Is a Taurus Model 85 Ultralite .38 Special Revolver a good home defense gun?
If that is what you have, it will work okay. Personally, I’d never advise someone to buy such a gun specifically for self defense. See, it is ultralight. That translates to EXTRA KICK. The only reason you would want that extra kick is if you carry a gun all day long, then the weight savings makes the extra kick stomachable, but as far as just sitting in a desk drawer for home defense, you actually pay more money for a feature that works against you Second, small snubnose revolvers in general, just like above, you are giving up 1 extra shot to make the gun smaller and eaiser to carry around….but then this only matters if you are concealed carrying, not if it is a home defense gun. Same issue with the snubnose barrel. You are giving up controllability and accuracy to make the gun easier to conceal on your body….but you arn’t concealing as it is a home defense weapon.
The ultra-light snubbed-nose guns are hard to handle and I have been shooting handguns for decades. Weight is always a comprimise in firearms, lighter is not better in many cases. Heavier guns are easier for a novice shooter to handle. The laws of physics apply and a heavy gun will have less recoil and less muzzle flip and fits both hands better. Longer barrels are easier for anyone to shoot accurately and properly. 2 or 2.5 inch barrels should be used only when carrying concealment is a top priority. I think a much better choice for a home revolver is the .357 with a medium to large frame and a four inch barrel. You can shoot .38 special ammo in it and work up to .357. If you already have it, get the fattest rubber grips you can to get a good hold on that short nubby grip.
