This is the revolver S&W needs to build ... [added info - Post 17]

[ACORN]

I have a Rossi 720C and the Taurus 445UL. While the cult status the Rossi has attained hasn’t caught up with the Taurus I think it will.....eventually. My Taurus is well finished and mechanically excellent. The Rossi’s finish has some marks that maybe from a previous owner or the factory but nothing I can’t remedy with a scotchbrite pad.
Both of mine are nice guns.

 

[Echo40]

Between my family and I there are a total of 5 Taurus brand firearms in my household, I've never had any issues with any of them.

I've said it before and I'll say it as many times as the subject is raised, the issue with Taurus isn't lack of quality or reliability, but rather terrible QC/CS, which in turn has resulted in the illusion that a lack of overall quality/reliability is the issue due to the sheer amount of negative feedback from those who got a lemon and had to deal with Taurus' inept CS Representatives and couldn't reach a positive conclusion.
In reality, Taurus has no worse overall quality control than Ruger, but unlike Taurus, Ruger actually has very good Customer Service, ergo those who get a lemon tend to get the issue sorted out promptly, thus leaving them with a much more positive opinion of the company.

It also doesn't help matters that many folks have a bad habit of making Taurus' reputation for lack of reliability something of a self-fulfilled prophesy when they go in so expecting the firearm to fail that any hiccups they experience during their first trip out to the range get immediately self-diagnosed as symptoms of a much bigger problem when in reality the gun just needs broken in. (And before anyone says, "My Smith ain't need no break-in!" Your Smith & Wesson probably cost you 2x the amount of a Taurus.)
In addition, I've seen a lot of folks in videos online who really seem to neglect their Taurus firearms, handling them with far less care than they do their other firearms, and thus likely neglecting them even furthermore behind the scenes. You can't expect a firearm that you neglect, handle carelessly, and do not clean/lube on a regular basis to maintain perfect function/reliability.

 

[ACORN]

I saw a ported titanium Taurus in .45 Colt at a shop once. Didn’t pay it any attention been wishing ever since that I had.

 

[BC38]

I have a Taurus 44C, which is the 44 magnum exposed hammer DA/SA version of the same gun in the OP.

At just under 20 ounces, to say it is a handful with full bore magnum rounds is a major understatement.

The 44C is one of a half dozen Taurus/Rossi guns in my collection. It has been flawless - as have all the rest of them.

Admittedly I don't shoot thousands of rounds through any of them, but I don't through my Smiths, or Colts, or and of the other two dozen brands I own.

If I did I might have a different experience, but since I don't, and likely never will, and I don't sell my guns, the stuff the Taurus bashers post is a non-issue.

 

[kraynky]

I was diligently searching for a Rossi 720 (or similar) when a reasonably priced 696 showed up here a year or two back. Right after acquiring it, I stumbled across a used Taurus 445. Very lightly used.

Since I wasn't even aware that they made one, & figuring I'd never see another, I snagged it too. For less than 1/2 the cost of the Smith. The serial dates it back to '89 IIRC. Solid stainless steel 5 shooter, closer to the K frame than the L framed 5 shot 696.

The 696 has a much better trigger, that is easily staged in double action, and the 445 has a wide smooth trigger that pulls very lightly, up until it breaks cleanly, but not way to stage it. Being smaller, the 445 carries much easier, and is quite reliable & accurate.

I'm keeping both for now.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Finding a less expensive alternative that fills your requirements is always fun. You can buy a lot of ammo for the price difference in a lot of cases. S&W does not have a monopoly on making good guns (just ask the Colt guys), but we pay a premium because they have proven themselves for generations and we like them. I too have 90% S&W but for 1911's I stray to Springfield and Rock Island products and enjoy the results. I hope that your Taurus 445 serves you and your heirs well.

 

[dr. mordo]

I have both the 445UL and the Taurus 617 (steel frame 7 shot 357 MAG), and I have posted many times that S&W really need to steal the idea of a oversized cylinder in a smaller frame. I would buy both in a second.

That said, I have recently found a old beat up Charter Arms Bulldog and am going to have a local smith cut down the barrel to two inches for pocket carry. It may make the 445UL obsolete for me.

 

[colt_saa]

LOL... I gave that one a look. Pretty freakin awesome if you ask me. I'll bet a super hot loaded 45 Colt would be brutal out of that thing. Alas, I must feed my 44spl addiction

That Taurus 450T is loaded with the Barnes 200 grain solid copper HP. As far as 45 LC ammunition goes, it is not too hot

However, that opening is so big on the front of those projectiles that you could drop a small child in there

I beta test 10MM Auto ammunition for Barnes, so the good folks found it in their heart to send me some 45 Long Colt and 41 Magnum when I asked

If you want a wrist-full, I have the same Total Titan snub in 41 Magnum as pictured toward the start of this thread

Run some full magnums thorough that

 

[The_Truth]

Well, I won the auction! In a couple of days the 445 will be in my possession

 

[markyboy57]

Let us know how you like it. Since the original posting I have picked up a few more Taurus Titanium revolvers. The top one is a 445 Ti in .44 special, the one in the middle is a 731 Ti in .32 magnum, the bottom is a model 905 ib Ti, a 9mm in their mini frame, in titanium. Supposedly they never released this model, only one I have ever seen.

 

[Joed49]

I too owned a Taurus 445, it was a fantastic revolver and spent a lot of time in my vehicle or carried. Mine was stainless and ported. Bought it used for $200 to replace a Bulldog.

The action was smooth, the gun was trouble free and accurate. Kept it for 8 years and finally sold it to a friend.

 

[The_Truth]

I bought these for it... hope they fit properly Gonna Tgrip it up like my 'Smiths

GRIPS CHCKRD RD SVCE MED FR / 44

 

[BC38]

I bought these for it... hope they fit properly Gonna Tgrip it up like my 'Smiths

GRIPS CHCKRD RD SVCE MED FR / 44

I hate to say it, but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm pretty certain the 445 has the same grip as my 44C (and the Judge, Tracker, etc.)
They don't take a standard two-piece grip held together and held on by a screw between the two halves.
They take a one piece monogrip that slides on from the bottom and has a screw that points upward into the heel of the grip frame. Because of the style of grip they are designed for, the frame for these revolvers isn't even shaped like the grips you posted. The frontstrap and backstrap of the grip frame are parallel. That allows the monogrigp to slide snugly onto the grip frame and have no slop.

 

[The_Truth]

I hate to say it, but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm pretty certain the 445 has the same grip as my 44C (and the Judge, Tracker, etc.)
They don't take a standard two-piece grip held together and held on by a screw between the two halves.
They take a one piece monogrip that slides on from the bottom and has a screw that points upward into the heel of the grip frame. Because of the style of grip they are designed for, the frame for these revolvers isn't even shaped like the grips you posted. The frontstrap and backstrap of the grip frame are parallel. That allows the monogrigp to slide snugly onto the grip frame and have no slop.

Ehh, I took a chance. I'm only out $10 plus shipping.

If they don't work they're up for grabs!

I do want some Taurus brand wood grips for it, round butt preferably. There are some on ebay but they are a bit pricey.

 

[dr. mordo]

You can get Thai-made wood grips on Ebay for it. I haven't been all that impressed with the Thai made grips I've gotten, but they at least offer some options. If memory serves you want the "Tracker" grips.

 

[American1776]

I have always been a big fan of the Taurus L-frame sized 5 shot carry guns going all the way back to the introduction of the 415 and 415T at the turn of the last century. YES, it was that long ago

These little 41 Magnums have been carried with me on many occasions when I felt a 357 would not be enough.

Even the Total Titanium model 415T was not that expensive of a revolver at the time. In addition to the calibers already mentioned, Taurus also offered these L-framed sized pistols in 45 LC.

Now a big bore snubby can scare away the shooter as often as it scares away a potential wrongdoer. Even light loads twist and turn in a 2" barrel significantly more than a 38 does.

The bulk of the CCW buying public does not think like the few thousand enthusiasts that frequent this Forum. Designs, concepts and ideas that might appear to be no brainers to us would never enter the minds of 95%+ of the folks that buy a snubby for personal protection.

We are a tiny minority of the gun buying market

I was always intrigued by that model. A 5 shot .41 mag snub is really something I would love, since my model 58's were just too big and heavy. The fact it was a Tauri always made me leary of how well that thing would hold up.

Does it hold up well? They look cool too.

 

[Joed49]

I don't think anyone would regret the Taurus 445. The grips never bothered me the slightest. It was also the first ported gun I owned and I liked that too. That gun could be counted on for a second shot on any target I aimed it at.

Here's a picture of the 445 stainless I owned. I still miss it.

 

[The_Truth]

Picked up my 445 today. I must admit, although I hate the look of the rubber grips, these grips fit my hand absolutely perfectly. I couldn't ask for a better grip unless I had one specially made for my hands. I might give up the search for nice wood for it and keep the rubbers on there. There is some slight endshake but it doesn't seem excessive enough to shave lead or anything. Other than that, the timing is perfect, the trigger feels decent enough for it's intended purpose, and I can't wait to shoot it! This thing really does fit perfectly in the hand. A beautifully designed snubby 44.

I'm gonna see if it fits my K frame holster tonight so I can buy a nice DeSantis or Galco thumbstrap OWB for it (I've only got a 3" and a 4" K frame). I've heard it sits a little loose in a K frame holster. Just based on appearance, it looks identical to a K frame size. We shall see!

 

[dr. mordo]

I have a love/hate relationship with those stock rubber grips. They are comfortable, fit my hand well, and are small enough to conceal easily. On the negative side, they are kind of plastic-y and feel slippery in my hand. If they were slightly more rubbery they would be perfect. Come to think of it, I have some rubberized grip tape, I should try it on them.

 

[The_Truth]

Mine are pretty tacky. They'll feel nice and soft though after I give the gun a nice deep cleaning.