Wanted - 9mm Snubby - Are Taurus Revolvers Really That Bad?

[Revolver-time]

Buy the Taurus and find out for yourself!
The LAST thing you want to do is limit yourself based on HIGHLY BIASED comments on any on-line forum!

I agree with this completely. You can have a good or bad experience with ANY manufacturer. I had a Colt Python made in 1964 that would lock up. A Colt series 70, 1911 that wanted to stovepipe at least once a magazine full. Still have a Smith Classic 1917 with a casehardened frame that wants to rust if it is not wiped down with oil once a month. A Marlin 39A that never cycled well.

Most of my firearms are great and I use them all the time and CC a few. I currently have in the group a Taurus PT 1911 that has gone 10K rounds and a 454 Raging Bull that has taken a deer and a few hogs. So I say try what you want then shoot it until your ammo budget runs out!

 

[Biggfoot44]

Taraus is not as bad as the internet haters say. But it is also true they have higher % of returns than "name brand" guns.

Other than QC in general , their problem is being too inovative. They will introduce new designs and new materials very quickly before adaquate testing and working the bugs out. And then half of them get discontinued by that time, so lots of orphans floating out there.

Specifically : The M92/100 family they've been making forever , and have figured out. The steel M85's they've been making forever, and have figured out. Several gunsmiths I trust have given thumbs up to PT1911's ( one of them a notorous Taraus hater of everything else they make).

If I could have found a M431 in person , I would have bought it.

The M445, M450, and M455 are great concepts , and don't have any comparitive counterparts from other mfgs. Likewise a .41Tracker is an intreguing unique concept. The friend of friend who had one had no problems, but let it go because he primarily loaded cast bullets with longer noses, and the Taraus cylnder is strictly for SAAMI spec COL.

So if you have a steel frame Taraus revolver in your hands , and know how to inspect a revolver, don't rule it out. But I probably wouldn't buy one over the net sight unseen.

But the part no body has asked yet , are you really sure about a 9mm DA revolver ? I own a M940 , and have to say that at best DA 9mm revolvers are a very niche item. Yes , they have a better expansion ratio than .38/.357 snubs. Yes if your employer restricts you to issued ammo only , and that happens to be Cmm , a small revolver does have advantages as a BUG.
If the chambers are reasonably close to spec , they are very ammo sensitive. I don't mean just accuraccy , but even chambering , or going bang. I'm guessing the current Tauri have generous diameter chambers and throat , because none of the reviews mention chambering issues. But the quoted group sizes at 7yd sound like group sizes fired at 20 or 25yds.

So unless you have a specific reason more compelling than simply owning a 9mm semi , I'd recomend a .38 instead.

 

[mydogcouldeatyou]

I can't speak of the revolver but I had a 380 years ago and is did all right. My neighbor bought a compact 9mm simi auto a few months back when there were zero hand guns in this state (nc) ironic that was the only one in stock IMO. It has been junk. No matter how clean or what brand ammo he gets 3 shots max and it jams or ftf.

 

[Jdavis]

Whew! Lotta haters out there. My guess is that the most of those folks have never owned a Taurus or much less one that was from recent production. Brand loyalty affects opinions as does hearsay which one would expect on a specific gun forum.
Would I choose a Taurus over a Colt, S&W, or Ruger? If I had the funds at my disposal...probably not. But...Taurus had made some strides under their new CEO in the last few years. They are not the same company that they were in the past and the quality of their product has improved as has customer service.
I have only one Taurus, a 4" 990 .22LR and it has performed as well as any of my revolvers and better than some. The action has worn in well and it's smoothness rivals any J frame S&W. With a lifetime warranty, free one year NRA membership, and an attractive price point, I might be a willing buyer again.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Whew! Lotta haters out there. My guess is that the most of those folks have never owned a Taurus or much less one that was from recent production.

Both of mine were brand new, with the 85 being the "oldest". I bought that one less than 2 years ago. The judge, more recently. Both were steel frame revolvers and both have been around long enough to get the bugs worked out. And both failed me. I was not a taurus "hater" at all. In fact the judge was very recent. However I will never pick up another one after losing $$ on them both.

Funny that I was at a local show last month and handled an ultralite judge that was also new. Where the barrel met the frame was an easy 1/16" gap on the bottom, only! Don't know how that made it through qc. And if their quality has gone up with their new CEO, I would hate to see it before! So yeah, I've owned them and this has been my personal experience. YMMV

 

[jack the toad]

Trying to keep an open mind and it's true a majority of my bull experience was some time ago when I was on the selling side of gun show tables, but at that time people at those shows had Taurus handguns (both revolver & auto) they were looking to sell/trade, more so than any other brand. And this was by a large margin. I don't recall ever buying or trading for one but when asked why they wanted shed of the Taurus, most allowed there was nothing wrong, they just wanted something else. As to why this was, I can't confirm.

 

[Waywatcher]

It doesn't stand to reason that there is a conspiracy of gun owners against the products made by Taurus.

Read a lot. Search a lot. Talk to people who have owned and shot a Taurus. The answer will show itself to you.

 

[djh1765]

The thought of buying a revolver other than a Smith is frightening to me. I would be comfortable buying a Ruger because I know they are built like tanks, I have a couple of Single Actions and they are fantastic. But the aesthetics on the Ruger Double Actions are pretty tough.

What is the story with current Taurus revolvers? I heard lots of bad things in the past. Is that still the case?

I would really like to pick up a 2" 9mm revolver, but a used 940 is a small fortune. Even the used Ruger 9mm revolvers are outrageous. How bad are the Taurus 9mm snubbies?

Not sure what you are referring to concerning the Taurus revolvers quality. My carry gun has been a model 605 357 cal. Taurus for years and I have never had one problem with the gun.

I happen to prefer the Taurus over the Smith & Wesson.

Some of the comments we are hearing could be because this is a Smith & Wesson Forum don't you think?
And I do have 2 Smith & Wessons an 4506-1 and a 637-2.
djh

 

[Jdavis]

Trying to keep an open mind and it's true a majority of my bull experience was some time ago when I was on the selling side of gun show tables, but at that time people at those shows had Taurus handguns (both revolver & auto) they were looking to sell/trade, more so than any other brand. And this was by a large margin. I don't recall ever buying or trading for one but when asked why they wanted shed of the Taurus, most allowed there was nothing wrong, they just wanted something else. As to why this was, I can't confirm.

If I bought a Kia because it seemed to be dependable and affordable. It will work and get me from point to point, but when my finances permit, I want trade it for something that I perceive as a better more desirable vehicle that has greater status. Perhaps Taurus provides an entry into the hobby for some who otherwise might not buy a gun. As can be seem from the comments in this thread, there is a negative impression about the brand by some. All manufacturers seem to have problems (look on any gun forum). Even on this forum I have seen negative comments about S&W current offerings. Any of the three makers mentioned in the OP can and do have issues of one type or another and as responsible companies will stand behind their products.
If the OP had asked this same question on a Taurus forum would you think that the responses would be different?

 

[RevolverDen]

I would never own a Taurus, ever ! So glad Taurus and S&W are not of the same mold !

The only alternative I can say is worthy to get my business is the GP-100. March Champion I own. Built like a tank and more refind than any other Ruger I have fired!

 

[Jdavis]

I would never own a Taurus, ever ! So glad Taurus and S&W are not of the same mold !
The only alternative I can say is worthy to get my business is the GP-100. March Champion I own. Built like a tank and more refind than any other Ruger I have fired!

I sense that you have a strong distaste for Taurus. Makes one wonder how the heck they have prospered in the firearms industry for over 70 years selling that stuff.
You certainly do have a fine alternative with that "built like a tank" Match Champion. It is a really nice weapon that bears a strong resemblance to the Wiley Clapp editions of a few years back.
BTW, you are probably too young to remember the Bangor Punta group. There was a relationship with S&W. Google it if you are unfamiliar.

 

[Revolver-time]

That is correct about Smith & Taurus. Until 1977 or so they shared design, engineering and manufacturing technique. The parent company owned controlling interest in Taurus. But, one would need to listen very hard to here that on this forum. But, like I said before you can get good or bad with all the manufacturers. Remember the S & W Escort? It use to run neck and neck with my Colt 1911 for jams.

 

[RevolverDen]

The only 9mm revolver I'd take interest in at the moment is the Ruger Blackhawk 357mag/9mm convertible. Just saw one at a shop lnib for $500.

I had the please of shooting the B.H. .357/9mm and it was a very nice shooter in both calibers! Certainly something to consider if one likes the convertible's flexibility..

 

[RevolverDen]

I sense that you have a strong distaste for Taurus. Makes one wonder how the heck they have prospered in the firearms industry for over 70 years selling that stuff.
You certainly do have a fine alternative with that "built like a tank" Match Champion. It is a really nice weapon that bears a strong resemblance to the Wiley Clapp editions of a few years back.
BTW, you are probably too young to remember the Bangor Punta group. There was a relationship with S&W. Google it if you are unfamiliar.

Just a strong distaste of repeated quality issues, nothing personal against any brand name, per se. But my own personal experience with Taurus has left me with no desire to return to their brand of firearms. Being around 70 years doesn't prevent them, or any other company from choosing to put out substandard products to market a low-cost option, or save on production parts cost. I can think of a 100-year old automaker that is dealing with such issues because they were able to save so money by not replacing cheaper, albeit problematic parts. But I digress...

Have shot both the Wiley Clapp and the Match Champion GP-100. Any resemblance you might perceive should end when you shoot both side by side as I did. The Match Champion has the better trigger feel and a lot of refinement in areas I didn't observe on the W.C.. But I wouldn't turn either away for general defensive use.

Regarding the Bangor Punta group, I am indeed familiar with them and their ownership of both Taurus and S&W history as a conglomerate. And no, I was not a gun owner when they acquired Smith and Wesson, just as I wasn't a Fender guitar owner when CBS purchased Fender and didn't own a Harley when AMF when bought H-D. But I indeed know that while each of these temporary owners brought dismal times to the product, they at least infused enough cash into their respective brands to keep each of them alive as a brand long enough for a proper management team to step in as an investment group to provide much needed revitalization.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Do the research on Taurus and see who they make firearms for. You will be surprised. I've owned a PT1911 for over a year now and 4000 rounds later it is still a joy to shoot. Hope you find a gem.

 

[BSA1]

You really didn't expect to hear any positive comments on a forum decided only to Smith & Wesson firearms did you?

Their are other forums that offer a more balance point of views.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

I bought a rossi 971 heavily used for a really low price and it shoots fine with 38. Never put anything else through it yet. But i would buy a used one as they are far cheaper and you know they handled the ammo by prev owner.

 

[HarrishMasher]

I bought a rossi 971 heavily used for a really low price and it shoots fine with 38. Never put anything else through it yet. But i would buy a used one as they are far cheaper and you know they handled the ammo by prev owner.

Yeah one of the first guns I bought 20+ years ago was a stainless Rossi .38 with a 4in barrel. After the first few rounds timing and lock up was totally off. It went away in a trade.

 

[Otreb]

I have a Pre Taurus Rossi 720 DAO in .44sp, it's a neat gun. I still have a bit of shooting to do before casting an absolute vote on it, but so far it's been fine over 100rnds. The sights are goofy, front is too wide and fills the notch.

 

[georgiacatweazle]

I now this post is older, but if you haven't made a decision yet. The modern Taurus revolvers are extremely good quality. I have the model 82 satin finish with a 4" barrel and it's got tight lock up, great finish and can give you 1" groups at 7-10 yards. i have a target in my garage with the holes in it.

The thought of buying a revolver other than a Smith is frightening to me. I would be comfortable buying a Ruger because I know they are built like tanks, I have a couple of Single Actions and they are fantastic. But the aesthetics on the Ruger Double Actions are pretty tough.

What is the story with current Taurus revolvers? I heard lots of bad things in the past. Is that still the case?

I would really like to pick up a 2" 9mm revolver, but a used 940 is a small fortune. Even the used Ruger 9mm revolvers are outrageous. How bad are the Taurus 9mm snubbies?