Anyone have opinions on the now discontinued Taurus 3" Model 431 in 44 spl. I traded my 2" Taurus M85 in 38 spl. for it..Other than higher ammo costs and larger in size, I think I made a good trade. Both guns are blued and nearly NIB. I have other .38 snubbys so I decided to go for it.
Taurus M 431
- Thread starter saemetric
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Virginian
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I have a 4" stainless model that is my self defense weapon. Wolff springs and a little polishing and it is very smooth. Shoots well, a bit of a handful with real stout handloads. I carry it with Glasers. Great for snakes with Speer shot loads too. It sure looks more intimidating than an 85, no question about that.
Another great idea from Taurus that didn't stick
Or maybe they just don't have the patience to see anything through. Currently they don't have any .44 special in their stable and it's damned annoying. The 431 is quite well regarded from most accounts I've heard. It should give you good service.
Or maybe they just don't have the patience to see anything through. Currently they don't have any .44 special in their stable and it's damned annoying. The 431 is quite well regarded from most accounts I've heard. It should give you good service.
No 431, but I do have the 450(same gun in 45 Colt 5 shots). I was a convicted Taurus/Rossi/anything but Colt & S&W hater. Then I picked up a Taurus 62 & 63, the replicas of the Winchester 22 LR models of the same numbers. Pretty nice guns and I don't have to worry about scratching my restorations, and at a distance can still be taken for a snooty classicist. Then I got the 9 shot 17 Mach2 snub-FUN!!!!, Then I got the 450 on the premise that if I was in another jurisdiction and actually had to shoot it, it would at least temporarily disappear into some evidence locker for an unknown time with unknown storage conditions, so who would care about a Taurus? Well now I would! Shoots 45 Colt SWCHP 225 gr loads to POA at 25 yards, and with a little smoothing is as slick as anything else I own. Modified 2 HKS 44 special speedloaders to handle 45 Colt, fits into k/l frame holsters. If only it were a little lighter..........
mine has hogue monogrips on it
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65338&d=1192063770
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=65338&d=1192063770
Virginian
Member
Let me add I may have a 331. I forget the numbers it has been so long. Fixed sight version. Mine has the original factory wood grips on it and they fit me well enuf that I haven't sprung for a set of Hogue wood monogrips yet. I have a set of Pachmyrs and am not to keen on those. As a rule, I am not a synthetic or rubber grip guy.
Forget it. It's a 431. Says so under the crane. Duh !
Forget it. It's a 431. Says so under the crane. Duh !
Last edited:
papajohn
Member
I had one, let it get away, and I'm still bummed. I bought it new as a carry piece, but I had better ones, so I gave it to my idiot son-in-law. He sold it, after I made him promise that if he ever wanted to get rid of it, he'd call me first. He's still on my Schmitt List! 
The good news is, I got a line on a Rossi gun just like it in stainless, and will pick it up this week. What I learned from the other one is this: Grips matter a LOT. They need to be hand-filling, though not necessarily large. Recoil isn't stout, but it is abrupt from a short-barreled gun, and this one is no exception. The cowboy ammo I tried was much milder than my handloads, and the strength of the cylinder is an issue if you want to shoot hot handloads. I'd stay within standard pressures in this case, it is NOT overbuilt. It's still a pocket gun. If you want magnum performance, get a magnum, this gun isn't one!
All in all, it's a neat gun, not as concealable as a 38, but then, it hits a lot harder than any 38, and that's why I like it!
Papajohn
The good news is, I got a line on a Rossi gun just like it in stainless, and will pick it up this week. What I learned from the other one is this: Grips matter a LOT. They need to be hand-filling, though not necessarily large. Recoil isn't stout, but it is abrupt from a short-barreled gun, and this one is no exception. The cowboy ammo I tried was much milder than my handloads, and the strength of the cylinder is an issue if you want to shoot hot handloads. I'd stay within standard pressures in this case, it is NOT overbuilt. It's still a pocket gun. If you want magnum performance, get a magnum, this gun isn't one!
All in all, it's a neat gun, not as concealable as a 38, but then, it hits a lot harder than any 38, and that's why I like it!
Papajohn
I am a HUGE fan of that particular Taurus revolver. I have the stainless version.
These are the rare birds to find. If you traded an M85 for it, then you did well. Most M85s command a $200 trade on a GOOD day, and if that was all you paid for it, then you are ahead for something so uncommon.
I love mine. The cylinder feels sloppy, compared to the Smith and Ruger bank vaults. However, they are not sloppy when the trigger is pulled, and the lockwork is engaged. I rally like the milder pressures of the 44 Special, and I also feel the Blazer 200gr rounds are splendid factory offerings.
I like the factory wooden grips. I have seen some Butler Creek grips for them. The 3inch, channel sights, and simplicity makes this gun a very special revolver.
These are the rare birds to find. If you traded an M85 for it, then you did well. Most M85s command a $200 trade on a GOOD day, and if that was all you paid for it, then you are ahead for something so uncommon.
I love mine. The cylinder feels sloppy, compared to the Smith and Ruger bank vaults. However, they are not sloppy when the trigger is pulled, and the lockwork is engaged. I rally like the milder pressures of the 44 Special, and I also feel the Blazer 200gr rounds are splendid factory offerings.
I like the factory wooden grips. I have seen some Butler Creek grips for them. The 3inch, channel sights, and simplicity makes this gun a very special revolver.
I had a Taurus mod 431 2.5" round Butt I really should have kept that one :banghead: But on a happier note I replaced the 431 with a S&W 696 ND - Status
