the better ccw??????
- Thread starter jphelps4
- Start date
If you are asking opinions; I had a 85 SS and traded it in on a SP101 SS. The Ruger build quality (between the 85 I had and the Ruger I now carry) is far superior. Too much slop or “allowed tolerances” with the 85. I’ve put 1,000+ rounds through the SP and I’m totally happy with it.
dairycreek
New member
If the choice is between a product made by Ruger or one made by Taurus then there is really no choice at all. Ruger hands down 
A month ago I would have agreed but in my quest for a great carry gun I bought a Taurus 905 in 9MM.At first I didn't like it but after shooting it for awhile I find I really like the little gun.In close is accurate the gun is well made have had no problems have shot about 200 rounds so far.Like I said in close I will hit what I aim at 50 feet ????????????But what do you want for a 2 inch barrel.But figure with 9MM hollow points if I shoot something it will stay shot???
Well.. there really isn't such a thing as "instant" stopping power, just if you hit something vital(Chest, head, etc), odds are they will go down. Then again.. thats why you have those 6 or whatever shots, keep shootin till they stop moving towards you, or the threat is totaly nuetralized..
Now.. I like how the SP101 feels in my hand, and if I wanted to carry a revolver on my belt for CC, that would be my choice in a nice flapjack holster. For pocket carry.. they are definatly a bit on the big side..
Now.. I like how the SP101 feels in my hand, and if I wanted to carry a revolver on my belt for CC, that would be my choice in a nice flapjack holster. For pocket carry.. they are definatly a bit on the big side..
I have a Taurus 85 Ultra-Lite .38Spl.+p, and a Ruger SP101. I carry my Taurus in a pocket holster on warm days, and when I'm too lazy to buckle on my CZ-P01.
The Taurus 85 is no longer available in 3".
Just yesterday I had my dealer check at least 5 distributors, and it has been discontinued. My Taurus 85,UL 2" and my Taurus Tracker 627, 4" .357 are both good shooters, with smooth triggers. My 85 is only 15oz's, and I put +p's through it every week with no problems.
My SP101 failed right out of the box. It would shoot DA fine, with a nice light trigger pull. But on every 4th & 5th round of SA, I had difficulty pulling the hammer back. I took it to a GS, and he fixed the problem. What he hasn't been able to fix is the very heavy SA hammer pull. This gun will never win a fast draw comp, that's for sure!
So I bought a Ruger GP-100. It's perfect...A nice pistol.
jphelps4, there has been several negative posts on the Taurus. It's always good to ask if they are posting from experience, or from innuendo. Tarus makes an excellent wheelgun, and their quality has never been in question. What most folks point to is the problem Taurus had about 3 years ago with their millenium series automatics, that has since been fixed with the introduction of their Millenium Pro Series.
If you can find a 3" Taurus 85, I'd buy it. I'd also buy another SP101 if I could have the opportunity to check the action on it prior to purchase.
Good luck
The Taurus 85 is no longer available in 3".
Just yesterday I had my dealer check at least 5 distributors, and it has been discontinued. My Taurus 85,UL 2" and my Taurus Tracker 627, 4" .357 are both good shooters, with smooth triggers. My 85 is only 15oz's, and I put +p's through it every week with no problems.My SP101 failed right out of the box.
It would shoot DA fine, with a nice light trigger pull. But on every 4th & 5th round of SA, I had difficulty pulling the hammer back. I took it to a GS, and he fixed the problem. What he hasn't been able to fix is the very heavy SA hammer pull. This gun will never win a fast draw comp, that's for sure!So I bought a Ruger GP-100. It's perfect...A nice pistol.
jphelps4, there has been several negative posts on the Taurus. It's always good to ask if they are posting from experience, or from innuendo. Tarus makes an excellent wheelgun, and their quality has never been in question. What most folks point to is the problem Taurus had about 3 years ago with their millenium series automatics, that has since been fixed with the introduction of their Millenium Pro Series.
If you can find a 3" Taurus 85, I'd buy it. I'd also buy another SP101 if I could have the opportunity to check the action on it prior to purchase.
Good luck
I have owned the SP101 and currently the Taurus 85. I sold the SP101 because the Taurus was more accurate and easier to conceal. The SP101 was purchased in 1994 and went through two springs and a transfer bar. It was sold in 2002 with 6000 rounds through it. The 85 was bought in 1998 and not a single repair with 4000 rounds of +P. I got the Ruger because I was trying to split hairs between a full size 357 and a snub. My Ruger was a dog, it didn't like 38s and would only shoot 158 gr 357 accurately. It also had shipped back a number of times. Still I would go out and buy another. Taurus gets a bad rap because of the Millenium Pistols coming apart which I was a victim. Check my posts elsewhere on this. I owned a number of Rugers and currently own 2 Taurus revolvers. They are both great guns. You can't base a whole company on one gun. If I wanted a magnum I would get the Ruger. But for everyday CCW I'll take my Taurus.
If you want to carry your CCW in your pocket, a 3" gun is too big. If you're going to carry it on your belt, the size difference between these two 5-shot guns and the 6-shot S&W 65 (3") or 66 (2.5") is insignificant; and the S&W's are, in my opionion, beter guns than either of your listed choices. Your opinion on handlling or shooting them may differ; but I suggest you do yourself the favor of at least handling and preferably shooting these options before you decide.
I own a Taurus 85B, a 850B and a Ruger SP101 .357 3". Of the three, the SP101 with the Hogue monogrip fits my hand best, and is the most accurate. It is also the bare minimun handgun for .357 IMHO. Both Taurus work just fine, and have good accuracy. Currently, the 85B is my primary CCW, while the SP101 (loaded with .38s) is serving as my wife's office gun. The 850B is still going through my break-in process (about 500 rounds).