPC: 725327638636
- Caliber: 22 LR
- Capacity: 8 rounds
- Action: Double action and single action
- Barrel length: 3.00 in
- Overall length: 6.60 in
- Height: 4.64 in
- Width: 1.34 in
- Weight: 18.80 oz
- Frame: Small frame alloy, anodized, stainless finish
- Front sight: Serrated ramp
- Rear sight: Drift adjustable
- Safety: Transfer bar
Who Should Buy It
A Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR suits the shooter who wants cheap trigger time, the new shooter learning a revolver without recoil getting in the way, the small game hunter or pest shooter, and anyone with hand strength or recoil sensitivity that rules out a centerfire snub. It is also a sensible companion gun for someone who already carries a 38 snub, because the controls match. Details on the model line are published by Taurus.
If you want the same size and layout in a defensive chambering, the Taurus 856 in 38 Special is the direct centerfire equivalent with six rounds. If you want a rimfire that also shoots 22 WMR, look at convertible models with two cylinders. Browse the rest of our revolvers to compare.
Practical notes. Try several brands of ammunition, because rimfire revolvers are noticeably picky and a Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR will often shoot one load far better than another. Use the drift adjustable rear sight once you have chosen. Dry fire with snap caps rather than on empty chambers, since rimfire firing pins can peen the chamber mouth. And clean the cylinder face regularly, because rimfire fouling builds up fast and binds cylinder rotation.
MAG5 Firearms is a family owned FFL dealer in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. This Taurus 942 Ultra Lite 22 LR ships to the licensed dealer of your choice, and local buyers can complete the transfer with us in person. Call 610-943-0010 with any questions about ammunition, holsters or fit.
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