Just picked up this older Taurus 66. It's definitely not a Smith 66, but got it at a fair price, $260. It's in great shape.

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SWCA #3713

Not to rain on your parade but the older ones were the ones most supportable to quality issues. My 90's vintage 66 shot 12" left at 30' despite 2 trips back to the factory. I had a 2000's 85 blow in my hand too. I'd start with 38 special loads and work up carefully. IF you got a good one. You'll know in short order. If you didn't, you'll know that fast too.

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Dave

Good advice. I reload and prefer 357 cases over 38 SPL though. Makes the chambers a lot easier to clean. I do start with light loads and work my way up with some used gun putchases.

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SWCA #3713

While I prefer Smith & Wesson, I've got a few Taurus revolvers that perform just fine.

Same here. I have a several Smith 357s and a Colt Python I much prefer over the Taurus. Also have a Taurus PT99AF (HG-M99-AFN5) that functions very well.

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SWCA #3713

I am sure that most people would prefer a S&W over a Taurus but sometimes money comes into play. Years ago I bought a Model 85 with a semi-concealed hammer.
It has never given me a problem and the fit and finish is very good. My wives cousin, who is very particular, saw it and said I would not have believed it was a Taurus. He had a K32 and a K38. He sold the 32 before he died and I bought the 38 from his wife later.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

I've owned a few Taurus revolvers over the years. I didn't know they were junk until I started reading internet gun boards. I always thought they worked just fine.

Shows what I knew.

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John 3:16 .

Just have one Taurus revolver - model 970 in 22 cal. Bought it new in 1999 or so. Wish the trigger were lighter (about 5 lbs), but the thing has never, not even once, failed to fire, jammed, locked up or otherwise failed. It's a heavy revolver for a 22. I bought it back then as a $200 plinker as an alterntive to a much more expensive S&W.

Pic:



Bayou52

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Bayou52
NRA Life Member

I've owned a LOT of Taurus guns. The only one I've ever owned that was NOT made in the 1990s is my Judge.
None have EVER give me ANY problems.
I'll be sure to advise all of them that they are abject junk, because I'm now a cork-sniffer.
Better prepare my Charters for the same talk, too.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

The most accurate 45 acp I have ever owned or shot is a Taurus
model 455 . Not one complaint and I've been shooting it since 2005.
Not anything wrong with them....brand snobs give them the worst bad mouthing.
I own several S&W's old classic to brand new and just because it says S&W doesn't guarantee perfection.
I would buy another Taurus ( I own 2 ) in a heartbeat .

Nice looking revolver...you did good!
Gary

I had to look up, "abject."

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SWCA #3713

I had to look up, "abject."

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SWCA #3713

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have personal, first-hand experience with 5 Taurus brand firearms between my family and I. So far, none of them have given us any problems.

I honestly think that Taurus is more or less the same as any other firearms manufacturers these days when it comes to bad eggs, but unfortunately the company's reputation makes it less forgivable, and Taurus' admittedly terrible customer service makes those who do have issues more likely to leave with a sour taste in their mouths and nothing good to say about the brand.

If I were in your shoes and had the money, I'd buy that 66 without a second thought.

Seems like a great buy for the price. Well worth it.

I have only one Taurus firearm, a six inch barreled Model 96, looks almost exactly like a S&W K-22 Target Masterpiece. I bought it nearly 3 decades ago because I really wanted a K-22, but could not afford the price of a K-22. Mine has been just fine. It's trigger is good, but not as good as that of a S&W. If I had a Taurus Model 66, I would treat it the same way I would treat a S&W Model 19/66. I think it will live forever on a diet of .38 Special and .38 Special +P, but limit the diet of full power .357 Magnum loads.

I'd certainly have bought it at that price, but that grip is my least favorite grip of any kind ever.

Not my favorite either. Looking at OEM grips on eBay.

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SWCA #3713

I didn't know new S&W revolvers were junk until I joined this forum. All of the new ones I've seen are just fine.

I've seen a lot of posts about issues with new S&Ws with problems.
All of mine are from the 1940s to the 1980s, because I don't like the lock or the firing pin location, plus a few other design differences on the new ones.
That does not mean I wouldn't like to have a new 69.

However, I was addressing all the cork-sniffing gun snobs and their loud proclamations of Taurus' guns all being junk.

I really hope the "Bodyguard" revolver isn't typical of new S&W quality, because I haven't seen anything good written about them by people who've owned them. Abject **** seems to sum them up.
Why they even bothered to make them, when the J frame is still available, is beyond me.

Anyhoo, my S&W revolvers and autos never have to worry about me having to tell them that they're junk.
A couple of them are ugly, but that's not the factory's fault.

And, I have never said that all new Smiths are junk.

My newest Smiths are a 5946 and a 4566. 3rd Gen goodness needs no introduction.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Different strokes.

As for me, I've always loved the Pachmayr Gripper and Compac grips.
Very comfortable.
If you have any you want to get rid of, I'll take them off your hands because they fit mine perfectly.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I have owned several Taurus revolvers that have never given me one bit of trouble. I have owned a total of 5, all but 2 have been sold to obtain Smiths. One of the two I have kept is a 3" 431 in .44 Special that does duty as my bedside gun.

I have owned the following Taurus handguns:
85 Ultralight.
85 CH blue. (sold it to buy the stainless version).
85 CH stainless (x2. Sold one for twice what I paid).
65 blue 3"(still kicking myself for selling it).
431 blue 3"(still kicking myself for selling it).
44 stainless 4".
Judge blue 3" (great snake gun and fun gun)
PT111 stainless first gen.
PT99 stainless x2.

I've only sold 4 of them, and deeply regret selling two of those.
The other two got sold for solid reasons (Sweaty summer carry, and PROFIT)
NONE have ever given me any problems.
My only complaint is that the PT111 1st gen has a heavy trigger pull.
My M44 has a better action than ANY stock N frame I've ever shot, save for a really nice 610 that had an action equal to my M44. The only other revolver with an action that is as nice as my M44 is my old 586, which has a SWEET action (big reason for me buying it).

Back in the 1990s, you couldn't find a J frame Smith that had an action even nearly as good as a Taurus 85 without putting money into it.
Hell, Taurus, Rossi, Ruger, and Colt's snubs ALL had DA pulls that were head and shoulders above what J frames had from the factory. That's one of the reasons it took me so many years to warm up to J frames.
The only quality DA revolvers that I handled and/or shot that didn't have better actions than J frames (at that time) were SOME of the Charter Arms revolvers.

Before any of Y'all get your knickers in a twist, thinking that I'm crapping on your precious Smiths, bear in mind, I own more Smiths than I do Taurus and I dearly LOVE my Smiths.
And, 3 of my Smiths are 2 J frames and one improved I frame.
And I'm looking to add a few more J frames to the stable.
And, one of my most common carry pieces is an early 1970s 36.
So, I am quite the fan of S&W's handguns.
I believe they are some of the best and nicest handguns ever made.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I have a Model 96 myself and bought it for the same reason! I eventually picked up a S&W Model 18 anyway, but kept the Taurus just the same.
The Model 96 seems to be one of the Taurus revolvers that nobody has issues with. Just a great little gun!
That said, it's likely the only Taurus product I'll ever own.

I have two Taurus Model 82's. Both are fine shooters for me.

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Just a shooter

I've only owned one Taurus revolver, a very finish-worn 65 that I picked up for next to nothing. Shot just fine, accurate and with a decent trigger, but somebody offered to buy it for more than it cost me. I kind of wish I had kept it.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I own 2 Taurus revolvers. One is a J frame sized 22lr with a 4" barrel that belonged to my mom. No idea when she got it. It shoots OK except for a heavy trigger pull. The other is a 431 44 special. I bought it used thinking of replacing my 44 Bulldog with it. Better trigger than Bulldog, more Smith like too. Nice trigger and I shot it quite a bit and carried it. Could get 5 in a fist sized group on a 10 yd paper plate, quick double action, no problem. Never a hiccup. Then, I got a great deal on a S&W 696. About the same sized gun with adjustable sights. Nice gun, great trigger, but I couldn't do one bit better on that 10 yd paper plate than I did with the 431. I don't shoot tthe 431 anymore, I went to a 396 then a 325 for carry, because of weight, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with that 431. Never had a single problem with it and the groups I got with it firing quick double action strings are as good as I do with any S&W snub.

I would like to have one just like this one...Sweet

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Life is short,live it fully.

Only own one Taurus, a G2C that I absolutely love. 12 rounds +1 of 9mm. fits my hand perfectly, sights come up like they were made for me and it loves 124 gr. XTP's from Fiocchi.

I heard the exact opposite. Many Taurus fans I've run into prefer the older revolvers and some say they wouldn't own anything new(er) if they were free. Even had some offer to buy mine for much more than I thought it was worth. If I ever thought it was poor quality, I would've off it years ago.

Attached Images

Taurus mod 65.jpg (106.3 KB, 18 views)

I had a Taurus model 94 snub that I used for years to teach beginners.
It was a nice little .22 revolver. I gave it to my great grandson last
Christmas.

Attached Images

SAM_0190.jpg (108.9 KB, 15 views)

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In Omnia Paratus

I have owned many Taurus guns over the years, the revolvers mostly, and the older ones were of very good quality. To problems at all shooting factory .357 loads. The only problems I saw was when they switched to the new designs and were having parts quality issues and/or parts fitment issues resulting in large quantities of defective guns being returned to the factory for broken internal parts, timing issues and such. My rule of thumb on Taurus is if it has stamped lettering it should be good to go, but if it has the etched lettering it just needs to go. And that applies to the semi autos as well as revolvers. Just my opinion.

While older Taurus firearms may be of higher/more consistent quality, that doesn't make their new stuff absolutely terrible.

All the Taurus brand firearms I have experience with are relatively new with etched markings, yet they're all 100% reliable.

I have 4 and like them all, 2 85's DAO 1 blue the other stainless, another stainless 85 and a 431 44 Special. The only thing I don't like is the weight of the 431. When I carry, it's the DAO stainless 85 or it is rotated with a S&W model 60.

As so ma many others have posted, Taurus revolvers are not up to Colt or Smith and Wesson products, but they are a good VALUE. I've owned a 2" model 617 Ti for years now, and I've found it to be a good workable revolver.

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Always Stay Strong!

Does the Taurus M-66 have the flat on the forcing cone where the S&W gun does? The thin place at the rear of the barrel.

My only experience with Taurus is that my daughter dated a man who owned a M-99, the Beretta M-92 copy in 9mm. His was the adj. sighted version. Said it worked fine.

But he only shot it occasionally. I don't know what they're like under heavy use.

IF it works and shoots okay, the gun in the OP seems a fine value for $260. Getting good service for it if it ever needs re-timing might be an issue.

I wonder what the accuracy is like with good ammo and fired carefully single-action by a truly competent shooter. I think most Taurus products sell to indifferent, inexperienced marksmen who shoot cheap ammo.

Don't let it get to you too badly. We have members here who can't spell,"knives"!

I used to shoot my PT99s a LOT. I've shot my PT111 a LOT.
Then, life got in the way.
I shot my 431 and 65 a LOT, when I had them.
No problems with any of them.
No issues with accuracy. I've shot everything from cheap Atlanta Arms reloads, to my carefully crafter handloads, to SD and target ammo from the major makers, to Cor-Bon through all of mine.
Honestly, the only ones I haven't shot a lot are my wife's 85 Ultralight and my Judge.
My wife was always the one to shoot the 85UL and .410 and .45 Colt ammo prices keep me from running a whole lot through the Judge.
That, and I bought it to use as a snake gun for when I'm hunting in copperhead territory.
Of course, we lost the hunting lease this year.......

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What would Jim Cirillo do?