Taurus Model 85 Ultra Lite for daughter

tooldummy · #1 04-16-2005, 02:24 PM

My daughter works at a semi-truck repair facility and gets off work late at night and has to lock up by herself a lot of nights. She deals with some pretty rough people sometimes, and the place is pretty isulated that time of night. Although there is a security guard there, he is on the other side of the building 300 yards away. Then there is the 30 mile drive home, 5 of which is country roads with little traffic.
Today we went and bought her a handgun. She liked a Taurus Model 85 Ultra Lite in .38 Special. I reload for this calibre, so I sort of leaned towards it for the cost of shooting it. She won't really be wearing it concealled much, just when she walks to her car and then keep it handy during the drive home. My question is (although it's about too late now that I've already bought it) is was this a pretty good choice for a self defense gun? I might add my daughter is 21, experienced with handguns, and a pretty good sized girl.

HuntinDoc · #2 04-24-2005, 02:00 PM

I carry a Titanium version frequently and do not feel underarmed most times. Under the conditions you mentioned I would have prefered one on my .45s. But stoke it with good ammo--Gold dots or corbons and it should serve her well. The most important part is being proficent. I would add a Crimson Trace laser grip for good measure.

kt · #3 04-24-2005, 09:02 PM

with the loads today 38 (well if you can shoot +P in it ) is pretty bad ass, plenty of gun for those times when you cant or for those who dont like to shoot the bigger calibers. another vote for speer bullets. My cousin has the crimson grips, expensive but with a short barreled 642 he can keep them in a pie plate at 20 yds
kt

Mickey Rat · #4 06-21-2005, 11:47 PM

I had a 38 Ti, but I sold it and went with the Ti 44 spl.

I think your daughter might be better off with a Taurus Millenium in 9mm, or a steel version of the 38. The 38 Ti is a great light weight gun, but recoil for lots of people is too severe.

Still, its not a bad piece to carry.

Slim-Zippy · #5 06-22-2005, 10:16 AM

If she can shoot the gun well, then it is a good choice. Maybe purchase a steel model for practice to make practice more enjoyable.

Slim

gregarat · #6 06-22-2005, 11:24 AM

I just got a Rossi 35102 (steel frame) for everyday carry. I havnt done any ammo tests yet. From the reserch Ive done Im going to try Federal Nyclad +p, Hydrashock +p, Speer gold dot +p. I think Corbon might be abit hot for my gun, I also hear they make cleaning a pain. But I duno? I havnt even fired the darn thing yet.

gregarat · #7 06-25-2005, 07:54 PM

I final shot my snubby today. Suprisingly enough, keeping good grps isnt hard up to 15y. At 25y its a different story. I only got 3 out of 5 torso hits with the ddbl pull. With the hammer cocked I kepem in 6-8" at 25. Nifty lill gun I.M H.O. .

The clerk told me Federal Nyclad +p was discontinued. So Im using Hydrashock 129gr. +p, wich shot very well. Most of my practice was with Wally World Winchester 130gr. FMJ.

Mickey Rat · #8 06-27-2005, 01:37 AM

Long ago in the Dark Ages before all the current carry ammo was available, we rolled our own.

My carry piece for 17 years was a Charter Arms stainless steel 38 stubbie in an ankle holster.

My carry ammo was 148 grain hollowbase wadcutters loaded backwards. This gave the look of Hydro Shock without the center post.

At moderate speeds this was very accurate and opened well at the lower stubbie speeds. I was completely comfortable with this load.

I tried it on rabbits a few times and it was devistating.

Ever heard of a "Junkyard Dog" load?

For a 44 MAG you use a 30-40 Kraig case cut to fit full length of cylinder. Trim case head to fit recessed cylinder. Use powder load for 240 gr bullet, but use a gascheck as an over powder wad, then use copper or aluminum wire pieces 3/8-1/4 inch long stacked and topped with another gascheck.

Results must be seen to be believed. Featured in Guns magazine back in the early 80's. You can literally shread and nail a snake to a tree. Some pieces hit sideways, some hit point first.

gregarat · #9 07-01-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

My carry ammo was 148 grain hollowbase wadcutters loaded backwards.

I never heard of thoughs called a "Junkyard Dog" load.
I have heard of hollow point 158gr. wadcutters called "FBI loads", or "Chicago loads".

model 70 · #10 07-01-2005, 11:46 PM

I think he was refering to the "homebrew" load of shrapnel, not the backwards loaded wadcutters.

sounds messy.

Gil Martin · #11 07-02-2005, 06:47 AM

I have several S&W .38 Specials and like to carry them. As long as your daughter is comfortable with the gun and can shoot it well it sounds like a fine choice. You never need a gun until you need one very badly. All the best...
Gil

Mickey Rat · #12 07-02-2005, 03:36 PM

I carry Hydroshocks mow. The 148 HB wadcutters loaded backwards were a early effective homemade solution to improving the lethality of the 38 snubby. Tests by authors in the gun rags showed impressive performance. Hydro Shock loads are the factory developed version.

Like a lot of ideals individuals come up with (wildcat cartridges and speciality bullets/loads) the major companies often formally adopt them. We benefit in the long run by having them widely avaiable.

sladek · #13 12-03-2005, 09:32 PM

Tool, .38 is a good minimum round, I am surprised you did not get a .357 instead, built stronger and can shoot strong 38's as well, she could shoot .357 if she wanted, but 357 in ultra lite is going to be a real kicker, even 38 will kick a lot, but as long as she can shoot well with either, its all good....its all about shot placement anyway........I recommend for best stopping power, load a heavy bullet, but back off on the velocity a bit, so it will transfer all its energy to the target rather than just leave a nice hole.........thats what makes the .45 ACP a man stopper, a big heavy bullet, moving slow, the target absorbs all the energy, and big holes............