My Experience With Taurus

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mnrivrat said:
Truth is Taurus makes and sells a lot of guns. I have a couple and sold one some years back to buy Xmas presents for my grandkids. (short on funds) The ones I owned have been good and I have been carrying a Model 731 in TT for a number of years. (the one in my avatar) Other than a set of Wolff springs I haven't touched the internals and it is smooth and accurate. I worked for some years part time at a friends Gun Shop. I have seen only one that was what I considered a total piece of crap. We did get in a shipment of 5 Trackers that were loaded with metal chips to a level that they were all unusable as is. A good cleaning however is all that they needed. We sent them all back to let Taurus clean their own messes up. (out of spite mainly)
But then I have also seen a S&W 29 come new in the box that was locked up. Upon removing the side plate the problem was apparent. The hammer stud was bent over ! Missed the hole in the side plate . Someone must have used a press to get the side plate on. Unbelievable if I had not seen it come from the box that way. Stuff can happen .
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I do not think people realize how big of a company Taurus is and how many firearms they sell. They also have been making firearms for a long time and many of the older models are still in circulation. It's been my experience that 8 to 9 out of 10 Taurus bashers purchased an older used model, were burned a decade or more ago and still hold a grudge, or never owned a Taurus period.

Like I said, they produce a lot of firearms, and like every single other manufacturer (not exclusively firearm manufacturers), they make some lemons... The only difference is that other manufacturers get a pass most of the time whereas because of Taurus's past, whenever it's reported that they produced a current lemon, the haters use it as anecdotal proof that EVERYTHING they make bad. That they have widespread QA problems. When the reality is that you don't hear to many complaints about problems compared to numbers they're putting out. If we're being fair and honest, we should be more worried about buying a Sig handgun or S&W revolver than buying a Taurus... S&W, Sig, Walther, FN, Springfield, and Ruger all have had recent safety recalls on their handguns...
 
i HAD A pt99---it was a great 9mm auto--a friend talked me out of it. I also have a G2C--only fired 200 rds thru it---it works !!!!!!!!!
 
While I have seen and owned some awfully bad Taurus guns, I've seen some very good ones. Currently I own the following:
3 PT 111 G2's, all 3 are reliable and shoot decently.
PT809, I really like the grip on it, and it's been 100% from the first shot.
I had an 809 C for a while and it went a couple of hundred rounds with no problems. I sold it to a friend who really wanted it badly.

A friend owns a 608, and a 4" 66 and both are rock solid guns.
Another friend owns a 4" 66, and it really can't be improved in any real way.
 
I have two; a PT92 and a Model 83. The PT92 has been totally reliable and a tack-driver. The Model 83 has been faultless. (Knocking on wood.) Both of these handguns were purchased new in the early 1990s, and ordered (no chance to inspect them before buying).

I'm really tempted by the Model 856UL. After reading all the horror stories about recent Taurus handguns, I'm hoping I can find one in a shop so I can take a careful look at one before deciding.
 
desmobob said:
I have two; a PT92 and a Model 83. The PT92 has been totally reliable and a tack-driver. The Model 83 has been faultless. (Knocking on wood.) Both of these handguns were purchased new in the early 1990s, and ordered (no chance to inspect them before buying).

I'm really tempted by the Model 856UL. After reading all the horror stories about recent Taurus handguns, I'm hoping I can find one in a shop so I can take a careful look at one before deciding.
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See here: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/taurus-856-and-856-ultra-lite-38-special.842943/
 
desmobob said:
I have two; a PT92 and a Model 83. The PT92 has been totally reliable and a tack-driver. The Model 83 has been faultless. (Knocking on wood.) Both of these handguns were purchased new in the early 1990s, and ordered (no chance to inspect them before buying).

I'm really tempted by the Model 856UL. After reading all the horror stories about recent Taurus handguns, I'm hoping I can find one in a shop so I can take a careful look at one before deciding.
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Last year I got to handle an all steel 856 at my lgs and it seems to be rock solid. I was tempted but ended up eventually with something lighter. If it had been the 856UL I probably would have bought it
 
desmobob said:
I'm tempted to get the all-stainless model instead of the ultra-lite. Decisions, decisions...
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It’d be a go for me. When I was looking at them I ran across a Smith Model 49 that I wanted more, so chose that instead; otherwise, a stainless 856 of some flavor would be in my holster now.
 
My Taurus experiences

- Falcon (by Taurus) .38, early '80s, similiar to a Model 10. So-so fit and finish, sharp/ rough edges. The lockup was a little loose on one hole due to a worn ratchet pad, but it shot ok.
I think my Dad still has it taped to the bottom of a bookshelf somewhere, might be in one of his toilet bowls....
27921905_2.jpg

- 617TI 7-shot 2" .357. Mid-90s. Good fit and finish, the grips were strange looking, but comfy enough. Brutal recoil, but otherwise a nice gun.
tau617tu924.jpg

-M85 .38spl. 2.5" Early 90's production. Easily my favorite of the bunch. Excellent workmanship and polish. Smooth trigger. Really regret selling it. Blows away the current models 85s!
64187-DEFAULT-l.jpg

-M431 4" .44spl, 5-shot. Early '90s. This one felt really good in the hand, very good fit and finish, but for some inexplicable reason it was horribly inaccurate. No lead throwing and the timing was tight, so I can only assume a throat issue. Shame, really wanted to like this gun. Ive read that this model is highly sought after now.
tau4314u977.jpg

-CT9 carbine, circa 2014. Very sci-fi cool. Simple and reliable with the one 10-round factory magazine I had, but extra mags were unobtanium. I was able to adapt some Colt 9mm mags to work (with difficulty), but feeding with these was only iffy....regulated it to the range toy catagory. Still kinda neat, though very heavy. I think the breech block by itself was heavier than a complete 9mm AR!
1d8ef3041f173a319104dda6a1232876.jpg
 
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I have a .357 Raging Bull (I believe) revolver with ported barrel that shoots great. I am notva big fan of the finely ribbed grip but have not replaced it yet.

I also have an 809C 9mm compact that holds 13 and has never malfunctioned. Bought it for the wife but she went back to her LCRx so it sits on the shelf now. Would use it as a BUG for sure.
 
Can't beat Taurus for the price. I have 2. A Model 66, 4 inch 7shot .357 magnum. Also a Model 44, 6.50 inch 6 shot 44 magnum. Both shoot great and haven't had any problems. Maybe I got lucky but that is one of the main reasons I don't buy sight unseen (online). I inspect it before I put my money down. All for under $800. Bought the 44 used and got 3 boxes of factory ammo (150rounds) in the deal. The Model 66 was brand new from a LGS.
 
I was recently a key stroke away from buying the New Charter Arms BulldogXL .45 Colt when I saw a like new in Box Taurus Public Defender in Stainless for the same price. It too shoots .45LC AND .410 ! It has a 2.5" barrel and with the 2.5" cylinder is not that much larger and only 2 .oz heavier. The good pictures the guy had on Gunbroker plus the very low Priority mail shipping charge sealed the deal for about $60 less than the Charter. I am so glad I did ! It came with two grips; the smaller one actually let it ride in my pocket like my old Bulldog .44s do, but I stayed with the larger grip as with the new 4 pellet 000 buck handgun Federal loas, recoil is pretty stout. The thing is very well made and finished chunk of stainless steel, Good DA and decent SA trigger, nice visable sights and very accurate for a snubby at my 50 foot range it make a ragged hole with 5 Cowboy .45 loads and with the .410 000 buck holds them in about 6" . It is near my bed ! too good to pass up . I also keep a CZP-01 with light on a vest too ,near my bed but the Taurus is closer :) .
 
I just finished cleaning guns and reloading after a trip to the range today.

I shot my S&W 4" Model 66-2 and my Taurus 4" M83 (anyone know why they discontinued that one?). I prefer the sights on the Taurus, but the S&W shot tighter groups with the .38 Special 148gr. HBWC and 125gr. JHP loads I fired today. It also shot the best overall groups with a .357 Mag. load of Star brand 125gr. JHPs over 19gr. Hodgdon 110.

A couple of young guys who happened to be at the range (9mm types) were surprised and impressed by the loud bark of the Model 66... I have a feeling they had never heard anything other than .380, 9mm and .45ACP pistols.

My Taurus M83 did OK, though I'm still looking for a load it really likes. I have only shot it a few times. Today I tried 125gr. JHPs over 5.8gr. of Unique and Winchester 148gr. Alox-lubed HBWCs over 3.5gr. of Bullseye.

I was feeling "old school" and had taken the Pachmayr Gripper rubber grips of the Smith and put the big wooden target grips back on it. I also took the Hogue rubber grips off the Taurus and put the original wooden grips back on it, too. (I love the Pachmayr Grippers but the Hogues feel too skinny for me.) Anyway, the Smith shoots and handles fine with the wood or rubber grips on it. The Taurus looks great with its original wood, but the gun points extremely high in my hands with them on the gun and it seems like I have to angle it down too far to get on target, so I put the Hogue grips back on. I contacted Pachmayr to see if they made Grippers to fit the Taurus 83, but they do not. :-(
 
Mr. Mosin said:
My cousin bought a Taurus 608 (.357 Magnum, 8 shot, 6 inch ported barrel). Second day he had it, he brought it to me to look over and shoot. I looked it over. The cylinder locked up... tolerably, the cylinder latch had a gap that I could put a US dime, probably a quarter; between it and the frame (and no, tightening the screw didn't help). The barrel ports were not cleanly cut; and the rear sight was wobbling like the belly of a fat woman doing the hula. I attributed it to a loose screw, and set to it.

Reluctantly, I loaded it at the seven yard line and fired eight 158 grn .38's through it. Tweaked the sights, and fired another cylinder's worth of .38's through it. It shot to point of aim, so I loaded a cylinder's worth of 158 grn .357's in it, and fired em. The ported barrel helped... absolutely none. At this point, praying to God Almighty that this thing wouldn't blow up in my hands, I loaded a mixed cylinder of .357's and .38's, and dumped the cylinder into the target... or intended to. One hit on target, out of eight.

I thought to myself "Hmm. It's been a while, but I can't be *THAT* rusty." Looked it over, sights were out of wack. Set em back to were I had em; and fired another cylinder through it. Nada. Junk.

At this point, the cylinder was barely locking up, and I could easily slide a quarter in between the cylinder latch and frame.

I my cousin (who holds a very well paying job, and at this time was a bachelor with few bills) that he should have put another $100 with what he paid, and bought a S&W 686 or Ruger GP100,b done with it; and have a gun he could pass on to his kids, not a $650 paperweight. He didn't like that too much. Liked it even less when I told him he should peruse the used counter at our local pawn shops; that one of our mutual friends has a 75 year old S&W .38 (the M&P Victory I've discussed in the past) that locks up tighter, functions better; and is more accurate than his new piece of junk.

It would be different if he was scraping together bit by bit, and could barely afford said gun, but when your making 10k a month, with nothing but a phone bill, truck insurance, and fuel bill, you aught have no issue buying almost anything the average Joe wants. I feel no pity if you were too cheap to go with a reputable manufacturer instead of Taurus (and no, current Taurus doesn't class as a 'reputable manufacturer' in my book).
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A story that repeats itself all too often where Taurus is concerned. You think that’s bad, wait until you send them something to repair under warranty. Two or three times going back to the factory is not uncommon.
 
DWFan said:
I own two of the large-frame Taurus revolvers, an M607 and an M608. Zero problems with either one and the M607 shoots the much hotter .360 Dan Wesson. Both will print 2" groups at 25 yards with factory sights and these 65 year old eyes ain't what they used to be.
Every maker produces a bad product on occasion.
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I have a (?)1996 production of a 608, factory polished stainless 6.5", bought new in 1999. FLAWLESS performance. The NEWER stainless bean blast is SUCH a turnoff (I have 3 605's too) but they do their business just as well. Not sure about how the newer 608's performed.
 
I'll add another Taurus comment: I bought a Taurus PT92F 9mm in the late 1990s and it is probably my most accurate semi-auto pistol. It has been a flawless handgun since I bought it. My Taurus Model 83 is also from that era. I don't have any experience with the later products but my older ones have proven to be excellent values.

I tend to buy reputable, top-quality brands/models and my two Taurus firearms are an exception to that, I guess... I've always thought of them as a "budget" brand. And my feeling on budget brand firearms is, they may be very good values and perform well enough, but you have a much higher chance of getting a defective or problem gun.
 
My 856UL has been good so far ..
But as others have said .. any gun manufacturer can roll out a Lemon ...
 
Someone doing some necromancy for Halloween or something!

I had a good pt 92, model 85. Judge cylinder randomly fell off, 6 dollar fix at local gunsmith. He said the big steel cylinder was too heavy for the yoke spring. Also had a 85 ultra light. Both 85s were great and the 92 basically shot one hole.

If you have issues doesn't hurt to check or be in good terms with a good local gunsmith maybe one affiliated with a larger local gun store (well practiced with variety of models). One of the biggest complaints is turn around time with factory warranty and issues staying fixed.

Forgoy about the tcp and some kind of smallish 9mm that held 12 rounds and also took sig mags. I can't recall all the names. Millennium g2 maybe? Still have a ply 22.
 
I'm still stuck on the
"Missed the 7 Yard Target, 7 out of 8 times"! :what::thumbdown:

Pretty sure that could be bettered from the hip, with a bent barrel, and blindfolded.
Sounds more to it, than a Junk revolver...
 
Had many Taurus over the recent years. Just like the Smith's and Others, all had no issues, except maybe Range screw up....behind the trigger. Good guns.... accessories and training make them better
 
I have a 3" Non-ported Taurus 658, just an oddball 608 variant, and it has no issues. Lockup is very good, equal to two of my 3 S&W 28-2's. Timing is fine, and I've only shot about 16 .357 rounds through it, but there were no hiccups. In this bad pic, it doesn't look all that well polished, but in real life it looks great. Very smooth DA trigger and a good SA one.
Xc0hq7.jpg
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
-M85 .38spl. 2.5" Early 90's production. Easily my favorite of the bunch. Excellent workmanship and polish. Smooth trigger. Really regret selling it. Blows away the current models 85s!
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My 1991 M-85CH is a freakin' great example of how good the 90s Taurus guns were. Superb fit & finish, sublime accuracy and 100% reliability.

Superior to the Bangor Punta era S&W revolvers in many cases.
 
DF324770-3467-4F2F-A7E8-15734FA07BB7.jpeg
(I know this is the revolver section),
I bought the Curve on a whim and very excited when I picked it up.
For the first 170 rounds it was nothing but feed failures and jams, leaving me feeling like I got stuck with a turd.
Around the 225 round mark, it must have broke in, no feed problems and as long as I don’t load FMJ flat nose, no jams.
For up close and personal, it’s a great pistol.
I also own 3 more Taurus pistols and not one has had a problem.
 
I'm guessing I've owned a couple dozen Taurus or Taurus subsidiary guns and most functioned very competently. A couple or more were downright excellent (1911 and a couple of PT 111 G2's.) I did have to send one of my Taurus pistols back - a PT 145 - but I should say it worked fantastic for it's first 1500 rounds...then things started going downhill. They bought that gun back through a recall, anyway.

The Taurus Model 82 revolver I bought has been OK, but developed some fouling in the barrel that was really hard to get out for some reason. Function was always fine, though. They replaced a couple of my Taurus-Rossi .38's for a safety recall, but they honestly never exhibited any safety or function related issues while I had them. Had good fit and finish, too. The only Taurus I had that was iffy on function out of the box was a tiny .22 pop up barrel Beretta clone. And that was a mostly for-fun gun..and it was fun. The occasional malfunctions were never a problem for me because it was a plinker instead of a defense gun. There are a couple of idiosyncrasies on a couple of other guns that aren't at all hard to live with.

So yes, you can run into issues with Taurus, and maybe somewhat more than with much more expensive guns, but I don't think it's at all fair to characterize them as lousy guns. I've sent guns back to S&W at least twice. Ruger once or twice. Magnum Research once. I'd characterize Taurus as sort of the Kia of pistols. My theory is that people run into a problem with a Kimber and they say, "wow...that's interesting. I'll send it back to the factory and see what's up."

But they run into a problem with a Taurus and say, "I knew I shouldn't have bought this junky gun!"
 
I own three Taurus revolvers, two M85’s and a M82. All were bought used and have been excellent guns. The M82 was a South America police issued revolver. My late friend Steve was a S&W Gunsmithing and didn’t have a favorable out look on Taurus revolvers. He did admit that he had never had one apart. I let him play with my M82. For those that are not familiar with the M82, it a basic copy of the S&W Model 10. Steve took it all apart and gave it a good cleaning. He did point out where the differences in the internals were and liked the Smith better, but was impressed at how well the Taurus locked up and fired even tho it showed signs of being well used.
At about the same time I bought a used S&W Model 10 that looked to be in very good shape. Steve took it apart for a good cleaning. The cylinder had some slop in it, it moved back and forth a little to much. Steve made the needed repairs and the gun is an excellent shooter.
Here’s the Taurus M82
B7F7714B-67FC-4C25-81E3-F8DCDFEE5B05.jpeg

Here’s the S&W Model 10
A321BB36-0A38-432D-A7E0-1904E4B8D002.jpeg

I am always skeptical of people that pass judgement on a brand of guns that have limited use of said guns.
Over the years I have fire a few hundred Taurus handguns and have only found a few that had problems. Most that hat problems were due to miss use and abuse. I can also say the same for S&W.
Now if a friend brought me a new gun to have me check it out, and I found it to have issues, instead of calling it a POS and telling him that he wasted his money, I would point out the issues and advise him how to go about having them corrected.
 
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