Considering a new pistol purchase. I prefer revolvers. I have large hands. Considering a Taurus 856. Any other suggestions?

One more note on the Rugar .45. I reloaded my own. I pushed the loads up to the low range of a magnum round. I also cast my own bullets which saved money on buying factory bullets. I had a great mix of lead/wheel weights which I had nearly no leading in the barrel, yet they expanded great and didn't splatter.

For revolvers, I can only say what has been on my hip my adult like. 22LR Smith stainless J Frame with aftermarket grips. 357 Colt King Cobra 4" medium frame. More recently, 460 Smith 5" when our large population of bears are waking up and moving around (now). Galco makes a leather holster for it.

Pistol and revolver grips are all a matter of personal preference. I like to "try on" the handguns that I buy. I have 3 colts - a Trooper Mk III 4" .357; a Cobra Stainless .357 4" and a 2-1/2" Python. Despite the Python's smaller grips because it's a snub, I actually shoot better with it which I attribute to the trigger. With all, I shoot expert, but the Python is usually perfect scores. Go figure!
All that said, my everyday carry is a 1911 .45 which I shoot perfect scores with as well.

The 856 looks like a nice compact wheel gun Maj John Bell. I have a S&W airweight 442. The grip was too small so I replaced it with a a pachmyer (sp) grip and put in a Wilson Combat spring set to get the trigger pull more manageable. Let us know what you finally decide on and how well you like it

If the 1911 was good enough for great grandpa, grandpa, Pa and you, stick with it. The 1911 has been good for over 100 years and it is still copied and in use. Today's versions are more improved than the original. I would think many today, serving, would still be comfortable with it. I guess it was another item of the Army again, with their, if it works fix it?

Taurus 856 is a good choice, in my collection the one I have is in a 3" barrel, lite to carry, 38spl, 6 rounds, old school what it was called in the day, "Combat sights", which is really a rear grooved sight. In the picture, it's the middle on the right.
The other 3" barreled revolvers, on the right is a S&W 66-6 in 357mag, heavier then the 856, by many ounces, adjustable rear sight is nice, but I shoot all sights good, with practice.
On the left, the 3" barreled is a S&W 686-6 Plus, in 357mag, a little heavier then the S&W 66-6, holds 7 rounds, same good sights on it.
At the bottom is a Taurus 66, 7 rounds, 357mag, with a 4" barrel, very nice, very accurate, as people will say, heavy, but in the army, my issued M-60 was said to be heavy. And, that's up to the person carrying the item, the M-60 wasn't heavy to me, better then carrying logs out of the jungle with my grandfather.
At the top is a S&W 629, 5" barrel in 44mag, if the round is not to your liking, it's ok, it's an N-frame, and there are other calibers in an N-frame. Like to the left 2nd down from the top, is a S&W 625 (JM), in 45acp. Now, if I had a choice of which revolver I might like the best, it will be this revolver. N-frame, can shoot it in my sleep, accurate, at 100' a 6" or 8" steel plate tree, hits most of the time, if missed, it's me getting in a hurry.
The 45acp, to me is a great round, slow and fat, that's just what ingredients calls for, in a man stopper.
The snubby Python 2 1/2" barrel, has police service from the 70's, carried by a good retired police officer on duty, when he was in charge of the narcotics division. Before him, it was carried by an older police officer, until he became the department armorer, he then sold it to my friend, I think for $50, lol. It does shoot very well, and accurate, hammer and trigger is very fine still, after I took it apart and cleaned it out. The wooden grips are very small to me, by now I have larger rubber pachmayr grips on it, looks stupid with larger grips, but it works. My 4" python in the day, looked and worked better with the rubber pachmayr grips. Why I don't have that 4" python today, was I sold it, because I bought a Colt Gold Cup Match 1911 for it's replacement. In the early 80's, that was a good decision, to move to a 1911 in 45acp, a slow fat, man stopper round.
If you don't want a heavy full framed revolver, I do have a 8 rounder revolver that is lite, considering that it is a S&W N-frame, and that will be a a S&W 327 R-8 in 357mag, 5" barrel. Very not heavy for what it is, accurate, and a pleasure when shooting, my friend.
All in all, as some suggest here, it is just up to what you are thinking, and the Taurus 856 is a fine revolver, and the cost is even better of a deal. Pull the trigger, you won't be disappointed, a good additions to your firearm collection.
Shooting for years with anything, no matter what the cost, caliber, color, manufacture, and or what it's made of, it all comes down to the shooter with their ability of, "Round Placement", which is "King" in the shooting game.
All revolver grips are changeable, Hell, I can even shoot with no grips on the revolver, not to comfortable, but it works, and a good "War Story" for those who will listen.
Revolvers and I good a long way back, to when I first join the police department, that's why I still shoot a revolver, but I do shoot automatics, alot, I'm not particular with what I shoot, as long as it goes Bang, and puts a hole in something, Sir.
"Have fun"