revolver · revolver | Brazil
| Caliber | .38 Special |
|---|---|
| Barrel | 51 mm (2.0 in) |
| Weight | 624 g (22.0 oz, manufacturer figure) |
| Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Action | revolver |
| Manufacturer | Taurus |
| Country | Brazil |
The Taurus 856 .38 is a revolver revolver chambered in .38 Special, built by Taurus in Brazil. From its 51 mm (2.0 in) barrel, Fiocchi 38 Special Lead Wadcutter (148 gr FMJ) leaves the muzzle at about 671 fps (205 m/s), adjusted from the 102 mm test barrel the figure was measured in. Zeroed at 25 m, the bullet drops 113 mm by 50 m with 185 J (136 ft-lb) left. At the muzzle that is enough to defeat Drywall and Pine Wood, and not enough for Plate Glass, Brick, AR500 Steel and Kevlar NIJ IIIA. It feeds from a 6-round magazine.
Computed by the BallisticEngine engine for this barrel length, zeroed at 25 m, 15 °C, sea level, no wind.
| Distance | Drop | Velocity | Energy | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 m | 0 mm | 200 m/s | 192 J | 0.12 s |
| 50 m | -113 mm | 196 m/s | 185 J | 0.25 s |
| 100 m | -823 mm | 188 m/s | 170 J | 0.51 s |
| 150 m | -2228 mm | 181 m/s | 156 J | 0.78 s |
Against a semi-infinite block of each material, with Fiocchi 38 Special Lead Wadcutter at the muzzle. The verdict compares the depth reached against a realistic barrier thickness.
| Material | Verdict | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall (½") | ✓ Full penetration | 234 mm |
| Plate Glass (¼") | ✗ Stopped | 6 mm |
| Pine Wood (1") | ✓ Full penetration | 53 mm |
| Brick (4") | ✗ Stopped | 28 mm |
| AR500 Steel (⅜") | ✗ Stopped | 1 mm |
| Kevlar NIJ IIIA | ✗ Stopped | 1 mm |
| Load | Mass | Velocity | Type | BC (G1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguila Aguila .38 Special 125gr JHP +P | 125 gr | 950 fps (290 m/s) | HP | 0.138 |
| Aguila Aguila .38 Special 130gr FMJ | 130 gr | 950 fps (290 m/s) | FMJ | 0.142 |
| Blazer Blazer .38 Special 130gr FMJ | 130 gr | 950 fps (290 m/s) | FMJ | 0.150 |
| Buffalo Bore Buffalo Bore .38 Special 125gr JHP +P | 125 gr | 1050 fps (320 m/s) | HP | 0.138 |
| Buffalo Bore Buffalo Bore .38 Special 150gr Hard Cast WC +P | 150 gr | 1000 fps (305 m/s) | FMJ | 0.120 |
| Buffalo Bore Buffalo Bore .38 Special 158gr Hard Cast Keith +P | 158 gr | 1000 fps (305 m/s) | FMJ | 0.140 |
| Federal Federal American Eagle Handgun, 38 Special, 130 Grain, Full Metal Jacket, 890 fps | 130 gr | 890 fps (271 m/s) | FMJ | 0.160 |
| Federal Federal American Eagle Handgun, 38 Special, 158 Grain, Lead Round Nose, 770 fps | 158 gr | 770 fps (235 m/s) | FMJ | 0.150 |
| Federal Federal American Eagle Indoor Range Training Lead Free, 38 Special, 100 Grain, Lead Free IRT, 960 fps | 100 gr | 960 fps (293 m/s) | FMJ | 0.110 |
| Federal Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok Deep, 38 Special +P, 130 Grain, Hydra-Shok Deep Jacketed Hollow Point, 900 fps | 130 gr | 900 fps (274 m/s) | HP | 0.160 |
| Federal Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok Low Recoil, 38 Special, 110 Grain, Hydra-Shok Jacketed Hollow Point, 980 fps | 110 gr | 980 fps (299 m/s) | HP | 0.120 |
| Federal Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok, 38 Special +P, 129 Grain, Hydra-Shok Jacketed Hollow Point, 950 fps | 129 gr | 950 fps (290 m/s) | HP | 0.145 |
| Federal Federal Personal Defense Punch, 38 Special +P, 120 Grain, Jacketed Hollow Point, 1000 fps | 120 gr | 1000 fps (305 m/s) | HP | 0.130 |
| Federal Federal Train + Protect, 38 Special, 158 Grain, Versatile Hollow Point, 830 fps | 158 gr | 830 fps (253 m/s) | HP | 0.150 |
| Fiocchi Fiocchi 38 Special +P 125gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 125 gr | 1100 fps (335 m/s) | HP | 0.320 |
| Fiocchi Fiocchi 38 Special 125gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 125 gr | 1000 fps (305 m/s) | HP | 0.320 |
| Fiocchi Fiocchi 38 Special 130gr Full Metal Jacket | 130 gr | 950 fps (290 m/s) | FMJ | 0.130 |
| Fiocchi Fiocchi 38 Special 148gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 148 gr | 750 fps (229 m/s) | HP | 0.167 |
| Fiocchi Fiocchi 38 Special 148gr Lead Wadcutter | 148 gr | 730 fps (223 m/s) | FMJ | 0.166 |
| Fiocchi Fiocchi 38 Special 158gr Full Metal Jacket | 158 gr | 730 fps (223 m/s) | FMJ | 0.206 |
71 loads available in .38 Special; 20 shown.