Taurus Defender 856 Images
Taurus 856 Defender Features
- 3-inch barrel
- 6-round capacity cylinder
- Extended ejector rod
- Front night sight
- Rear trench sight
- DA/SA trigger action
- Exposed hammer spur with knurled texturing
- Transfer bar safety mechanism
- Special black/gray grips from VZ Grips
- High-strength stainless steel construction
- Ultra-compact frame size for easy concealment
- Matte finishes for protection and attractive two-tone appearance
Want to purchase this revolver gun right away? Get the snub nose 38 Special revolver for sale from any of the following trusted retailers:
38 Special Taurus Revolver Specifications
Note: The following specifications are particularly for the Taurus 856 Defender with model number 2-85635NSVZ. Some of the specs may be different on other variants of the handgun.
Manufacturer | Taurus |
Model/Series | Defender 856 |
Model Number | 2-85635NSVZ |
Handgun/Frame Size | Small |
Caliber | .38 Special (+P) |
Frame Material | Stainless Steel |
Frame Finish | Matte Stainless |
Grips | VZ |
Grip Color | Black/Gray |
Barrel Material | Stainless Steel |
Barrel Finish | Matte Stainless |
Barrel Length | 3 in. | 7.62 cm |
Twist Rate | 1:16.5 in RH Twist |
Grooves | 6 |
Cylinders Included | 1 |
Cylinder Material | Stainless Steel |
Cylinder Finish | Matte Black |
Cylinder Capacity | 6 Rounds |
Front Sight | Night Sight w/ Orange Outline |
Rear Sight | Fixed Trench/Notch |
Trigger Action | DA/SA (Double Action/Single Action) |
Trigger Pull Weight | > 8 lbs. (DA); 6.5 lbs. (SA) |
Safety | Transfer Bar |
Overall Length | 7.5 in. | 19.05 cm |
Overall Width | 1.4 in. | 3.56 cm |
Overall Height | 4.8 in | 12.19 cm |
Overall Weight (Unloaded) | 1.6 lbs. | 25.52 oz. |
Application | Personal & Home Defense |
Taurus 856 Defender 38 Special Revolver Description
The 3-inch-barrel version of the popular 856 line of snub-nosed revolvers, the Taurus Defender 856 is lightweight, compact, easy to conceal, and yet exceptionally reliable. If there’s one handgun that is finely tuned to deliver the ultimate peace of mind for home and personal defense situations, a weapon that is small enough and light enough to carry comfortably all day long, it is, without a doubt, this snub nosed 38 revolver.
Designed to deliver an easy wear, low-print profile, this model provides an element of customization with one of its outstanding features – the special grips from VZ Grips. Black in color with gray patterns all over them, these grips not only look nice, but also offer – thanks to finger grooves and the distinctive “Twister” texture – a comfortable purchase on the Taurus 856 Defender at all times.
Bear in mind that the “Twister” texture which these custom VZ grips boast is a less aggressive grip pattern optimized for concealed carry applications.
Another special feature of this revolver gun is the night sight installed at the front end of the barrel. This front sight consists of a very visible central yellow dot ringed by a square orange outline. The central dot shines in the dark, and as a result helps the Taurus 38 Special revolver shooter achieve greater accuracy in low-light environments.
As is often the case with revolvers, no rear sight has been installed; however, the frame has been cut to form a deep groove or trench which ends directly in front of the hammer with a square notch.
The frame, barrel and 6-shot cylinder on this model of the Taurus 856 Defender are all made from high-strength stainless steel; but bear in mind that models with aluminum frame are available. These aluminum models weigh only 17.35 ounces, and are what the manufacturer refers to as their “Ultra-Lite” line.
With its frame and barrel given a matte stainless finish and the cylinder given a matte black finish, this Taurus Defender 856 snub nosed 38 revolver not only has a unique “two-tone” appearance, but also enjoys excellent protection from the elements.
At 3 inches, the barrel is long enough to offer a little extra velocity, but short enough to be unholstered quickly. Its weight is also moderate – not too heavy and not too light – and so it’s able to absorb a little recoil.
Rounding out the Taurus 856 Defender package is an extended ejector rod for more positive ejection; a DA/SA trigger; an exposed hammer spur with knurled texturing for comfortable shooting in single-action mode; and a transfer bar safety mechanism for safe carry/use.
Read the “…Additional Information” section further below for even more information regarding this 38 Special snub nose revolver.
Taurus Defender 856 Revolver for Sale
This 38 Special revolver from Taurus is not just well-built, dependable and accurate enough to get the job done – it’s also reasonably priced with a price tag below $400 as of time of writing.
Get the firearm today from any of these reliable dealers:
Remember that if it is currently not in stock at any of the preferred dealer website(s), you can either choose to backorder the Taurus 856 Defender, or opt in to be notified when it is back in stock.
Also, be sure to check out the “Variants” section further below for more interesting versions of the revolver gun to consider.
Note: While on the product page, look out for any shipping restrictions or NFA rules which may apply before you purchase the snub nose 38 Special revolver for sale.
Taurus 856 Defender Additional Information
Extended Ejector Rod
One of the special features of this handgun is its extended ejector rod. It ensures that brass can be extracted more briskly for faster reloads, and this makes your shooting experience with the Taurus Defender 856 more efficient and enjoyable.
In general, the longer the ejector rod is, the more positive the ejection; this is because a smaller portion of each brass case is left in contact with the chamber at the end of the ejector rod’s travel if it isn’t long enough, requiring the removal of the brass to be completed manually, which can obviously be inconvenient when every second counts.
Trigger
The 38 Special Taurus revolver trigger is quite heavy (far above 8 pounds) in double action mode. As this is likely to affect your accuracy negatively, it is recommended to practice shooting in DA mode until you get used to it.
In single action mode however, the trigger weight is reduced to 6.5 pounds, and the break is clean without any grittiness or mushiness.
The Taurus 856 Defender is sufficiently accurate at common self-defense distances (about 10 yards), and the trigger contributes to its accuracy.
Transfer Bar Safety
The transfer bar safety featured on this revolver gun is in form of a bar connected to the trigger; when the trigger is pulled, this bar is raised up to be struck by the falling hammer; this transfers the energy of the hammer to the firing pin, making the weapon to fire.
So, as it lies between the hammer and firing pin, the Taurus Defender 856 transfer bar prevents the tip of the hammer from being in contact with the primer of the chambered cartridge when the hammer is at rest. This is important because without the transfer bar, if the firearm is dropped and lands on the hammer, or if the hammer is accidentally raised slightly and dropped, it (the gun) is likely to fire.
Thanks to this safety system you can carry the Taurus 856 Defender 38 Special revolver with peace of mind while it’s fully loaded, and don’t have to worry about it discharging when dropped.
Recommended Ammunition
The following ammo are ideal self-defense rounds for this firearm:
- Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P FTX (Flex Tip eXpanding) Ammo: 110 grain bullet weight; 1090 ft/s velocity; 290 ft/lbs
- Federal Premium Personal Defense .38 Special +P HST Ammo (130 grain)
- Federal Premium Personal Defense 38 Special + P Hydra-Shok JHP Ammo (129 grain)
38 Special Taurus Revolver Reviews
Now here are a few reviews to give you an idea of what shooters like you think of this snub nose 38 Special revolver gun offered by Taurus:
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/td-rev2.png)
“Not as finished as I would like, but it is solid and ruggedly built. Makes a good truck gun.”
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/td-rev2-1.png)
“Revolver shoots well nice trigger pull in single action, double action is heavy hope is smooths out. Grips were sharp on the back side during recoil, took a very fine file and smoothed the sharp edges, now they are comfortable. Fit and finish is good, sights are spot on if I do my part. Settled on 125 gr. + p jhp for defense . Good value for the price. I may pick up one of the other Defender models later when they are on sale.”
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/td-rev3.png)
“feels good, really like the grips, snap cap dry fire, no ammo”
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/td-rev4.png)
“Looks awesome. Cylinder fits snug. Grips are neat. Just cant find much ammo right now.”
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/td-rev5.png)
“The gun is awesome…..but the color was more of a smoke grey. It wasn’t the polished stainless look that the picture looks like.”
Remember that our focus model (2-85635NSVZ) of the 38 Special revolver is available on the authorized retailer platforms below:
Taurus 856 Defender Variants
This revolver gun is offered in different variants to suit various tastes – there are even optic-ready models available! Consider these other Taurus 38 Special revolver models which are the most popular:
Taurus Defender 856 (2-85639NS)
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Material: Stainless steel
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Finish: Matte stainless
Grips: Hogue rubber grips (black)
Taurus Defender 856 (2-85631NS)
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Material: Stainless steel
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Finish: Matte black
Grips: Hogue rubber grips (black)
Taurus Defender 856 (2-8563CNS)
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Material: Steel alloy
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Finish: Cerakoted tungsten
Grips: Altamont wood grips (gray/brown)
Taurus Defender 856 (2-85631E-NSVZ)
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Material: Steel
Frame and Barrel Finish: Matte black cerakote
Cylinder Finish: Coyote
Grips: G10 VZ grips (tan/black)
Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O (2-856P39)
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Material: Stainless steel
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Finish: Matte stainless
Grips:
Optic-Ready: Yes
Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O (2-856P31)
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Material: Stainless steel
Frame, Cylinder and Barrel Finish: Matte Black
Grips:
Optic-Ready: Yes
Bear in mind that T.O.R.O means Taurus Optic Ready Option; and that, though pictured with a red dot mounted on them, the optic-ready variants of the Taurus 856 Defender do not ship with an optic included.
Of course you can purchase any of the above Taurus 38 Special revolver models just by clicking on the corresponding link.
Taurus Defender 856 Accessories
Several aftermarket accessories go well with Taurus’s snub nose 38 Special. Consider these ones below, including a red dot sight for the optic ready models:
1791 Gunleather Ultra Custom Concealment Holster
Note that there are 11 models of this Taurus 856 holster on the linked page, and the last one (model no. UCH-2-NSB-R) is the right one for your Taurus 856 Defender revolver gun.
![Gunleather Holster for Taurus Defender 856](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/gunleather-holster-768x432.webp)
Handcrafted using premium 100% Certified American, soft and breathable cow-hide leather, the size 2, right hand holster with an open-top design for quick draws is made for IWB (inside-waist-band) carry. It features a strong, American steel clip that’s beveled for complete comfort and the safest retention; reinforced stitching to ensure quality and security, etc.
Andicen OWB Leather Right Hand Holster for Taurus 856 Defender w/ 3″ Barrel
This classic Taurus 38 Special holster is hand-made using genuine leather, offers a perfect form fit, and features double layers of carefully made seam as well as a thumb break closure.
ATI Outdoors X2 Taurus Revolver Grip
![ATI Outdoors Grip for 38 Special Taurus Revolver](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ati-grip.webp)
Made with glass reinforced polymer and designed to fit various Taurus models including the 856, this revolver grip from ATI Outdoors features a built-in X-Series backstrap; a rear tang and curved base for consistent hand placement and reduced muzzle lift; specific contours for repeatable hand placement; and more.
The specifically engineered grip dimensions of this Taurus 856 Defender aftermarket grip create the optimal distance from the grip to the trigger to fit most hands, and it elevates the hand to the perfect height which aligns the index finger with the trigger.
Holosun Sub-Compact HS507K-X2 1x 2 MOA Dot Red Dot Sight
Designed specifically for concealed carry handguns such as the Taurus 38 Special revolver, the Holosun Sub-compact HS507K-X2 1x 2 MOA Dot Red Dot Sight is an open reflex sight that boasts an impressive array of innovative tech from Holosun, including Shake Awake technology that powers the optic on when it senses movement and powers off when it does not; a Multi Reticle System which lets you choose between a 2 MOA red dot only, 32 MOA ring only, or both; Multilayer Reflective Glass that provides maximum light transmission and glare reduction; etc.
Remember you can view more information about, and purchase any of these Taurus 856 Defender accessories, by clicking on the corresponding link.