Would you buy a Taurus Revolver?

I am thinking about getting a Taurus 608 - 8 round ported .357. It would be for action pistol style matches, USPSA, Bowling pins and steel matches. I would probably average 200 - 400 rounds per month and basically am concerned about the Quality and druability of Taurus revolvers. Currently I own 2 Taurus pistols - a PT 92 AS and a PT-145. I trust the PT-145 with my life and shoot it often - the PT 92 AS I have owned for about 15 years and I have had some minor problems with the roll pin that the rear sight pivots on. It does go bang every time, the bullets go where they are supposed to and is not a jam-o-matic. Revolvers are a different animal however as in my opinion they are mechanically more complex. I have done extensive reading on Taurus revolvers particularly the 608 and while there are a lot of people who like this particular gun there are a large number of those who have problems with Taurus revolvers. Mainly I have decided not to get one because the negative things I have read raise serious doubts in my mind about them. Probably I will wait & save for a S&W 627 ($950) but with the sub $450 price of the 608 I keep having to talk myself out of it taking the risk. I value the opinions of the members of this forum and would appreciate your input.

The only Taurus handgun I would buy would be a raging bee or raging hornet.

In my very humble personal opinion, for what your spending you could have a 50/50 chance at a somewhat decent revolver, or save a little longer and buy a Ruger or S&W which would have upwards of a 99% chance of being A-ok from the factory. Wasting money on a 50/50 chance in my book, just isn't worth it.

I own Two, a Model 94 and Model 44, 4 and 6 inch barrels respectively. Crappy ammo problem with the 94 and not one hiccough with the 44 so I guess I'm one of the "lucky" who got good Taurus Revolvers.

Currently own 3 Taurus revolvers and have a 4th coming. Good, solid, dependable.

Yah! I would buy another Taurus but don't know the 608.

I've had a few over the years. They all worked fine, the only thing I didn't care for was their terrible triggers, which would make me think twice before using them competitively.

605, PT 92, and PT 1911 (9mm)

Never had a problem with any of them.

Not many votes in yet so it's hard to say.

Up this way the previous Taurus importer and repair center had an even worse reputation than it appears that the US center has. When they lost the importer/dealer status they had and it was taken over by an outfit with a far better reputation I felt it was worth looking at the offerings. But based on getting to examine one gun, hearing from a local gunsmith about the guns and reading about the common need to send brand new guns in for warranty attention I totally lost intrest.

To be fair it seems from my reading around that once all the issues are dealt with that the guns are darn decent and work well. But it simply seems like too much of a gamble to hope to get a good one right out of the box.

I purchased a Taurus model 66B4, a blued/black 4" 7 rnd. .357 about five years ago as an X-mas present for myself. I would not hesitate in any manner to purchase another. I've lost count of exactly how many rounds I've sent down the pipe but, I believe it to be about 3 to 4 thousand. I've never had a mechanical problem of any kind. Whether it be a 100+ degree day in the sand or a 30 degree day in the sleet and frozen rain.

I have seven Taurus® revolvers.
• Mdl 85B2CH 38 Special - 1994
• Mdl 669SS4CP 357 Magnum - 1996
• Mdl 85B2 38 Special - 1997
• Mdl 617SS2 357 Magnum - 2003
• Mdl 605SS3 357 Magnum - 2006
• Mdl 85SS2UL 38 Special - 2007
• Mdl 605SS2 357 Magnum - 2010

All have performed superbly and I continue to shoot them all almost every week.

I have only encountered these problems.........
• Mdl 85B2CH broke a firing pin (part# 19) after 11,000+ rounds. I replaced the firing pin & it's still going strong.
• Mdl 85SS2UL had the cylinder stop (part# 44) wear down after 10,000 rounds. Called Taurus® and they shipped the part right away. Installed new cylinder stop and now the gun works fine.

I have zero complaints with Taurus® customer service. The one time I had to send a gun in they fixed and returned it when they said they would. Specifically.....................
• Mdl 617 developed excessive cylinder to forcing cone gap (.011") after almost 6,000 rounds. I sent it to Taurus® and they replaced the cylinder (part# 8) and adjusted the yoke (part# 9) *I've since put 3,000+ rounds through it and it's still going strong.

I will not hesitate to buy additional Taurus® revolvers. They are an outstanding value.
Here is a wealth of Taurus® information..........

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php

I've had a few Taurus revolvers and only experienced a couple of minor issues. Then again I've had some issues with 2 new Smiths also. I think with a little revolver knowledge you can pick out a decent Taurus and have generally good results. I also think that their 22's might be a little more problematic then the 357's and 44's or at least that’s been my experience. However, If you're going to be regularly competing and shooting as much as you say I think the extra cost of the Smith is relatively minor compared to the ammo you are planning on shooting and is probably worth the difference. Plus the Smith will be easier to get replacement parts and accessories for. If you are a shooting on a more casual basis the difference is less pronounced.

I already have...three times. If they have something I want, I won't hesitate.

One thing to consider is if you ever want to sale it value and demand will not be as high
as others.

I bought a new 608 about 5 years ago. It had timing problems and was shaving lead. Sent it back to Taurus for repair. When it came back it was still shaving lead.

No, S&W or Ruger for me.


Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

As suggested by others I would save a bit more money, or outright spend more for something of more consistent quality.

Not a good investment.

Buy something else..
I have a 686 and had to send it back,, it came back with no repair done to it...
my buddie has 6 , and every one had to be sent back for repairs. before he had 50 rounds through any of them.,,
I wouldnt buy another,,, I buy smith or ruger,, they never let me down,, But thats only my 2 cents...

Not a good investment.
What Gun is? Unless you can afford safe queens that you will never fire they will all lose value.
I shoot my guns so none of them are going up in value soon.

No. I'd rather have a Ruger or S&W revolver. Taurus makes better pistols than they do revolvers.

I am very happy with a model 85 stainless from about 15 years back, it seems to be made from good steel, and is very accurate. I did check out about 3 or 4 of them at the gun shop, and choose the one with the best alignment, finish, gap and timing. This might be a key thing, which can be said of any brand, look before you buy. There's a really good sticky article above about things to look for in a revolver, adhere to this and you won't go wrong.

This little guy really shoots, yup, that's a 25 yard group. I have since indexed the barrel to bring the POI to the POA.
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z398/1homebrewed/PICT0018c.jpg

Not a good investment.

I must humbly disagree!...........:D

But you could probably find a Whitetail Deer or Burglar that would agree with that statement!.......:rolleyes:

Oh! How I love my 608!

Dial 911 or Pick Up 608!...........:eek:.................:evil:

YES if they would start making the 445 in either 45 ACP or 45 Colt again. only with a 4" barrel.

I am thinking about getting a Taurus 608. It would be for action pistol style matches, USPSA, Bowling pins and steel matches. I would probably average 200 - 400 rounds per month and basically am concerned about the Quality and druability of Taurus revolvers.
At this years Revolver Championship all competitors but one were shooting S&W revolvers, mostly M627 Pro models. The one that wasn't a S&W was a Ruger. If Taurus revolver were made well enough to stand up to use at a match there would be at least a few being used. (but there are none)

For use in matches I would buy a S&W M627 Pro. If you are limited to only 6 rounds the S&W M686SSR is the revolver for that.

I might eventually pick one up but I'm not sure. I've heard alot of negative stuff on forums and at least one gun shop around here that won't carry them because they claim that Taurus guns have too many problems.

I have zero personal experience with them so I can't really say anything myself.

I'd never buy a Taurus - it just pales in comparison to other name brands that have a far better reputation for reliability - an important aspect in purchasing a gun from any company. For me, my choice is always going to be either S&W or Ruger. But if you have money to burn, it's really your choice....


Laura

Just did.
Got the M 327.

Nice little gun.

AFS

I voted No Way!, nothing wrong with Taurus guns, but I'm a dyed in the wool Smith & Wesson man. :) I'm sure a Taurus would serve you well however.

We already have, several times and these are two of the current ones. Well shot, heavily carried and securely relied upon, The 669VR is for non-auto open carry and the 85 is the AMT Back-Up/Sig 230SL alternative for us.

All that out in the open - I sure do get folk being fed up with their particular bad experiences although with 6+ having gone though our hands without a glitch, we've been happy. We've also never had anything but stainless though I can't really say that it matters.

Here is an interesting article on the 608 in competition;

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/dec97IPSC.html

I agree with ArchAngelCD (post #24) that you don't see anything but S&W in competition except for the occaisonal Ruger and there is a reason for that mainly the great S&W triggers.

My favorite competition revolver is a 5" S&W 625 and I will likley get a PC627 sometime in the future. I own many revolvers and at this point can't honestly say that I have decided one way or the other on the 608 but if I do buy one and use it as I intend I will not be surprised or upset if I have problems - at half the price of a PC627 what can you expect!. I enjoy collecting and even troubleshooting guns of all types.

I value all of your opinions so keep'em comming!!!!!!!!

Buy something else..
I have a 686 and had to send it back,, it came back with no repair done to it...
my buddie has 6 , and every one had to be sent back for repairs. before he had 50 rounds through any of them.,,
I wouldnt buy another,,, I buy smith or ruger,, they never let me down,, But thats only my 2 cents...Hmmmmmmmm, the 686 is a Smith & Wesson®. (Don't feel bad, My 686 had to go back to the factory too.)

Hmmmmmmmm, the 686 is a Smith & Wesson®. (Don't feel bad, My 686 had to go back to the factory too.)

That is what I was Thinking, what does a S&W 686 going in for factory work have to do with Taurus Revolvers. So far any issues I have had with a Taurus Revolvers is previously stated, it doesn't like crappy ammo.

If your buying a revolver to shoot in matches, save your money and buy a S&W 627. They have the better trigger and are more refined. The only revolver I would consider below a 627 would be a Ruger GP100. They are not as refined but are durable and with some work on the trigger they can be a nice revolver.
Regards,
Howard

from my revolver experiences and in order of choice for competition or self-defense.

1. s&w
2. ruger
3. taurus

if you look at that list in regards to pricing, it is reversed.

the used market for me is always a consideration.

In my very humble personal opinion, for what your spending you could have a 50/50 chance at a somewhat decent revolver, or save a little longer and buy a Ruger or S&W which would have upwards of a 99% chance of being A-ok from the factory. Wasting money on a 50/50 chance in my book, just isn't worth it.


That's my thinking too.

I owned a Taurus 38spl that gave me nothing but problems.
Sold it.
Never bought another Taurus.
Other people like Taurus and have never had an issue with them.
So it's "iffy" I guess.

Purchased several Rugers and S&Ws over the years.
All have been just great.
I personally will just stick with brands that never give me a problem.

never again

Bought one 13 years ago. Still works great.

I voted "maybe". I can't imagine buying another Taurus after having such bad experience with then, but if I were to stumble on to a really great deal on a design or caliber that I didn't have, I "might" by another...but it would be with extreme reservation, and only if one presented itself at a price I couldn't refuse. It will be interesting to watch this thread. I figure the longer it plays out the higher the "No Way" votes will go. As it is, it's approaching double negative versus positive votes already. It will be fun to watch and see.

Sorry for the mistype... I have a 689... NOT 686...
I had mine rebarreled. ported, trigger job. Way to much into it... Any how I woulnt buy another. I'll stick with my smiths and ruger,,

I've seen many folks try to return their new revolvers to the shop that had broken before 50 rounds had been put through it. Hell, several had hammers and triggers fall off before being fired period.

Having said that, I also had the pin inside my personal S&W J-frame shear off, but at least the gun still functioned after that (Some light lead splitting from being out of time) and was promptly replaced within 6 weeks when I called S&W.

Buy a 627, you'll enjoy and cherish it.

-Jake

One thing to consider is if you ever want to sale it value and demand will not be as high
as others.

I don't sell good shooters.

Some are fine and some are bad, unfortunately just the way it is. I think Taurus has great conceptual ideas and their guns fit me pretty well a lot of the time. I have some Taurus guns that I like and are very reliable, however I have also dealt with some that were MAJOR lemons. A 4 inch 357 Taurus tracker comes to mind in particular. After about 20 rounds the cylinder would lock up almost every time and you would have to beat it open with a rubber mallet(yes the loads were very reasonable) and accuracy was so bad you would be hard pressed to hit the side of a barn if you were inside the barn.:uhoh: Ok, maybe it wasn't QUITE that bad but groups were on the order of six to eight inches at twenty five yards and in my book that is pretty terrible. As for me, if I find a Taurus that I like I will buy it and take a chance, but I know full well that is exactly what it is, a chance, and if it doesn't meet my expectations/hopes it goes on down the road.

As previously stated you can't beat a 627PC 0r the 625 got a lot of revolvers but those get shot the most if not exclusively.

i was hesitant on the taurus thing until i bought one. My first was the 1911 in duo tone. No its not a STI or a Wilson but for the money, its pretty alright. I just bought a tracker with the 6 1/2 in. barrel in .45 acp. Its super sweet. The action is nice and tight. The single action trigger is wonderful but the double action needs to be tuned. I bought it expecting that. Most people that hate on taurus....dont own one. its one of those things..yeah my buddies uncles cousin had one and it backfired, blew up, wouldnt shoot, etc.

Most people that hate on taurus....dont own one. its one of those things..yeah my buddies uncles cousin had one and it backfired, blew up, wouldnt shoot, etc.

Boy some of you Taurus fans must be getting your talking points from the same place...this idea that the majority of people who share negative experiences with Taurus are in a minority, to those who just don't care for them, and have never owned one. I've owned 7, all purchased new in box over a period of years, and 5 of them have had funtional problems. Starting to feel like a lot of the people who make comments like the one above are just childish minded, insecure people. Afterall, why is your experience any more valid than someone whose had a negative experience with Taurus? To make matter worse, so many of you start making blanket accusations like the one above. It's just nonsense.:banghead:

The next person who starts a thread like this should include the questions, "Have you actually owned a Taurus firearm?" to dispel the above claim.

No!! Nor would I buy a Rossi either.

In my very humble personal opinion, for what your spending you could have a 50/50 chance at a somewhat decent revolver, or save a little longer and buy a Ruger or S&W which would have upwards of a 99% chance of being A-ok from the factory. Wasting money on a 50/50 chance in my book, just isn't worth it.
+1

For $50 - $100 more you could have a Ruger GP 100 ... a very rugged firearm that would meet your requirements with dependability. Ruger stands by their products.

Not likely

I own a small frame .22 and have shot a buddies large frame .44.

In my opinion, the fit and finish just isnt there to the quality I prefer.

Course I guess my S&W's spoiled me on that.......

At the moment the poll is almost a 3 way split with the "No Way" choice leading at 39%. This actually incourages me to buy one out of curiousity! How big of a POS could I get?? The interesting thing is the sharp polarization of the current - former owners definately a love - hate relationship those who have a good experience really seem to love their guns!!. I have formed the opinion if you get a good one it is a pretty decent gun - not a Smith or Ruger but a decent gun worth the price paid but if you get a "problem child" it is a real problem.

At the moment the poll is almost a 3 way split

I don't know...seems to me that categories 1 & 3 are so similar as to be almost one in the same (almost). The way I see it the survey is almost 2 to 1, unfavorable. It certainly wouldn't encourage me to buy a Taurus, although I do agree with your last sentiment, that those who like them like them, and those who dont, don't, but for the price point they often do serve the purpose for many.

doug,

Im not sure what you are getting at..I said most people. Not caring for a gun of a certain brand and calling them junk are 2 totally different things. Ive yet to run across a firearm that didnt need some sort of tinkering to get it where i wanted/expected it to be. This is from browning, springfield, glock, and taurus. I dont like colt pistols...and i probably wont buy one. in my experience they have at least twice the issues to springfields and id much rather have a S&w revolver. Im not saying my experience is any more valid, i just said that i would own another one.

Voted YES!

I've been nothing but happy with my 44M. My daughter's been nothing but happy with her 85.

I think those who checked 3 mean they would buy one if the price were right but understand they are taking a risk.

Taurus are copies of S&W revolvers. (Sadly, so are current S&W revolvers.) The examples I've seen range from quite satisfactory to pretty crude.

The finish on them is much better than thirty years ago, but I'm still a bit leery of the metallurgy in them.

I will stop short of saying I would NEVER buy one, but I think it very unlikely.

I own 2 .38 spl. revolvers, A S&W model 10-7 and a Taurus model 82. Both 4" barrels. The 82 is nickle plated with a full lug with a cly gap of .003. The cly. gap of the S&W is .007 Both are fine revolver's. If I had to buy a new revolver today I'd have to go with the S&W. Given the choice I'd buy a used S&W pin barrel.

I've had a M85 Ultra lite Titanium for about ten years and have been very satisfied, even though I had to send it to the factory to correct a problem with the cylinder locking up in double action. It's been 100 percent reliable ever since. With Crimson Trace laser grips, and a little effort I can shoot a ragged hole at fifteen yards. Its a great carry piece at thirteen ounces, and the trigger has smoothed out nicely. The fit and finish is not as well executed as a Smith, but it has an extensive amount of titanium and aluminum alloy, and only cost half as much. I've recently replaced it as my carry revolver with a S&W 340PD because it is two ounces lighter, and I can now afford it, but I won't get rid of the Taurus.

Anytime, anyway....just not a judge....that thing is just silly.

I just assume spend a little bit more and buy a Smith or Ruger. I've looked at many Taurus revolvers but just can't ever convince myself to buy one over the other two manufacturers. Not to mention I like supporting American owned companies.

NO.

Not another, as I have bought 2 new ones in my life and they both be miserable.

I bought a Taurus .357 in SS 6inch barrel several years ago. It was a clone of S&W 686. When I took it to the range it shot very low. I raised the impact point up with the adjustable sights. I wound up raising the sights up to max to improve POI. This was only 10yrds. That Taurus was still about 3inches low. Returned the revolver, turned out the barrel was not machined properly. Taurus did replace the barrel and corrected the problem. After that very accurate. I bought Ruger and S&W since. But I would consider another Taurus. Good value for the money.

I am the OP with the post about my 850 complete cylinder/crane et al, falling out in the dirt after a little less that 50 rounds. And it was NIB. I like the accurracy from the 2" bbl however.

I voted maybe. I mean, just because it fell apart after ~50 rounds, and I can read the LA Times front to back while on endless CS hold, what's there not to like? We will have to see how the gun treats me after I replace the lost parts.

Guns should not fall apart NIB with less than 50 rounds.

On second thought, if I had it to do over again I might save the extra C-note and get the S&W Airweight.

-178S

I've had one for about 30 years. One of the little S&W J-frame knockoffs in stainless steel.
It's been my primary "off duty" gun for all that time. I haul it out to the range when we qualify and put some rounds through it.... It's been reliable and with the rubber Pachmayr grips comfortable to shoot.

Ok, a screw loosened as you were firing it, and you dropped the cylinder and yoke onto the ground. Then, you reassembled it without all of the parts. Now, you think that it's the fault of the manufacturer? How many others mentioned that they routinely tighten all screws on EVERY gun that they buy. Perhaps a clue?

I've had several higher-priced revolvers lock up while shooting as the ejector rod unscrewed. Should I rail against the manufacturer for that? Or, perhaps, check that periodically, as well?

I've had much less trouble with Taurus revolvers, and firearms in general, than I have with the "higher-priced" guns. Some of mine are old enough to have been sold through Interarms. More than a dozen, and NONE have gone back for factory repairs. Wish I could say that about S&W, Colt, HK, Sig, or Wilson.

I only have one (a model 415) and it is made from good material and seems well made and finished. The only caveat is that it's had less than 500 rounds through it at this writing so, I suppose, the jury's still out...

Not again, no. Found the teeth on the ejector star on a Model 85 deforming badly. Not a gunsmith but I suspect the metal is just to soft to handle regular use

Not again, no. Found the teeth on the ejector star on a Model 85 deforming badly. Not a gunsmith but I suspect the metal is just to soft to handle regular use
I've often wondered the same thing?

I have a PT99 that has been flawless for me. My brother in law bought a Judge that literally blew to pieces at about 250 rounds and it was a .410 brown bear shell that was in it when it popped. My brother had a .357 snubbie (not sure of the model) that was fairly sound but the trigger in DA or SA was long, gritty and just plain lousy. BTW their customer service is horrible. The above mentioned Judge was sent in last summer and is still pending repair or replacement. So there you have it the good the bad and the down right ugly. It's truly a crap shoot with Taurus firearms.

Im fairly sure that Taurus builds a reasonably dependable firearm, they seem to be ,for the most part replicants of some FINE AMERICAN handguns, would I buy one? No. Much like the glock, sig or any other such firearm, they are not made in the USA, and perhaps if I did buy one I may be responcible for some guy/gal at Smith and Wesson, Colt, Charter arms,Kimber or Freedom arms not to have a job, so in this big world of choices, I make mine American

Originally Posted by asia331 View Post
Not again, no. Found the teeth on the ejector star on a Model 85 deforming badly. Not a gunsmith but I suspect the metal is just to soft to handle regular use

6-7K rounds in my 85UL over 15 years, works fine, looks fine. No star wear that I can tell.

Im fairly sure that Taurus builds a reasonably dependable firearm, they seem to be ,for the most part replicants of some FINE AMERICAN handguns, would I buy one? No. Much like the glock, sig or any other such firearm, they are not made in the USA, and perhaps if I did buy one I may be responcible for some guy/gal at Smith and Wesson, Colt, Charter arms,Kimber or Freedom arms not to have a job, so in this big world of choices, I make mine American

Union man, are ya? I'll buy American if it works for me. Rugers, I have 8 Rugers. I have one Smith and Wesson and it was made when they were well made, early 60s, in great shape. I might buy a new Smith if it's not priced stupid. Say, a 642, they're well priced in that market, .38 snub carry market. I could see getting one even though I'd drop super glue in the Hillary hole.

i answered no, cause i will never buy one again.
i had one the finish wasnt great, but good enough and the cylinder release button/switch was very stiff and the cylinder was also stiff. even after i oiled it up.
shot well though, but would never buy one for myself again

MCgunner,I'm no union guy at all, just hate to see our products being copied by some foriegn companies and sold cheap cause the wage base in whatever place there from is zip, or there govt subsidizes that particular industry, I can see a time (barring politics) where firearms are not made here, try to find a pair of American made pants, or shoes. Point being if we as shooters don't support our own manafactures we wont have them any more

I love my taraus judge and never had a single problem with it.

No problems with the one I have. Trigger is VERY good on it.

MCgunner,I'm no union guy at all, just hate to see our products being copied by some foriegn companies and sold cheap cause the wage base in whatever place there from is zip, or there govt subsidizes that particular industry, I can see a time (barring politics) where firearms are not made here, try to find a pair of American made pants, or shoes. Point being if we as shooters don't support our own manafactures we wont have them any more
I agree with the premise of buying American, but Taurus does not just copy handguns. One thing I think everyone SHOULD be able to agree on is they have come up with a few products that are interesting new designs. You may question the practicality of the designs, but they do put out new products.

380 revovler
A true poly revolver.
the DT deries of poly steel hybrid semis
DA 22lr/22 mag revolvers
454 casull/410/45 colt revolvers

Sure, but with some hesitation. Didn't vote, didn't like the options.

First, do a search.
Then, make your decisoin.

Nope. Ruger and S&W and that's it.

Ok, a screw loosened as you were firing it, and you dropped the cylinder and yoke onto the ground. Then, you reassembled it without all of the parts. Now, you think that it's the fault of the manufacturer?

Yes, thanks

-178S

Yes, I use my Taurus Tracker .357, 7 shot, ported barrel as a trail/hiking gun. Totally dependable from day 1. Click on the thumbnail for a bigger pic. I guess the flames say it all! :)

I've owned a number of Tauri; both revolvers and semi's. Only problem I ever had was a slightly rough double action on a 17 hmr Tracker but it was easily solved. Although I've sold/ traded them all over the past few years, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if the price was right and it was something I wanted. All things considered, I prefer SW or Ruger but the price is quite a bit greater.

I voted "No Way".
There are so many good options. Taurus does not make the cut for me.

I've owned or own a Taurus 85, 66, 606, and 605. Never had an issue, the 605 has been shot a little more than the others and was bought well used. They don't hold their value as well, but they work fine.

Had a older 65(?) in 357... was a decent reliable gun. Have a 941 that shoots great, wife has a 617 she likes. Just Picked up a M380 which is a fun little gun. Oh used to have an 85 that I greatly regret selling...
So 5 for 5 a good gun.

I'm pretty amazed at how relatively even the response has been
1/3 people responding could go either way
1/3 responding favorably
1/3 responding negatively
I find those responses interesting in and of themselves.

The poll is flawed: Buy the specimen, not the brand. I tend to be a S&W fan when it comes to revolvers, and buy almost all my revolvers used in Mom 'n Pop pawnshops. An older Taurus M66 will always catch my eye in a Pawn-Shop display: They can be really sweet revolvers. I bought a mid-80s mfg 6" blued one that's as new (but no box or papers), great trigger and lockup, for $250 OTD within the past two years. I consider it a great specimen.

I'm pretty amazed at how relatively even the response has been
1/3 people responding could go either way
1/3 responding favorably
1/3 responding negatively
I find those responses interesting in and of themselves.


I see the results a little differently...seems a little odd to think of number 3 as "going either way".

Respondents have 3 choices...
1) No
2) Yes
3) Maybe, but only with "GREAT RESERVATION"

For all intensive purposes, numbers 1 and 3 are negative. In fact I answered number 3, and I am not a Taurus fan by any stretch. So, in a general sense the results (as unscientific as they are) could simply be interpreted like this...

158 Negative Responses
89 Postive Responses

= 69 more negative responses than positive...no matter how someone wants to spin it. Seems most respondents are a little afraid of the Taurus brand.

Since I have two, and a buddy has one he likes a lot, I had to vote yes.

I said YES, but I also say, given the choice of either a S&W, Ruger, or Taurus, for the same price, I would choose the Ruger. I already have a SS Ruger Security-Six 4", and it's bulletproof. But I would have no qualms about buying either a Taurus or Rossi revolver. Depending on what I intended to use it for.

Lol @ union man......:)

I've had too many issues with the few Taurii through my hands. the ratio of Bad to Good is too skewed against it. No thank you.

Well not ENTIRELY "no"...

My buddy has a .357 that is half rust from years of belly carry.

Even half destroyed and pitted, it's action is nearly as smooth as my Victory model 10, and if he offered it to me on the cheap, I would likely bite.

As a Revolver-rifle, the Circuit Judge is ugly and weird enough to slip in under those auspices. As long as it was as reliable as my aforementioned friend's Rustbucket.

Maybe its just all internet rumor, but the bad rep of Taurus is so consistent and pervasive, I would never even consider buying one of their guns.

Maybe its just all internet rumor, but the bad rep of Taurus is so consistent and pervasive, I would never even consider buying one of their guns.

And that's the potential treachery (and godsend, I suppose) of relying on the internet for accurate, unbiased information. Because, as much as I try to remain neutral and open-minded, the anti-Taurus "rumors" have kept me leery of investing in another one, despite my satisfaction with the one I have. And if the rumors are really unfounded in reality, we are all the poorer for it.

Hold out for a Smith.

I would if it was the only thing around in a configuration I wanted and could afford. However, I'm kind of hesitant to buy one. I can't attest to the quality having never shot one, but the horror stories of terrible customer service if I did get a lemon (even if a small chance) make me think about other options.

if Ruger made a competing model, I'd buy the Ruger. But I'd have no fear of a Taurus..

I don't know, my parents have an 85, 94, and a Rossi .357 Mag. All of them have performed flawlessly and my Dad does quite well with them. They used to have a Taurus .17hmr snub nose. What a piece that turned out to be. In short, three out of the four have been really good revolvers.

I admit, I kind of have the Taurus 608 in mind myself. ;)

I have handled several both new and used. The new guns were so rough I handed two back to the shop owner as I was truly afraid to cock them. He did cock them and commented "What do you expect they are Taurus's." I then looked in other gun shops at used revolvers which were quite smooth and bought one which has been fine, so far. I think that most would smooth out with use but would rather buy used when they WERE smooth.

What it boils down to for me in my response, is that if I had to pick a brand of double action revolver sight unseen to stake my life on there is no way I would pick a Taurus.

I'm not big on revolvers any more other than my cowboy action stuff but do own 3 Taurus pistols and 1 Rossi Rifle (also Taurus owned). I have a PT 92, PT111 pro and PT 911 as well as a Rossi 92 in 45 Colt. Thousands of rounds through all and replaced a recoil spring assembly in the PT111Pro after 5000 rounds for no cost. I see no problem with Taurus or Rossi guns as far a quality is concerned and the last year (new CEO) their CS has much improved also.

I never buy a revolver without running it through a very thorough inspection. if it passes inspection, then no problem. that being said, the only ones I have interest in is their raging series, which seem to be regarded higher than the rest anyway. I will also state that I have never owned a taurus myself, but have shot a 1911 from them, and found it to be delightful.

That being said, I think it would be interesting to see an actually tangible number of guns per 1k from Taurus that made it into a customers hand and had issues brought to the companies attention. Surely Taurus has those statistics, though, I doubt they will ever release them. I have a hard time believing that 50% of all Taurus revolvers have problems.

Captain perhaps this site will help though not part of Taurus the company. You can read a number of good and bad posts about all Taurus guns. http://www.taurusarmed.net/index.php I figure Taurus has about as many problem guns as most makers do.

I bought a Taurus Model 66 long ago (early 1980's) and carried it in the woods and used it for the "house gun" until I sold it to my reenlistment NCO after I taught her to shoot it. Never had a problem with it. I bought a Taurus 85SSUL after I retired from the Army to replace a Beretta 950BS after a run-in with a drunk. It never gave me any problems, but I swapped guns again, and it was gone. Found another 85SSUL, and bought it. It was my back-up concealed carry piece until I swapped a KelTec P32 even for a nickel S&W Model 37. Now the Taurus is my spare back-up.

I had a S&W Model 629 barrel turn while I was shooting it. Back to the factory to be fixed. I have a Ruger Bisley Vaquero that initially shot 2 feet to the left at 25 feet. Back to the factory to be fixed. I still own some Rugers, including the BV, and I'm concentrating on accumulating older, pre-lock Smith & Wessons, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Taurus that I wanted and had a chance to examine hands-on. In fact, my brother accuses me of drooling every I see that 5-shot 2 1/2 inch .41 Magnum....

ECS

I had a Taurus 66 and it was ok but other than that I would not buy a new taurus since a smith and wesson is not much more and the quality is night and day difference.

The one good thing in your question is that you said that it would NOT be used for self defense. Go for it.

The one good thing in your question is that you said that it would NOT be used for self defense. Go for it.

Following that line of reasoning, NOBODY should buy a gun, for fear that it might malfunction.

We've seen tales of Ruger, S&W, Sig, HK, CZ, Wilson, Kimber, Colt, and on and on, that failed due to factory issues. While many could have been avoided by a simple look at the guns before purchase, we have those who preach that "all new guns should be good", whatever that's supposed to mean.

A local GS got a shipment of S&W revolvers in a month ago. The gunsmith there was ready to return the guns en masse, as the timing was, in his words, "beyond terrible". The brand, NEW S&W revolvers.

My own experience has been documented here, in this thread. Following the various posters in the thread, with what they bought, I wouldn't trust ANY gun today. :what:

"all new guns should be good",

yes they should
no, they are not always
some flavors less often than others
not all of us own a LGS, but many of us do shop-a-lot
If a test drive around the block is the magic answer for that unfortunate disparate reality, you could strive harder to find a lemon yellow AMC station wagon LNIB, driven only briefly, runs good for a few rounds around the block, no doubt, driven to the firing range by a little old lady in Pasadena only on Sunday

In the meantime celebrate... your luck in beating the odds on one brand (any one brand) is nothing short of breathtaking, and exceeded by only one cyber-person I know
(maybe it's a moon phase thing, I really ought start watching my horoscope closer)

three out of three, four out of four, no big deal, but... wow
Do us all a kindness and post the next winning mega-millions and powerball ticket numbers, please... we don't mind splitting the pot with friends, scouts honor

PS
yep, I inspect what I buy
but I never carry any handgun on my person that I have not shot at least 300 rounds of varied ammo thru, and I don't actually trust it then..
500 to 1000, ok..
I used to be pretty good looking, quick, smooth, and tough too, but after a few thousand rounds, the truth that be known then is not always so pretty, you know
(threads on here do suggest to me, that most expect 30 rounds or less is proof enough, go figure)
inspection on the glass counter only rules the obvious junk out for me
trustworthy is as trustworthy does

The reason I won't has nothing to do with its quality or accuracy. There are too many quality U.S. gun companies to be sending my money south or overseas.