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

Rule3

Rule3

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My medication has worn off and I had a bizarre thought of a 44 special revolver. Maybe it was due to reading Elmer Keiths Books.:confused:

I have looked at the new production Charter Arms and you couldn't pay me to get one of those

How bad are the Taurus models?

445B2UL and 4455S2UL(blued and Stainless light weight)

Be kind, it is only a hallucination.:D
 
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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.
 
Yes the rubbers are kind funky but that can be changed. Can't believe I am thinking Taurus but no one else has a small 44 Spl revolver. I have SW but I am not gonna carry it.
 
I respect your feeling Rule regarding the Charter Arms, but I would still pick that over the Taurus. I agree, you pick one up and imeadiately want to set it back down, but it is made here in the U.S.A. The first time I felt one I thought to myself is this a cardboard or plastic one used for a e-bay picture to sell a holster.

I am buying one in the near future for occasional CCW carry and back packing. Sorry, but I brought that other brand years ago when I didn't know better and the machining was a disgrace as well as the cylinder lock up and yes it was brand new.
 
I had one of the original Charter Arms .44SPL Target Bulldog revolvers. I bought it somewhen after 1977.

It was a great accurate reliable shooter. I don't know WHY I sold it. Carried it as my CCW for quite a while. I even did a few rounts of steel silhouettes with it.

I would love to have it back. I am not sure of the latest batch, though. They seem a little rough.

I want to get back into a short barrelled (under 4") .44SPL - I may have to look at Taurus, but I'll also be trying to find a Lew Horton .44 SPl or something likeit.
 
I have a 20+ yr old Charter bull dog that I have carried a long time, and I have a Taurus model 441 4 inch 5 shot 44spl that is a very nice gun. I bought it from a S&W only dealer for 215.00 in the box. He had a bias for anything not S&W, and didn't even dry fire the thing, evidently. Later when he squimishly asked how I liked the gun, I told him it had the best out-of-the-box double action I had ever experienced. The bluing is stellar. I put a set of those Packmeyer wood and rubber grips on it, and it is a joy to shoot, and perfectly suited for carry. If you can find one that's nice, you should strongly consider picking it up in my view.
 
Yes, I would buy an older Charter but not the new ones. I also like the old Interarms Rossi if I could find one.

I picked up a new stainless 9mm Taurus today at the LGS, it did not seem that awful but who knows how many times it would work??;) The trigger was pretty brutal but it seemed much better construction than the 44 Charter.

I bought one of the Charters last year. I had it for a 1/2 day. I sliced my finger on the cylinder release. A round would not fit in one of the chambers. It was out of time. (this is a brand new gun) The cylinder hand looked like a flattened paper clip. The gun comes with a parts list with prices. The hand was a $6 part. I took it back, my go to guy at the LGS gave me my $$ back,

Well, any way no one around here has the Taurus 44 so solved that urge.:)
 
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.
 
I have 3 Charter Arms 44 Bulldogs.
A stainless snubby and a blue 4" Target model.
Both of those were made at the Charter factory in Stratford CT.
I also have a newer stainless snubby made in Shelton Ct.
The stainless snubby made is shelton is a polished stainless
and it is tighter and put together much better than the newer
one made in Shelton.
The one from Shelton has a dull matte stainless, sharp edges,
and is not the same quality as the ones made in Stratford.
As a matter of fact, I saw a blue snubby today from Stratford
that I am going to pick up tomorrow morning.

I wouldn't hesitate getting one, but look for an older one
made in Stratford.

I also have a Rossi M720 44 special. Great gun as said above.

Just my .02.

Stu
 
I have a Taurus 44C. It is a medium frame 5 shot 44 magnum. It has a 2½ ported barrel. With full patch magnums it is the fiercest thing I ever had in my hands. I really like it and have a standing offer if i ever put it up for sale. Those squiggly grips go a long way to absorbing some of the sting
 
Stu1205 said:
I have 3 Charter Arms 44 Bulldogs.
A stainless snubby and a blue 4" Target model.
Both of those were made at the Charter factory in Stratford CT.
I also have a newer stainless snubby made in Shelton Ct.
The stainless snubby made is shelton is a polished stainless
and it is tighter and put together much better than the newer
one made in Shelton.
The one from Shelton has a dull matte stainless, sharp edges,
and is not the same quality as the ones made in Stratford.
As a matter of fact, I saw a blue snubby today from Stratford
that I am going to pick up tomorrow morning.

I wouldn't hesitate getting one, but look for an older one
made in Stratford.

I also have a Rossi M720 44 special. Great gun as said above.

Just my .02.

Stu
Click to expand...

Stu, interesting feedback. My research has shown the opposite, that the ugly matte stainless, newer ones are the better ones. I like what you have said and I'm not questioning it. The new matte finish ones feel like they are made of cardboard LOL. Everything I have been able to read has said that the older ones feel much more solid and that I agree, yet, the newer ones are machined with closer tolerances and some of the older, more heftier ones are actually machined poorly and there are many duds floating around for sale cheap.

Again, not arguing, actually very much respecting your input, thank you, 26 also from Florida. Every time I start to order the 44 Pug from Buds, I remember holding that cardboard feeling matte one in my hands and move on.
 
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.
Click to expand...

Yes, When they were made by Rossi and imported by Interarms before Taurus, they were pretty nice guns, I would snag one if I ever see one again. My LGS had one not long ago but I did not act fast enough.:(
 
Rule3, I agree that the cylinder release on the Charter Arms is very badly designed. I was looking at them in 327 magnum and the first thought I had was "I wonder if a S&W cylinder release would work??.
 
I had an older Taurus 445 in blue. Nice gun; not at all like the current reputation they have. Wish I had it back. I would prefer one in stainless, but they seem somewhat elusive. The stainless ones had a nice, polished finish that was almost nickel. I actually think the Taurus reputation stems more from their customer service, or rather, the lack of it. Mine seemed to be a good one, and why I let it go, I'll never know.
 
Hope I do not get flamed here or banned?
I picked up one of the older Taurus 445s, On a whim/good deal.
(300.00 OTD with gun rug and a box of hornadys and a plastic baggie 50pcs of some ounce fired 44spl brass)
It is all steel, nice blue finish, older style firm rubber grips, no lock on the hammer Real sweet shooter with Hornady 180gr XTPs. It rides with me in the truck or serves house duty for the Mrs when I am away. The taurus scratched an itch with out the pain of dropping nearly a grand!
I would not be afraid of a CA or Taurus but a S&W is the cats meow.
When the CA Bulldog classic becomes available I will be purchasing one.
The Taurus and CAs go well with the S&Ws When it comes to the Special can ya really own just one?
Oh for the taurus and CAs I do not use any hot rod ammunition standard factory fodder and mild reloads If you have not owned a 44 special they are a nice economical way to start the addiction
Warning though! Then next is the single stage press to afford to Feed it, then its off to a show or a road trip to a few distant shops, Then in between it is internet and forum searching for the next fix.
At least with the 44spl addiction your are not going to be DWI it would be more DWA(driving while armed)
 
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Regardless of which revolver you choose, the 44 special is an outstanding round for personal defense. It just doesn't get much respect from the new generation of "I gots ta have a 20 round magazine" crowd. (of which I have been a member but I'm suddenly seeing the ers of my ways.)
You could take a chance and get a Taurus. You see, to save money Taurus fired all of their quality control people. Since they have a lifetime warrenty they don't need quality control. Right? Taurus is trying to change all that and have pledged to start taking quality seriously. I wish them well.
 
There is a really good thread over on another forum were they got to tour the plant in Miami. They only make a couple of small semi autos here in the USA. It is state of the art, and they are trying hard to up their quality control. I think Taurus's problem is they just make to many guns. Hard to make that many of anything and keep the quality up.

If one of my LGS had one to look at I might take the risk but I sure am not gonna order one.:eek:

I reload everything so ammo is not an issue.

I really hate things that do not work right though. At least with SW, SA and even Kel Tec the customer service and turn around is excellent. Taurus, well you wait a lifetime.
 
26Ford

I guess quality is in the eyes of the beholder.
I just took all of mine to the range to try out some new ammo in them.
The Hornady 165gr critical defense, which shot great.
After getting home and cleaning them, I discovered that I
could not cock and dry fire the newer one.
It kept locking up on the 4th and 5th chamber.
It is brand new, and this was the only the second time I shot it.
I just sent it back to Charter for repair.
I am selling it as soon as it returns.
I am in Broward. I have the box and papers.
Let me know if you are interested in it.

Stu

26Ford said:
Stu, interesting feedback. My research has shown the opposite, that the ugly matte stainless, newer ones are the better ones. I like what you have said and I'm not questioning it. The new matte finish ones feel like they are made of cardboard LOL. Everything I have been able to read has said that the older ones feel much more solid and that I agree, yet, the newer ones are machined with closer tolerances and some of the older, more heftier ones are actually machined poorly and there are many duds floating around for sale cheap.

Again, not arguing, actually very much respecting your input, thank you, 26 also from Florida. Every time I start to order the 44 Pug from Buds, I remember holding that cardboard feeling matte one in my hands and move on.
Click to expand...
 
Rossi 720 w/black Duracoat bought used. Problems so far zero. Haven't owned this one but for a few months.

2012-06-23_22-52-42_587.jpg


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

2011-11-21_17-41-28_433.jpg


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!!! ;)
 
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