I have a chance to get a mint Taurus 96 22 LR for 300.00. I know it does not match up to the smiths but checking on gunbroaker there are none for sale. I know that saving for a smith Wesson is always best but for 300.00. Why not ?????

Maybe they are hard to find because shops don't stock them?

I owned one Taurus, a PT1911, and didn't own it long. It shot farther off-center that its sights were able to compensate for and darned few companies make "1911" parts that fit Taurus guns. You'll find a lot of "will not fit Taurus" disclaimers on gun part websites.

In short, you get what you pay for.

Ed

This is used 1991 built date

Some things to watch out for on old, obsolete used Tauruses:
1. You don't really have much of a warranty. You have to pay to ship it in, they will only try to repair your SPECIFIC complaint IF THEY HAVE THE PARTS, don't bother asking them to "fix as needed."
2. Quality control on these guns was hit and miss. Some came out pretty well, and some had 15# trigger pulls, which Taurus does not seem to be able to fix.
3. $300 is not exactly a bargain, IMHO.
4. If you know how to detail inspect a revolver and have found a good one you really want, AS IS, not with the idea of fixing or improving it, then maybe......

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Science plus Art

I couldn't agree with this more. Very well put, on #1 and #2!

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John 14:6, Luke 21:11

I'd have no problem with a Taurus .22 of that vintage. I do think your seller is at least $75 too high. If you can talk them down in price, just do the usual checks for push-off, timing, etc.

I have a Taurus model 94 22 LR with a 2 inch barrel. Nice carry gun in your pocket with CCI Stingers.....9 shots.

I upgraded the grips and rear sight with Millett white outline.

There is one listed on Gun Broker right now for $325.

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Cuz not many were sold. Had one Taurus 200 years ago in .38...pure junk. Traded it to a dealer for a 686-3 6" that's been a reliable companion since 1993.

The worst thing about the ol' Smith is a GS has never looked at it and the best thing for S&W is it's still under warranty...never needed. Solid as a rock the ol' gal is...she's my baby.

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S&W SS Revolvers

Apples to oranges. The old Model 96 was the size of a K frame. They had 6" barrels and adjustable sights.

I sent my Taurus 96 back to them for repair after which it was still not worth owning. If I'd shipped it back a second time I would have spent half of the price of the revolver on shipping in the hopes they might get it right after they'd just demonstrated that they were not willing to do so. I bought it originally because they did a beautiful job polishing and blueing it. A looker still has to shoot.

I do not mean to knock all Tauruses. The hit and miss quality control written about above does not mean all are bad. I have good ones but you asked specifically about 96s. I would not buy another at any price without test firing it first.

You guys are way off-base on the pricing. If anything, $300 is too low. I'd be looking for $350, maybe $375 if that guy wanted to give me his Taurus.

Working at a couple of LGS locations and selling some of their .22 revolvers, there were consistent problems in a couple of areas.

As already mentioned - trigger pull poundage. Think some of the .22 revolver mainsprings could double as truck springs. Guess a corporate decision was made that there would be NO light hammer strikes.

Chambers - often rough and far from finely finished. Lots of evident tool marks requiring pounding the ejector rod to eject brass. Do that a few times, now there's a bent yoke and a bent ejector rod.

Not much work to help these shortcomings, but beyond the ability of newer people to the gun scene, who seem to be big Taurus buyers.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I had one of those Taurus 96's a few years ago. It wasn't finished as nicely as a Model 17, but that's the only bad thing I could say about it. I had to sell it when I was out of work, but I'd love to find another one. Yes, you have to check them out, but I wouldn't buy a Smith & Wesson or a Colt and not check them out.

I probably wouldn't buy another K-22 (had a couple, same fate) for what they're going for these days, but if I found another Taurus 96, and it checked out...I might bring it home for $300.00.

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John 3:16 .

thank you for all the information. It sounds like too much of a hit and miss on the quality on this gun. Might be more worth it if it was around 225.00

I've had a couple Rossis that were nearly direct copies of their S&W counterparts, one a m63 clone, the other a m36 clone. The m63 clone I got five years ago for less than $200 OTD at a LGS. I changed out the springs and did some light polishing, put on a pair of aftermarket target grips, and it was a fine shooter and nice looking gun, just like the m63. Since I already owned a m63, I sold the Rossi to a friend, who still has it. For $200, it was a very nice deal.

I have practically the same story with the m36, except that I sold it to a stranger. So, those guns can be well worth the price, if the price is right. I'd not pay over $300 for one, though. Too many other deals out there--four years ago I got a pre-war K22 that had been refinished (in the 70s?) for $325. Deals are out there if you keep your eyes and ears open. Or just pay the extra money for a collectable and keep it near mint condition. You won't lose money on it.