The Taurus 856 is a six-shot revolver with a frame similar in size to a Colt Cobra’s. Manufactured in Brazil, the Ultra-Lite model features an aluminum alloy frame with a blasted matte finish. The 856 Ultra-Lite also has a bobbed exposed hammer that has been modified for double-action-only (DAO) shooting like the S&W Model 442. The face of the trigger is polished, and the edges are nicely rounded. The front sight is a pinned black ramp that contrasts nicely with the rear aperture. Taurus also designed its own rubber grips that feature a ribbed backstrap and subtle finger grooves.
On the range, the Taurus 856 Ultra-Lite shot well, and most of the evaluators found it to be very accurate. The DA trigger pull got better with use, but was still heavier than any other revolver we tested. We also had two issues with the 856 Ultra-Lite, and we contacted Taurus about them. First, the ribs on the backstrap drew blood on three of the shooters, tearing the webs of their hands between the thumb and forefinger. A loose grip, combined with +P ammo, could have been contributing factors. This had a serious effect on one shooter’s accuracy. The other issue was that we experienced some oxidation on the bottom of the triggerguard. We were testing the pistols in hot and humid weather. I failed to wipe the 865 Ultra-Lite down at the end of the range day, so this is probably my fault. Beyond those two problems, we considered the Taurus a good value for the price. It wound up with an overall score of 32.56.
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