Taurus Vs. Smith and Wesson

I used to own three Taurus revolvers, two semi autos, and one rifle. They ALL quit working before they were even broke in.

These day's I won't give any Taurus product a second look.

The novelty of a different gun, or the price is not worth the agravation.

No Taurus for me.
 
I have an old Taurus 96 that I picked up for cheap, along time ago before I knew any better. Is it as good as a Model 17, which
it kind of imitates? No way, no how! Would I rather have a Model 17? Without a doubt! If I ever need parts for it, I'm SOL and
it isn't worth selling, so I keep it as my old beater gun. It still functions and it's even surprisingly accurate. Not the best gun
around - by a country mile - but still a hoot to shoot. So I do.
 
Over the years I've owned Smith, Colts, Sigs, and Taurus's. I've had good ones and bad ones from each. Not to be defensive of Taurus, one of the best pistols I still own is a PT99AF, I bought it in the mid 1980's. As for their new plastic toys that are striker fired, I just can't convince myself to accept them, same for Smiths and other suppliers. I want all metal with a hammer.
 
There is one thing that Taurus is currently famous for, that is extremely poor Customer Service. My impression is that it's so bad that I wouldn't even consider buying a new Taurus. However, I did recently look over a used Taurus Tracker in 17HMR and that paricular gun was in good mechanical condition and pretty well finished. If the price hadn't been too high, I would have been tempted to purchase it but only after testing it out for 50 rounds or so. In the case of a Taurus, it's probably safest to shop for a used one that works properly than take a chance on getting a new one that is a complete lemon.

As for Smith & Wesson, there was a time when I thought their wheelguns were a bit high priced. However, that opinion changed when I got one for myself. Now I have 4 and I think that every single one was worth every penny spent and some are a real bargain.

Recently I've been doing some long range bench shooting with my 610 and 617. I'm still working on my techique, but holy smokes these guns are accurate. Right now 4 inches at 50 yards without sandbagging the gun is duck soup, with sandbags I suspect that either one will group under 1.5 inches. When you start shopping for a handgun that will group under 2 inches at 50 yards, those old fashioned wheelguns from S&W start looking like a real bargain.
 
My taurus hasn't failed me. But I heard that their wheel guns don't have nearly as much problems as their autos.
 
Far from being an expert on Taurus , I will say that the only one I own is the snub COP 357 model.
So far so good! It works like it should and can keep 5 rounds under 4" at 25 yards.
And while the grips are small (only two fingers fit on them) the design is good enough that full power 158gr. loads are not bad at all.
Would I rather have a S&W 60? "YOU BETCHA!"
But at the time I bought the Taurus I didn't have the $500++ for the Smith.
 
The Taurus PT 1911 is a very nice, tight accurate pistol. I realize Taurus bashing is something of a sport but my PT 1911 has functioned flawlessly with any ammo I've put through it and it is very accurate. A good buy for the money.

I'm a member of two Taurus forums that show the company's reputation is improving because they've made improvement part of the manufacturing and customer service goals.
 
Marcus88 said:
My taurus hasn't failed me. But I heard that their wheel guns don't have nearly as much problems as their autos.
Click to expand...
You must of had this one in mind when you said that! :)

374425139.jpg
 
In the last 15 years I have had five Taurus revolvers and haven't had a problem with any of them. I don't have any experience with their auto's or customer service. The revolvers I had appeared a little less refined in fit and finish. They aren't my first choice, but a good second choice for me.
 
I have never owned a Taurus, got a bunch of S &W's. My take is that the Taurus is a less refined and less finished knockoff. That said, I have fired a friends Raging Bull 454 casull on several trips to the range. It is a good hunting handgun and I have thought of buying one several times. With the changes in S&W engineering (MIM, Locks, Barrel Sleeves) how much longer can one say that the S &W is the better made gun?
 
Bangor Punta was a "holding company" with no real interest in S&W other than profitability. I've seen some really piss poor examples of Smith CC during the later years of Bangor Punta. I have not seen any of these poor 70's examples for sale in recent years. It could well be that most "bad guns" have since been reworked or replaced by S&W over the years. A word to the wise would be give a BP era gun a second look before purchasing.
 
Now I love S&W's but I gotta tell ya I just recently bought my first Taurus, one of their new 709 autos in 9mm. It is beautifully finished and I think it should be a great carry gun. I really don't think S&W makes anything quite like the sweet 709. Maybe I'll have to post a pic....Shoo
 
I own both S&Ws and Taurus'. The older Tarus revolvers I have I like, they are not as good as the older S&Ws I have, but they are better than Rugers or Colts that I've shot or own(ed).

It all depends on the time frame for both companies. I wouldn't pay a nickel for either one of their products made today. The only newer Taurus revolver I have is a pre-lock 445, what a disaapointment.
 
I can only speak of two Taurus revolvers, I bought an original model 44 in 8 3/8" for deer hunting somewhere around 1990. The thing served me pretty well for 12-15 years but I started to notice the clylinder was loosen up from shooting my hunting loads. I shot somewhere around 200 of those rounds through it's life with me. Swapped the Model 44 in January and was a bit sad to see it go but I didn't want fix the thing. I bought a model 94 22lr revolver in 2008 to give it a try for a fishing revolver here in snake country, after the first cylinder ful the hammer had a quarted inch chunk of the so-call finish missing from it. The thing misfired 15 shots out of the box of ammo I was shooting-- so I tried other brands with roughly the same results. Well I went to sell it outright to me local pusher when I saw he had an old flat latch 36 in carried condition just begging for a new home, well guess what I have now. I don't love the new Smiths with the lack of fit and finish, lock, and the fake classic line but they are way better than anything coming from many of the other manufacturers.
Buy the way, my models 57, 28, 629, and 29 have had almost nothing but hot loads though them and not a hint of loosness.
 
Bought 1 went bad they replaced it...second one different problem they replaced it 3rd went bad they gave me my money back all in 30 days time.
 
danski said:
I wouldn't own a Tauras revolver, not when I can afford Smiths.

However, the Taurus fills a niche for the non-gun people who want a home defense piece and are sticker shocked when they see prices for some of the Smiths, Colts of nearly any category, used or new.

So, back in the 1960s or 1970s people bought a Smith or Colt for home defense, shot it maybe once, and then put it in their dresser drawer. Hence so many Smiths and Colt in pristine to near pristine shape.

Now, today, a dealer can clinch a sale simply by offering the Taurus, knowing full well the person buying it neither knows guns, will read about them, or shoot them very much if at all. And the person has that peace of mind that now all is safe in the home.

And 30 years from now, brand new used Taurus will be up for resale at
a 20th of what the original owner paid.
Click to expand...

An addition to my previous post.
When my relative (who is NOT gun savvy and HATES guns) purchased it...it was used and inexpensive. I went with her when she got and made sure it was in good shape and got her some proper ammo for it.
I hope that it is NEVER used. The only time it has been fired recently was when I tested its capabilities at the range.

If the day come and it has to be used and is taken by law enforcement...wellllll...it's an old Taurus and NOT a high dollar Colt, Smith and Wesson, or Ruger nor a sentimental H&R. It wouldn't be anything to pick up rocks in the yard and beg forgiveness from the bugs underneath for loosing a "major" piece.
 
I have a Model 85 semi-concealed hammer steel revolver that I purchased a long time ago. The fit, finish and function is good and I have no complaints. It goes bang every time and has been shot several hundred times and shows no looseness or excessive play. Maybe I was lucky and sure I would rather have my Smith & Wessons but for what I paid and how it has performed I am happy with it.
 
Jellybean, could you please elaborate on your experience with the 445?
 
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