Taurus M85 Ultra-Lite Range Report

[twyacht]

Made it to the range Sunday around lunch, with the new "snubbie" M85 .38SPL.


Ammo:

125gr, Remington Golden Sabre's +P
158gr, Magtech LRN
125gr, Magtech SJHP's

One Zombie Target 5-10-15yds
One 14 year old son.

Expecting a long heavy trigger pull from an internal hammer, I started at 5 yds with the SJHP's. It was heavy but broke very clean after initial take-up, which was shorter than expected.

Recoil was moderate but you feel it through your whole hand and wrist.  Accuracy was great, but the front sight will need nail polish or some type of paint as it vanished with a dark background target.

Muzzle flash was very noticeable only with the 158gr. LRN rounds. Would have hated to be blinded by that if shooting in a dark house, street, parking lot etc,...

The GS+P's are awesome, but no joke on recoil. Compare shooting .38's in my .357, to full power 357 magnum rds.
No muzzle flash, but a full power round for the snubbie to be sure. Accuracy was the best out to 15 yds with these rounds.

Only issue was extracting spent rds. Don't know if it was the Magtech cases expanding, but some kicked right out, some did not.
The hogue grip I had installed is pretty darn close to the round coming out of the cylinder, and sometimes took a quick spin of the cylinder and a tap of the extractor to spit them out cleanly. GS rounds, all kicked out cleanly.

This may change as more rounds are fired as the pistol still seems "stiff".



Zombie "Becky" did not do so well, my son rather enjoyed just getting hits.

Fired 75 rds. (I don't mind going home with ammo leftover), I'll have to get something to mark that front sight, or even consider Crimson Trace as an option, or both.

But I like it., and po' boys use blue tape instead of $2.00 per target....

[ericire12]

It sounds to me like you got a total lemon... Once again, send it to me for safe keeping and you will never have to worry about it again

[shooter32]

Thank's tw for the range report!!

[ellis4538]

Again, I'm going to suggest you pick up some Federal 125 gr. Nyclad.  Initially made by S&W and called the "Chief Special" for use in the CS.  I have a non +P 642 and that is what I carry. 

FWIW

Richard

[twyacht]

Again, I'm going to suggest you pick up some Federal 125 gr. Nyclad.  Initially made by S&W and called the "Chief Special" for use in the CS.  I have a non +P 642 and that is what I carry. 

FWIW

Richard

Going to probably get them online as the shops around here don't carry them. But certainly will give them a try.

Thank you.
tw

[Sponsor]

[Kid Shelleen]

Great report. If you can afford to spring for them, I'd get the Crimson Trace grips. They will make that snubbie even more fun and a great SD gun.

As I age and my eyes get older and more tired, I'm loving lasers more every day.

Just my .02

[twyacht]

Hey Kid!!! Happy Holidays. Glad to have you back posting!!!

I'm thinking the CT grips would be the total package for it also. The front site is tough to see, until I at least get something to mark it white, hi viz green or something better than factory black.

Although the "Dick Tracy/ G-Man" shooting school is coming, they all shot those "snubbies" from the hip or one handed...

[Jkwas]

I have had poor luck with the magtech 158gn LRN in my revolvers.  The lead is very soft and fouls up the forcing cone area very quickly to the point it looks like a molten volcano around the outside of the forcing cone.  Get some snap caps and dry fire the heck out of that gun and it will smooth out.   I have the small frame 605 with 1000's of rounds thru it and the more  I shoot the better it gets.
On an aside, have you shot the gun with the factory boot grips yet?  You might want to give them a try.  I fine them to be a little fatter than the hogues and the gun points  better for me with the pinky under the grip.   Also easier to pull from the pocket.
Good luck with your new gun, it's a beauty.  I have an 85 UL on my short list right now.

[twyacht]

Thanks for the heads up Jkwas on the 158gr LRN. I tried the factory grips and kept them, and just liked the Hogue's better, it gives me a higher grip, with an extension slightly longer than the factory.

I got these big hands but even own a Kel-Tec P3AT, and a Walther PPK/S, both have the grip extensions.

I just can't find a comfort zone with my "pinky" finger "dangling".  Holster drills with one hand just feels more stable. I hope to put the Crimson Trace grips on it as soon as I can.

Your right about the factory grips being easier to pull. I wear it IWB in a Desantis Belt Rig, and it sits nice and low for even shorts and a t-shirt. Your right about the more it shoots the better it gets.  The pinky thing is just "kinda awkward", the good thing is I can swap back and forth easily, and I certainly want to feel the CT package before I buy.

Thanks again

tw