Cabela's is advertising a Taurus .38 stubby at a good price ($300). I'm thinking about getting a snub-nose for CC and wonder if this might be the one. Price matters, but there's no point in paying low for a lousy gun. Any opinions on this one? Reasonably priced options to consider? Thx

I really like mine:



I use it for deep concealment in a Smartcarry when nothing else will work:



If you know enough about revolvers to be able to tell a good one from bad/abused I'd buy used, but the revolver itself is outstanding.

I often carry a 3" Smith M65 and I can't say that there is enough quality difference between the Taurus and Smith to justify the cost difference:

I have owned twenty Taurus handguns. A even dozen #82's, five #85's, a #PT58 .380, and two #99's. I have never owned a bad one. I still have a #85. I think you will be happy with it.

I've owned several Taurus revolvers through the years. I've never had any problems. I currently have a 605 and an 85. I just gave my mother the 85 to get her started in CCW.

My first CC was an 85 SS. It was hammerless and had the Houge stock/grips. It was made around 1990 (I think) and was accurate beyond what I thought was possible.

I wish I hadn't traded it off.

You should be able to get them down to $275 unless they paid too much for it.

I have heard bad things about the latest revolvers from Taurus but the older one I had was fantastic.

Bought my wife an 85 ultralight. She's a teacher, so she never carries it, not allowed on school grounds. However, I love carrying it during the summer months. Carries great in a pocket holster.

Too be honest, I haven't put many rounds through it, 200 maybe. No issues.

In hindsight, I wish I had gotten a .357. You can still shoot .38's with it, but have the option of carrying .357. I have mine loaded with Corbon 110 gr +P.

I have an 85 and it is a fine gun. The action is not as smooth as my S&W but for the money I like the 85 better.

I like my model 85CH well enough that I bought my g/f one just like it when she started carrying. Never had a problem with either one.

Fine gun in my book. I've owned 2 Taurus PT92s and currently own a PT58HC and Tracker. Never had any problems with them. All were well made.

My Dad has an 85 he has had for years.
He has been carrying lately since getting his CHL(CCW) last year.
Hasn't shot it much, but I know he has never had a problem with it.
It is a bit heavy though...

He is thinking about buying a Taurus 709 to replace it for carry.

I have a Taurus ultralite that I bought 8-9 years ago for $200 and it is an nice little gun. I looked at a model 85 in a local shop a while back,the standard model is just a little heavier than the ultralite. Its not a s&w but for a small carry or backup its a nice gun for the price.

When it was time to get a weapon for my wife, she selected the Taurus 85 over everything else available. It fit her. She has one with the shrouded hammer. It has been her SD gun for over 15 years and she sees no reason to change. If something goes bump in the night and I am not there, she will bypass all the other guns for that one.

I had one and the pin that the hammer rides on broke after about 50 rounds. As the pin was integrated into the frame (molded onto one half and supported in a plate hole on the other end), it was not something I could just swap out. Sent it back and got a new one after several weeks. Had and shot it for a hundred round after I got it back without problems. Traded it off shortly after since I had a an S&W Airweight I liked better.

My wife's is rock solid.

I'd go the extra mile and buy a Smith & Wesson. I tried a NIB Taurus M85 once and after two trips back to the factory (gun kept locking up, cylinder would freeze and have to be tapped open), they couldn't get it right and after some bitching and a lot of waiting, they replaced it with another one which I promptly sold. My new .357 model 60 from S&W, not so much, perfect every time.