Description

The Taurus 942M Ultra-Lite, SKU 2-942M039UL, is the 3-inch, 8-shot .22 WMR version with a stainless-steel finish. I checked Taurus’s catalogs and manual to distinguish it from the very similar 942 variants.

Taurus 942M Ultra-Lite — 2-942M039UL

Taurus’s catalog specifically identifies 2-942M039UL as the 942 .22 WMR SS/SS Ultra-Lite, 3″, 8-round model, with UPC 725327618706.

What “Ultra-Lite” means

This is an important distinction from the standard stainless 942M.

The Ultra-Lite uses an aluminum frame to reduce weight, while the standard 942M stainless version is substantially heavier. Taurus’s manual lists the 3-inch 942M Ultra-Lite at about 18.8 oz, versus about 25 oz for the conventional 3-inch 942M.

So you’re getting an 8-shot .22 Magnum revolver with a 3-inch barrel at roughly 19 ounces.

Dimensions

For the 3-inch configuration, Taurus lists:

• 7.6″ overall length
• 4.64″ overall height
• 1.34″ overall width
• 3″ barrel
• Approximately 18.8 oz Ultra-Lite weight

The Taurus manual confirms the 942 family dimensions and the different weights for the Ultra-Lite and standard versions.

Sights

The factory sight arrangement is:

• Front: serrated ramp
• Rear: drift-adjustable

That is different from a fixed-sight pocket revolver; the rear sight can be adjusted for windage.

Action

The 942M is a DA/SA revolver.

That means it can be fired:

• Double-action, with the trigger both cocking and releasing the hammer, or
• Single-action, after the hammer is manually cocked.

The revolver uses an exposed hammer and Taurus’s transfer-bar safety system.

.22 WMR vs .22 LR

Your particular firearm is .22 WMR, not .22 LR.

.22 WMR is also commonly called .22 Magnum. It uses a different cartridge from .22 LR, so you should not treat the two cartridges as interchangeable. The 942 family is offered in both calibers, which is one reason the model numbers can be confusing. Taurus explicitly lists the 942M as the .22 WMR version.

The M in 942M is the useful identifier here: it denotes the Magnum/.22 WMR version.

Stainless vs Ultra-Lite

There are several closely related 3-inch models:

Taurus’s catalog confirms those model-number distinctions.

So 2-942M039UL is the particularly desirable combination of 3″ barrel + .22 WMR + Ultra-Lite + stainless appearance.

 

Because the 3-inch stainless Ultra-Lite .22 WMR is a less common configuration, availability can matter more than the nominal catalog price.

What makes this model interesting

The big selling points are:

1. .22 WMR
More powerful than .22 LR, while retaining a relatively small rimfire revolver format.

2. 3-inch barrel
Longer than the 2-inch 942M, giving you a longer sight radius and generally making the gun more substantial to handle.

3. Eight-shot cylinder
Eight rounds rather than the 5–6 rounds found in many small revolvers.

4. Ultra-Lite frame
At roughly 19 oz, it’s dramatically lighter than the standard stainless 3-inch 942M at roughly 25 oz.

5. Stainless appearance
The SS/SS UL designation is the matte-stainless configuration.

6. Adjustable rear sight
Useful if you’re interested in target/range shooting rather than a purely fixed-sight pocket revolver.

Things to know before buying

The biggest tradeoff is weight.

At approximately 19 oz, the Ultra-Lite is convenient to carry and handle, but a very light .22 WMR revolver can feel more abrupt in recoil and muzzle movement than the heavier standard 942M. The heavier model also has more mass to stabilize the gun.

The 3-inch barrel is therefore an interesting middle ground: you retain the Ultra-Lite’s low weight while getting a longer barrel than the 2-inch version.

Also, because this is a rimfire revolver, ammunition compatibility and reliability should be evaluated according to Taurus’s manual and the ammunition manufacturer’s specifications. Taurus specifically warns users to follow the correct ammunition and safety procedures in its manual.

Exact identification

If you’re trying to verify a firearm from a box or listing, these identifiers should match:

TAURUS 942M ULTRA-LITE
.22 WMR
3″ barrel
8 rounds
SS/SS UL
Matte Stainless
SKU: 2-942M039UL
UPC: 725327618706

Those identifiers match Taurus’s catalog exactly.

Bottom line

The 2-942M039UL is a relatively unusual Taurus 942 configuration: an 8-shot .22 Magnum revolver with a 3-inch barrel, lightweight aluminum frame, matte-stainless finish, DA/SA action, adjustable rear sight, and approximately 19-ounce unloaded weight. It combines the longer 3″ barrel with the substantially lighter Ultra-Lite frame.