I'll be eating Ramen noodles for awhile

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44-henry

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Made the mistake of going to the local gunstore this morning for a pound of 2400 and some primers and walked out of the store with a mint S&W 19-3 4" and a Taurus 431 4" (44 special & stainless).

I don't need any encouragement for the Smith as they are simply impossible to pass up in this condition at any sort of decent price (at least for me), but I am hesitant on the Taurus. The asking price was $225 and it is basically new. Seemed like an ok deal, anyone have any opinions on them?
 
I've got an opinion: next to the 85, the fixed-sight 431 is probably the best little revolver Taurus has made, and they aren't making them any more (the revolvers from the 431/441 era were more consistently decent than the later guns, IME). If I found a minty 431 in my LGS, no matter the barrel length (3 or 4") or finish (blue or stainless) for $225, I'd be eating noodles too. Good for you, I say. If you want to feel even better, go follow the 431s on gunbroker for a while... I guarantee you will start to feel like you got a deal.

Like I said, that's just one opinion, but I would have bought it on the spot. (I'm only ignoring the 19 because we all know what the deal is with those; good catch there as well.)
 
I have studied it a bit more carefully and I cannot see anything really wrong with it. I don't have any 44 special brass right now, but when I get some in I will work up some moderate loads and give it a try. The action really is quite good, about as good as the 19-3 I bought so that is kind of surprising. Overall it seems like a decent pistol and handles nice. From the ones I saw on gunbroker it doesn't look as though I would ever loose money on the deal. My only complaint is the factory grips which have to go, but I do on occasion make custom grips so that shouldn't be too big a problem. I'm guessing a set of Roper style grips wouldn't look too bad on it.
 
I got a Taurus 44 cheap in a multiple gun trade. It was great but not my thing so I used it as trade bait- to my BIL - Still running fine.:)
 
Use hot water AND instant bullion. A bit salty, but stale bread, call it crutons, helps. Packs easy, travels well, and low trash footprint. Yumm.

sd.
 
Be careful! My buddy ate Ramen noodles every day for an entire month and he had to be hospitalized becuase his cholesterol and blood pressure spiked up to dangerous levels. :)
 
At that price, you should be able to sell the Tarus if you don't like it. By the way, did you buy your primers and powder?
 
Cook your ramen with cut up cheap hotdogs and frozen broccoli, drain, add 1/4 the seasoning packet, hot sauce, soy sauce and minced garlic. Cheap and good. Call it glop. Enjoy the new sidearm. :)
 
The Taurus is like the Ramen noodles. It's cheap and will get you by until you can afford better. The S&W Model-19 is more like a t-bone. How about a range report?
 
I would have picked up that Taurus in a heartbeat; been looking for one in .44 Special for quite some time. And forget the Ramen noodles as they have way too much sodium in them. Have a bowl of Cheerios instead.
 
Frankly, if I could have only got one I would have taken the Taurus .44 Special and passed on the model 19. :what:

It is very difficult to find mid-frame .44 Specials, while the model 19 is far more common, and another one would likely come along. As it was you got both. :cool:
 
Frankly, if I could have only got one I would have taken the Taurus .44 Special and passed on the model 19.
Click to expand...
:confused:
Do I have to tear down my Old Fuff shrine in the bedroom? Please tell me that was a typo.:uhoh:
 
Tear down whatever you will, but my statement wasn't a typo, and I didn't expect to get much support.

I am not that big a fan of the .357 Magnum cartridge when it comes to close range business, and for the purpose prefer something with a bigger diameter bullet rather flash, blast and bang. If S&W decided to make a 5-shot/K-frame/in .40S&W (with moon clips) or .44 Special I would be delighted, but they haven't and I suspect they won't.

That leaves Charter (who has, but I consider they're models to be too light for the purpose), Ruger (who could on the SP-101 platform, but doesn't seem the least bit interested), and Taurus (who can and has).

I have a Taurus model 445 (5-shot/.44 Special/2" barrel) that I consider to be an ideal snubby for anything but pants-pocket carry, and it's never given me a bit of trouble. I would find a model 431/4" to be very attractive for situations where the 2" I have isn't the best solution.

The trouble with the 431 is that you seldom see one offered, especially for $250.

On the other hand Smith & Wesson's models 19/66's were some of the most popular they ever made, and while prices are justifiably going up, availability usually isn't a problem if you look around.

So while the best way to go would be to get both - which is what happened - if I had to choose it would be the 431. If it did have issues I could likely fix 'um. :cool:
 
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