I am seeking any and all Taurus revolver experts on a simple question...

L

Lightsped

New member
I am new to the gun hobby and I just bought my 3rd gun. It is a Taurus 38 special with the 2 inch ported barrel. My gun is the color called Stealth Grey, and my gun has the word "Titanium" written just below the cylinder. Here is my question:
What are the differences from the "Ultra-Lite", "Total Titanium", and "Multi-Alloy Taurus 38 specials? Which gun do I have??? The model number listed on the outside of the plastic case reads "2-850021SGC" Under the number it reads "M85 2" S Gray TIT PTS 38 SPECIAL". Any ideas?
Thanks for any and all help.
 
This is MY understanding of it and I welcome corrections from those more knowledgable ...<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI> "Total Titanium" - means that a majority of the gun is made out of titanium or to use Taurus's words, everything that can be made out of titanium IS made out of titanium -- some parts HAVE to be made out of steel.
<LI> "Ultra-Lite" - means that the gun is made out of a light weight alloy instead of all steel to reduce the weight
<LI> "Ultra-Lite/Titanium means that the gun is a combination of alloy and titanium.</UL>
If your gun is all one color, chances are that your gun is the "Total Titanium" -- the best out of the bunch when it comes to strength & durability.

Hope this helps. Regards, FUD.
 
Yeah, my gun is all Stealth Grey (dark grey). There was a similar gun at the store which was a dull silver finished frame with the dark grey ported barrel and cylinder for 40 bucks less than mine.
 
Lightsped,
You have the "Total Titanium" version. I couldn't find anything on the multi-alloy version, but the ultra-lite, is an alloy frame with a titanium barrel and cylinder, and has "Ultra-lite" inscribed where yours has "Titanium". Check www.taurususa.com for more info.
Eric
BTW Welcome to TFL.
 
Hmm..

**consults the Taurus web page really quick-like**

Hmm...

Okay.

I thought that my M85ul contained alloy and steel? I thought the barrel, cylinder and working parts were stainless, while the rest was the alloy? Am I wrong or right or neither? :confused: Either way.. I could not justify purchasing a Titanium as the weight was very debatable for the price difference.

..and I seriously dislike ported barrels.

------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!

oberkommando sez:
"We lost the first and third and now they are after the Second!(no pun intended)"
 
KaMaKaZe,

I, too, dislike ported barrels on defense guns but you can't always get everything that you want out of life. I'm not too fond of the Kahr MK9 because it is internally striker fired and does not have a repeat strike capability but I'm wearing it right now and it comes with me to the office more than any other gun. But back to your comment ... I believe that your assessment is correct -- your Ultra-lite is made up of mostly alloy with steel in a few parts. Regards, FUD.

[This message has been edited by FUD (edited September 11, 2000).]
 
KaMaKaZe, your pistol is made of Titanium everything, except fot the barrel sleeve, and internal parts of the action...no alloys...according to Taurus.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Frontsight!:
KaMaKaZe, your pistol is made of Titanium everything, except fot the barrel sleeve, and internal parts of the action...no alloys...according to Taurus.[/quote]

Well alright then! I got a steal at $239 when I purchased it!! :D

Oh, and FUD.. I went out to get something to eat and forgot to remove my play thing from my pocket. oooooppppppssssssss..... :D



------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!

oberkommando sez:
"We lost the first and third and now they are after the Second!(no pun intended)"
 
If you got an all titanium model for $240, you really got an excellent deal.

Since your model is not ported and ALL the titanium models are ported, I suspect that you have an all alloy model.
 
I have a Taurus multi-alloy UL model 85, which is ported. The porting does not bother me at all, and the gun is easy to shoot, and fairly accurate. It's a very good gun for concealed carry.
 
I bought my Taurus Total Titanium Model 85 in Stealth Grey for 409.00. There were two identical new guns at the gun shop and one was 409.00 and the other was 469.00. It was a mistake on whoever places the price tags on the guns. Anyways I got a brand new Taurus Total Titanium 38 special for 409.00 bucks! :)
I cant wait to shoot it.
 
Porting on a defensive firearm? Nay, Nay.

My 6" barreled S&W 686 is ported, but that gun only see's hunting/target duty. The problem with porting on a defensive gun is that if you get into a close quarters situation where the BG is only a few feet in front of you, he can reach out and grab your gun. The typical counter for this is to pull the gun back into your chest so it is farther from the bad guy. In this situation, firing the gun could result in those ports blowing all kinds of hot gases and powder residue right up into your face and eyes. Not a good thing, especially if the first shot didn't put the guy down or there is multiple BG's.

Just my $.02 worth.
Good shooting.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mom T: Porting on a defensive firearm? Nay, Nay ...[/quote]Can you forward your comments to Taurus? You've said the very things that I mentioned in my letter to them back in March/April. The more they hear this from more people, the better the chance that they'll stop porting their guns.
 
I've never understood this porting business either. The Taurus 85UL I've just bought is fine the way it is, and I would not have bought a ported version. Reduce the recoil with rubber grips, but a ported barrel just doesn't excite me for some reason.
 
FUD,

Actually.. I know my Taurus model does not contain any Titanium.. for the very reason I did not purchase a Titanium model (as you pointed out) is because they are all ported.

Did I mention how much I hate ported barrels for defensive firearms?

Imagine the next KaMaKaZe post in "FUD's Fashion"..

I'm sitting in my car and forced to draw my ported Taurus revolver across my body to shoot a BG standing just outside the driver's door. I am now blind. Get it?

I am a firm believer that the ported barrel has more opportunity to cause harm in a close combat situation than good by reducing muzzle flip. Besides, you should be skilled enough with said firearm to know how to use it effectively enough to deal with it. I am quite confident in the use of my unported Taurus that I can see no reason to have one.

------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!

oberkommando sez:
"We lost the first and third and now they are after the Second!(no pun intended)"

[This message has been edited by KaMaKaZe (edited September 12, 2000).]
 
FUD,

Good idea, it makes so much sense that I could kick myself for not thinking of it. I think I will write to taurus. I have been eyeballing their 32H&R Magnum revolver for some time as a gun for my girlfriend to have around the house just in case. My S&W 642 kicks too hard. My 2.5 inch 686 is very mild with 38 specials but the grip is too large to fit her hand properly. I like the idea of the 32 H&R mag because of the sixth round and the light recoil in a package she can handle well. However, the only way that taurus sells the H&R mag is with that darned ported barrel. I mean, what's the point. The gun is already gonna be the lightest kicker of all their snub nose revolvers. Why bother with the ports?

Good shooting.
 
Now that's an interesting thought ... <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>... Another important reason to have ported barrels in these titanium revolvers is that they would otherwise be subjected to more intense recoil forces. This could result in some of the live cartridges in the gun having their bullets slipping out of the cases far enough to extend beyond the cylinder face and cause the cylinder to jam. Manufacturers of ultra-lightweight revolvers without barrel porting generally advise buyers as to specific types of ammo that should not be fired in those guns, in order to avoid that potential problem ...[/quote]
 
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