Taurus Model 85 Ultra-Lite Pocket Revolver
First Reviewed August 25, 2010
Found in Pocket Revolvers, Revolver Reviews, Taurus
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The Model 85 Ultra-Lite takes all of the features of the original and, by cutting down on weight, makes it even easier to carry.
A major difference that separates this gun from it’s weightier brethren is that it utilizes an aluminum Ultra-Lite frame. Regardless of this fact the gun is still rated to carry .38 Special +P ammo all day.
This pocket revolver keep the 2″ barrel, 5 round capactiy, rubber combat grips, fixed sights, transfer bar safety, and double-action/single-action trigger. The only thing that is missing on this gun is the additional 5.5 ounces.
These guns work even better for ankle carry as a backup gun but can be utilized as a primary defense weapon when concealed in a pocket holster as well.
Color choices include satin stainless and deep blued finishes. These guns have the chamber release on the left side so they are not true ambidextrous revovlers.
Reviews of the Taurus Model 85 Ultra-Lite pocket revolver are found below. The standard steel model as well as thetitanium alloy versions are not to be reviewed here as the have their own review sets. If you do have an Ultra-Lite version however, please write a review of your own here. Whether yours is stainless or blued, traditional grips or pearl handled, doesn’t matter.
Owned a Model 85 for 3 years now. Have put 1,200 rounds through it in that time, including 200 rounds of +P ammo. Every pull of the trigger has yielded a BOOM when the hammer falls.
The Ergonomics are excellent. Feels like it was molded to my hand with the stock rubber grips. This is my favorite weapon out of all my hand guns, including several far more expensive.
My accuracy was from the first shot so so, but after a couple hundred rounds, I can hit a can at 30 feet each time. Not bad for a stub nose .38. Up close and personal, 21 feet or closer, self defense would be a no brainier. Single or Double action usage would still yield one dead street thug.
Fit’n'Finish – My trigger has burn marks on it from manufacturing, the cylinder release is gritty and iffy *Read Below* but other then that I can find no faults. Trigger pull is excellent, hammer weight is acceptable, and what can I say it goes boom when you need it to.
Reliability, couple issues but neither effected shooting. If you put a lot of rounds down range fast, 40 in a hurry say. The cylinder get’s hot and refuses to open no matter what. Kind of embarrassing when the range went cold. Give it a break between reloads when target shooting.
Taurus Warranty, I had to send it back one time, about 4 months back. I was cleaning it and the cylinder fell out onto the floor!? I popped it back in, but the arm refuses to stay in place. Being the idiot I am, I still took it to the range. When the cylinder is pushed in place, it’s rock solid and still shot 10 rounds of +p. Taurus took it back and fixed it no questions asked. Took 8 days from mailing to return, impressive.
I not only would buy this gun again, but I am getting the “Protector” Version of the same exact one for concealed carry. The Hammer is covered except for the top. Hammer snags on clothing, making my ever reliable 85 a drawer gun. So Conceal-ability suffers, fast draw is do risky.
After having shot a few hundred rounds from my ultra-lite I now use that as my primary carry weapon. The handgun definatly has a lot of kick, but that is to be expected from such a light gun. as far as reliability goes, i have never had a single problem with it, and i have put several different loads through it. The 85 did respond very differently to the differet loads, so if it is your primary concealed weapin, i would suggest finding a load that feels right for you and stick with it. It is a very easy gun to hide, but the drastic edges on the hammer make it a little hard to get out in a hurry. I would strongly reccomend a shaved hammer to anyone carrying an ultra-lite. Over all, for what the gun is and the price tag on it i would give it five stars. Once i made a few mods to fit me better, the gun quickly became the favorite revolver of my collection.
A couple of weeks ago at a gun show I noticed a Taurus model 85 Ultra-lite for sale, it was alittle worn and grips looked alittle beatup, the price was reasonable $220, unfortunately I procrastinated and someone else purchased the weapon ! But this past weekend I found a Taurus model 85 not ultra-lite but regular steel blue with a ported barrel in nearly excelent condition $300, shot it the other day, very smooth trigger pull, accurate and hardly any noticable recoil thanks to those rubber grips and ported barrel ! My own opinion I feel that dollar for dollar the Taurus model 85 is the best value today in a self-defence revolver, a great pocket gun as there are no buttons or levers to fool with as with many automatic pistols or failure to feed or extract or a bad magazine ! Check the model 85 out you will not regret it !
You folks may not know it but Taurus is now making a Model 85 in stainless steel with a 3 inch barrel. The model number is 2-850039.
Although not shown on Taurus web site, they are available through Davidson’s in Phoenix, AZ. The weight is around 22 oz. The frame is identical to the snub nose 85, so you can use a small rubber grip if you want to, but it comes with a longer grip to accommodate the little finger. This pistol suits me right down to my toes. It is small and concealable, the grip is long enough to give you a good handle on it, and it has good weight to make shooting it pleasurable.
I think it is a super pistol for the money.
Right now Armadillo Guns of Nevada, Texas has a special selling them for about $380. I may go back an buy another one, a backup for my backup.
I have the blued 85ul.It has been a dependable and reliable carry piece. It has been my primary for the last 5 years. Do I trust my life to this weapon? Yes I do. I usually pack it with either 135 gr gdhp’s, or 125 gr Hornady XTP hollowpoints,or both. I can’t believe how accurate the Hornady’s are. At 15 feet,POA and POI is dead on.
At 17oz, my ultra-lite is a pleasure to carry. I actually forget I have on. Loaded with 5 135 gr GDHP’s it weighs a little more, but I can conceal it in a Don Hume belt holster,with an un-tucked T-shirt or jacket hanging below my waist.On ammo choices,it will handle +P;but hold on to your hat(revolver).Being an ultra-lite,the little j-frame has got a bit more re-coil;with a proper grip(crush granite type). Over all, the Taurus Mdl 85ul is a great tool for the job it was intended to do.
I bought my Taurus 85UL Stainless at a local pawnshop 2 years ago for $299. It is a 2009 model and appeared unfired. The cylinder showed no scraped ring until I started shooting it. I have fired about 500 rounds of a variety of cartridges through it, but have settled on Mag Tec 158gr SJHP. They are cheap enough to use for target and look like a decent defense round. I certainly wouldn’t want to be on the wrong end of one. The 85 has been perfect from day one. I retrofitted it with factory rosewood grips, just because I like them. I was shocked at the kick of a 158 grain round and quickly learned that a TIGHT grip is needed to keep it from injuring the web of my thumb. the wood grips probably contribute a little to the pain. This is my only handgun, but at 7 yards I can consistenly hit a 1″ bullseye. I have no plans to try any further than that. I share the same “sticky” cylinder release problem other have noted, but I’ve never had it completely stick closed. It is so slight I don’t even think about it most of the time. It is just there. Last time at the range I had a local sheriff deputy watch me shooting and then inspected my 85, ammo, Galco pocket holster and custom home made lock/display box. During a long discussion he admitted he had been looking at one for his BUG and was finally pretty sold on it. I let him shoot a few loads to convince himself. He was sure he would stick with the rubber grips. I love this gun, carry it all the time, and see no need for any other handgun. I also carry 2 HKS 36 speedloaders that enable me to re-load in about 10 seconds.