Taurus Brand Question: An Honest Question?

[Otreb]

Taurus has been good to me, but I agree the level of CS and QC is higher with S&W or even Ruger. I inspect before buying, many times have come across Taurus revolvers that shouldn't have left the factory....but THAT said, my present day mod 94 snubby has been a shooter, and the heavy DA has worn in to a decent useable trigger now, so the gun keeps miles off my 1955 era 22/32 Kit Gun. Honestly, it shoot just as well and chronos better velocities too.
I also have a mod 431 in .44sp that demonstrates good accuracy and a fair trigger. I have also owned a few others over the years, a few 85 models, incl the Titanium version a 'Pre judge' 44-410 and a model 66 that took a nice trigger job ( should have kept that one). A few pistols too, a pt 58, pt92c and pt 22.... All worked fine, but went down the road for other guns over the years.
If Taurus could refine its QC, they could be a top notch gunmaker, they make guns people want, just not always as well as they should.

 

[JM4151]

Taurus Products

I had a 738 TCP 380. I used it for a couple of years then sold it. Better 380 handguns out there. I have a Taurus 44 Mag. Its a great gun, I got lucky. Shot many wild boar with it. I have owned several Smith 29's and 629's over the years, the Taurus just came along, at the right price and I bought it, about 10 years ago.
I owned a gun shop for over 25 years. Towards the end I topped selling Taurus products because of too many returns, and long turn around times. I suspect things are better now with the new CEO. I have no proof of that though. If you want a 380 look at the new Smith Bodyguard or the Glock 42 in addition to the Taurus!

 

[Shooting Padre]

I have had three Taurus revolvers, ;.357, .38 snub and a .22 snub. The .357 was quite accurate and nice to shoot. The .38 was typical of a snub, but no bad habits. The .22 however was traded off, as was my son's identical gun. The triggers were inoperable by our wive, for whom we purchased the guns. I have a early model 94 three inch .22 that you will not get away from me. The earlier years seem to have much better fit, finish and trigger action. This was made in Brazil in 1992. My very first handgun was a Taurus 24-7 in 40 S&W and I liked it very much, but traded it for the .357 wheel gun in a moment of revolver passion. I think they are like a lot of guns on the market, you can get a poor, average or great one. But like you, I am now a S&W fan for life.

 

[stantheman86]

I got this 82 for $200, like new condition. It's easily the equal real world performance and durability-wise of a new S&W Model 10. DA pull is a bit heavy but it goes bang 6 times and makes a good range shooter. After 50 rounds with this my S&W triggers feel like butter

Not bad for 25 yards, good enough for defensive work. If it had a DA pull below 20 lbs it would do better but Taurus revolvers don't always respond well to lighter Wolff springs. Taurus uses heavier springs to mask rough fitting of internal parts. I put light Wolff springs in another 82 and the action was terrible.

One thing I'll give Taurus credit for is eliminating the front ejector rod lockup and going with a crane lock.....so did Ruger so nothing new here but still a step in the right direction.

The next one off the line might have been a pile of garbage.

 

[jjsat]

My first semi auto pistol is a Taurus. The trigger on my PT 24/7 G2 9mm has a very long pull but after about 300-400 rds it's become pretty smooth. Pretty accurate, eats any type of ammo I put though it, and fun to shoot.

 

[THEWELSHM]

A buddy of mine loves his Taurus he is an avid shooteR and has been shooting 125 grain magnum 357 through his for years. Not my cup of tea versus a smith. I bought him a raging bull as a gift I have Beverly shot it he loves that one too. I suppose each to their own

Thewelshm

 

[mc5aw]

When S&W makes the Taurus DAO Model 445 (medium frame .44 Special) please let me know. I will buy one for each hand. Until then, I'm very pleased with this nifty belly gun.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I own a S&W 5906, a S&W SD9VE, a Taurus PT1911 and my CC is a Bersa 380 Thunder. I am well pleased with all four.

 

[wildenout]

They make cheap guns, because they are cheap quality. I have not had a friend with a Taurus who has NOT had problems with said firearm. With the exception of one friend with a 1911, but he babied it, broke it in, and cleaned it often.

 

[stantheman86]

I only buy Taurus security trade ins, I have usually had good luck. The security companies sometimes send back the "rejects" so you have a better chance of getting a decent one.

I have plenty of S&W and Ruger wheelguns but I'm an obsessive accumulator I enjoy owning and shooting all different brands of guns.

I have a 1993 production blue PT92 on layaway, we'll see how that one turns out.

On the other side of the coin I picked up this like new late 70's a Model 80, added the target grips and put 6 rounds through it. It wasn't a bargain at $300 or so. I loaded the cylinder up again after the first 6 and the DA pull locked up, the forcing cone is too tight......

I like the Taurus wheelguns I have but don't think I'll be looking for any more.

With a ton of Brinks and overseas trade in DAO 64-5's and 64-6's on the market there's plenty of options for knock around shooter grade wheelguns for $300.

 

[Whitens Moss]

The old saw applies here. You get what you pay for. Tauruses are cheaper for a good reason: they are not as well built, nor do they perform as well as Smiths, Rugers and Colts when it comes to revolvers. No brand is perfect. However, every time I pick up a Taurus and inspect closely I find that overall quality, fit and finish are second-rate.

 

[Mister X]

I personally would never trust my life to a Taurus firearm.

Can you name any Police Departments or Military(outside perhaps Brazil where they're made) that trusts their lives to them?

Can you name any well respected, reputable firearm experts or instructors or authorities that carries a Taurus and would trust their life to one?

When I called Taurus customer service, they told me not to dry-fire their revolvers because the firing pin could break. That doesn't speak well of the quality of the metal they use. Anytime I've handled a Taurus, they simply look and feel cheaply made.

 

[stantheman86]

I'm not a Taurus defender or basher, I think if they're made right you get a functional firearm.

The Amarillo PD has issued 4" Taurus 66 stainless revolvers, I think in the 80's..... why, I don't know but they probably got them nearly free.

Countless security companies have used them and some still do.

Massad Ayoob has praised Taurus snub revolvers in his writings.

The police in Taiwan issue 3" Taurus 85's with Crimson Trace grips.....the grips probably cost more than the guns.

At one time Bangor Punta owned both S&W and Taurus. It was rumored that the Taurus factory was slated to become a "budget " line of S&W and start making S&W branded revolvers but Bangor Punta folded before this could happen.

Say what you will, I just think it's curious that S&W makes 686's in .38 Special for Brazilian export since civilians can't own .357's or auto loaders. Why don't Brazilian civilians want Taurus .38's? Take from that what you will.

 

[baccusboy]

I have owned 2 Taurus guns.

First one was a PT-92. It was a nice gun, but the thing was an old-school tank... too heavy for carry. I faulted it for the nickel finish flaking off a bit, so I sold it. Later, I learned that it was MY fault, as you should never clean a gun with Windex. Chalk it up to an uninformed 24 year-old not knowing that ammonia kills nickel.

The second Taurus I owned was a PT-22. Cute little gun, but the bullets would keyhole out of it, and it was very inaccurate overall. I sold it off for a S&W .380 Sigma, at which point after shooting the Sigma, I would have rather kept the Taurus! I didn't purchase another S&W for nearly 20 years!

 

[WaMike]

I have an 82 (medium frame 38 Spl) that has had several thousand trouble-free rounds through it, both wadcutters and hi-vel loads. I did a trigger job on it, which helps both single and double-action firing.

I'd guess there's no structural difference between the medium frame 38 Spl (e.g., Mdls 82) vs their .357 Mag (Mdl 65) , other than chambering the cylinders. Perhaps someone knows otherwise.

I also have a small-frame Mdl 85, which I've not shot as much. So far, though, it's been fine.

Oddly enough, an acquaintance also had a Mdl 85 and the chambering was too short: cartridges stuck just far enough out so as to prevent closing. He gave it back to the dealer, who traded him another new one which worked fine.

 

[Rhetorician]

Rhetorician Response and Question

Hello to all:

I am purchasing a pre-Model 10 38 special M and P Hand Eject model from my local pawn shop. So I am becoming a Smith owner.

I have an honest question I feel that I can ask the upright and fair members of this board. But I would like to avoid "brand bashing" or "gun snobbing" if at all possible.

What "think ye" of the Taurus brand of (hand) guns? Be nice and try to be objective if you will please. For full disclosure, I own a 738 TCP 380 acp as my EDC. I have a Ruger LCR 357 as my secondary EDC.

I look forward to reading your accurate and objective replies.

"My two cents worth!"

So then, what is the appeal of the Taurus brand? They seem to sell a lot of firearms. And the people who love them really love them.

Let me hear back from you please.

rd

 

[rwsmith]

They were recommended...

They were recommended to me by a friend, who really likes his. I gather from reading that their quality can run from very good to bad. Unfortunately a lot of time has passed since Taurus got started and was connected to Smith and Wesson and the trends in quality aren't clear to me.

 

[holo]

My 92 clone would not fire from the day I bought it. There was a bad firing pin spring. Sent it back to the factory had it repaired,sold the weekend I got it back. I Was gifted a few after my father in law passed away sold all three and bought one nice s.w. And a ruger. I know he would want me to have quality more than qty.

 

[JM4151]

Taurus Brand Guns

Right now I own two Taurus guns. The first is a SS 44 Mag with a 6 inch bbl. Great gun, that I took in trade. Shot several wild boar with it. The second Taurus I have is a model 62 rifle in 22 cal. It too works fine. I have the same gun in the model 62 Winchester, but its becoming to valuable to shoot. I had the model 63 Taurus and sent it back to them for repair. They could not repair same, and send me a credit for another gun from their product line. They didn't have good luck with their rifle line.
In addition to being on the PD, I owned a small gun shop for 25 years. I stopped selling the Taurus Line because so many of them had to go back to the factory, to repair defects. When you returned them, they went to the back of the list and it could take 6 weeks for the customer to get them back. As a dealer you had to package it up, write a letter, mail it out and pay the shipping and for the insurance, all the time the customer was complaining to you because you initially sold it to him. I finally stopped selling them. That being said a few years ago, a new person took control of the company and he appears to have turned things around. I have not purchased any of their guns since the change in ownership, and I closed my shop and retired. Also retired after 38 years in LE.

 

[BobC357]

I had a 38 spl revolver and I spent some time on the innards with an Arkansas stone and it turned into a real nice piece. Never had any problems with it. Traded it for the Ruger Security Six and its current owner still has it and is happy with it. Like others have said, it wasn't S&W quality but, for the price and a little work, it turned into a nice gun.