Taurus Model 80
Taurus International · Pistol · Discontinued · 1971
Also known as: Model 80, Taurus 80
Overview
The Taurus Model 80 is a medium-frame, six-shot, double-action/single-action revolver chambered in .38 Special. It served as Taurus's standard service-size .38 revolver and is the standard-barrel counterpart to the heavy-barrel Model 82, sharing the same all-steel medium frame and swing-out cylinder. Configured most commonly with a 4-inch tapered barrel, fixed sights milled into the frame, and a spurred hammer for single-action cocking, the Model 80 was designed as an affordable, durable duty and home-defense revolver competing directly with the Smith & Wesson Model 10. The tapered standard-weight barrel makes it lighter and quicker-handling than the bull-barreled Model 82 at the cost of a small amount of muzzle heft. With standard-pressure 158-grain .38 Special loads from the 4-inch barrel, muzzle velocity runs around 800 fps (245 m/s). Offered in blued and nickel finishes with wood or rubber grips, it was a mainstay of the Taurus catalog through the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s before being superseded by later models.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 851 g (30.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 923 g (32.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 235 mm (9.25") |
| Barrel Length | 102 mm (4.02") |
| Height | 139 mm (5.47") |
| Width | 38 mm (1.50") |
| Action Type | Double Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 245 m/s (804 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 258 J (190 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .38 Special · primary — also known as .38 Spl, .38 S&W Special, 9x29mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Transfer Bar, Hammer Block
- Features: Medium Frame, Six Shot Cylinder, Standard Profile Barrel, Fixed Sights, Swing Out Cylinder, Spurred Hammer
Variants
- Taurus Model 80 Blued - Finish Variant
- Taurus Model 80 Nickel - Finish Variant
Service history
Operators
- Civilian Home Defense
- Latin American Law Enforcement
Production
Production years: 1971-1997
Long-running Taurus medium-frame service revolver; discontinued and replaced by later Taurus .38 revolver models
Origin
Country of origin: Brazil
Discontinued: 1997
Notes
The Model 80 and Model 82 are closely related Taurus medium-frame .38 Special revolvers that differ chiefly in barrel profile: the Model 80 uses a lighter tapered/standard-weight barrel while the Model 82 carries a heavier bull barrel. Both are DA/SA six-shooters built on the same all-steel frame that traces its lineage to Taurus's Brazilian manufacturing heritage. The Model 80 was widely sold as a budget alternative to the Smith & Wesson Model 10 and Ruger Service Six. Exact barrel-length weights vary by production year and grip; the standard-barrel 4-inch configuration is the most common.
Background
Taurus's revolver expertise stems from its 1980 acquisition of Smith & Wesson's Brazilian factory tooling, and the Model 80 is a direct reflection of that lineage, closely echoing the classic S&W Model 10 service revolver it was built to undercut on price.