.32 H&R magnums: Taurus vs. S&W

[cookekdjr]

OK, I know alot of you will off-the-bat tell me to get a different caliber. Save that for another thread.
My question: Has anyone compared the small .32 mag offerings of Taurus and Smith and Wesson? Which one was more accurate? Which one has less recoil? Better trigger?
Please share your experiences.
Thanks,

David

 

[P. Plainsman]

Haven't compared them, but note that Taurus's .32 snubbies all came with ported barrels for the past few years. Kind of a silly feature on a .32 Mag -- the round is already a soft shooter. Otherwise the Tauri seem like cool guns.

I say "had" because Taurus has apparently dropped the ports starting this year.

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=731SSULC&category=Revolver

Unless you're very recoil sensitive, this is probably a good change. If you can't inspect in person, make sure to ask whether the Taurus you're considering comes with ports.

The S&W .32 Mag snubbies are not ported.

 

[priv8ter]

Can't compare

I'm afraid I can't compare the the Smiths to the Taurus, in the same caliber.

I bought a Taurus 731 UL, and Ilike it. As stated, it is ported, but having never fired it in a low light condition, I can't tell you how bad the muzzle flash is.

Trigger pull isn't bad...but comparing it to the one Smith I do have(a 686+) I can't say it's good either. It's roughly like my SP-101 I used to own.

greg

 

[cookekdjr]

Thanks for your replies.
However, I found a deal I could not refuse on a Taurus Total Titanium in .38 Special during lunch, so I bought it.
Its a bright "gangsta" blue (I almost got the gold one, but I couldn't afford the matching teeth and rims ).
Anyway, I ended up going with the .38.
I love that .32, though...somehow I see myself selling something to buy it...
(they didn't have any .32's at my store- and its the biggest gun store in the Southeast)
Have a good day folks-

David

 

[carebear]

cooke,

That Spectre-blue is sure pimpin'. I almost got some (faux) pearl stocks for mine.

You might notice a little wear if you carry it a lot.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

The Taurus UL I purchased a couple of months ago has the matte, stainless finish and is not ported. The gun shop had a couple of them in the "blue" finish and they were ported. I don't know if what type of finish the Taurus .32 H&Rs have determines whether or not they are ported. I'm only stating what I saw at that particular gun shop. However, the gun shop owner showed me the one he carried daily in his pocket - it had the "blue" finish and about half of it was worn off. It probably functioned fine, but it looked like crap. So far mine, with the matte stainless finish, is showing very little wear. I carry it all day, everyday, in a Biachi pancake style holster as I work on our back property.
I don't know about the Smith, but the SA trigger on my Taurus is about 4 lbs. It's pretty crisp though, with no creep. The DA trigger is mediocre - fairly smooth, but heavy. It has decent sights for a snubby and shoots to POA with 95 grain Federal SWCs. I think I'm keeping them in about 3" at 15 yards, but all I've done is informally plink tin cans on the wood pile. Unless a person was very recoil sensitive, I don't know why he or she would want a ported .32 H&R. Even though my Taurus has small grips and I have paws for hands, I hardly notice the recoil. However, muzzle blast without hearing protection, would be dangerous.

 

[cookekdjr]

Thanks, Sharps Shooter. I've already decided to get a .32 H&R for my next gun. Looking for some now.
-David

 

[P. Plainsman]

Unless a person was very recoil sensitive, I don't know why he or she would want a ported .32 H&R. Even though my Taurus has small grips and I have paws for hands, I hardly notice the recoil. However, muzzle blast without hearing protection, would be dangerous.

My thoughts exactly.