Taurus "Executive Grade" Revolvers?

I was looking for the msrp. Nevermind, its $689. If it was chambered in .357 they’d have my money.

I am curious to hear what folks have to say about the trigger and how it compares to its peers.

Probably not going to lure me back to Taurus- Ive had many and they were all between "mokay" and "meh."

But if I ever see one in the flesh, Ill have to play with it and reevaluate.

DT Guy said:

A snarky person would probably describe it as 'a Taurus revolver with actual QC', but it sounds like they've started a version of the 'Performance Center' or 'Custom Shop' for Taurus revolvers:

Taurus Executive Grade

I can't help but think this is like the 'Hyundai/Genesis' marketing scheme, and doomed to fail, but what do I know?

Larry

Click to expand...

Pretty sure Genesis sales are doing just fine, they are a stand-alone brand now (again) and keep introducing new models. On the other hand, demand is so high and supply so low for all new cars, its easy to sell anything with four wheels that hits the lot.

I just assume the only improvements that these Ex. Grade revolvers will have is a lighter, smoother DA trigger and chamfered chambers and that's about it. What would get me to buy a more expensive Taurus revolver? Put it in a chambering I want, I just don't have any interest in a .38 that's over $500. What I would like is a .22 revolver with a decent trigger and if Taurus can give me that and not charge me a grand for it, they'd have a customer.

Other than what calibers are offered, I just don't see why I would spend an extra $150-200 on a Taurus, the whole appeal to Taurus is the low price and decent quality. If that extra $150 is just going to give me a better trigger than a stock revolver, I could spend a quarter of that on some Wolf springs and a stone kit and get a similar result. Even if I took a day out of work and it took me 8 hours to stone the internals I'm still coming out ahead in terms of final cost.

Did you notice the buggered up screw behind the trigger in some of the pictures? Lol

I would probably get one. Who else makes a 6 shot 3” 38sp for under $500? Had a beautiful deep blued 650 CIA that outshot any SP101 or 640 I ever had.

Going to grab a 3” Defender and throw on some of those nice wood grips. The 2” UL I have a great. Had about 500 rounds of my +p 38 reloads through it and a few thousand dry firing trigger pulls. Trigger is smoother than my 642s and 43c. More accurate with it as well.

DT Guy said:

Taurus "Executive Grade"

Click to expand...

Right there with WalMart's Luxury Clothing line, and Hyundai's High Performance models.

Atavar said:

Did you notice the buggered up screw behind the trigger in some of the pictures?

Click to expand...

Looks pretty good. . . for a Taurus.

Of course the vast majority of Taurus's revolvers are perfectly functional, and more useful per dollar spent than S&W's product. . . but "Executive Grade" is just dumb.

Looks pretty nice. Tell Taurus to keep the Pelican case and drop the price accordingly.

SteadyD said:

I am curious to hear what folks have to say about the trigger and how it compares to its peers.

Click to expand...

Got my new issue of G&A in the mail. The have a review on this mess. The Trigger Pull is 12+ lbs. You have to be kidding me!

Well at least it sounds like they’re trying to improve even of you have to pay more. It looks good. Very interesting

I have a regular 856 defender stainless.

It appears to me you could swap the grips. A member here took mother's mag and elbow grease to his 856, and the glum current finished looks like mirror stainless. So buy wood grips and spend an evening polishing, then dry fire a thousand (use snap caps if this worries you) times and I think you could be out the door for well under say...450.

Keep the pelican case.

This is going to sound real picky and I won't apologize for that but, the look and feel of bead-blasted sintered steel just puts my teeth on edge. That trigger makes me cringe a little.

Other than that, it seems pretty decent if the actual QC is improved and the internal attention to detail matches the external cosmetics.

Good customer service is generally found out because of poor quality control.

First of all, I am happy with my 856. Everything is smooth and the finish is as nice as other brand. I even think the 856 is better looking than Model 60. What I can say to the 856 Executive Grade is, the gun is ugly. But I can't wait to see the snub 617 Executive Grade (which might not come out if the 856EG doesn't sell).

There is a pretty good interview with Cody Osborn who now works at Taurus.

https://www.ammoland.com/2022/03/taurus-usa-hires-cody-osborn/#axzz7VRpew9zq

it’s around half way through the episode IIRC. They discuss the new line and Taurus’s move from Miami. Interesting discussion. Had me interested in the new line….

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gun-talk/id190516844?i=1000564440031

Here is a concept. How about those skilled armorers train the rest and bring the whole quality level up. A few working in the inspection department and a few on the floor to supervise the assembly and fitting process. It would be worth $50 a gun extra to get a higher level of quality overall!
Having worked in manufacturing in a earlier life, I know that parts inspection prior to assembly is quite important in the CNC world. If everything is in spec the process goes smoother and less rejection. For end use that would mean less return and higher customer satisfaction. It would make them more money in the long run! Just my thoughts.

I know it seems to be the norm now, even on pricey guns like the new Python, but those plywood grips turn me off.

I'd be looking for older solid wood grips to refinish before I'd have those on a gun of mine.

Speedo66 said:

I know it seems to be the norm now, even on pricey guns like the new Python, but those plywood grips turn me off.

I'd be looking for older solid wood grips to refinish before I'd have those on a gun of mine.

Click to expand...

I like both.

Two questions:

1) Why .38 +P and not .357 magnum?
2) Why a square butt(ish) profile?

I already have a Kimber K6S 3", so I don't need this, but if I didn't, and if they dealt with my two questions, I might be in the market.

I have a stainless three-inch Model 85 made in 1995. It's actually a very nice handgun, and shoots well. I enjoy carrying it from time to time. I've never seen another one.

The Executive 856 is a nice start, but I'm old-school and would want the hammer spur back. I'm fine with .38 over .357 Magnum in a short-barreled sidearm.

For a six-round, three-inch gun for carry, though, it seems a nicely priced alternative to the higher-priced Magnum guns, with the next-closest option probably being the new King Cobra, running $350-400 more.

MedWheeler, I'm looking for a 3" S&W Model 36 in my price range (cheap), but I will "settle" for a 3-inch Taurus Model 85 if I come across a nice one.

I've owned a number of Taurus revolvers, most of which I liked. That includes four Model 85's.

Oddly enough, I owned a 3" Model 856 briefly and did not like the balance or trigger at all. They must not be as closely related to the older Model 85 as I thought.

To pay more money for an "Executive Grade" Taurus, I would have to see the beautiful finish and feel the soft trigger in person.

My experience with Taurus is that you normally get something that goes bang. The finish and/or trigger might be mediocre. That's why you pay less for them. If I were guaranteed a superior product I might pay more, but that role is better filled by a used Smith and Wesson with scratches on the finish and a crack in the mismatched grips.

DT Guy said:

A snarky person would probably describe it as 'a Taurus revolver with actual QC', but it sounds like they've started a version of the 'Performance Center' or 'Custom Shop' for Taurus revolvers:

Taurus Executive Grade

I can't help but think this is like the 'Hyundai/Genesis' marketing scheme, and doomed to fail, but what do I know?

Larry

Click to expand...

Yep, saw that. Was interested briefly.

You know, BTW, that Taurus had an actual custom shop, for a while back in the '90s. See here and here.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

This is going to sound real picky and I won't apologize for that but, the look and feel of bead-blasted sintered steel just puts my teeth on edge.

Click to expand...

The current matte stainless finish is rougher than it was a few years ago.

Sistema1927 said:

Two questions:

1) Why .38 +P and not .357 magnum?

Click to expand...

Taurus seems to be all about Incremental changes lately. The .38 856 has been a big hit. The 3" 856 was another, coming a few years after.

MedWheeler said:

I have a stainless three-inch Model 85 made in 1995. It's actually a very nice handgun, and shoots well. I enjoy carrying it from time to time. I've never seen another one.

Click to expand...

I think I've only ever seen with my own eyes one 3" 85 or 605. Very uncommon.

From the Taurus website regarding the "Executive":

"Boasting its own production room"

They have their own room!!!
That must be where they bob the hammer, change the springs, and share a buffer wheel.