Taurus 85 SS Ultra-lite price

S

Southern Shooter

New member
I found a Taurus 85 SS Ultra-lite for sell. It is 3 years old and has been shot about 25 times. The finish shows a little wear from pocket carry...no scratches, though. Lock-up seems solid, too. He is asking $200. Is that a good price?

His reason for selling it is that he is a very large man and wanted a gun of the same caliber but with bigger grips.

It is my understanding that this gun has an alloy frame. Is it +P rated for steady use or just occassional use?
 
Taurus 85

If the guy seems honest and the gun is all you say it is the price isn't too bad. Is that his asking price or firm price? Let him know you want to buy it but I would start by offering him 175.00 and see what he says? Remember it is a used firearm with no promises unless he is willing to give you a week with no strings but I wouldn't if I were him....

Taurus has a very good web site you could answer some questions you might have. You could also find out anything about the firearm that isn't listed by sending them an email note... Good luck :)

www.taurususa.com
 
It sounds high to me!!
If memory serves me right, my wife paid something in the $250-$300 range for hers (now mine) several years ago!!! It retails, nowadays, for $453. I'm sure a dealer is not going to put this gun next to a Smith, in his case and hang that price tag on it, however!!! ;)

As for +P ammo, Taurus is quite unclear on this!! They state in their literature (2004) that the gun in question is +P rated for "duty use", whatever that means!! :confused:
For me, it means practice with standard pressure and carry +P!! Conversely,however, elsewhere in their 2004 catalog, they state that all their revolvers are proofed for a steady diet of +P ammo!! Your guess is as good as mine!! :rolleyes:

The gun is indeed an aluminum alloy frame!!

Mine has had several hundred rounds of STANDARD pressure ammo put through it with no ill effects!!!

You do not want to fire heavy non jacketed bullets through it due to the well known crimping problem associated with light framed revolvers!! I found that out with the first snort full all so long ago!!
 
The +P rounds tend to add more wear to the gun in it's lifetime. I called Taurus about 85 all steel I have and the answer was I could shoot +P for the life of the gun. You will most lilely fire standard 38's anyway so buy it. The price sounds good to me.
 
If it is stainless steel it is quite easy to take out the wear areas, and make it shine like new again. I bought my 85 Ultra-Lite NIB last April for just over $300.00. If it is clean $200.00 sounds like a good deal in my neck of the woods,considering it has only had 25 rounds through it...

I carry +p ammo in my Ultra-Lite and shoot +p ammo 1 to 2 times a month with no adverse problems. I don't think I would let mine go for $200 though.
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So do I, Sir Will, but I dislike small frame semi-auto's even more. I have found my 85 to be a very nice summer carry. Come fall, I'm back to strapping on the big stuff. BTW this is the only small wheelgun I own... ;)
 
I have owned a couple myself. A few Tauri models and a 637 S&W. My wheelgun CCW choice is a 2", RB, blued, 6 shot M10 S&W because of my experience. I don't enjoy lightweight 45s either.
 
I love my 85 UL

Carry mine as back-up everyday and for my primary off-duty. No problem with Gold Dot 125 grain +P's, but you won't want to shoot them all day.
 
Purchased the revolver for $190

Well, I purchased the revolver I mentioned in my first post. Gave $190 for it. The matte finish was a little more worn than I remembered but it appears to be due to holster and pocket carry. Mechanically it is in top shape. Do ya'll still think that it was an ok purchase?

I took it to the range today and put 50 standard practice rounds and 5 Winchester 125 grain +P Personal Protection rounds through it. I like it. At 7 yards I put 5 shots within about a 2" group at a moderately fast pace. Recoil is not as bad as I anticipated. Plus, it is so light and carries very easily in my in the waist band holster.

By the way, one of the reasons I felt comfortable about buying the gun is the warranty issue. I called Taurus customer service and they said the warranty transfers with the gun. It seemed like I could not go wrong with the purchase.
 
Update

Just wanted to give you guys and update. I ended up paying $190 for the 85ULSS. Since then I have put about 100 Winchester practice rounds and 10 Winchester 125 +P rounds through it. At 7 yards double action it does quite well. At a fairly fast pace I can put 5 shots in a 2"-2 1/2" area. I am not disappointed at all.

I have carried it in an Uncle Mike's in-the-waist-band holster which has also doubled as a pocket holster. It carries great. And with all the sweating I do down here in central Louisiana I have not worried much about corrosion. The aluminum alloy and stainless steel are worth the price. A plus to buying the gun used and with some "wear marks"...I don't have to feel guilty about putting the first marks on it.
 
Denfoote
I am sure you realize that the $ 453 you quoted for this firearm was Manufactuer Suggested Retail Price, not actual retail price, which will be considerable lower.
 
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