July 6, 2023
Updated April 8, 2026
In my May 7 article on “Friends, Firearms and History,” I described a friend’s search for a .38 Special snubby for CCW.
He sold his Winchester model 97 and Marlin 336 to help fund the purchase. He really liked my Colt Detective Special, but a used price on what I found was pushing $900 and a no-go. He began looking for a lightweight, six-rounder with exposed hammer and in +P.
Lots of revolver choices, but he wanted a price point below $350. That limited things. He and I shared ideas on what might work. After considerable research, he opted for a Taurus 856 Ultralite in black anodized finish and a two-inch barrel.
Founded in 1939 in Brazil, Forjas Taurus, probably better known as Taurus International or just Taurus, the company’s first revolver appeared in 1941. Export to the USA began in 1968. Similarities between Taurus and Smith & Wesson developed out of business deals.
Taurus currently builds revolvers and semis in multiple calibers ranging from .22LR through .500 S&W Magnum. For a good read on this snubby 856 and some history, see https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/tested-taurus-856ul-ultra-lite-6-shot-revolver/ .
My friend’s trip to a nearby Cabella’s/Bass Pro produced the revolver at the desired price point. I’d recommended he look at a Versacarry revolver holster. He did and after fitting the holster, off to the range we went. I’d never fired a Taurus revolver, so I knew our range time would be productive.
With sensitive hearing and his hesitation to visit any range, I recommended my friend use foam ear plugs along with muffs. He was ready with that combination, which worked well.
At the nearby indoor range, we shared a lane and set a silhouette target at five, then seven yards. With his new snubby and being new to any revolver, my friend shot six rounds of Winchester 130-grain FMJ ammo he bought with the revolver. I did the same.
We then switched to some ammo I had on hand. That included Black Hills 148-grain hollow-base wadcutter, 158-grain Prvi Partisan lead round nose, 125-grain +P Black Hills jacketed hollow point (JHP), and 158-grain HSM JHP.
We both shot single action and double action to get a feel for function and handling. Overall, the 148-grain rounds grouped the tightest as I had seen when evaluating that round and the 125-grain JHP for Gun Talk.
The 856 is small with an aluminum frame and weighs only 16 ounces empty. For comparison, my old Detective Special comes in at 21 ounces. Fit and finish on the 856 says quality.
I was surprised and pleased how light the little Taurus felt, and how well it handled the loadings we fed it. The trigger felt good and double-action pull was not as heavy as I had expected. The Black Hills JHP +P load definitely had more felt recoil, but quite manageable.
I’m not in the market for another snubby, and the 856 is too small for me. It definitely is lightweight on the belt and easy to conceal.
For a new wheelgun owner, my friend soon was putting most rounds within four inches with shrinking groups. There were similar results at seven yards. Most of mine fell within a smaller pattern, but I shoot revolvers regularly. Not bad at all for a lightweight snubby with simple sights.
The range owner came in during our session and he is familiar with the 856 and likes it. My friend has larger hands than do I, and the grips felt small to him, as they did to me. We talked about after-market grips. The range owner suggested Taurus wooden grips to increase grip circumference and palm swell. I suggested looking at Hogue grips too as I have put them on several handguns.
I can say my first experience with a Taurus revolver was good. For my friend to get into revolver CCW, he got the 856 and a nice all-leather outside-the-waistband Versacarry holster for less than $400. Not a bad deal and a good choice for his needs and plans.
If budget is guiding your revolver every-day-carry (EDC) choices, take a look at the Taurus line. You can get into a semiauto for fewer dollars perhaps, but my friend wanted a revolver. He earlier had a semi fail to feed at the range, so that “triggered” his desire for a wheelgun.
I still lean on a .38 snubby as my EDC, so perhaps I did coax my friend.
Now he needs range time and he’s looking at online ammo choices and pricing. Another good plan. The 856 is rated for +P, so that’s the defensive ammo to use if the need arises. I’ll also be interested in his decision on replacement grips for a better gun-to-hand marriage.
To help my friend down the road to Stay safe, be prepared, I handed him the remainder of the 50-round box of Black Hills 125-grain JHPs. ~ Mike
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Here's what you're getting with the 856 Ultra Lite:
Caliber: .38 Special +PCapacity: 6 roundsAction: DA/SA (exposed hammer) or DAO (concealed hammer, select models)Barrel length: 2" (standard) or 3" (Defender)Overall length: 6.5" (2" barrel)Weight: 15.7 oz. (Ultra Lite) / 22 oz. (steel frame)Frame material: Aluminum alloy (Ultra Lite) / Carbon steel (standard)Cylinder: Carbon steel, 1.40" diameterFront sight: Fixed, serrated ramp (replaceable via roll pin on most models)Rear sight: Fixed, milled channelGrip: Rubber, two-fingerFinish options: Matte black, stainless, burnt orange, two-tone, and othersMSRP: $349.99 (varies by model)Street price: Typically $250–320
The standout number is that capacity: six rounds of .38 Special in a frame that's essentially the same size as Smith & Wesson's five-shot J-Frame. Taurus achieved this by increasing the cylinder diameter by just 0.054 inches over their older Model 85 — roughly the thickness of four business cards. You get 20% more capacity with no practical difference in carry profile.
The sub-$400 snub-nose revolver market has a few key players. Here's how the 856 Ultra Lite stacks up.
Taurus 856 vs. Smith & Wesson 642/442: This is the comparison everyone makes. The S&W J-Frame is the gold standard for pocket revolvers — but it holds 5 rounds to the 856's 6, and it costs $200–250 more. The S&W has a slightly smoother out-of-the-box trigger and decades of aftermarket support. The Taurus counters with an extra round, a lower price, and a trigger that's honestly not far behind. If budget is a factor, the 856 is a lot of gun for the money. If you're willing to pay the S&W premium, the 642 is still excellent.
Taurus 856 vs. Ruger LCR: The LCR is Ruger's polymer-framed snubby and it's known for having one of the best double-action triggers in the category — smooth and light right out of the box. It holds 5 rounds in .38 Special. The LCR is typically priced between the Taurus and the Smith, around $500–550. If trigger quality is your top priority, the LCR is hard to beat. If capacity and value matter more, the 856 wins.
Taurus 856 vs. Kimber K6s: The K6s is a premium 6-shot .357 Magnum snubby that starts around $900. It's beautifully made with a match-grade trigger. It's also in an entirely different price class. If you want the finest small revolver available and budget isn't a concern, the K6s is worth every penny. But for pure concealed carry duty where the gun might get banged around, sweated on, and shoved in a pocket daily, spending $250 on a Taurus that you won't cry about scratching makes a lot of practical sense.
Taurus 856 vs. Taurus 605: The 605 is Taurus's .357 Magnum small-frame revolver — same basic platform but chambered for the more powerful cartridge and holding 5 rounds instead of 6. If you want magnum capability in this size package, the 605 is worth a look. If you're staying with .38 Special (which is more than adequate for self-defense and much more pleasant to practice with in a lightweight gun), the 856 gives you an extra round.
At 15.7 ounces empty and 6.5 inches overall, the 856 Ultra Lite practically disappears in a quality holster. Here's how the most common carry methods work with this gun.
Pocket carry: The 856 is a natural pocket gun. The cylinder is slightly wider than a J-Frame, so make sure your pocket holster accounts for the extra width. A good pocket holster breaks up the outline of the gun and keeps it oriented properly for a consistent draw. Look for options from DeSantis (Nemesis), Alabama Holster Company, or Sticky Holsters.
IWB (inside the waistband): At this weight, the 856 is comfortable for all-day IWB carry without a heavy gun belt. Appendix carry works well with the 2" barrel. The concealed hammer models eliminate snag concerns during the draw.
Ankle carry: The Ultra Lite's low weight makes it one of the best options for ankle carry as a backup gun. A quality ankle holster from Galco or DeSantis will secure it without weighing down your leg.
Grip upgrade note: Both we and just about every reviewer who's handled the 856 agree that the factory rubber grips feel small, especially for shooters with medium to large hands. Consider aftermarket grips from Hogue or Pachmayr to add some palm swell and circumference. Taurus also offers their own wooden grips that add a little more grip surface. This small upgrade makes a noticeable difference in both comfort and control.
For more concealed carry options, check out our best appendix carry holsters roundup and our top concealed carry handguns for women.
Is the Taurus 856 reliable?
In our experience, yes. We put a variety of standard pressure and +P loads through the 856 Ultra Lite without a single malfunction. The revolver design itself is inherently reliable — there's no magazine to fail, no slide to short-stroke, and no feeding issues. Pull the trigger, it goes bang. Multiple long-term reviews from other publications have reported similar reliability across hundreds of rounds. That said, as with any firearm (and especially budget-priced ones), inspect yours thoroughly before relying on it for carry — check cylinder timing, lockup, and function with your chosen carry ammunition.
Taurus 856 vs. Smith & Wesson 642 — which is better?
The S&W 642 has a smoother trigger, a longer track record, and more aftermarket support. The Taurus 856 gives you six rounds instead of five and saves you $200+. Both are reliable concealed carry revolvers. If you can afford the Smith and trigger quality matters to you, go with the 642. If you want more capacity at a lower price, the 856 is a smart buy. Neither is a wrong choice.
Can you dry fire a Taurus 856?
Taurus states that their revolvers can be dry fired without damage. However, excessive dry firing on any rimfire or centerfire firearm can accelerate wear on the firing pin over time. If you practice dry fire regularly (and you should), consider using snap caps to cushion the firing pin strike.
What holster fits the Taurus 856?
Most holsters designed for the Taurus 856 or the Taurus 85 will fit. Some J-Frame holsters will also work, but check fitment because the 856's cylinder is slightly wider. DeSantis, Galco, Vedder, and Crossbreed all make holsters specifically for the 856. For pocket carry, the DeSantis Nemesis is a popular and affordable option.
What ammo should I carry in a Taurus 856?
For self-defense, stick with quality .38 Special hollow points. Federal HST Micro 130-grain, Hornady Critical Defense 110-grain FTX, and Speer Gold Dot 135-grain +P are all proven performers in short-barreled revolvers. If recoil sensitivity is a concern (especially in the 15.7 oz. Ultra Lite), Hornady Critical Defense Lite 90-grain offers reduced recoil while still providing reliable expansion. For range practice, any standard pressure 130-grain FMJ .38 Special will do.
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Mike Sampson
Mike now calls Northwestern Arkansas home, but has lived and worked in several states and internationally. He has been an independent contractor and consultant since 2006 specializing in risk management, emergency management and training. In addition to work as a law-enforcement planner and technical writer with the Boise, Idaho, Police Department, he has experience in journalism, crop and animal agriculture, dryland farming for 20 years in western Kansas, plant and animal diseases, pandemic influenza, agroterrorism, bioterrorism, food safety and healthcare marketing.
He has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and has newspaper and agency writing and editing experience. At Washington State University in Pullman, he earned a master’s degree emphasizing adult education and communications.
While living in Lander, WY, Mike provided photographic coverage of the One-Shot Antelope Hunt for three years, and got to meet and accompany folks such as Chuck Yeager, Carroll Shelby, Buzz Aldrin, Dale Robertson and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf on their hunts. He also worked as an outfitter’s guide.
