So, does anyone have experiance with the Taurus 44 Special revolver?

jframe · Sep 17, 2012

Maximumbob54 said:
Rossi 720 w/black Duracoat bought used. Problems so far zero. Haven't owned this one but for a few months.

Taurus M445. Owned this one for years. Don't shoot it often but have shot it enough and zero problems so far.

People make the mistake of expecting S&W, Colt, or even Ruger quality from the lower cost brands like Charter or Taurus. You don't pay Taurus or Charter prices and get that same level of quality. You buy them knowing that every company makes a few dumpy guns and lower cost companies make more. All of them have a warranty and it pays to use them. I own several Taurus guns and this one Rossi and have yet to have a problem with any of them. Does that mean I don't think there aren't a few clunkers out there? Duh, no. Do I think my 720 is equal to a 696? Duh, no. But I didn't pay anywhere close to a 696 price on my 720 either. My only angst is that there doesn't seem to be a wood grip option for any of them. If Charter ever gets around to making their retro Bulldog then I will buy one of those as well. And I will make sure to test is well enough and go shoot it right away. If there is a problem then I will deal with it first off. And I bet it too will be all kinds of fun.

And none of that will stop me from eventually finding a snub 24 that I can finally afford. Or even a snub 624. OR BOTH!!!

I'd like to have that 445. Sold mine a few years ago to a friend, and can't get it away from him now!

hccdist · May 7, 2013

Go for it.

I have a Taurus model 445 bright stainless 44 spl. snub nose and it has been a great gun to shoot and to carry. I have had 2 buddies trying to buy it from me because it looks good too.

ibewbull · Jun 13, 2013

Shoule I or no?

hccdist said:
I have a Taurus model 445 bright stainless 44 spl. snub nose and it has been a great gun to shoot and to carry. I have had 2 buddies trying to buy it from me because it looks good too.

I really don't need another snubby but sometimes it is not about need.
A good friend has a 445 bright in great shape. He is asking $350 with a box off ammo.
My only concern is holsters. Will the K frame holster fit it. I just don't want to stock another size.

rock n roll kid · Jun 13, 2013

never owned a taurus or the charter guns ..

but i will comment on the taurus brand of guns.

thru the years have heard different opinions on taurus . my own little experience with the guns shook me enough NOT to buy one .
was at a gun show a couple of years ago with a lady friend who was trying to purchase a compact revolver . one dealer had several makes of guns and taurus included . it was a nicely finished stainless mod 38 caliber . upon handling the gun and trying to manipulate the trigger , the cylinder would not lock up & align properly , and this was on a brand new gun !

we passed and looked at a few more guns ..... decided on the little snub s&w body guard with the laser.
the advice here on getting an older charter 44 special seems pretty sound . i have know a couple of people who own these and they have had good service from them and were relatively satisfied with them
good luck

GKC · Jun 13, 2013

I don't remember the exact model, since I bought it about 20 years ago (I can't remember exactly when, and it's been gone for several years now) but I had a Taurus .44 special. It was called the Total Titanium, I think, and the barrel was ported from the factory. It held 5 shots, if I remember correctly. I put it away and didn't shoot it for years. When I finally decided I needed to shoot it, it misfired 4 out of 5 shots in the first cylinder. It wasn't the ammo, the firing pin was the problem. (According to the gunsmith at my LGS.) I've owned a number of Taurus guns over the years, but I don't think I'd ever buy another...they have all had problems, plus their CS is terrible.

S&W used to make (I don't think they still do) a Night Guard .44 Special, as well as a .44 Magnum (which you could shoot .44 Special in.) Also, Ruger still makes the Alaskan, which is an awesome revolver, and comes in .44 Magnum, again which can be shot using .44 Special. Either of these are going to be a lot more expensive, but then they are a lot better guns. The Alaskan is built like a tank, and shooting .44 Special in it feels like .38 Special in a 686.

Ivan the Butcher · Jun 14, 2013

I have an older Taurus 3" I bought in the early 90's used. I Thought I knew something about gunsmithing and cut most springs by a coil or 2. The hammer spring I cut by 3 1/2 coils. WAY TOO MUCH!!! I have the light trigger Taurus in history. I have run over 400 STHP through it without a problem, but I still don't carry it. Ivan

whitecoyote · Jun 16, 2013

I love my Charter Arms BullDog.

LMP126 · Mar 24, 2021

I bought a used M-445 years ago. On the first trip to the range the cylinder bound up & I sent it back to Taurus. They fixed it promptly without charge. Now it is fine. I agree with others that the .44Spl is very under rated as a self defense round. It has far more horsepower than the .38Spl without the recoil and muzzle blast of a .357. It fits perfectly in most holsters designed for a 2" Smith K frame. I just wish I could find some wood grips for it. Has anyone found wood grips for this gun?

dr. mordo · Mar 26, 2021

This is almost a 10 year old thread.

I found wooden grips from Thailand for my 445UL on ebay. However, I didn't like them. Mine came with the Ribber grip, but I am using the compact rubber grip instead.

I love my 445. Here's a pic of mine with the M29 I sometimes pair it with.

Here's a pic of mine with the 3" M629 I sometimes pair it with.

HOUSTON RICK · Mar 26, 2021

Some swear by Taurus and they may be right, but I have seen too many jams (admittedly mostly by rookies) on too many Taurus guns for me to buy one. Does that make me a gun snob?

rockquarry · Mar 26, 2021

Taurus and Charter Arms both may be good revolvers. I don't know; I've never had either. I'd go with S&W for a revolver. They may cost more but they will retain value better than the competitors and will be far easier to sell or trade should that become necessary.

Mike SC Hunter · Mar 26, 2021

StatesRightist said:
You should look at the Rossi 720 as well, it's the best gun Rossi ever made. It has a cult following and is L frame sized. Great gun that handles the recoil. Is it as nice as my 24-3, no, but I'd also say my 24-3 is not 2+ times better than the 720.

Nope. Rossi 720 is K_FRAME sized. It came out several years before the 696. I bought one. When the 696 was announced I bought one too. See pic for comparison. 720 is smaller than the 696.

smoothshooter · Mar 27, 2021

JcMack said:
They use those "Ribber" grips. Feels like holding a snake to me. Are any other grips available, or is the grip frame a trapezoid shape like an SP101.

A few minutes on a belt sander will take care of those ribs.

BC38 · Mar 27, 2021

I have a 1973 Charter Arms Bulldog.
I like it a lot, but it is very small and light for a 44spl.
I just bought a stainless Taurus 445 with the the slim pebble textured grips like on Dr Mordo's ultralight above. Haven't even shot it yet.
I don't like their ribbed grips either. I took them off my Taurus 617 TTI and replaced those with the same slim pebble textured grips too.
THOSE pebble-textured grips I like (a lot) - they are a semi-soft rubber, they cover the backstrap, and they are just long enough for a pinkie finger to grip.

sipowicz · Mar 27, 2021

smoothshooter said:
A few minutes on a belt sander will take care of those ribs.

Don’t. They are ribbed for your pleasure.

dr. mordo · Mar 27, 2021

rockquarry said:
Taurus and Charter Arms both may be good revolvers. I don't know; I've never had either. I'd go with S&W for a revolver. They may cost more but they will retain value better than the competitors and will be far easier to sell or trade should that become necessary.

I completely agree. The problem is S&W has effectively abandoned the revolver crowd and stopped innovating many years ago.

Taurus, meanwhile, keeps moving forward. If Smith made a J-frame-ish 5 shot 44 SPL, I would own it! Heck, I'd probly own two of them!

washerman · Mar 27, 2021

I have an older Charter Arms Bulldog 44 special. Works perfect. It is small and light for sure. Makes a great gun for pocket carry. I also have a new 357 Carter Arms MagPug brushed steel finish. No problems there either. Both are reliable and function perfectly. My wife's gun is an older 6 shot Charter Police 38 special. Bought it in a local auction and sent it in to Charter for a service check. They went through the whole gun and replaced a few things as it had been shot a lot. Works like new now. And it cost me nothing for Charter to service it. They even paid for shipping it back.

Capt. F. · Mar 27, 2021

Another vote for the Rossi 720. Easily concealed, accurate and comfortable to shoot.
Mine with my Lew Horton 624 for comparison.

So, does anyone have experiance with the Taurus 44 Special revolver?

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