Taurus Tracker in .44 Magnum?
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Archaic Weapon
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I shoot a lot of Taurus, and I carry them on a regular basis, EDC. I do not have the .44, but it is the one that I was going to buy when I was considering a .44 magnum. The videos and whatnot I was able to track down showed amazingly little recoil, which fits in well with what I know from my .357's from them, 6" and 2". I am not a fan of ported barrels, and that kind of turned me off of them. That, and a 1911 in the case next to it.
plateshooter
Member
I have the blued 6" version. It is very accurate for me with my cast/unique loads. Never had any problems with it. Carries like a K frame S&W to me. I would definitely buy it again.
My 4 inch stainless was flawless and accurate. I particularly liked shooting it with 44 Specials .
It is the size of a L-frame S&W and recoil with standard 240 grain 44 magnum ammo is very controlable and recoil to me is moderate. With that said, if you want to shoot a steady diet of 44 magnums and or hoter loads I would considr going to the larger frame guns.
I consider the 44 mag Tracker as a great field gun with occasional magnum usage and a pure joy shooting the 44 Spl loads.
It is the size of a L-frame S&W and recoil with standard 240 grain 44 magnum ammo is very controlable and recoil to me is moderate. With that said, if you want to shoot a steady diet of 44 magnums and or hoter loads I would considr going to the larger frame guns.
I consider the 44 mag Tracker as a great field gun with occasional magnum usage and a pure joy shooting the 44 Spl loads.
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osteodoc08
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I've never liked a ported barrel with lead. Too messy. If using jacketed, have at it. As someone else mentioned. I wouldn't plan on lots of extended full tilt rounds and it holding up based on the frame size. I'd step up to something else
NM Mountainman
Member
I like my SS Tracker
I own a SS Tracker .44 Mag with 4" barrel. It has a smooth action and excellent SA and DA trigger pulls. The ported barrel is very efficient at reducing recoil and muzzle jump. The stock ribbed rubber grips absorb recoil as well. The felt recoil is noticeably less than the recoil of a 4" barrel 629 which is 8oz heavier.
The muzzle blast is not that bad for the shooter (outdoors) who uses hearing protectors plus ear plugs. It sounds subjectively about as loud as an unported snubby .44 mag. The blast is worse for shooters or bystanders at your left and right.
The 4" barrel Tracker is well balanced but a bit muzzle heavy. I consider this ideal for a lightweight .44 Mag. It is easy to hold steady for careful aiming.
The accuracy of the Tracker is equal to that of my 4" barrel 629 with full power loads. My favorite practice load in the Tracker is a 210 gr JHP loaded to 1300 fps. This is roughly equivalent to a full power .41 mag load fired from a 4" barrel revolver. Another good practice load is a 200 to 210 gr JHP at 1000 to 1100 fps.
Overall, the Tracker is a very good revolver for the money.
Some additional observations:
1) You have to mail the revolver to Taurus for service, even for replacement of parts which can easily be replaced by the user. Taurus will not send you parts for you to replace.
2) There are no after market accessories available except 5 shot speed loaders, holsters made for S&W L-frame, and finger groove grips from Hogue.
3) Speer strongly recommends that you should never shoot any kind of shot shell ammunition in any handgun with a ported barrel.
4) If you fire more than a few lead bullets through it, the ports in the barrel are extremely difficult to clean.
5) Taurus recommends that you do not dry fire Taurus revolvers because it can damage them.
6) Taurus recommends that you limit the power of your ammo to a power level equivalent to a 240 gr jacketed bullet at 1350 fps. This is equivalent to most factory loaded ammo from a 4" barrel. You definitely should avoid ammo with bullets heavier than 250 gr and the most powerful ammo available from some of the smaller semi-custom ammo makers.
7) The rear sight is loose and wobbly, but it does not seem to reduce accuracy.
8) There is no way short of custom gunsmithing to mount a compact reflex red dot sight or other optics.
9) IMO, Tracker revolvers are not suitable for firing thousands of rounds of full power .44 Mag ammo.
I own a SS Tracker .44 Mag with 4" barrel. It has a smooth action and excellent SA and DA trigger pulls. The ported barrel is very efficient at reducing recoil and muzzle jump. The stock ribbed rubber grips absorb recoil as well. The felt recoil is noticeably less than the recoil of a 4" barrel 629 which is 8oz heavier.
The muzzle blast is not that bad for the shooter (outdoors) who uses hearing protectors plus ear plugs. It sounds subjectively about as loud as an unported snubby .44 mag. The blast is worse for shooters or bystanders at your left and right.
The 4" barrel Tracker is well balanced but a bit muzzle heavy. I consider this ideal for a lightweight .44 Mag. It is easy to hold steady for careful aiming.
The accuracy of the Tracker is equal to that of my 4" barrel 629 with full power loads. My favorite practice load in the Tracker is a 210 gr JHP loaded to 1300 fps. This is roughly equivalent to a full power .41 mag load fired from a 4" barrel revolver. Another good practice load is a 200 to 210 gr JHP at 1000 to 1100 fps.
Overall, the Tracker is a very good revolver for the money.
Some additional observations:
1) You have to mail the revolver to Taurus for service, even for replacement of parts which can easily be replaced by the user. Taurus will not send you parts for you to replace.
2) There are no after market accessories available except 5 shot speed loaders, holsters made for S&W L-frame, and finger groove grips from Hogue.
3) Speer strongly recommends that you should never shoot any kind of shot shell ammunition in any handgun with a ported barrel.
4) If you fire more than a few lead bullets through it, the ports in the barrel are extremely difficult to clean.
5) Taurus recommends that you do not dry fire Taurus revolvers because it can damage them.
6) Taurus recommends that you limit the power of your ammo to a power level equivalent to a 240 gr jacketed bullet at 1350 fps. This is equivalent to most factory loaded ammo from a 4" barrel. You definitely should avoid ammo with bullets heavier than 250 gr and the most powerful ammo available from some of the smaller semi-custom ammo makers.
7) The rear sight is loose and wobbly, but it does not seem to reduce accuracy.
8) There is no way short of custom gunsmithing to mount a compact reflex red dot sight or other optics.
9) IMO, Tracker revolvers are not suitable for firing thousands of rounds of full power .44 Mag ammo.
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If you get a stainless one, lead is easy to remove.
50/50 mix of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide will remove leading with a 5 minute soak.
remove the lead from the outsides of the ports with brass brush, bronze brush, lead remover cloth, etc, and degrease outside of ports.
plug back of barrel.
block off outside of ports with electrical tape, etc.
fill barrel with vinegar/peroxide mix. plug muzzle or stand gun with muzzle up.
let sit.
dispose of lead oxide?/acetate? safely and dry/lube barrel.
wash hands thoroughly.
Has worked wonders on the stainless Taurus Model 44 for 19 years.
50/50 mix of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide will remove leading with a 5 minute soak.
remove the lead from the outsides of the ports with brass brush, bronze brush, lead remover cloth, etc, and degrease outside of ports.
plug back of barrel.
block off outside of ports with electrical tape, etc.
fill barrel with vinegar/peroxide mix. plug muzzle or stand gun with muzzle up.
let sit.
dispose of lead oxide?/acetate? safely and dry/lube barrel.
wash hands thoroughly.
Has worked wonders on the stainless Taurus Model 44 for 19 years.
wgaynor
Member
I've got the stainless steel tracker. I shoot it regularly to remain proficient with it. I must admit, it's my favorite of all that I own.
I shoot cast 240 grain bullets at both 900fps and 1200fps without issues. I have experienced leading when working up loads, but it cleans easily with a choreboy and bronze brush. A dental pick works on the ports.
It is hard to find a good holster for it, but it's not my ccw. It's my bedside weapon.
I shoot cast 240 grain bullets at both 900fps and 1200fps without issues. I have experienced leading when working up loads, but it cleans easily with a choreboy and bronze brush. A dental pick works on the ports.
It is hard to find a good holster for it, but it's not my ccw. It's my bedside weapon.
gamestalker
member
I have a bunch of Taurus's, but not the Tracker 44 mag yet. I like their product, just don't expect S&W qualities. I do have a 608 .357 mag. and it's about as accurate as any of my S&W's, just a very heavy weapon, but that's consistent with an 8 round .357 mag. wheel gun, certainly not a carry gun for me though.
GS
GS
dawei
Member
While I do not own a Taurus® TRACKER™ 44 Magnum I do own the same gun albeit in 41 Remington® Magnum. It is superb in all respects AFAIAC. FWIW, I have NEVER heard of any Taurus® TRACKER™ 44 Magnum owner being dissatisfied with their gun.
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Not a fan.
I've been burned twice.... both Trackers.
I purchased a brand new 44 Tracker that went south my first trip to the range. Sent it in, under their so called warranty, only to have it returned in worse shape. I fixed the gun myself with parts I ordered from them and then sold it. I came away from the whole experience a wiser man. Never another Taurus.
It's a crap shoot with Taurus. You may win and you may loose. Good luck if you don't heed this advice.
P.S. The ported Taurus guns are a big NO NO for snake/rat shot.
I've been burned twice.... both Trackers.
I purchased a brand new 44 Tracker that went south my first trip to the range. Sent it in, under their so called warranty, only to have it returned in worse shape. I fixed the gun myself with parts I ordered from them and then sold it. I came away from the whole experience a wiser man. Never another Taurus.
It's a crap shoot with Taurus. You may win and you may loose. Good luck if you don't heed this advice.
P.S. The ported Taurus guns are a big NO NO for snake/rat shot.
hariph creek
Member
Have two friends that have each have the 4" stainless version. Both are very knowledgeable, and I respect their judgment. Both did modest trigger/action jobs, themselves. I've dry fired one and shot the other, with warm (not full house, but quite stout) loads. Decent guns, excellent guns for the price (each payed $200-$250 used). I'm not a huge fan of porting, though.
Elm Creek Smith
Member
I have an unported Taurus 85SSUL .38 Special that has been a duty backup and concealed carry piece for years.
I have to admit that the 4 inch Trackers in .357/.41/.44 Magnum and .45 Colt have piqued my interest over the years. However, the one that has my brother accusing me of drooling over is the 2½ inch, fixed sight, 5-shot .41 Magnum with or without porting. I can't carry it on duty and have no articulable need for it, but, DANG, that's so cool!
ECS
I have to admit that the 4 inch Trackers in .357/.41/.44 Magnum and .45 Colt have piqued my interest over the years. However, the one that has my brother accusing me of drooling over is the 2½ inch, fixed sight, 5-shot .41 Magnum with or without porting. I can't carry it on duty and have no articulable need for it, but, DANG, that's so cool!ECS
joecil
Member
I don't own a tracker however I do have a Raging bull in 454 Casull 6.5" barrel and love it. As for holsters many are available as is the speed loader from 5 Star which I have 2 of and both are perfect. I've also found most parts can be purchased from Taurus with a few things that can be. Springs, screws etc are available easily however the things they figure a gun smith should replace aren't such as barrels, cylinders etc.
hariph creek
Member
mnrivat, these were purchased PRE-panic, private party, used.
Another friend has a 4" titanium Tracker in .41 mag. Original trigger is...not so great. Not sure I want to shoot that thing? He paid $300! Through a shop, no less!
I wish Ruger would do this concept on the GP100 platform. That would be a fantastic trail gun.
Another friend has a 4" titanium Tracker in .41 mag. Original trigger is...not so great. Not sure I want to shoot that thing? He paid $300! Through a shop, no less!
I wish Ruger would do this concept on the GP100 platform. That would be a fantastic trail gun.
Fleetman
Member
I have the 4" ported Tracker.....no issues with it and it carries well. I probably have close to 1k rounds through mine. Still locks up as tight as the day I got it although the trigger and latch is much smoother now.
Constrictor
Member
I had a tracker and like all trackers it had to be sent back for cylinder alignment because of the lead scraps hitting me as it shot misaligned with the barrel. Sent it in with around 30 other Taurus guns he had waiting to go back and now it shoots decent. No more Taurus of any kind for me again.
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