Is Taurus a Good Brand for Revolvers

Miami_JBT said:

Look at Ruger GP100s, they're in the $700 price range online.

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That's exactly my point.
I'm not paying $700 for a Taurus when I can get a Ruger for the same money.
Again, not bashing Taurus, but they're not as good a gun as a Ruger.

Arkansas Paul said:

That's exactly my point.
I'm not paying $700 for a Taurus when I can get a Ruger for the same money.
Again, not bashing Taurus, but they're not as good a gun as a Ruger.

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Price isn't an apples to apples comparison here and even that is wrong as the 856 and 605 Executive Taurus revolvers are going for $500 online and the EG Judge is $600. At $500 for a nicely polished 605, that beats the snot out of any 5 shot .357 Ruger currently makes in price and execution. The closest in price that's a 5 shot .357 is the S&W Model 60 and it's still more.

The 608 is an 8 shot .357 running about $625, the Redhawk .357's are a grand now. Taurus 66's are $500, 7 shot GP100's and 686 Plus are $800 now.

Once you start making a fair comparison you'll realize the price difference is significant and you'll have to ask yourself, much like a college education, or buying a new truck at $80 grand, is it really worth that price anymore when the quality isn't what it use to be?

Arkansas Paul said:

That's exactly my point.
I'm not paying $700 for a Taurus when I can get a Ruger for the same money.
Again, not bashing Taurus, but they're not as good a gun as a Ruger.

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If you're paying $700 for it, that says your search skills can use improvement. The Executive Grade 856 is a $550 gun after shipping, transfer fee, sales tax, and background check fee.

Here it is with a base price of $468.

TTv2 said:

Price isn't an apples to apples comparison here and even that is wrong as the 856 and 605 Executive Taurus revolvers are going for $500 online and the EG Judge is $600. At $500 for a nicely polished 605, that beats the snot out of any 5 shot .357 Ruger currently makes in price and execution. The closest in price that's a 5 shot .357 is the S&W Model 60 and it's still more.

The 608 is an 8 shot .357 running about $625, the Redhawk .357's are a grand now. Taurus 66's are $500, 7 shot GP100's and 686 Plus are $800 now.

Once you start making a fair comparison you'll realize the price difference is significant and you'll have to ask yourself, much like a college education, or buying a new truck at $80 grand, is it really worth that price anymore when the quality isn't what it use to be?

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Again, the best deal from Taurus right now is the RP63. A 3", fixed sight, satin stainless, six-shot, round butt, K-Frame sized .357 Magnum with a hammer mounted firing pin and no lawyer-lock.

You can get them as cheap as $322 at the base price before transfer, shipping, etc. is slapped on.


But the thing is, they sell QUICKLY. The guns are constantly out of stock because everyone sees them as a good deal.

I'll rephrase.
I won't pay the same, or even close to the same, for a Taurus as I would a Ruger.

Miami_JBT said:

Again, the best deal from Taurus right now is the RP63. A 3", fixed sight, satin stainless, six-shot, round butt, K-Frame sized .357 Magnum with a hammer mounted firing pin and no lawyer-lock.

You can get them as cheap as $322 at the base price before transfer, shipping, etc. is slapped on.

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For that price, I would buy a Taurus. It's a very good value at that price point.

Arkansas Paul said:

I'll rephrase.
I won't pay the same, or even close to the same, for a Taurus as I would a Ruger.



For that price, I would buy a Taurus. It's a very good value at that price point.

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I wouldn't buy a new Ruger for three reasons.

1. The SP101 sucks as a .357 Magnum chambered gun. For its size and weight, it should be a six-shot revolver.

2. 4.2" barrels on GP100s are an abomination and a sin. The denizens of the land of snow and Trudeau can jump into a frozen lake infested with Polar Bears. Their restrictions have blemished, tarnished, and besmirched the visual balance that was a GP100. In fact, I challenge them to a duel. 3" GP100s at 10 paces. Oh wait, they can't own 3" guns. I win by default.

3. Ruger's laser engraving looks horrible.

Miami_JBT said:

I wouldn't buy a new Ruger for three reasons.

1. The SP101 sucks as a .357 Magnum chambered gun. For its size and weight, it should be a six-shot revolver.

2. 4.2" barrels on GP100s are an abomination and a sin. The denizens of the land of snow and Trudeau can jump into a frozen lake infested with Polar Bears. Their restrictions have blemished, tarnished, and besmirched the visual balance that was a GP100. In fact, I challenge them to a duel. 3" GP100s at 10 paces. Oh wait, they can't own 3" guns. I win by default.

3. Ruger's laser engraving looks horrible.

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So, the SP101 "sucks" because it holds one fewer rounds than an RP63 and the GP100s are an "abomination" because they're 1/4" longer barrel than they were originally. I agree the SP101 2.25" sucks shooting 357s. The weight of the SP I consider a plus shooting 38+p for comfort and carries easily(26oz.) I don't buy Rugers for their looks and for the same reason I bought a "work truck" long bed pickup truck. Nothing fancy, not pretty but reliable, durable and get the job done. YMMV.

stonebuster said:

So, the SP101 "sucks" because it holds one fewer rounds than an RP63 and the GP100s are an "abomination" because they're 1/4" longer barrel than they were originally. I agree the SP101 2.25" sucks shooting 357s. The weight of the SP I consider a plus shooting 38+p for comfort and carries easily(26oz.) I don't buy Rugers for their looks and for the same reason I bought a "work truck" long bed pickup truck. Nothing fancy, not pretty but reliable, durable and get the job done. YMMD.

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4.2 barrels are ugly. I never liked the SP101 because for its size and weight, it should hold six rounds. Ruger makes some very nice looking guns. My Security Sixes are fantastic pieces. As is my proper 4" GP100. 4" revolvers are proper like the ones shown below.



I stand by my statement that 4.2" revolver are an abomination.

As for the 3" Rossi RP63, it weighs in at 27.30 oz and the 2.25" Ruger SP101 weighs in at 26 oz. The 3" SP101 weighs in at 27 oz.

Again, the SP101 is one round shorter than it needs to be. For the size and weight, a Colt D-Frame or S&W K-Frame is a better choice. My new production 3" Colt King Cobra weighs in at 28 oz and is a six-shot revolver. If I want a five-shot revolver, I'll stick with a smaller S&W J-Frame.

Again, the best deal out there on the market right now is the Rossi RP63. The price is fantastic, the weight, size, and capacity is well balanced out, and it doesn't have a lawyer-lock too.

.44 mag Tracker with 2 speed loader, box + paper $350. Definitely a good deal. will definitely be looking for more odd or big caliber Turas for cheap

No. From owning 2 that failed......And dealing with their warranty service.......Not no.........But hell no I'll never buy anther taursus.

IDC about the newer Taurus revolvers anymore. Got a 9mm snub and 327 snub recently, and am good on new revolvers for a while.

Some of the older Taurii are really nice though. Like the late 80's and very early 90's ones. I still want to get one of those 44 specials.

So if other members could please bash the older Taurii more, I would really appreciate it. If we could lower the demand for them somewhat by constantly criticizing them, I could get the things that I still want for much lower prices.

TYVM for your help with this matter.

Tallball said:

IDC about the newer Taurus revolvers anymore. Got a 9mm snub and 327 snub recently, and am good on new revolvers for a while.

Some of the older Taurii are really nice though. Like the late 80's and very early 90's ones. I still want to get one of those 44 specials.

So if other members could please bash the older Taurii more, I would really appreciate it. If we could lower the demand for them somewhat by constantly criticizing them, I could get the things that I still want for much lower prices.

TYVM for your help with this matter.

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I've been waiting for the 692 to show up at preferred online retailers I've bought from before to no avail, so I'm considering getting the 905. How close to POA does 115gr ammo shoot?

I figure since I have the .327 Taurus and find the 115gr LFN shoots very accurately that using the same weight projectile in 9mm would be a good, cheap practice piece for when I don't feel like pulling out my reloading gear as I move from rental to rental until the economy takes a dump and houses become affordable.

The Happy Kaboomer said:

No. From owning 2 that failed......And dealing with their warranty service.......Not no.........But hell no I'll never buy anther taursus.

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How did they fail?

Tallball said:

IDC about the newer Taurus revolvers anymore. Got a 9mm snub and 327 snub recently, and am good on new revolvers for a while.

Some of the older Taurii are really nice though. Like the late 80's and very early 90's ones. I still want to get one of those 44 specials.

So if other members could please bash the older Taurii more, I would really appreciate it. If we could lower the demand for them somewhat by constantly criticizing them, I could get the things that I still want for much lower prices.

TYVM for your help with this matter.

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Yup, a Taurus Model 431 is on my list of things to hunt down. More .44 Specials is always a good thing.

TTv2 said:

I've been waiting for the 692 to show up at preferred online retailers I've bought from before to no avail, so I'm considering getting the 905. How close to POA does 115gr ammo shoot?

I figure since I have the .327 Taurus and find the 115gr LFN shoots very accurately that using the same weight projectile in 9mm would be a good, cheap practice piece for when I don't feel like pulling out my reloading gear as I move from rental to rental until the economy takes a dump and houses become affordable.

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The 905 has shot all manner of cheap 115 and 124 grain range ammo pretty much to POA. In my hands and in the hands of my shooting buddy, it's about as accurate as any of our other snubbies.

At first it had a very stiff DA trigger, but a Wolff mainspring cured that.

I also thought the texture on the back of the grip was a little too aggressive and sanded it down a bit. (Look at the picture - it's like they wanted you to saw wood with it!)

Now it shoots just fine. I'd grind off the hammer spur and carry it NP, but I have lighter snubs for that. I don't have to practice with it a whole lot more times before it will have paid for itself in ammo savings.

I also like it for a practice piece because 9mm is a bit spicier than 38 special. The 38's caliber snubbies feel milder than usual after a putting a box of ammo through the 905.

Probably worth it to pay for the stainless finish. This dark finish is ugly and doesn't look like it will hold up well (judging a book...).

Me thinks the answer to the op’s question has a lot to do with exactly how one defines a “good” firearm/firearm company.

Having never owned a Taurus revolver I can’t comment.

I would say just be patient and save another $500 or so and buy a Smith, Colt, or Ruger.

I owned several Smiths and Colts many years ago when they were relatively inexpensive. Unfortunately, I sold them all over the years. Now I can't afford them. Recently, I acquired a Taurus 856 in 38spl just to get used to them again. Glad I did. Added a spring kit to smooth the DA and really like the way the trigger feels. Loaded with Federal 120 +P Punch HPs it shoots right to point of aim. I find myself reaching for it more and more when I walk out the door.

Later, I acquired a Tracker .357 just because a friend gave me a bag of brass. I handload for it with more of a low-end 125 hp magnum load or 38 wadcutters.

dranrab said:

How did they fail?

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broken firing pins an locking blocks............Will never spend my $$$$ on another.

The Happy Kaboomer said:

broken firing pins an locking blocks............Will never spend my $$$$ on another.

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Auto or revolver?

Hard no!

Locking block on a PT101..........Firing pin on their rifle 63 copy.

Miami_JBT said:

If you're paying $700 for it, that says your search skills can use improvement. The Executive Grade 856 is a $550 gun after shipping, transfer fee, sales tax, and background check fee.

Here it is with a base price of $468.

TAU M856 EXEC REV 3SS WAL

Taurus TAU M856 EXEC REV 3SS WAL for sale from Charter Tactical.

shop.chartertactical.com

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And the SP101 can be had online for $625, and is a more vetted, better quality, much stronger and robust, and come with a much, much, much better customer service and "warranty." Anymore who chooses a Taurus revolver over a Ruger when the price points are that close isn't too bright IMHO.

DeepSouth said:

Me thinks the answer to the op’s question has a lot to do with exactly how one defines a “good” firearm/firearm company.

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Many care more about saving $150 +/- than having a much better firearm or to deal with a "good" firearm company. They'll simply rationalize their purchase after the fact by telling themselves it's just as good to make themselves feel better about it because the more expensive option wasn't in their budget aka they didn't have the patience to wait a longer to save a little more or buy a used like new.

Styx said:

And the SP101 can be had online for $625, and is a more vetted, better quality, much stronger and robust, and come with a much, much, much better customer service and "warranty." Anymore who chooses a Taurus revolver over a Ruger when the price points are that close isn't too bright IMHO.

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You can get a Rossi RP63 for half the price of a Ruger SP101. The Rossi is a six-shot .357 Magnum too. Unlike the Ruger. Taurus has improved their quality and their customer service. I've been to their new facility in Bainbridge, GA.