I bought a PT 111 from a buddy several months ago. The first time I shot it, the keeper on the captive recoil spring, broke and popped out the front of the pistol. After looking on every website in the world for the spring setup, I sent it back to Taurus. Two weeks later I get it back the mail, not only did they install a new spring assembly but they changed the slide and sent an extra magazine. Pretty standup, considering I'm probably the third or forth owner.

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CHL Instructor/NRA Instructor

Great to hear that. I have two PT111 G2's and a PT140 G2.

Taurus customer service has really improved in the past two years. Taurus stands by their unlimited lifetime warranty. This is my PT92.



I bought it used. The previous owner(s) didn't shoot it often. A serial number search verified that the pistol is 15 years old. On my first range trip, the pistol would intermittently become a DAO pistol instead of a DA/SA. I followed the repair return process published on the Taurus website. I paid for the shipping to the Miami, FL repair facility. The pistol was back in my hands in 11 days, including shipping transit time and the weekend.

The cause of the issue was a slightly bent trigger bar. Not only did Taurus replace the trigger bar, they also replaced every spring, the locking block, the cosmetically ugly grip screws (previous owner didn't know how to use a screw driver), put on new OEM plastic grip panels, and sent me a magazine. None of those items needed to be replaced, but they did it anyways. I got my pistol back in factory refurbished condition.

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-John

*******YEP*******

Now that's good to know.
Own a few Taurus Semi autos & revolvers.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

All I have to say is search Google and you will find out why most people dislike Taurus. Their is far more negative views of Taurus than their is positive. There is a reason for that. Every company has issues but how they fix them, how many of them they have and how they treat their customers is a real consensus of a company. I owned a Taurus and it never gave me trouble but after reading post after post of how their customer service and warranty was, I sold it.

James

You sold a pistol that never gave you any trouble based on complaints found on the internet? When people are angry or upset, they are motivated to broadcast their displeasure via any means possible. Happy people never say anything because they're content.

I will say that not every model of handgun Taurus offers is good. I've owned 4 Taurus pistols. I currently only own two. I've learned to stick with the Taurus models that are older proven designs.

I own a Taurus M66. This design comes from the time when Taurus and S&W were corporate conglomerate cousins. A bit of S&W design went down to Taurus. A whole bunch of Taurus design went up to S&W.



The PT92 is a branched off the original Beretta 92 family tree. I actually prefer the frame mounted safety/decocker.

I've owned some not so good Taurus firearms. I owned a Taurus Judge that kept on developing timing issues even after being repaired multiple times by Taurus. I owned a Taurus PT709 slim. The bottom of the feed ramp is part of the frame. The barrel made up the top half. The gap between the two was big, the edge of the 1/2 feed ramp on the barrel was sharp enough to shave lead off cast projectiles and scrape copper off FMJ's. The slide looked very unfinished with tooling marks on the inside.

Stick to the known pistols and Taurus is good.

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-John

I've owned 2 Taurus revolvers, an early model 669 with a 6" barrel and a model 85 5 shot 38Spec. and both were very good functioning pistols. I sold both off when I was a young LCPL in the Marines. The only other Taurus I've owned, was the 92 Beretta clone. It also was a good little pistol as well. I will take this 111 to the range and see how shoots. For total of $112.50 invested I can't see it being to bad of a deal!

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CHL Instructor/NRA Instructor

Which ones are those? Google search cannot be that wrong. Sorry but Taurus is sub par in the firearm industry. I sold the gun because if I had issues, do I really want to deal with a company that is sub-par on customer service? I bought the gun when I first got into handguns so I really did not know anything about Taurus. I ended up buying a S&W. Let me ask you this, has any Taurus firearm gone up in value over the years? I do not think so. Their is a reason why S&W revolvers go up in value and it is not just because of the name. That should tell you something as well. If you had good luck with Taurus and you like them, then more power to you. I rather spend the extra money and have a better built revolver. I can also get parts for it just about anywhere can you say the same thing about a Taurus? They cost less because they are made cheaper so they can be competitive.

James

Again, people with a bone to pick have the motivation to anonymously post on internet forums. People who are happy with something have less motivation to post positive experiences. That's just the way it is. A Google search is just that, a search. Just because something turns up in a Google search does not automatically mean the information is credible. Here you go, this will blow your mind. Google search "S&W Quality Control Issues"

OMG. Read all those results. So many Google search returns say that S&W has quality control issues has to be right. Do you really want to deal with a company that has so many search returns on bad quality control issues? By your logic, even though your S&W firearm hasn't given you any problems, you should sell them.

I am not advocating every Taurus pistol, just as I do not advocate every Smith & Wesson firearm. What I do advocate is the use of common sense and critical thinking skills when buying anything.

Regarding Taurus customer service, I will admit they were bad. In the past two years the new North American CEO overhauled Taurus customer service. Following Taurus' directions on how to return a pistol for warranty repair published on their website, I never had to call CS. 11 days total including shipping to and from and a weekend to get my pistol back to me. Not only did they replace the one out of spec part, they refurbished the entire pistol and sent me a free magazine. How is that evidence of bad customer service by Taurus of today?

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-John

You can read horror stories concerning every make, model and manufacturer on the planet. A lot seems to be owner induced. But every maker has problems because people are involved in the manufacturer, repairs and returning and people aren't perfect, they make mistakes and get things wrong.
Buying a S&W ( or whatever brand) is not going to guarantee perfection and 100% satisfaction. Guns are mechanical and subject to malfunctions. Fact of life.
I own a Taurus semi-auto and a revolver, had no problems with either. I never do, or not do, something just because I read it on the net. I'm one of those folks that has to try it for himself.
Gary

You make a good point but last I checked, Taurus firearms are not increasing in value. They are cheap guns because they are made cheaply. They may do the job but I doubt they could stand up to the abuse of a S&W. How many law enforcement agencies in the U.S. use Taurus? At best, they are entry level guns. Good luck on your Taurus's and I hope they last. I will never buy a Taurus unless I get it dirt-dirt cheap.

James

"Google search can't be that wrong." IMHO this should be in the "joke of the day" section, if we had one.

Right because all of the people who owned a Taurus and complained is not legit. Maybe S&W should take lessons from Taurus. Hey you can buy a brand new 44 Mag for under $500 but S&W is roughly $900 so I guess you are paying just for the name. To each his own. I stick with my Smith and Wessons

I have only owned one Taurus. A model 94 stainless 4 inch 22 LR.
I bought it new in 1990. It has never given me any trouble and I have shot it a lot.

Good to know they honor the warranty to second owners as I have a .41 snub I bought used. It's my third Taurus revolver and no problems from any. I did buy a used 608 for two hundred dollars from a guy and did make money when I sold it plus gave a buddy the scope mount it came with. I got most my money out of another I bought new so their resale isn't always terrible.

For years I was a RO at my large gun club, and a couple of good friends owed a LGS and it was shown that Taurus had more problems that most other guns manufactures added together!

Let’s just politely say most serious gun people do not own Taurus handguns.

They are at best a cheap copy of a better made gun and most people I know like to say you get what you pay for!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I share this opinion:

Taurus handguns, both pistols and revolvers, used to be the scourge of the gun world. But not now. That means a place for reviews on this web site is in order. There was a time when the company was known to make some of the poorest quality firearms to be found. Reports of failures of all kinds were rampant and the mention of the name “Taurus” brought sneers to the face of gun enthusiasts.

Some gun enthusiasts still sneer today. The difference is it's from ignorance, not from legitimate experience with the guns as they are now.

From its beginnings, over seven decades ago in Brazil, until now, the company has undergone many transitions, trades, acquisitions and changes in technology.

Now, does the manufacturer ever put out a dog? Sure. But so has Smith and Wesson, Beretta, Springfield, and Kimber. Even my most trusted GLOCK, has had pistols, particularly in early development, with significant problems.

All of them, including Taurus, get those things worked out and produce quality guns. What’s interesting is, that gun enthusiasts seem willing to forgive the other manufacturers, but hold it against Taurus forever.

So...if they charged more for their handguns Taurus would be a higher quality?

I don't know what you mean by "serious" gun people, but I'm serious about whatever I spend my money on working the way it is supposed to. Currently, I own a few semi-auto Taurus firearms & I would, & have, carried them for self protection after firing hundreds of rounds down range without issue.

Taurus had quality & customer service issues many years ago & that reputation has followed them till today, even though they have cleaned up their act. Many of us who can look past a brand logo appreciate Taurus firearms. And while I still fail to see the need or advantage to any internal lock, the engineers at Taurus did a much better job with their design than S&W did. If the right Taurus comes my way at the right price, I'll snatch it up without hesitation.

You left out a very important word that I even bolded in my post.

Here it is again MOST

I stand on what I said!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I have serious doubts about the last sentence quoted. B-P bought part of Taurus in 1970 and sold its 54% interest in Taurus in 1977.

Taurus does admit, on its own website, that when the company began during WWII (1941) that it "combined" elements of Colt, S&W and certain Spanish brands to make its first revolver.

Now, I am not sure about Colt and S&W, but I know those Spanish revolver companies were right at the top of their game in engineering, design and manufacturing in those days.

..and I still don't know what you meant by "serious gun people", with or without the "most", with or without the bold, or the SIZE="5".

OK then, enjoy your gun!

BY BY! Have a good day.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Just to be clear, I'm not bashing anyone who owns a Taurus firearm, I'm bashing the company.

James

I got that. No worries. The "serious" gun owners may not have. Lol. Serious gun owners... What the heck?

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-John

Not an issue, srv1. Some people just need to get over themselves.

I will say this: it is older, all metal, no-lock S&W guns that are increasing in value. Just this year I've purchased 3 of the older guns. I don't think the new S&W guns are any better than what Taurus has to offer, and if I were in the market for a new gun I would take a long look at each before making a decision.

Is this real life? Did you just say Taurus and Smiths are equal?

OK I'm curious...go on

What I am saying: in my opinion, Taurus now puts out a quality product. If I were in the market for a new handgun - meaning factory new - I'd look at what Taurus has to offer too. As it is, I'm usually buying pre-lock S&W revolvers off the used market, as I have no use for the newer guns with the internal lock although I will admit to owning just one. Again, personal opinion.

I've owned (3) Taurus guns, I still have 2 of them. All have served me well. The one revolver did have to go back to Taurus for warranty work & once returned functioned perfectly. My favorite revolver, a 6" 686-1 purchased new in 1989, had to go back for excessive cylinder end shake. A Ruger .22 pistol had to go back when the trigger disconnected itself. A trip back to the factory, at least for me, is not brand specific.

To each his own; but I'd ask to see a new Taurus along with the S&W on the counter & examine both before I made my decision.

Not me. I've tried to buy a Taurus 3 times in the last year and all three had a problem. 2 barely used and 1 new. I haven't sent but 1 smith wheel gun back. That was for end shake on a 30+ year old gun. In my experience 50% off Taurus wheel guns I've touched either had a problem or fealt like they were gonna develop one

I can't blame you - if they don't work for you, they don't work for you. Why buy something that hasn't, or that you just don't like? My experience to date has been much better.