Many would assume that double action revolvers are obsolete in an age of high-capacity striker-fired polymer 9mms and micro-compact micro-compacts. They might even be considered obsolete for concealed carry or personal defense. They are wrong! The original point-and shoot guns were short-barreled, double action revolvers like the Taurus 856 Executive Grade.38 Special. They are as popular today because of their simplicity and ease-of-use. The Taurus 856 Executive grade.38 special Even though they were used hard and stored wet, these revolvers are still very expensive. Custom revolver smiths are also struggling to keep up with demand for new sights, actions jobs, and refinishing. The revolver is the preferred weapon for concealed carriers. The company has just released an upgraded version of the Taurus Defender 856.38 Special revolver, the Executive Grade 856. The six-shot, medium-sized revolver is made of all stainless steel and features a more precise fit, finish, polish. Taurus sources claim that the Executive Grade double action-only gun is assembled in its area by specially trained technicians who lavish extra attention on the revolver. The Executive models are hand polished and given a satin, non-reflective, satin finish. The deluxe Altamont walnut handles add a splash of color and can be used to load speed loaders. They have checkering that isn’t too coarse to catch on layers of clothing concealment such as grips with aggressive texturing. (Photo by Alex Landeen). Extra Custom Touches. The extra attention paid to the Executive Grade-856 isn’t just for the gun to look better. Taurus technicians can also perform a few modifications that are usually done by custom revolversmiths for customers with savvy wheelguns. Each chamber is chamfered to allow for unhindered speed and reloads. Taurus also removes Executive Grade’s hammer Spur and makes the action double-action-only. The trigger face is smoothed and its edges are rounded for double-action shooting. (Photo by Alex Landeen). The revolver’s internal parts are also given a high degree of polish and fitting. When I received my Executive Grade 856 for the first time, I thought the double-action trigger pull would weigh between 7 and 8 lbs. It was therefore a surprise to find that my Lyman digital trigger gauge measured 11 pounds. “This cannot be right,” I thought, and tried it with my old mechanical trigger gauge. It also read 11 pounds. This is a lot to do, I think, with the low-mass Hammer. Smooth is the key word, and it doesn’t require stacking. The trigger is also firm, which is great for quick follow-up shots. This revolver is equipped with the Taurus 856 Barrel Taurus. It has a 3-inch barrel. I could write a whole article about this barrel length and how it affects gun balance, sight radius, concealability, and concealability. The 3-inch barrel is my preferred choice for a defensive revolver. I’m not the only one. Gunsite hosted the Pat Rogers Memorial Revolver Round Up last November. I noticed that many dedicated revolver men also chose this barrel length. This barrel length was used by Smith & Wesson to produce a few.38 and.357s. These guns are now in high demand and the prices are prohibitive. (Photo by Alex Landeen). Others, like myself, purchase a 4-inch barrel and have it trimmed to a length of 3 inches by skilled revolver smiths such as Dave Fink. Colt now offers the King Cobra, Python and Python with 3-inch barrels. The barrel of the 856 appears to be made from one-piece stainless steel bar stock. It also has an integral top rib, and ejector rod shroud. It gives the gun a clean, professional look. The model 856’s barrel weight gives it a beautiful balance, which helps the gun point naturally. Operation Taurus and Frame Size spec’s the 856 as small. Initial thoughts were that it was similar to an S&W K frame. After a few minutes, I realized that the Taurus frame was just slightly smaller than my K-10 M10. It wasn’t much. To practice draw-and-fire, I actually used my Barranti Concealed Carry Revolver CCR (CCR) holster that I bought for my 3-inch S&W S&W K frame guns. Although I don’t advocate using holsters that are not designed for guns, the Taurus Executive Grade-856 fit well enough for these exercises. It was not suitable for real-life carry, so I wouldn’t recommend it. Doc Barranti would be happy make a CCR for Taurus 856 that is glove-like. The spring-loaded crane lock-up is preferred to the S&W lock-up at the front of your ejector rod. Cylinder lock-up is tight, with minimal side-to-side movement and no end shake. The cylinder rotates clockwise, just as an S&W revolver. (Photo by Alex Landeen). The Taurus inserts a blued-ramp front sight into the barrel’s top rib. This is paired with a fixed rear view. During testing, I didn’t find this sight to be a hindrance. However, I have found that my 63 year-old eyes find a Patridge-style sight much more comfortable. It’s especially useful if it has a brass or a gold bead. I hope Taurus will soon offer a front sight with a tritium dot and/or bead. Change of Protocol I will now test 3-inch pistols and revolvers for accuracy at 15 yards. This is because they have a short sight radius. The Taurus 856 revolver is a DAO revolver. I knew that the long trigger pull would limit my ability to shoot it accurately in single-action mode. This is why I set my target distance at 10 yards. I am happy to admit that the gun is more precise than I recorded. Shooting Impressions Despite the fact that the distance was only 10 meters, I must say that the Executive Grade 856’s accuracy impressed me. The average group of the five loads was just over an in. Doubletap’s 148 grain target wadcutter produced a five-shot group that measured just.81 inches. One of the most interesting things I learned at Pat Roger’s Memorial Round Up was that handgun bullets rarely expand from short barrels. Abbreviated barrel length means that bullets with lower velocities are less likely to expand because of their reduced speed. Even +P loads and magnum loads can fail badly. In-the-know experts use 148-grain wadcutters to cut through skulls and give excellent penetration. (Photo by Alex Landeen). I have put aside the hot.38 Special loads, and now carry a cylinder Doubletap’s 148 grain wadcutter ammunition. Because it is easier to speed reload with semi-wadcutter ammunition than flush-cased wadcutters, my speedloader is loaded in semi-wadcutter ammo. My MGM BC C-Zone Steel target was set up at 15 yards. It is similar to a USPSA paper target, but with the “D” zone removed. I found it easy and quick to place double-taps on the steel using mostly wadcutter ammunition. The smooth trigger pull enabled me to keep my eyes on the target throughout the entire pull. The firm reset made the second shot fast and easy. (Photo by Alex Landeen). The hardwood grips were comfortable in my hand and are short enough to conceal carry. I was able fire the 856 comfortably and without having to lose my shooting grip. Both the grips and cylinder latch can be cut to fit speed loaders. In a similar vein, I found that my S&W “K”, frame speed loaders worked perfectly with the Taurus 856. Final Notes Taurus’ latest offering offers shooters a reliable revolver that packs a lot of accuracy and features we usually only see on custom revolvers. It will be a welcome addition for revolver enthusiasts. Taurus ships the gun with a TSA-approved Pelican Vault Hardcase. (Photo by Alex Landeen). To distinguish the Executive Grade gun, Taurus engraves a right-side plate with the Taurus bull and horns silhouette, surrounded by a double circle and the legend “Executive Grade.” The suggested retail price for the Executive Grade 856 is $689. This gun offers many custom features and performance at a lower price than a standard 856. TaurusUSA.com has more information. Taurus Executive Grade 856 Specs Caliber :.38 Special +P
Barrel: 3 Inches
Overall Length: 7.75 inches
Weight: 25 ounces (empty).
Grips: Altamont walnut
Sights: Fixed rear, pinned ramp front
Action: DOA
Finish: Satin hand-polished
Capacity: 6
MSRP: $689 Photo taken by Alex Landeen (Photo courtesy Alex Landeen). This article was originally published by Personal Defense World in August/September 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected]. Continue Reading Search The post TESTED – The Taurus 856 Executive grade.38 Special appeared originally on Personal Defense World.
