Taurus handguns
- Thread starter WAhunter
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Gladius
Member
The only Taurus I've had experience with is my PT1911. I'd heard some of the stories of other Taurus products, and had always equated Taurus with "cheap but functional -- usually". So I never had much interest. Was intrigued by the PT1911 though, so I gave it a chance. And I do not regret it. So far I've put only about 400+ rounds though it, which may not be much in the whole scheme of things, but it proved itself totally reliable, with ball, HP's, even with some pretty weird handloads with various lead bulllets (most of which had to be well out-of-spec. These loads caused a custom 1911 to choke frequently). And accurate too -- it actually made me look like a good shot. 
I still don't have much interest in most of Taurus' offerings (nothing against them, just not interested), but my PT1911 is a darn good pistol for the price.
I still don't have much interest in most of Taurus' offerings (nothing against them, just not interested), but my PT1911 is a darn good pistol for the price.
They are sloppy crackle cakes made of some kind of peanut brittle alloy. Remove the side plate to reveal the marshmallow filling. Mine had a crunchy chocolate filling inside. I will never buy another one unless they throw in a glass of milk.
firemanstrickland
Member
I own a taurus PT1911 AR and a taurus model 605 .357 mag snubbie and i absolutely love them. In about 1000 rnds between the two of them i have had absolutely not one single problem with either. you know...its pretty funny theres over 70 votes and only about 30 posts. why dont the taurus haters come forward and tell us exactly whats wrong with our guns other than all these people say stay away from them so u jump on the bandwagon. you know just cause something is sold at a fair price does not mean it is junk
oldfool
Member
firemanstrickland
"why dont the taurus haters come forward and tell us exactly whats wrong with our guns"
because of that crappy attitude, re:
I love my TWO (or 17), therefore anyone who says anything unkind about any Taurus ever made is an idiot or an internet commando troll
and/or
people who have unkind thoughts about Taurus handguns are only people who have never owned one
In this thread, less than 10% of posters to date who have commented failed to specifically note specific personal ownership of Taurus handguns; pretty common in most generic Taurus threads (absent naming a specific model/caliber/vintage) IMO
comment 'splits' do not look grossly out of line with total poll count percentages, comment included or not
people here are entitled to post any vote in any poll posted here
comment optional
how it is
bottom line, be careful what questions you ask, if you might not like the answers
PS
I own three I like a lot and have repeatedly recommended on this board to others.
I have handled and myself shot at least one other which I have repeatedly recommended to others (who per posts here is owned and liked by someone in this thread)
and I have handled and shot some others which I would never recommend to a stranger, much less a friend
I guess I am just a "taurus hater", leastways according to some woobie bears
(and those above who were disappointed in their purchases are probably just liars and fools too)
but I did not VOTE in the poll (how's that for a twist), also allowed
"why dont the taurus haters come forward and tell us exactly whats wrong with our guns"
because of that crappy attitude, re:
I love my TWO (or 17), therefore anyone who says anything unkind about any Taurus ever made is an idiot or an internet commando troll
and/or
people who have unkind thoughts about Taurus handguns are only people who have never owned one
In this thread, less than 10% of posters to date who have commented failed to specifically note specific personal ownership of Taurus handguns; pretty common in most generic Taurus threads (absent naming a specific model/caliber/vintage) IMO
comment 'splits' do not look grossly out of line with total poll count percentages, comment included or not
people here are entitled to post any vote in any poll posted here
comment optional
how it is
bottom line, be careful what questions you ask, if you might not like the answers
PS
I own three I like a lot and have repeatedly recommended on this board to others.
I have handled and myself shot at least one other which I have repeatedly recommended to others (who per posts here is owned and liked by someone in this thread)
and I have handled and shot some others which I would never recommend to a stranger, much less a friend
I guess I am just a "taurus hater", leastways according to some woobie bears
(and those above who were disappointed in their purchases are probably just liars and fools too)
but I did not VOTE in the poll (how's that for a twist), also allowed
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willbozz61
Member
I have not had any problems with my pt1911, it even got me a second place trophy in a local uspsa match. So I can't complain.
Gottahaveone
Member
You should have split the poll between auto's and revolvers. The Taurus auto's seem to be pretty decent but the last couple of revolvers I bought were junk. I didn't know which way to vote......
Super Sneaky Steve
Member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2011
- Messages
- 250
I bought a brand new PT1911. It doublefed due to an out of tune extractor. I paid $40 to send it back. They replaced the old crappy extractor with a new crappy extractor.
It still would jam and doublefeed. I spent $90 on some Weigand tools to tune it right. Now it works.
I'll never buy another Taurus again.
It still would jam and doublefeed. I spent $90 on some Weigand tools to tune it right. Now it works.
I'll never buy another Taurus again.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 5,713
just for starters...
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1235937
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=414483
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=4&t=95429
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=4&t=95737
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=taurus
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=taurus
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...ghlight=taurus
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/wheelgu...t-out-box.html
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...ghlight=taurus
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=399341
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/non-xd-...lore-help.html
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/non-xd-...anty-work.html
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=415691
http://www.gundirectory.com/more.asp...259&gun=Pistol
I can come up with a lot more if necessary.
The biggest issues are:
1. Initial QC issues.
2. Warranty--you pay for shipping, unlike S&W or Ruger (or a number of other manufacturers).
3. Warranty--they seem to take their time on warranty repairs. Six months is not uncommon.
4. Warranty--they do not necessarily fix it the first (or second, or third) time. And you pay for shipping each time.
Many have stated that Taurus' "Lifetime Warranty" means that it will take a lifetime to get it fixed.
Do some searching before you buy. It may save you from being the next one to post a negative experience.
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1235937
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=414483
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=4&t=95429
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=4&t=95737
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=taurus
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=taurus
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...ghlight=taurus
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/wheelgu...t-out-box.html
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...ghlight=taurus
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=399341
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/non-xd-...lore-help.html
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/non-xd-...anty-work.html
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...taurus+quality
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=415691
http://www.gundirectory.com/more.asp...259&gun=Pistol
I can come up with a lot more if necessary.
The biggest issues are:
1. Initial QC issues.
2. Warranty--you pay for shipping, unlike S&W or Ruger (or a number of other manufacturers).
3. Warranty--they seem to take their time on warranty repairs. Six months is not uncommon.
4. Warranty--they do not necessarily fix it the first (or second, or third) time. And you pay for shipping each time.
Many have stated that Taurus' "Lifetime Warranty" means that it will take a lifetime to get it fixed.
Do some searching before you buy. It may save you from being the next one to post a negative experience.
oldfool
Member
Gaucho Gringo
Member
I own a Taurus Gaucho which is a SAA clone in .357. I have had it for 4 years now and it is still working fine. I love the silky smooth hammer and trigger actions. I have had zero problems with it and am looking to buy another one eventually.
wlewisiii
Member
I chose "Ok" on this poll, but it's probably somewhere between the OK & Great choices. I had a revolver that gave good service and I've seen very good results from their autos, especially anything originally designed by Berretta. I have never, personally, seen anything as bad as I hear moaned about here. OTOH, fit and finish are not quite up to S&W (much less Colt) standards hence not being willing to say Great.
They used to be a bargain gun company. Anymore and there prices are only slightly below S&W. So then its a matter of why buy a Taurus when you can buy a S&W for $50 more? Taurus is an ok brand from what ive seen, but I have never seen a Taurus brand gun that is on par with a S&W gun or the same variety. I prefer the quality, and so I just choose to spend the extra cash on what I really want.
Taurus guns seems to work ok, but they are still in the high low, to low mid tier of weapons. Compare a Taurus and a S&W revolver and it will be obvious to even the most novice gun owner. But if price is the key factor for you, then maybe saving the $50 is worth it for you.
Taurus guns seems to work ok, but they are still in the high low, to low mid tier of weapons. Compare a Taurus and a S&W revolver and it will be obvious to even the most novice gun owner. But if price is the key factor for you, then maybe saving the $50 is worth it for you.
carbuncle
Member
I had an 85 that was a great little gun, no problems with it so my Taurus experience has been 100% good. Buddy of mine had one as well, same thing.
dashootist
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
- Messages
- 551
I needed an 8-shot revolver for shooting pin match. The S&W 627 was $1000; while the Taurus 608 was under $500. I picked the Taurus. But after reading about Taurus blowing up, I'm regretting my decision. I use very hot loads to shoot the bowling pins. My buddies all shoot S&W 627 with very hot loads, and there's no problem. I hope my Taurus doesn't blow up in my face. There were a few initial problems with my Taurus. After they were revolved, I bobbed the hammer, put a lighter springs, and dry fired 3000 times. My Taurus shoots good and has a smooth trigger. But there's always on the back of my mind that it's going to blow up in my face any day now.
I have had 4. A PT99 sold in a trade for a S&W629 for hunting season. A 85 rev. my son in law has. A .45acp 5 shot tracker that I sold to treat ( no cure ) " new gun fever " , oh how I wish I had kept that one. And a PT99 with a Jonathan Arthur Ciener .22 cal conversion. I have had NO problems. All worked as well as any other of the gun in my collection. The 22 conversion with auto-match will shoot 2" at 30 yds., and I cannot remember the last malfunction with 9mm or .22. All are fine firearms I would buy again. I also have 4 S&W's, and have had many Colt, Rugers, and Charter arms, so am not brand prejudice. However, with all that I have read, I think one would be well advised to carefully examine the actual one they wanted to buy.
We sell a lot of Taurus firearms, both revolvers and semi-autos as well as the Rossi/Taurus line of rifles and combos. Earlier this year I ran a pareto on what guns went back to the factory most often, by brand only for the most part and by model if it was epidemic.
Number one problem brand was Taurus but mostly in the small frame model revolvers and the most common issue was the cylinder locking bolt not engaging the notch in the cylinder. Number two was the SCCY 9mm semi auto with an amazing array of problems. Number three was the Sig Mosquito, mostly feeding problems.
Since we sell Kimber, Smith, Springfield, Rock Island, Sig, Colt, Taurus, Glock, Ruger, Walther, as well as some lesser brands, I had a pile of data to mine. We have not returned a Glock, Walther, Smith, RI, or Ruger for a factory caused problem. The only Kimber we sent back was for a finish blem.
I own several Tauruses, one of which is the most accurate revolver I'v ever had...a Tracker 17. I've had a number of others with varying degrees of satisfaction.
Large frame Taurus revolvers are uniformly without problems. The autos are mostly just fine out of the box.
Everybody makes a lemon now and then. I can't for the life of me figure out how Taurus can made small revolvers with uniformly bad triggers and their partners in Braztech, Rossi, can make them so uniformly good (good, not excellent).
Number one problem brand was Taurus but mostly in the small frame model revolvers and the most common issue was the cylinder locking bolt not engaging the notch in the cylinder. Number two was the SCCY 9mm semi auto with an amazing array of problems. Number three was the Sig Mosquito, mostly feeding problems.
Since we sell Kimber, Smith, Springfield, Rock Island, Sig, Colt, Taurus, Glock, Ruger, Walther, as well as some lesser brands, I had a pile of data to mine. We have not returned a Glock, Walther, Smith, RI, or Ruger for a factory caused problem. The only Kimber we sent back was for a finish blem.
I own several Tauruses, one of which is the most accurate revolver I'v ever had...a Tracker 17. I've had a number of others with varying degrees of satisfaction.
Large frame Taurus revolvers are uniformly without problems. The autos are mostly just fine out of the box.
Everybody makes a lemon now and then. I can't for the life of me figure out how Taurus can made small revolvers with uniformly bad triggers and their partners in Braztech, Rossi, can make them so uniformly good (good, not excellent).
I have a 10 year old .357 Taurus that has been a great gun and it gets shot about 6-8 times per year. My Dad has a Taurus PT92 from the 1980's that has been flawless in operation as long as it's cleaned every 5 range trips and lubed every few trips.
On the other hand I have PT22 that jams every round (of course it ran great for 5 years) and a friend recently bought an 8 shot .357 that constantly locks up.
I would think hard about buying a new Taurus. The price would have to be really good and I wouldn't buy one of their 9 shot .22lr revolvers for any price. I make a decent living and am at the point where I can spend a little more and get a little better. I would try a new Taurus if I was on a serious budget but only if I couldn't find a used S&W or Ruger for a similiar price.
Sorry....I just don't have any faith in their new guns, their quality control or customer service.
On the other hand I have PT22 that jams every round (of course it ran great for 5 years) and a friend recently bought an 8 shot .357 that constantly locks up.
I would think hard about buying a new Taurus. The price would have to be really good and I wouldn't buy one of their 9 shot .22lr revolvers for any price. I make a decent living and am at the point where I can spend a little more and get a little better. I would try a new Taurus if I was on a serious budget but only if I couldn't find a used S&W or Ruger for a similiar price.
Sorry....I just don't have any faith in their new guns, their quality control or customer service.
wally
Member
I think they are OK. I've really had nothing but good luck with them and I've quite a few because of their propensity for interesting designs and modest prices. Although none have seen a high round count other than my PT-92 and PT-1911 9mm.
Better QA/QC than Kel-Tec in my experience. Customer service is probably not as good as Kel-Tec but I've never had to send a Taurus back -- I'm two of five having to go back to Kel-Tec.
I have about twice as many Taurus guns as Kel-Tec guns.
Funny, I've the 1-7/8" and 5" barrel versions. Neither has given a lick of trouble, although the round counts are low by my standards, they do well with bulk pack ammo. They were two of the first guns my wife started with, although we both prefer autos, revolvers have a lot of advantages when first learning to shoot.
Better QA/QC than Kel-Tec in my experience. Customer service is probably not as good as Kel-Tec but I've never had to send a Taurus back -- I'm two of five having to go back to Kel-Tec.
I have about twice as many Taurus guns as Kel-Tec guns.
Funny, I've the 1-7/8" and 5" barrel versions. Neither has given a lick of trouble, although the round counts are low by my standards, they do well with bulk pack ammo. They were two of the first guns my wife started with, although we both prefer autos, revolvers have a lot of advantages when first learning to shoot.
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I had a bad Taurus, and haven't heard many good stories from others (friends, gun smiths, forums, etc.). Mine was a Taurus tracker 627, and after a few cylinders, the guns performance would go to crap. Lockup, no trigger pull, hammer wouldn't cock. I was informed by another poster that I could easily fix it if I just polished and filed... But I'm not a gun smith and I really shouldn't have to finish any gun I buy. Sold it for what I bought it even though I told the guy it didn't work well dirty. This combined with the fact that there are many, many other pistol choices to choose from will probably lead me to never own another Taurus. My glocks shoot every time, my smith shoots every time. My Taurus did not shoot every time.
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I have a PT-92AF that I bought as my first autoloader, I like it better than the Smith & Wesson 4516-1 I just traded. my only complaint with the Taurus is strictly personal, I have small hands with short fingers and the butt is a bit large for me. functions reliably, feeds anything. I have a Glock 26 and just traded the Smith in on a Ruger SR9. I have owned 4 Smiths over the years, 3 revolvers and one autoloader. I have none now.
I go back and forth between a Taurus PT-99 and a Glock 26 for shooting IDPA matches. I've never had a failure to fire or failure to eject with either one of them. The Taurus is one of the earlier models with the frame mounted safety and no decocker, and after several thousand rounds of full power 9mm FMJ, it still shoots right to the POA, and the finish shows very little sign of any wear. I've got no complaints about its quality, fit, or finish; with the rosewood grips and bright blue-black finish, it's certainly PRETTIER than a Glock.
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