Taurus 431-.44 special

[dbublitz]

I know, I know, why Taurus. Well, I have found a 431 stainless built early 90's/all original in great condition. Does anyone know if the reputation of these were alright, or am I getting into a realm of firearms I should'nt venture into. BTW, the price is $450.00 which seems kind of on the high end for anything out of Brazil.

 

[weregunner]

The 431 is a good one. Own 4 myself. I also have 4 of it's direct kin, the Taurus 441.

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/73951-hog-kill-taurus-441-a.html

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/67648-441-741-941-classics.html

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/66748-44special-model-431-mine-different.html

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/65438-taurus-431-44spl.html

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/61092-taurus-steel-frame-44-special.html

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=613578
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=552697
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=576498
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=255720

That ought to cover things.

 

[EMC45]

I like mine. It shoots well. Seems a little high $ for that gun.

 

[Walkalong]

Four 441's? I'm jealous, as I have exactly none.

 

[Dan-O]

Some interesting reading:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 44 Special DPX Report.htm

I have a 431 that I purchased a few years ago. It was used and in about 95%. I paid about $350 for it, although I had been looking for a while, and they are fairly hard to come by. I think $450 is a bit much, unless it is worth that much to you.

 

[Jaymo]

I wish I'd never sold mine. It was blued and had a 3" barrel. I loved that gun.

 

[MMCSRET]

My stainless 441 is a 1992 production gun, somewhere past 12,000 hand loads, and still sound and more accurate than ever. It's accuracy quotient rivals a couple of my Colt Officers Models in 38 Special.

 

[commygun]

I've had 3 different 431's and they were all quality guns. That front sight is just too darn small, though.

 

[weregunner]

Bought all of mine online through Gun Broker.com and Gun Auction.com. Those seem to pop up quite frequently.

 

[whtsmoke]

i was going for a 431 until i walked in and saw the 441 and this has been many years ago, i like mine and have had countless number of rounds thru it without a problem. why did i buy mine, because i wanted a special and this was in my price range and dont think i will ever sell this its a keeper. dont know about the others but mine has a fantastic single action trigger pull and the double is a little heavier but it comes close to being as smooth as my model 19 smith.

 

[dbublitz]

Thank you for all the reply's, doesnt sound like too many negatives despite being "a Taurus" unusual.

 

[JERRY]

with Taurus you will either get a jewel or a lemon, they seem to lack an in between.....meaning a reliable gun but lacking refinement.

 

[jl1288]

I really enjoy my 431, and 450 they have been 100%.

 

[Jaymo]

I'd give my left nad to have my 3" 431 back.
How's that for a "not negative" comment about Taurus?
I've never had a single problem from the 9 Taurus remote control drills (stolen from Massad Ayoob) I've owned.

 

[jad0110]

Some Taurus revolvers seem to be more problem prone, such as the Model 94. Others like the 66, 669 and the 5 shot 44 specials seem to be mostly excellent. My 3" 431 has been wonderul. The barrel was scumbed of something fierce with lead. Let the barrel soak in an Ed's Red mix for 3 hours, then it took 45 minutes to get most of the lead out with a Lewis Lead removert tool (enough to cast a freakin' bullet). Previous owner must have been shooting some really crappy soft lead bullets through it. Double action is pretty smooth, release isn't quite as smooth as a S&W, but it isn't objectionable.

$450 is steep though, especially if it is a 4". Tops I'd pay would be $350 for a 3". I acquired my 3" blued example last year for $268 at a gun show:





I don't carry it as frequently as my 4" S&W Model 19 or even my Model 28, but I am carrying it as I type this.


To further what Jaymo said above, I'd probably give up my left nad before I'd give up my 431!

 

[Jaymo]

I need to start looking for another. The K and J frame copies are very good guns. I've had 3 85s, a 65, a 431, and a 44. All were excellent.

 

[tahoe2]

431/441

never shot one, but have wanted one for many years. I used to have a 4" Taurus model 66, (the basis for the 431/441) and that gun was a shooter and performed flawlessly for years.
I don't even remember getting rid of it. I know the right deal will show up one day, just patiently waiting. My other Taurus experiences are a Raging Bull in 454(someone else's) and a PT92 in 9mm, (also someone else's), I did not spend much time with these; but they seemed to be very good firearms. I've heard all the bashers , and these are just my experiences , these guns were older, but well cared for, and did their duty just fine.

 

[JERRY]

.....wrong thread....

 

[EMC45]

Mine with a 200gr. LRFN over 6gr. of Titegroup will impress all day long.

 

[JR47]

I need to start looking for another. The K and J frame copies are very good guns. I've had 3 85s, a 65, a 431, and a 44. All were excellent.

Unless S&W has added a transfer-bar mechanism, the Taurus could hardly be considered a copy.

Then again, I suppose that some people consider Charter Arms, Colt, Wesson, Ruger, Astra, and Manhurin as copies. After all, they ARE revolvers.

 

[Drail]

The good thing about Taurus
is that almost anything wrong with the one you buy is usually cheap to fix. They use a couple of different springs but the triggers can be adjusted to as good as a S&W. I worked in a shop where we sold and did some custom work on Taurus and S&W revolvers and they were both nice guns. The owner and his wife both carried Taurus revolvers. I borrowed his one day at a match and it did a great job on steel plates.

 

[mdauben]

I know, I know, why Taurus. Well, I have found a 431 stainless built early 90's/all original in great condition. Does anyone know if the reputation of these were alright, or am I getting into a realm of firearms I should'nt venture into. BTW, the price is $450.00 which seems kind of on the high end for anything out of Brazil.

I would agree with previous posts that $450 seems a little high, but the old 431s are getting harder to find these days so its up to you if you want to snap this one up, or wait (possibly a long time?) to find a cheaper one.