I know it's a Smith board but...

[ColbyBruce]

I am going to be different here

I have owned twelve Taurus #82's and four #85's, all .38 specials. One each Pt22 .22, 58 .380, and 92 9mm. Other than a magazine problem with the Pt22 I never had a problem with them. I have another snubbie #85 and a 3" SB #65 .357 on lay-a-way. These two together cost less than a LE trade-in S&W #10 and look better to boot.

I do have friends and aquaintances who have had different experiences with this brand, as well as with other brands that most folks rave about.

 

[smokey496]

I bought one taurus never again! 24/7 pro titanium. Had to send it back for repairs twice the first year.
It spent more time being repaired than it spent with me that first year. I will not trust my life to it.

 

[Rule3]

Taurus has a much nicer looking IL

The old Interarm Rossi's are good (or better) guns.

 

[Rule 303]

Friends don't let Friends buy Taurus Pistols/Revolvers.

Rule 303

 

[Texas Star]

Based on what I have seen, heard, and read of Taurus products, I've always wondered why a famous gun writer whose views I usually respect once espoused Taurus's "South American work ethic." If he sees this, he may explain that comment. I believe that he does see more Taurus products each year than most of us do.

They do or did have an ISO 9001 approval stamp, but what does that really mean?

If a friend asked me about Taurus, I'd try to help him find a good used Ruger or S&W. And I'd help him check it out.

No gun brand is without flaws, but some make more lemons than others. If I want lemons, I shop the produce section at the grocer.

The resale value of Taurus items probably speaks as loudly as anything else that we say here.

Have we reached 20 responses yet?

South America does produce memorable products, world class ones. Chilean wines and Brazilian supermodels come to mind. Guns don't.

T-Star

 

[ogilvyspecial]

They do or did have an ISO 9001 approval stamp, but what does that really mean?

Usually nothing. It basically means that a Company, "Documents what it does, then does what it documents."

Other than when an outside Auditor, like DNV, comes in, who knows what a Company actually does??

Things like QS-9000, ISO 9001, or whatever name it's called, sounds impressive, which is why most Companies do it.......

 

[hiram2005]

Here's one that's probably not...

A couple zip ties and some duck tape and you're good to go.

 

[joeintexas]

Cant't say on the Taurus but I do own a 686 and it is really a well made revolver, I would recommend it to a friend. I have had this one for at least 10 years with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Sip,

To be honest, this isn't the right place to ask the question, because the answers could possibly be ever so slightly biased.

I've got a friend that shoot handgun silhouette with a 8" Taurus .357, but I don't know what model, and he outshoots me with my Contender.

I do own two Taurus Judges now and had custom work done on one, and am (well, actually the gunsmith is) working on the other one. Neither have given me a problem at all, and they shoot much better now that I've had them adjusted for their purpose- to shoot stuff off the tractor, and they now pattern far better than my .410 Contender now too.

I was going to suggest looking at the Rossi 971 in 6", but I doubt it is CA approved. I've had a three Rossi revolvers over the years, and wound up giving them away as defense revolvers to family members- which was a mistake because I liked them so well. I'll get another one soon, and keep it.

As for the Taurus model 66, if you do a search for some real owner reviews on the net, it seems to be a good reliable piece with no problems.

My two cents.

 

[handejector]

How good a friend?
Ready to leave California yet?

 

[sipowicz]

We're all ready to leave Lee...

I will tell my friend to stick to Smith...

 

[M29since14]

They do or did have an ISO 9001 approval stamp, but what does that really mean? ...

Not just nothing - absolutely nothing.

I've seen a Taurus 66 that was a pretty good gun. While I wouldn't put it in the same class with a Model 19, if the owner doesn't plan to use it much, it might be OK for him. For a guy who plans to shoot a bit, I'd agree with others who say to keep looking for a used S&W.

 

[don95sml]

For someone that's used to a semi-auto, I would not recommend a 6" revolver of any make because it will feel too barrel-heavy for him. I think he would be happier with a 4" barrel for better balance.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Sip he ought to look for a Ruger Security six if he wants a lighter gun or a used Smith like the rest have suggested. I can't see paying that kind of money for a Taurus when they are used Rugers and Smiths all over.

 

[G-Mac]

A Taurus is probably at least as good as a Rossi.

 

[old bear]

My one Taurus experience

Two years ago I bought a Taurus 617 2" seven shot .357 Magnum. Since then I've fired 2,000 + rounds of assorted 38 special +P, +P+, and .357 Magnum ammo through it without any problems. My one experience with Taurus has been positive.
From everything I've read, Taurus makes two types of revolvers good affordable weapons and revolvers that no matter how many times it's repaired under warranty will never be right.

I've been happy with my Taurus but I will not buy another one, or recommend one to a friend.

 

[Tunachaser]

My step father is VN Vet, he never shoots, but wanted a gun for the night stand, I bought him a Rossi, we took it out and the first six broke it. Took it back and got a Torust, it broke too. Took it back and bought him mossberg 12 pump, it's under the bed......They are cheap for a reason, they are cheap.

 

[CajunBass]

I've owned three Taurus revolvers. The first one was basically a Model 10 HB clone, with ugly Magna type grips. The grips were the only thing wrong with that gun. They looked like they had been cut from a 2x4 by a guy with a Swiss Army Knife. A T grip fixed them, but they were still ugly. I shot the snot out of that gun and it worked perfectly. It was a long time ago, and I probably only shot wadcutters, but that gun was fun to shoot.

More recently I had a Model 85 with a bobbed hammer, and a seven shot Model 66. I never had any problem with either of them, but admit I didn't shoot either one a lot. Back then I didn't have access to a range. The times I did shoot them they both did just fine. The 66 especially was nicely finished, good blue color, nice rubber grips, a smooth "combat" trigger and a full underlug barrel. I traded them both off for something else but I wasn't unhappy with them. At the time the semi-auto bug had bit me. I really wish I had the 66 and that first 38 back.

 

[whoisavner]

they don't call Taurus the brazilian boatanchor for nothing.