← Taurus 856 reference page · This work order as JSON · Print

Work order — Taurus 856

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: medium.

Shop difficulty: Tier 2 of 3

S&W-pattern sideplate lockwork with a transfer bar; Taurus lists 37 items but several are assemblies (hammer, mainspring, trigger spring, cylinder, yoke screw). Two springs to capture with a pin, a sprung yoke retaining pin in the front screw, and a tight sideplate: moderate. 37 parts (856 steel-frame hammer model part list; hammer, mainspring, trigger-spring, cylinder and yoke-screw entries are assemblies, so real pieces are more). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~35 min, rebuild ~55 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• Straightened paper clip or pin (two) — Capturing the mainspring and trigger spring on their center pins
• Nylon or rubber mallet — Tapping the frame to lift the sideplate
• Fitted screwdrivers — Sideplate and yoke screws

Watch for:

• The front sideplate screw is an assembly holding the yoke retaining pin and its spring. (disassembly; Shoot On)
• The sideplate fits very closely and must be vibrated off by tapping the frame, never pried. (disassembly; Shoot On)
• Mainspring and trigger spring are each held on a center pin by a paper clip and must be compressed to refit. (both; Shoot On)
• Taurus says the gun cleans without disassembly and sends repairs to the factory or a gunsmith. (both; Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.)

Tools

• Hollow-ground gunsmith screwdriver — The yoke retaining screw.

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Push the cylinder release forward and swing the cylinder out.
3. Press the ejector rod firmly to eject all cartridges or cases from the chambers.
   Tip: Point the muzzle up and strike the rod briskly so the cases clear fully.
4. Look through every chamber, one at a time, and confirm each is empty.
   Warning: Every chamber, counted. A revolver with one loaded chamber looks identical to an empty one from most angles.
5. Confirm the bore is clear of obstruction.
6. Remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Field Strip — Cylinder and Yoke Removal

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure and leave the cylinder open.
2. Remove the yoke retaining screw from the right side of the frame.
   Warning: Use a correctly fitting hollow-ground screwdriver.
3. Draw the yoke and cylinder assembly forward and out of the frame.
4. Clean the chambers, bore, cylinder face, forcing cone, and yoke surfaces.
5. Stop here. The lockwork is gunsmith territory.
   Warning: If the revolver is not functioning correctly, take it to a gunsmith.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (37 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Reassembly

1. Slide the yoke and cylinder assembly back into the frame.
2. Install and snug the yoke retaining screw.
3. Close the cylinder gently by hand.
   Warning: Never flick it closed.
4. Perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Fit or check on rebuild

• Timing / carry-up: every chamber locks before the hammer falls, single and double action; cylinder gap and end shake — Standard revolver check after lockwork has been out; worn hand or cylinder stop gives the "does not lock up" fault under Common issues.
• Trigger spring center pin engages the trigger in the noted position; trigger returns — Shoot On asks you to note this position when the assembly comes out.
• Transfer bar and hand correctly placed before the sideplate goes on — Well-known transfer-bar revolver check; a misplaced transfer bar binds the action.

6. Function check

• Verify every chamber is empty before each check.
• Cock the hammer slowly and confirm the cylinder locks up at each chamber before the hammer reaches full cock — this is carry-up.
• With the hammer at full cock, try to rotate the cylinder by hand. It should be locked, with only minimal play.
• Press the trigger in single action and confirm a clean hammer fall.
• Cycle the action in double action through every chamber and confirm the cylinder indexes and locks each time.
• Confirm the cylinder latches closed securely and the release frees it cleanly.
• Check that cylinder endshake is minimal and the cylinder gap looks even. If either seems off, see a gunsmith.
• If the revolver has the Taurus Security System keyed lock, confirm it is in the unlocked position and that the action functions normally.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. Taurus Revolver Owner’s Manual — Taurus Armas S.A. primary
2. 856/856UL 856CH/856CHUL Instruction Manual: General Safety, Operating Instructions and Limited Warranty — Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. primary
   https://www.taurususa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Taurus_Manual_856.pdf
3. Ficha Técnica — Revólver Taurus 856 .38 SPL Oxidado Fosco (Taurus Armas) — Taurus Armas S.A. primary
   https://taurusarmas.com.br/download/detalhes/fichas-tecnicas-revolveres/arquivo/385
4. Taurus Armas S.A. — 384 — Taurus Armas S.A. primary
   https://taurusarmas.com.br/download/detalhes/fichas-tecnicas-revolveres/arquivo/384
5. Taurus Armas S.A. — revolver taurus rt856 toro cal 38 special — Taurus Armas S.A. primary
   https://taurusarmas.com.br/pt/produtos/revolveres/revolver-taurus-rt856-toro-cal-38-special
6. Handgun DIY: Taurus Revolver Spring Swap — Shoot On secondary
   https://shoot-on.com/handgun-diy-taurus-revolver-spring-swap/

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.