TAURUS and a ROSSI
Summer of 2005 I bought a new .38Spl/.357Magnum,7-shot Taurus revolver model 627 with a 6.5 inch factory ported barrel. The single action trigger is very nice, almost lite. The D/A trigger was gritty when I first got it but after cleaning, 300 or so .357 rounds and about 1000 .38Special rounds the D/A trigger is nice & smooth.
Compared to other revolvers of this type I would say Taurus does not pay attention to detail. The sights are junk. The bright orange part of the front sight was a very cheapish stick on decal that fell out after contact with gun cleaners. The rear sight elevation adj. screw will back out, all the way out while firing and after not so many rounds . Fortunatly the screw is retained so it doesn't fall out. Because of the crummy sights I use a red dot that has shown this to be an accurate sidearm.
As far as detail take a look at the burrs and gouges in the pic of the bore at the muzzel and porting. Not exactly detailed. I have read that other 627's are smooth bore at the porting but I've never seen another one myself.
My 627 has been 100% reliable and the wife enjoys shooting it so it does serve its purpose. If I had it to buy over I would for a few dollars more go with a S&W 686.
Winter of 2005 I bought a ROSSI model 68 with a 3 inch barrel, see pic here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=195065
I bought the 68 to be our house gun and it was for awhile but after 300 or 400 rounds I found the D/A not reliable so it has been retired as the house gun. Like the Taurus little attention is payed to detail with lots of machining marks and sharp edges. I still enjoy shooting it once in awhile.
I have since started useing a 1953 CZ52 semi-auto pistol as the house gun which is 110% reliable and chambered in the very, VERY powerful 7.62x25 Tokarev round and it didn't cost much so if I am forced to fire it in self defense I won't mind so much should it be taken by LE.
Thanks