Taurus 856 Executive Grade
- Category
- Revolver
- Barrel
- 76 mm
- Weight, empty
- 709 g
- Introduced
- 2022
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade is a premium small-frame, six-shot revolver chambered in .38 Special +P, introduced by Taurus in 2022 as the elevated flagship of the 856 line. Built entirely from stainless steel, it is distinguished by a hand-polished satin finish, a set of custom checkered walnut grips, and a 3-inch barrel that balances concealability with an improved sight radius and muzzle velocity over the more common 2-inch snub configuration. Each Executive Grade example is finished and inspected to a higher standard than the standard 856, with attention to trigger feel and fit intended to rival revolvers costing considerably more. The serrated, removable front sight and fixed gutter rear sight keep the profile snag-free for concealed carry, while the exposed, checkered hammer allows both double- and single-action fire. With a transfer-bar safety and the Taurus Security System lock, the Executive Grade targets shooters who want a refined, carry-ready wheelgun without the price of a custom-shop revolver.
Taurus launched the Executive Grade line to shed its budget-brand reputation, dressing the humble six-shot 856 in hand-polished stainless and figured walnut to prove a carry revolver could feel like a premium tool.
The Executive Grade sits at the top of the 856 family and ships in a zippered travel case. Its 3-inch barrel and all-stainless construction push weight to roughly 25 oz unloaded, heavier than the alloy Ultra-Lite models but taming recoil with +P defensive loads. SKU 2856EX39CH.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Taurus
- Category
- Revolver
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2022
- Variant of
- Premium
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 76 mm
- Overall length
- 190 mm
- Height
- 122 mm
- Width
- 36 mm
- Weight, empty
- 709 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Revolving
- Firing mechanism
- Double action single action
- Trigger
- Double action single action
- Trigger pull
- 20.0 N
- Capacity
- 6
- Magazine
- Revolving cylinder
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Stainless steel
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- Satin stainless
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 274 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 316 J
- Effective range
- 25 m
- Maximum range
- 900 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Hand polished satin finish
Custom walnut grips
Serrated removable front sight
Fixed rear sight
6 shot cylinder
Swing out cylinder
Exposed hammer
Transfer bar safety
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 404 revolvers | 709 g | 1.05 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 415 revolvers | 190 mm | 260 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 431 revolvers | 76 mm | 127 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 434 revolvers | 6 | 6 | Holds more rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the Taurus 856 Executive Grade
How much does the Taurus 856 Executive Grade weigh?
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade weighs 709 g (1.56 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Taurus 856 Executive Grade?
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade is chambered in .38 Special +P and .38 Special.
How many rounds does the Taurus 856 Executive Grade hold?
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade holds 6 rounds, fed from a revolving cylinder.
How long is the Taurus 856 Executive Grade?
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade is 190 mm (7.48 in) long overall, with a 76 mm (2.99 in) barrel.
Who makes the Taurus 856 Executive Grade?
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade is made by Taurus (Brazil).
When was the Taurus 856 Executive Grade introduced?
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade was introduced in 2022.
How does the Taurus 856 Executive Grade operate?
The Taurus 856 Executive Grade uses a revolving action, and its firing mechanism is double action single action.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
80%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/taurus-856-executive-grade' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "taurus-856-executive-grade", "name": "Taurus 856 Executive Grade", "manufacturer": { "id": "taurus", "name": "Taurus", "countryCode": "BR", "foundedYear": 1939, "website": "https://www.taurususa.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "71240218613bda05e45296e8997918c10d23b1d7627e46a424bd7e516e0fdffb" }, "category": { "id": "revolver", "name": "Revolver", "description": "Handguns with a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2022, "barrel_length_mm": 76, "weight_empty_g": 709, "action_type": "revolving"}