Taurus 44 or Taurus Tracker in .44 Magnum ?

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il.bill

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I am having trouble making up my mind about buying myself a .44 Magnum DA Revolver. I have narrowed my choices down to either a Taurus Tracker 5-Shot 4" Ported Barrel Stainless Steel AS Model or a Taurus Model 44 6-Shot 4" Ported Barrel Stainless Steel AS Revolver. They are both sale priced from a local distributor within $10 of each other at the moment, with nearly $90 off the regular dealer price. Yes, I know neither one is a S&W Model 629, but I think the Taurus would be fine for my occasional use and it fits in my budget at this time.

Any feed back on these two particular Revolvers would be most welcome, especially from someone who could point out any significant differences beyond the fairly obvious difference of six shots versus five shots.

Thanks for any input you can offer ...
 
I like the looks of the Tracker over the 44. I don't like vent ribs on revolvers other than a Python. Not being much of a reloader, I don't know if the extra metal on the Tracker makes it better suited for hot reloads. My opinion, I'm good with the 5 shot for hunting and the range. I want the extra bullet for personal defense.
 
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How occasional is "occasional?" Neither the Tracker 44 or Model 44 would be of interest for me. The Tracker is kinda in the same boat as the S&W 69, the fact a 44mag fits doesn't mean it's really meant for it. Like a V6 pulling a stock trailer full of cattle - it can, but won't hold up long if you do it too often. The 44 is a little better, but in my experience with the Taurus revolvers, having the dual lock-up of the Raging Bull 444 is well worth the price.

So if this is going to be a "few boxes a year" revolver for you, then flip a coin. The Tracker will flip more, but it's more handy if you're carrying it. If this is going to be a "few boxes a month" revolver for you, then I wouldn't recommend either.
 
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I have a Taurus M44. 6 shot, 6.5" ported barrel. Big, full-sized (as large as a S&W N-frame), all steel, easy-to-shoot revolver.

I've owned it for close to 20 years. I've shot everything from full power factory loads, to 44 Spl type 200gr loads.
It's as accurate as any other 44 Mag that I own ( 3 Rugers), with the possible exception of my 9.5" SRH.

I have never had any kind of problems with it, and would purchase it again.

If you want a full-sized 44 Mag, and don't want to spring for a Redhawk or M629, get the big Taurus. Most people don't shoot enough full-house 44 Mag to wear anything out.
 
I have a Tracker 44 in the safe. I wouldn't hesitate to feed it a regular diet of Magnums...nor have I. I don't have experience with the M44, but I have no complaints about the small, light Tracker.

I think the Raging Bull chassis is overkill for the relatively weak 44 Magnum. I have a 454 and love it, but recoil is not bad with it at all, Taurus has grips down to a science...I can't picture getting one with anything less than .454. .45 Colt is like shooting .38s. The Tracker is about the same size as the M66 .357. Bigger than a K frame, Smaller than a L Frame.

Perspective...
IMG_20170806_210028.jpg
Top - .454 Raging Bull
Middle - .44 Tracker
Bottom - .357 M66

I don't think you can go wrong with either. Pick the one that calls to you more. 5 rounds of .44 Magnum is a lot, 6 is icing on the cake.
 
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I know this might sound stupid but buy the one that talks to you. Hold each one in your hand and the one that makes you feel good is the one to buy. You know, you pick up a gun and say to yourself, "I really like this gun."
 
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I owned a Tracker and was very fond of the gun. Having to sell it to put food on the table was unpleasant but that is not relative here.
I had no trouble shooting the gun with .44 mag 240 grn ammo (standard). It shot very well and left me believing it would hold up just fine. It is however a lighter built gun, and I generally shot it with .44 specials (plinking targets and cans didn't seem to need the magnum loadings. So I also did not shoot heavy .44magnum loads just for the heck of it.
Bottom line is that my opinion is to go with the heavier frame if you want to shoot a steady diet of .44 magnums. I see no reason why you would want to however, and the Tracker is much nicer to carry.

PS" I would probably say the same regarding the S&W L frame .44 Magnum.
 
Thank you for all the input.

A S&W 69 at $215 more, a S&W 629 at $285 more, or a Ruger Redhawk at $315 more would all certainly be worth the money, but the sale pricing on the Taurus Models lets me get into the DA Revolver .44 Magnum game within my current budget and I simply do not see myself shooting enough full power loads to shake any of the choices loose.

The lighter Tracker would be nicer to carry and the rubber grips, which seem quite similar to the ones on the Judge, feel like they would be comfortable and handle the recoil much like shooting .410 shotgun shells in the Judge that I like.

I am going to purchase the Taurus Model 44. I cannot see carrying it a lot other than holstered on occasional forays into the woods (which will not be happening at all until I get both of my worn out knees replaced). I think the larger, heavier frame and six shot capacity will serve me fine as a large caliber home / vehicle defense handgun and for running 200-500 rounds a year at the range. I shoot TrailBoss loaded cowboy loads in my Ruger Super Blackhawk and figure the DA M44 Revolver would last a long time on those, with the added kick of running some bear hunting factory loads every now and then just to remind me what a .44 Magnum can feel like.
 
Sounds like you've got it figured out. Please give us a range report once it's in hand- curious about these myself, but leaning towards the Tracker. This would be a hunting/field gun for me, and the lighter with and packability would be a bonus, and I've seldom fired more than one round on a hunting trip.
 
Good call. I had a blued 4-inch Model 44 for a number of years; wish I still had it. I sold it before I got into reloading. It was a hand full with heavy magnum loads, but would be the cat's meow with medium power loads of 240 grain SWCs over 6.5-7.5 grains of Unique. I do have a couple of Rugers, so I'm not without a .44 magnum, but I do miss the Taurus.

We'll want a range report ...
 
I had a Tracker, I've actually owned maybe 3 or 4 Taurus handguns at one point or another. As for the Tracker, the spongy grip just didn't feel right to me.
A little advice which you can ignore, all of my Taurus Revolvers shook the cylinder latch loose so maybe keep some locktite or nail polish handy.
 
Picture of my new stainless steel Taurus Model 44 with a 4" ported barrel.

image1.jpeg image2.jpeg image3.jpeg

I will not be able to take it out and shoot it until Thursday, but I like it so far, at least. The holes in the muzzle and chambers seem HUGE! It feels very good in hand and is nicely balanced, at least unloaded. The rubber grip is smaller than I expected, but it curves nicely under the trigger guard and actually feels very good in my small to medium hands. The DA trigger feels pretty good right out of the box. I cleaned and lubed it up and have been spending a little time dry firing it - nice!

This is the first ported barrel handgun I have closely inspected and (Duh!) had never given it much thought, but the rifling ends about an inch from the muzzle. I suppose that means the crown is recessed an inch inside the barrel end and I will in effect be shooting a three inch revolver? There is soot on either side of the front sight from the factory test firing so it seems the ports are in working order.

I am excited. I plan to take a dozen hot full-load factory cartridges and a bunch of my .44 magnum reloads, both the plated warm loaded ones and the lead mild cowboy loads.

Thanks to all who replied. I will follow up with a range report when I can.
 
Taurus Model 44 first range visit -

M44 1st time.jpeg

I LIKE IT!

My first range visit with the 4" Ported Barrel Model 44 went very well. The revolver shot better than I expected in just about every way.

All my shooting today was DA, and the accuracy was a pleasant surprise right out of the box (after the initial new gun clean & lube, of course). The above target, while only from a distance a hair short of 25 feet, looked good to me for the first time out. I also hit the one inch wide hanging pipes at 25 yards two out of six tries - that is about as good as I can do.

The factory rubber grips were quite comfortable. The 240 grain LSWC loaded with Trailboss were a joy to shoot. I could have fired them off all morning. A couple of cylinders full of factory 240 grain SJHP were still comfortable, and even my buddy's full-on .44 magnum 240 grain Brinell-18 LSWCs and jacketed bullets loaded with a very healthy dose of Alliant 2400 were controllable. I never had any problem with the trigger guard knocking against my middle finger, and while there was quite a bit of felt recoil into my shooting hand between the thumb and forefinger with the three cylinders of full-on magnum loads, that significant discomfort did not make my hand hurt and I was able to keep the rounds respectably (for me, anyway) on the paper (the first shot out of my Super Blackhawk 5 1/2" bbl. SA revolver is always at the bullseye with those heavy loads, but the next five shots usually look like a shotgun pattern with extra large holes). The ported barrel worked very well in controlling muzzle rise and follow up shots were available quicker than I expected. Every now and then I had to wipe the soot of the front sight and the red insert was again visible.

To sum it up after one range visit and seven or eight dozen shots: I really like my new .44 Magnum Taurus Model 44 DA SS Revolver with 4" Ported Barrel ...
 
Gotta love all 44's. It is a joy when you can get a new one you like. I have a S&W mag-na-ported and the front sight does have to be cleaned often. Enjoy
 
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