Smith and Wesson vs. Taurus

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RockyMtnTactical

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OK, how do they compare? Is there any comparison? Which is money best spent on?

I was thinking about getting a Taurus 851, but I have read some stuff that is making me lean towards the S&W 638.

My dad already has a 638 and I like it...

I am leaning towards the Smith now, so put my mind at ease that the 638 is the right choice, or confuse me more if you think the Taurus is just as good for less $$$.

I am new to wheel guns in general so go easy on me. :eek:
 
You can encounter good and bad specimens from either manufacturer.

I'll stick with S&W because its made in the USA and I have far more confidence in receiving timely and satisfactory repair service from S&W should the need arise
 
You can encounter good and bad specimens from either manufacturer.

I'll stick with S&W because its made in the USA and I have far more confidence in receiving timely and satisfactory repair service from S&W should the need arise
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That is actually the best answer Ive ever read....and that should end this thread for good.
...aint the first and most likely not the last Taurus vs S&W thread....

My opinion : Dont matter which one you choose, both will propably shoot just fine. S&W service may be better in USA...dont know about that.
Ive had S&W and Taurus and I loved them both. If I had to buy one now Id choose Taurus just because its 100e cheaper.
 
Let's put it this way. I have owned 7 Taurus Products in my consumer lifetime, while owning 4 Smith and Wesson Modern products. I am down to 2 Taurus products now, and they are in the repair shop coming on week 8. My 3Smith & Wesson revolvers just keep on trucking, and my one auto the 3913 is now my primary carry gun. The one time I had a problem with a S&W, something about the wrong sized screw for the 3913 grip panel, they sent me a new screw after a pleasant 5 minute conversation on the phone. It took 3 days.
When I had a problem with my Taurus PT 145, it took numerous phone calls to Taurus to finally receive the $4.85 part. Total time: 4 months.

Throw in the fact that I have had problems with all 7 of my Taurus products, and only the one with 4 different S&W products, I'd go with the Smith ANY day of the week over Taurus.

Now, having said that. Taurus DOES come out with some neat designs.
 
I think you already know the answer to your question. If you have doubts now about the Taurus, those doubts will grow 10fold when you carry it to trust your life to it.
 
I have never bought a new taurus or a new smith. I own several of each, have never had to have any of them in a "shop". I have had to make minor repairs and adjustments on all of them. The only Stainless gun I have ever owned is a Taurus Mod 441 6" 44 special. I bought it because of the caliber. It is the best shooter in the stable.
 
I have two S&Ws and two Tauri. Both S&Ws and one Taurus have made trips back to the factory for repairs. One Smith for a new hand after several thousand rounds and the other for a new frame after several hundred. The Taurus had light primer strikes from the get-go. I guess since the Smiths took some time to fail and the Taurus was bad from the start I would recommend S&W over Taurus.
 
You can encounter good and bad specimens from either manufacturer.

I'll stick with S&W because its made in the USA and I have far more confidence in receiving timely and satisfactory repair service from S&W should the need arise
Click to expand...

I have both, and downtime if you need repair is a consideration. If you have several back up guns it's not as much as an issue.
A good gun is a good gun, whether it's a Taurus, a Smith, or Ruger.
I have all three and none have given me problems.
 
Well, my S&W airweight has a cracked frame.

Never fired a round of Plus P.

Less than 500 rounds throught it.

Not a slam against S&W, just a fact.

If you are talking used, whichever you like better. There is no way in hell I will pay what S&W wants for their guns these days.

Joe
 
Out another 642 in laway last payday. Why, because the Taurus was only $50 less. I will pick up a good steel framed Taurus (have on on old 85) but not for that kind of money.

22lr
 
Welcome to the wheelie world,RockyMtn.:D! Seems I've had everything EXcept Taurus.I know we sold a many of 'em back when I worked in the gunstore in the '80's.Personally,I prefer S&W for what ravencon said and for their history.My oldest sister still has her first wheelie,a 35 Year old Colt Detective Special,and swears by nothing else.To this day,it looks BNIB condition after 1K+ rds fired!

I would recommend "test-driving" several makes and models,and go from there.Check with area gun shops or shooting clubs for assistance and advice;see if any club members might have a model that you could test at the range with them.Happy Wheelin:D!!!
 
Let's put it this way. I have owned 7 Taurus Products in my consumer lifetime, while owning 4 Smith and Wesson Modern products. I am down to 2 Taurus products now, and they are in the repair shop coming on week 8.
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...I also own seven Taurus hanguns...NEVER had a problem with a one...go figure ? That said said, if I could get a nice used S&W J frame for about $300 I would go that route....better resale value. If I was buying new either S&W or Taurus will serve you well. I must own over 20 S&W handguns....and I often carry my Taurus M85 Ultralite. I take it with me to the range nearly every week....always goes "bang" when I pull the trigger. ;)

- regards
 
If you want to get a good idea of how they compare --- check the "re-sale value".

You can do this by looking at the auction sites -- gunbroker, auction arms etc...

Like anything else ( cars, boats, watches etc... ) the re-sale value will tell you much about the quality of the item.

Don

P.S.-- make mine a S&W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You can encounter good and bad specimens from either manufacturer.

I'll stick with S&W because its made in the USA and I have far more confidence in receiving timely and satisfactory repair service from S&W should the need arise
Click to expand...

'Nuff said.

Noidster
 
Ive had S&W and Taurus and I loved them both.
Click to expand...

Me, too. I've never owned a Taurus auto. My revolvers have been quite awesome, extremely accurate, and great deals. I've had 3 S&Ws. Sold/traded a couple. I'll never ever get rid of my M10, just too cool. Something about the KISS principle I like about it. Besides, it shoots too good. :D

Like anything else ( cars, boats, watches etc... ) the re-sale value will tell you much about the quality of the item.
Click to expand...

In this case, you are quite wrong. The resale tells NOTHING about the quality and everything about the snobby types that don't want used Tauri and leave them for us who know better. I'm thankful to the S&W snobs who run the price of M10s down here up to 300 and up, worse for other models, and have allowed me to pick up a couple of Taurus 66s that are SUPERB for under 200 bucks. My 4" nickel 66 is like new, one little holster wear blimish that's barely visible on the cylinder, for 197 at a local gun show. That thing outshoots both the M19 I had and my M10, not by much, but outshoots 'em. Awesome, well built gun and no stupid flat spot on the forcing cone that cracked on my M10. Yeah, Smith guys, keep it up! I can't thank you enough for thumbing your noses at Taurus!

BTW, especially with used guns, but even with new, check the thing out, timing, end shake, cylinder play, forcing cone condition, gap, etc, before you buy. Revolvers are easy to check out at the gunshop without firing a round.
 
I've owned both S&W and Taurus brands of revolvers (plus Ruger, Colt & Dan Wesson). I've also had to deal with Customer Service from both companies mentioned. One treated me like a valued customer, handled my issues smoothly in a timely manner. The other acted as though my inquiry was a bother, my issue was a insignficant annoyance & believed 6-8 weeks to RESPOND was plenty fast enough. Care to guess which was which? (*hint - I now own no Taurus firearms)
 
I have never bought a gun of any kind because of its resale value. I buy guns that interest me for me. Smith has had its problems over the years as have every other manufacturer from ships to candycanes. They are just machinery and require care and maintanence.
 
I like Smiths better. Better quality, fit and finish from what I have alwasy seen. Not to mention they are made in the USA and hold their resale value. Taurus isn't made in the USA and don't have much resale value.
 
Only wheel gun I have at the moment is a Taurus 341 6" 44sp. I am perfectly willing to stake my life on it as quickly as any of my XDs. Btw, it is loaded all the time with Hornady 180gr JHP/XTP. Would love to find either another 341 or a 441 with a 4" tube to use for carrying.
 
I have had the same S&W since about '67.... can't tell you how many thousands of rounds, I couldn't even guess......the only taurus I have any experience with is an auto.... copy of a Beretta 92..... won't shoot more than a hundred rounds of dirty commercial reloads without jamming.....then it needs to be cleaned to work well again.....Make mine a S&W......
 
If this is a defense gun, I would go with the S&W period

Leave the Taurus junk for the range. Better yet, leave it in Brazil.

Buy American :)

Shooter429
 
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