Taurus tried to clone the Model 10........

JJFlash · Jan 23, 2012

Picked up 4 new (to me) revolvers today.....

All are Taurus Model 82, 4" heavy barrel, .38 special.

They appear to be police or security turn-ins from either Europe or South America.

All have the lanyard rings.

TONS of holster burn, but great bores and light cylinder turn lines.

Paid $140 each (plus shipping and FFL fees)

SOG and J&G have them, if you're so inclined.

Spooky how close they copied the M10......

Obviously not S&W-level fit and finish, but will make good "glove-box" beaters....

Hopefully I'll get to put a few rounds through them this weekend.

JJFlash · Jan 24, 2012

MOONDAWG said:
I'd say you've made a fair assessment of your new purchases.

Thanks.....LOL

Let's hope they shoot better than they look.

walnutred · Jan 24, 2012

I expect they will shoot fine and fill the role you have envisioned for them nicely. Makes me feel old though. Seems like not that long ago you would be bragging about buying a batch of police trade in S&Ws for that price.

Dadsnugun · Jan 24, 2012

Does one of them (3rd from the top), 3rd picture, have an inscription of some kind on the grip? If so, what does it say?

JcMack · Jan 24, 2012

I got this model 65 last year and it works just fine

dkizer22 · Jan 24, 2012

Pull the side plate and look inside if you want to see the real difference

CajunBass · Jan 24, 2012

They're not S&W, but they're not bad guns. I had one that I bought NIB "back in the day" and I shot the snot out of that gun. Mostly wadcutters, I admit, but that was a good shooting gun. The only complaint I had with it was it had ugly grips. They looked like they'd been carved out a 2x4 by some guy with an ax, but with a T-grip, they worked well enough.

I saw one at a gun show recently and was tempted to buy it for old times sake, but just couldn't justify another 4" 38.

Stevie · Jan 24, 2012

I had one ..a Model 82 three incher.

Shot off to the left quite a bit..and the barrel was noticably 'off'...I removed the cylinder and crane..clamped the barrel up in a padded vise..and used a block of wood to tighten the barrel up until it was properly centered. The revolver shot great then.

Compared to a Smith or Ruger...The Taurus was more comparable to the Ruger revolver as far as action smoothness. Seemed a well made gun and was very accurate...I traded it straight up for a FEG Hi-Power clone.

Jellybean · Jan 24, 2012

I have a few older Taurus's, s', i, whatever. I really like them for the most part although their quality was more hit and miss than S&Ws. I rate them as better than Rugers and maybe even better than some Monday production Smiths. As for the newer ones, no thank you.

From looking at the insides, and outsides, my oldest is a model 86, which is a knockoff of the K-38. It has a hammer mounted firing pin, humpback trigger and will shoot side by side with any S&W I've ever seen.

You did very well.

old bear · Jan 24, 2012

Taurus has the ability to build a very good handgun when it puts its' mind to it, sadly they don't do it as often as they should. I have a 617 seven shot .357 Magnum that has given me very good service, but I will not gamble on a second Taurus product.

1 old 0311 · Jan 24, 2012

I think I have 2 Taurus wheel guns somewhere. I wouldn't trust their bottom feeders but their wheel guns do work.

JJFlash · Jan 24, 2012

walnutred said:
I expect they will shoot fine and fill the role you have envisioned for them nicely. Makes me feel old though. Seems like not that long ago you would be bragging about buying a batch of police trade in S&Ws for that price.

actually, I DID buy 4 model 10s for $140 each, along with a K38 CM for $215 from Jers in 2009.....

JJFlash · Jan 30, 2012

UPDATE with RANGE REPORT!

Took all 4 model 82s to the pit and burnt about 400 rounds.....

Oddly enough, (especially for a revolver so similar to the model 10) they all preferred 125 grain jacketed flat nose over the 158 grain lead.

They shot POA with the 125s, but all shot about 2.5 inches left and 2 inches low with the 158s.

They WERE consistent though, and shot tight groups at 15 yards.

Although they feel a bit loose, none of them spit any lead at me.

The only FTF was a factory reload that didn't have the primer pressed in straight.

All in all, I'm happy with my little beaters!

JcMack · Jan 30, 2012

Where is the firing pin on an 82?

Jellybean · Jan 30, 2012

Older ones had the firing pin on the hammer, then they moved it to the frame. I'm not sure when Taurus went to cast internal parts but it was probably about the same time.

JcMack · Jan 30, 2012

Jellybean said:
Older ones had the firing pin on the hammer, then they moved it to the frame. I'm not sure when Taurus went to cast internal parts but it was probably about the same time.

Thanks for info. My 65 has the frame mounted pin. I never liked that design in any revolver.

JJFlash · Jan 30, 2012

All of these have the frame-mounted pins.

I'd rather have a proper hammer too.....

Cyrano · Jan 30, 2012

A LONG time ago a friend of mine had a 22 caliber target revolver; if memory serves it was a Colt Officer's Model Target, with a frame moutned firing pin. During one firing session the firing pin decided to stick in the forward position. That turns the whole revolver into one immovable hunk of steel. It took us about 1/2 hour to un-jam the thing. The offfset firing pin was out of reach and couldn't be beaten back with a cleaning rod, and I suspect a center fire revolver with a similiar jam would be the same. Don't remember how we finally cleared the thing, but that was over 50 years go and I still remember how immovable everything on that gun was.

JcMack · Jan 31, 2012

Parts for older Tauri seem to be non existent. If you decide to buy one make sure you take a look at the firing pin as part of your revolver checkout. (if you can have it in hand before purchase)
Later Colts with FP in the frame should not be dry fired. S&W doesn't seem to care about same. I've had a couple Centennials that would generate sparks when dry fired.
STAMP OUT FIRING PINS IN FRAME SAY I!!!!

Jellybean · Jan 31, 2012

JcMack,your welcome. And S&W probably doesn't care because they'll sell you areplacement.

Cyrano, I've always had that phobia happening with a duty gun and would never use anything with a frame mounted firing pin on duty.

Taurus tried to clone the Model 10........

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