As part of the festivities, the Posse was able to evaluate a brand-new Taurus Model 85 Total Titanium.
We had earlier tried the lighter twin of this fine piece of machinery, but were interested to see how the two compared.
As the links show, the difference is not that great. Only a few ounces separate the two (the specs say 3.6 ounces but our mail scale says less) and we expected similar performance.
We were not disappointed.
Both handguns are a pleasure to shoot - something you don't hear often about snub-nosed .38s. They were also quite accurate.
Our choice? Hard to say. The 85 SHC was a little easier to handle because of its greater weight, but for carry purposes, the 85 Multi is hard to beat.
Both of these make ideal carry pieces. They are light, accurate and fit the hand like a glove. Both models had ported barrels, so the report and flash was maybe more than some people can handle, though any short-barreled revolver will have similar issues.
Having shot a Ruger SP101 that wasn't ported, we'd have to say ported is the way to go. Despite weighing almost twice as much as the 85 Multi, the Ruger was far more punishing on the hand. It was also harder to shoot since it was hammerless (both of the Taurus models had a hammer and in single-action mode they were wonderful).
So there you have it. Our first gun review. Kim du Toit, eat your heart out.
My lovely girlfriend Linda selected the identical Taurus after four hours at Collector's in Houston, after evaluating every other compact revolver in the house.
Make note, this was not only to be her first gun, but she'd never shot a gun before in her life.
How'd she do? July 4th was only the fifth shooting session for her. At seven yards, she was about 90% hits in the "9" ring. At fifteen on steel, falling-plates, she was running no less than 80% hits, and embarassed a couple self-professed ISPC types with fancied up .45 govts.
While I'll humbly admit to giving some good instruction, the fact is she's shooting a gun that she loves. It fits right, feels right and points right for her.
I've fired it with some ridiculous .38 P++ loads, and it's definitely much, much tamer than my ex-wife's carbon-steel, unported Mod.85.
So, I'm with you amigo. This one's on the very top of the "recommended snubbie" list, for me.
Hell, I keep threatening to try to steal Linda's, but I'm skeert she'd be faster to the draw than I am to the door. *heh*
And yes, we're going shooting THIS coming Sunday, too!
Jim
Sloop New Dawn
Galveston, TX
Posted by: Jim | July 06, 2004 at 11:38 PM