Taurus Blemished Model 85 Protector Polymer 38 Special Revolver - 5 Rounds | 2" Barrel | Polymer Grips | Blue/Black | Night Sights

Bought it for my wife and liked it so much I might keep it for myself...compact, very lite, and it looks good...recoil is not bad at all...great gun for the money...

My Taurus M85 Protector revolver shipped and arrived quickly. The blemishes on the gun were minor, but according to the box it arrived in, it wasn't so much a blemish gun, but a "factory refurbished" gun. Probably irrelevant, because it's warrantied for function, not cosmetics, which I assume is the same on blemish guns. Outside of the blued steel cylinder, there isn't a whole lot to scuff up anyway, as the rest of the gun is mostly polymer and rubber. The gun functions fine, firing and rotating the cylinder without problem. Releasing the cylinder and rotating it by hand was a little stiff at first, but it loosens up and smooths out with some shooting. You have to get used to the polymer frame if you've only fired traditional revolvers before, but it feels more comfortable in my hand and (over-sized) pocket than most standard .38's. As comfortable as the grip is, though, you WILL feel recoil when you shoot it. It transmits about as much recoil to my hand as an old Smith model 37 Airweight with wood grips, I'd say. Kind of surprising, since the Taurus has a rubber grip and is slightly heavier than the 37. So, although it appears to be sturdy enough to use as a range gun, your shooting hand may not be able take more than 25 or 30 rounds per outing at first. And that's just with standard loads. I'm not sure I want to try +P (which it is rated for) just yet. Shooting single action at 7 yards, the gun was pretty accurate. Shooting accurately beyond that is going to require a little practice, but I was able to get a few shots in the smaller circles at greater distances. Shooting accurately in double action is going to take practice, too, as the double action pull is long and stiff. Some people won't like that, but others (like me) see it as part of a safety feature. So, it's accurate, but not a target revolver. Comfortable, but you'll still feel the recoil. It's a great deal as blem/refurbished gun. If you want a survival kit gun, conceal revolver or a handgun for the glove compartment, I'd recommend it.