Taurus Vs. Smith and Wesson

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gizamo

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Read another thread elsewhere and this topic came up. I wondered how it would turn out this time. Basically, the way it always does. Bunch of S&W guys getting a bee under their bonnets....:D

Makes me wonder how many here actually realize the history between S&W and Taurus. As in ~ they were once under the same umbrella...sharing enginering and production info, etc....
 
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Yes.. they're cousins.

Doesn't change the fact that 60% of the stuff they put out now is pure crap.

An improvement over a few years ago when 95% of the stuff they put out was pure crap.

Don't get me wrong.. Taurus is good...

.... for those who can't afford the real deal the Taurus model is copying.

OR those who want a completely useless gun that shoots .45 lc or 410.


Seriously, as you can tell I don't like Taurus. All of the revolvers I've handled feel like total junk.
 
From about 1970 to 1977 Bangor Punta was the owner of both Taurus and Smith and Wesson.

Trom Taurus's website...

Quote:

"In the meantime, Smith & Wesson had been purchased by a conglomerate named Bangor Punta. In 1970, Bangor Punta also purchased 54% of Taurus. Thus, the two companies became "sisters". Smith & Wesson never owned Taurus. They were both independent companies. However, during the next seven years, a great deal of technology and methodology was passed between the two. What may come as a surprise to some is that more of what was "right" in Porto Alegre was sent to Springfield than was sent from Springfield to south of the equator."
 
I can't find a Taurus Collector's Association or any edition of the Standard Handbook of Taurus anywhere.
 
Yeah, you like Taurus, we got that part.
Hope you enjoy paying the $90 shipping when you take advantage of their lifetime warranty.

Having sent a Taurus back 3 times before they finally replaced an obviously defective, visibly crooked barrel, I've had enough Taurus to last a lifetime.

I don't care what you buy. Do you get that part?
 
taurus=JUNK!!!!!!!!!! besides, buy american. but if you like taurus,please buy all you want. the catfish guys are always looking for trotline weights.
 
I own both. Never had a problem with either. I also own colts and rugers. never a problem there either.
 
A relative has a Taurus 38. Similiar in size and design to a Model 10 with a 3" tube. It is her nightstand gun.
I test fired it; trigger sucks, accuracy iffy, quality is best answered as "what-is-that?"
The pistol WILL fire six shots and will do the job at bed-to-window range which is all that it was bought for and being asked of it.
I WOULD NOT carry this CCW or anything else.
I keep it clean, oiled and maintained for her...and that's it.
 
For the price of a Tauri, a person could own a very nice used S&W. In fact, we probably lose in the comparison. If it was between a new S&W, New Tauri, used S&W, used Tauri, in all probability the used S&W would be the best gun at the second best price. Used Taurus bring almost nothing if they sell at all. You can resell a used S&W, often for more than you paid.

But times do change. I still remember clearly over the last 20 years when you could score any number of Victory S&Ws for $100, sometimes less. Today they're all worth $300 or more. The free market seems to have the unique ability to allow worthy guns to increase in price.

I've had friends who want to argue guns with me. I decline, usually. But I always refuse to listen to their crap about it being the same gun with a different name, or almost as good, etc.

I even used to amuse myself by standing in gun shops listening to the sales staff promote the junk. I don't think Taurus is any better (or worse) than Jennings, Lorcin, or any of the other "ring of fire" brands. Its also on a par with Star, Rossi, etc. I agree they're better than a brick, but not much. I'd even prefer a Ruger to any Taurus. Coming from me, that's a huge concession.
 
I've owned some of them all. Colt, Ruger, Kimber, Taurus, Springfield Armory, Beretta, Smith & Wesson. Ask me which one of these I don't have anymore.
 
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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.
 
I've never owned a Taurus. They do make some interesting gun configurations. There is a 5 shot .41 Magnum that I've seen that I really liked. Another long range gun in 218 Bee.

Watched them over the years. They are seemingly improving their product.

What bothers me more is when I see guns like the 1911 Springfields be marketed and nobody is mentioning they are being made in Brasil.

Sigh, times change...and move on. Me, I'm stuck in the past. On the plus side we can still buy some pretty nice old guns for less the the cost of some of these newer models...

Guess we can take some comfort in that ...
 
During my brief check out guns for a local shop before sending them back to manufacturer. I saw more Taurus go out and come right back in with problems. I used to laugh and joke with the staff when they would call and say we have one for you to look at. I would ask What model of Taurus is it this time.
 
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I see a lot of Taurus and Charter Arms in the gun shops around here. While standing in one of the shops I overheard the kid behind the counter (owner's son I guess) telling a gentleman that was looking for a CCW that Taurus has a lifetime warranty. I immediately thought to myself "and yeah he will be using it too." I wanted so bad to pull the guy aside and give him more information, but I didn't want to make my local pusher angry with me.
I use it to my advantage. When a 940 showed-up there a few weeks ago I asked to see it. It was in great shape, but no original box or grips. Still for $377 otd, how could you go wrong? I like to think that it's the difference between a collector (waiting for a good S&W to show-up) and a gun owner (buying any ole crap.) My husband calls me a gun snob.
 
Brandy =- I have a pretty good idea which one(s) you don't deal with anymore....the crappy ones....
 
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.
 
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