Got mine today - Woo-HOO!
Boy these things are hard to find. Managed to get one last week from "The Exchange" in Brookings, SD (onlinegundeals.com).
Got it today from my local FFL and boy am I happy!
Looks like I got a good one!
Only thing wrong with it out of the box was the rear sight was drifted off center. Quick fix. Also, when I removed the Mag Spring Plug to install a SS follower, it was a bit hard to get out and even harder to get in. I tried it without the spring and it was almost impossible to get into the tube. I used a bit of fine sandpaper to smooth up the plug and also the inside of the tube end and violla.....works perfect now. I cut about 3" off the Mag Spring leaving about 5" still sticking out (4.5" is the length of 3 - .357 mag rounds and what Steve's Gunz suggests). I left an extra half inch to be safe.
Loading gate is not as stiff as I was expecting. Pretty good actually. I will not be cutting the spring there. Although I have already bought the Gunslinger spring kit, I doubt that I will use it (at least for now). Reason......after flushing the gun with brake cleaner and then oiling it up, it is pretty smooth as it is. I will shoot it awhile the way it is and if necessary, install the spring kit later on.
Installed Steve's Gunz safety delete button. Used a sewing needle & loop to scratch out the cheesy green and red paint on the "F&S" stamped letters. The paint was actually soft........could have been the brake cleaner...... Used a toothbrush to get the edge corners of the letters clean. 2 Min job.
Interesting to me is the keyed lock on the back of the hammer (similar to S&W revolvers). I never heard anyone mention this before, but it is there, along with 2 keys that came with it. With the keys is a paper that says "Taurus Lock" so I can only assume this has been present since the takeover in 1997? Strange that in all my readings I had seen nothing about this. Wonder if there is a replacement hammer available somewhere without the lock or hole?
Wood is on the medium-dark side and looks really good. I am pleasantly surprised. It's dull finish is the only downside and I may see about adding a clear semi-gloss later on.
Won't get to shoot it for awhile, but have already cycled .38's and .357's with no problems with either. And yes, it only holds 9 rounds in the 16" version, but CASS shooters should be able to put +1 in the chamber (not sure of the rules)?
Did I say.................I am happy!