Hey guys/gals. How is the quality of a taurus .357 8 shot revolver vs s&w .357 revolver? Is the difference in price($200 I think)worth buying the s&w? It seems to me I can buy a lot of ammo for $200. My brother has a reloader so all I have to do is buy dies/powder/bullets. He says spend the extra money for the s&w. Can the taurus also shoot .38's? Just want more opinions. Thanks
S&W.357 vs Taurus.357
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newfalguy101
Member
ok I will give my spin on your questions in order of easiness to answer:
Can the taurus also shoot .38's? yes
How is the quality of a taurus .357 8 shot revolver vs s&w .357 revolver? In my OPINION, as good as the Taurus is, the Smith is better, much more refined with overall quality being better
and finally
Is the difference in price($200 I think)worth buying the s&w? It depends, if you BELIEVE it is, then it is, if YOU dont then no. The Smith will hold its value better than the Taurus, the Smith in MY opinion is better made and mor refined. As much of a cheapskate as I am, I would still spend the extra and get the Smith
Can the taurus also shoot .38's? yes
How is the quality of a taurus .357 8 shot revolver vs s&w .357 revolver? In my OPINION, as good as the Taurus is, the Smith is better, much more refined with overall quality being better
and finally
Is the difference in price($200 I think)worth buying the s&w? It depends, if you BELIEVE it is, then it is, if YOU dont then no. The Smith will hold its value better than the Taurus, the Smith in MY opinion is better made and mor refined. As much of a cheapskate as I am, I would still spend the extra and get the Smith
Preacherman
Member
I've owned Taurus and S&W revolvers in large quantities of both. I think that a good analogy would be to compare a Kia or Hyundai auto to a Honda or Toyota. The lower-priced cars will drive almost as well, will get you to your destination, etc. - but they will lose their value faster than the higher-end guns, and when it comes to high-mileage use and wear, you'll find out why the Honda and Toyota have earned their reputations. Taurus is the same compared to the S&W - perfectly good, usable revolvers, but for higher-intensity use and value over the long term, I suggest the S&W's rule.
(BTW, I no longer own a Taurus revolver, but own several S&W's and Rugers.)
(BTW, I no longer own a Taurus revolver, but own several S&W's and Rugers.)
themic
Member
oh, great. now we'll have honda vs toyota threads 
newfalguy101
Member
I woulda picked different auto comparators but in the end it worked,
I guess
I guess
I like the car analogy, it holds true in the warranty department also. Funny how kia and hyundai offer insane warranties, like 10 years, 100k, but they are obviously inferior to even domestics which generally only have 36K. Likewise, Taurus has their lifetime (of the gun!) warranty.
I would have saved the cash and bought one myself, but it just didn't fit in my hand. They seem to have a slightly smaller grip on the medium frames. Which could be changed I guess.
I would have saved the cash and bought one myself, but it just didn't fit in my hand. They seem to have a slightly smaller grip on the medium frames. Which could be changed I guess.
The odds are considerably higher that the Taurus will have to go back to warranty work.
The odds are that if the Taurus goes back to the factory for warranty work, it will take a considerably longer (and be less satisfactory) than similar work on a S&W.
If you decide to sell or trade your Taurus (before or after the warranty work), be prepared to give it away for next to nothing.
If you like playing the lottery, buy Taurus.
The odds are that if the Taurus goes back to the factory for warranty work, it will take a considerably longer (and be less satisfactory) than similar work on a S&W.
If you decide to sell or trade your Taurus (before or after the warranty work), be prepared to give it away for next to nothing.
If you like playing the lottery, buy Taurus.
Like Preacherman, I have owned both. A decade ago Taurus products were nowhere as good as a Smith & Wesson. But during the recent past the company has made marked improvements. As a consequence the CURRENT production are much closer to Smith & Wesson in terms of quality then they were. However S&W remains the benchmark against which all others are matched. A Smith & Wesson unquestionably has a better resale value, and I doubt this will change in the foreseeable future.
Unlike some others, my Taurus revolvers (I haven't had any experience with their pistols) haven't given me any trouble, and I find that in some important areas such as smoothness of action and trigger pull, cylinder gap and alignment, cylinder end-shake, and timing they are the functional equal of the other brand. I would note that I have avoided the titanium models chambered to use Magnum cartridges, and am aware there have been problems with these, but similar guns from Smith & Wesson are not necessarily trouble free.
When seeking a "bigger bang for the buck," (who isn't?) I often turn to the used market and seek out older Smith & Wesson's, but not Taurus revolvers. When I'm shopping for something new I'll consider both. So far I've come out without and disapointments.
Unlike some others, my Taurus revolvers (I haven't had any experience with their pistols) haven't given me any trouble, and I find that in some important areas such as smoothness of action and trigger pull, cylinder gap and alignment, cylinder end-shake, and timing they are the functional equal of the other brand. I would note that I have avoided the titanium models chambered to use Magnum cartridges, and am aware there have been problems with these, but similar guns from Smith & Wesson are not necessarily trouble free.
When seeking a "bigger bang for the buck," (who isn't?) I often turn to the used market and seek out older Smith & Wesson's, but not Taurus revolvers. When I'm shopping for something new I'll consider both. So far I've come out without and disapointments.
aerod1
Member
I own both. If you have the money, go ahead and get the Smith.
Jim
Jim
13.45
Member
i've owned and shot both, and tend toward the S&W. as mentioned above, S&W also maintains a better resale value
bjbarron
Member
I've bought several of both types over the years...as well as some other 'second tier' manufacturers.
But if you look at the revolvers in my gun safe that I keep, you'll find the Colts and Smiths.
Although I never had the slightest problem with the others, they always wind up being trade-in guns for something 'better'. That's just the way it worked out.
But if you look at the revolvers in my gun safe that I keep, you'll find the Colts and Smiths.
Although I never had the slightest problem with the others, they always wind up being trade-in guns for something 'better'. That's just the way it worked out.
Pistol Toter
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I've never owned a Taurus and not very likely that I ever will! If you can't afford a S&W get you Ruger.
rico700
Member
Don't buy the Taurus unless you are sure you will keep it for life. I do agree that it will function fairly well but if you ever decide to trade/ sell it 
I recently (last year) bought the trendy Tracker in 17HMR. for about $350. It was a fine pistol but got bored with it after couple hungred rounds and wanted to sell.
I started at $295 then went to $275 then $250. Well the long and short of it was I ended up selling for $200 and had to pay shipping $50.
You can do the math
A valid option for you may be to seek out gently used pistol in S&W.
I recently (last year) bought the trendy Tracker in 17HMR. for about $350. It was a fine pistol but got bored with it after couple hungred rounds and wanted to sell.
I started at $295 then went to $275 then $250. Well the long and short of it was I ended up selling for $200 and had to pay shipping $50.
You can do the math
A valid option for you may be to seek out gently used pistol in S&W.
rico700:
Part of the trouble wasn't the gun, but the cartridge it was chambered for. The little .17 HMR is an interesting cartridge, but it hasn't caught on all that well. It may over time, but that didn't help when you needed it. I always expect guns in unusual calibers or "wildcats" to be hard to sell, so most of the few I've bought I still have.
Part of the trouble wasn't the gun, but the cartridge it was chambered for. The little .17 HMR is an interesting cartridge, but it hasn't caught on all that well. It may over time, but that didn't help when you needed it. I always expect guns in unusual calibers or "wildcats" to be hard to sell, so most of the few I've bought I still have.
rico700
Member
Understood. I do believe that if I had bought a S&W in 17HMR (if even available) that the beating would have been considerably less.
lodwick
Member
Whichever you purchase, it will need a good trigger-job ($125 up), so if $$$'s no object, get the Smith, otherwise, the new Taurus products are fine weapons.
Enjoy, and BLOAT.
Enjoy, and BLOAT.
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