New to Me Taurus Revolver

[Barbarian-CBX]

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.

 

[Wee Hooker]

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.

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

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.

 

[Lightfoot4]

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

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

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.

 

[ancient-one]

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.

 

[CajunBass]

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.

 

[Bayou52]

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

 

[Jaymo]

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.

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.

 

[gwpercle]

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

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

I had to look up, "abject."

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

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.

I had to look up, "abject."

 

[Echo40]

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.

 

[Riverboys]

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

 

[stansdds]

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.

 

[dr. mordo]

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

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

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

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

 

[Zipdog]

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.

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.

 

[Jaymo]

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.

 

[Jaymo]

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

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.