Rossi Gripes(from other people, not me)

if you look at taurus armed, thing is maybe .01% of taurus owners end up there.

commentation in the site is this, any gun can leave the factory screwy. or end up screwy once it leaves the factory due to abuse by the end user.

go to sw forums.

they grudgingly admit guns PRE - MIM parts could leave the factory screwy. And that most MIM guns leave sw with the need for custom work.

ive seen reports of people ending up with sw revolvers that cost 800 dollars that needed to be sent back in after a single cylinder was fired due to bad assembly.
yet ive seen a review of a charter arms 'tiger" that well, the reviewer said spit lead so bad, it was like a bubba finish job after a box of 50 rounds. but still kept the entire box of cheap practice ammo in a 4 inch circle and 20 yards.

Bezoar said:

if you look at taurus armed, thing is maybe .01% of taurus owners end up there.



commentation in the site is this, any gun can leave the factory screwy. or end up screwy once it leaves the factory due to abuse by the end user.



go to sw forums.



they grudgingly admit guns PRE - MIM parts could leave the factory screwy. And that most MIM guns leave sw with the need for custom work.



ive seen reports of people ending up with sw revolvers that cost 800 dollars that needed to be sent back in after a single cylinder was fired due to bad assembly.

yet ive seen a review of a charter arms 'tiger" that well, the reviewer said spit lead so bad, it was like a bubba finish job after a box of 50 rounds. but still kept the entire box of cheap practice ammo in a 4 inch circle and 20 yards.

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Yep, Taurus is every bit as good as S&W. Those countless people that have all those bad experiences are just making it up.

The customer service is top notch too. Instead of just fixing it they have you send it back three times or so.

And nobody has problems with current production Smith and Wessons, I suppose.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/smith-wesson_dark.htm

MCgunner said:

And nobody has problems with current production Smith and Wessons, I suppose.



http://www.chuckhawks.com/smith-wesson_dark.htm

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So it is your claim that Rossi/Taurus is every but as good as Smith and Wesson or any other gun maker?

So it is your claim that Rossi/Taurus is every but as good as Smith and Wesson or any other gun maker?

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Perhaps not "any other gunmaker", but current production Smith and Wesson without doubt. I sold a mid 80s M19 when I obtained a Taurus 4" 66 that shot rings around it. I still have the gun, still fantastic. Current production Smiths, well, you can keep 'em if they turn you on. You pay for the name, not quality control.

I'm even chilling a might on Ruger lately, especially the autos. I don't like autos with Glock triggers and Ruger seems to be making 'em lately. It's not quality, though. I own 8 Rugers and love 'em, but since old Bill died, I see a turn away from the strength Ruger built its reputation on. Still good revolvers, though, and I like Rugers. I just ain't gonna pay Smith and Wesson prices for an inferior revolver. My next revolver may be a Ruger LCR in 9x19. It intrigues me.

MCgunner said:

Perhaps not "any other gunmaker", but current production Smith and Wesson without doubt. I sold a mid 80s M19 when I obtained a Taurus 4" 66 that shot rings around it. I still have the gun, still fantastic. Current production Smiths, well, you can keep 'em if they turn you on. You pay for the name, not quality control.

I'm even chilling a might on Ruger lately, especially the autos. I don't like autos with Glock triggers and Ruger seems to be making 'em lately. It's not quality, though. I own 8 Rugers and love 'em, but since old Bill died, I see a turn away from the strength Ruger built its reputation on. Still good revolvers, though, and I like Rugers. I just ain't gonna pay Smith and Wesson prices for an inferior revolver. My next revolver may be a Ruger LCR in 9x19. It intrigues me.

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Well that's your opinion and a man is entitled to it. I certainly won't argue it.

I can follow forums enough to see trends though. I do agree that modern S&W isn't what it used to be but it's obvious that Taurus has serious issues with QC and the service department after the sale.

I can follow forums enough to see trends though. I do agree that modern S&W isn't what it used to be but it's obvious that Taurus has serious issues with QC and the service department after the sale.

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Wouldn't know about CS. Of four Taurus revolvers, two of which were bought used, I haven't had to use CS. Only thing that kinda irks me about Taurus is that they won't sell parts, have to send the gun in for any sort of service, even a friggin' hammer spring or something that I could service myself. I've had a problem or two with my Rugers, Ruger just sent the part....free.

MCgunner said:

Wouldn't know about CS. Of four Taurus revolvers, two of which were bought used, I haven't had to use CS. Only thing that kinda irks me about Taurus is that they won't sell parts, have to send the gun in for any sort of service, even a friggin' hammer spring or something that I could service myself. I've had a problem or two with my Rugers, Ruger just sent the part....free.

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I'm just the opposite. Out if three Taurus guns all three had to go back to Taurus. They weren't fixed in the first try either.

I'm just the opposite. Out if three Taurus guns all three had to go back to Taurus. They weren't fixed in the first try either.

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Well, don't buy Taurus if you're that unlucky, but then, don't tell me my guns are crap, either.

I've owned 7 or so Rossis, one's a carbine. All have been good shooters. Some were sort of poorly finished. Seems like early 90s Rossi got a little lax. I have a 68 from 1981 that's as well finished as any Smith 36. I had a 971 built in the early 90s that snapped two firing pins before I had a K frame firing pin put on it. THAT is the worst I can say for Rossi's, the early 90s Interarms manufacture I'd avoid. The post Taurus ones seem to have returned to good quality, but I haven't owned one, just looked 'em over at Academy.

MCgunner said:

Well, don't buy Taurus if you're that unlucky, but then, don't tell me my guns are crap, either.

I've owned 7 or so Rossis, one's a carbine. All have been good shooters. Some were sort of poorly finished. Seems like early 90s Rossi got a little lax. I have a 68 from 1981 that's as well finished as any Smith 36. I had a 971 built in the early 90s that snapped two firing pins before I had a K frame firing pin put on it. THAT is the worst I can say for Rossi's, the early 90s Interarms manufacture I'd avoid. The post Taurus ones seem to have returned to good quality, but I haven't owned one, just looked 'em over at Academy.

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I haven't told anyone THEIR guns are crap. You can get a good gun. You are just a lot more likely to get a turd from Taurus than anyone else. When you do you stand a good chance of getting a run around at customer service.

These things aren't made up, they are easy to see. Go to their forum and see that even their fans admit that QC and service sucks. It's fact.

I don't consider myself unlucky, from reading the forums at taurusarmed many there will tell you that at least one out of three of their guns go back.

In comparison I've never sent back a S&W, Ruger, RIA, or Sig, though it does happen with those brands too.

To deny that Taurus/Rossi has issues is crazy.

when the head of taurus said he has a lot of work to do to fix the issues with low quality and poor service(i'm paraphrasing for those who like to nit pick things to death).....that says it all.

meaning even the folks who run the places know they have lots of problems. nice he has some sort of plan to work on it and i look forward to when they have solved many of the problems but let's be realistic....... it isn't made up....the boss isn't going to say that if it wasn't well documented and true.

you take your chances buying such a low cost weapon. some do well and many others not so much. same can be said of many of the other value brands out there. it is what it is....

you take your chances buying such a low cost weapon. some do well and many others not so much. same can be said of many of the other value brands out there. it is what it is....

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And, the same can be said for Smith and Wesson.

The Rossis are low cost. Taurus is a bit higher. Many models like the 85s MSRP near some of the J frames. But, there's more to price than quality. There's labor costs, machinery costs, production costs in general all of which are ridiculous in Connecticut. Smith and Wesson should move to a southern right to work state like everyone else is.

I don't rule out owning ANY quality firearm. If I wanted a Smith, if I checked it out at the LGS and it checked out good, and it wasn't outrageously priced, I might pick it up. I haven't bought a new Smith since the 80s. I bought the Rossis I had because I wanted them, ditto the Tauri. Some of the Rossis I was less than happy with, a couple I've kept. I had a M511 .22 I loved, got ripped off, I replaced it with a used one I found at a gun show. This second one is more accurate than the first one was. It'll put 6 Federal Auto Match into 1" at 25 yards. Nifty little alternative to the high priced Smith kit guns. Yes, the DA trigger is heavy, but I never fire a kit gun DA anyway. .22s, especially 4 inch ones with adjustable sights, aren't self defense weapons. I've shot a lot of rabbits with mine. All shots were taken SA. Only time i shoot it DA is on my back yard range and I control it just fine. It's just not NEARLY as good as my little Taurus 85 which is the best out of the box DA I've ever felt.

just based on customer service policy,

ill take taurus and rossi and charter. over smith and wesson.
why?

i asked smith and wesson on the phone, their customer service policy. the agent stated "if your the orginal owner, just send it in and well take care of you." i asked about used guns, the answer? "sucks to be you"

taurus? "if its a taurusused or new, call us up, and well send a shipping label. Sure you might have to pay a few depending on age and whats wrong, ie user caused issue or manufacturing defect".

most people that gripe about a certain gun are parroting what they heard from others. very few are doing so from first hand experience.

I'll never understand why anyone would buy a Rossi /Taurus or any other second rate South American clunker when, for a few dollars more you could buy a reputable American made gun like a Smith. To me it's no different than buying a second rate parachute. If I couldn't afford the best parachute with the best reputation I would hold off on skydiving until I could.

I'll never understand why anyone would buy a Rossi /Taurus or any other second rate South American clunker when, for a few dollars more you could buy a reputable American made gun like a Smith. To me it's no different than buying a second rate parachute. If I couldn't afford the best parachute with the best reputation I would hold off on skydiving until I could.

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That's only because you are opinionated and uninformed and inexperienced with foreign revolvers and probably have more money than me to waste on firearms. I love my Taurus revolvers, much better guns than the Smiths I've owned, do own. I'm not going to say that's always the case, but that's why I sold my M19 Smith and kept my Taurus 66. It's just a better shooter with a better trigger and a much stronger gun in the area of the forcing cone. You see, the forcing cone is ROUND and it has never split. I've split a K frame forcing cone and had to rebarrel it. Even Smith and Wesson has finally acknowledged this problem with the redesigned .357 Combat Magnum they've introduced. Of course, the L frame was a response to this, too, but it's a heavy sucker on the belt.

Rossi? They're fine for what they cost, but I'd rather actually CARRY my Taurus M85SSUL and/or my Taurus 605 Poly. I can tell ya this, I'd rather carry my Rossi 68 than that American made POS Charter Arms I bought back in the 80s.

Are s&w that bad.....I see lots of comments here saying they are as bad as taurus....got to admit I'm surprised ....

Truth be told, S&W produces lemons just like everyone else. Go to the shop, inspect it before purchase. I think there's still a sticky on here about inspection and what to look for. This will minimize your likelihood of getting a lemon. Nobody seems to like the lock on the Smith, lots of stories of it locking itself. The Taurus lock design prevents this. Frankly, I've lost the key to the locks on my 85 and 605. My 66s are older/prelock.

superiority of AVAILABILITY is paramount. IF i cant get the gun, its worthless to me. This whole year the ONLY smith and wesson revolvers the dealers could get were j frames and X frames. NOT what you want when you want a 4 or 6 inch 357.

superiority of AVAILABILITY is paramount. IF i cant get the gun, its worthless to me. This whole year the ONLY smith and wesson revolvers the dealers could get were j frames and X frames. NOT what you want when you want a 4 or 6 inch 357.

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If ya want a Smith, look around for a used K or L or N frame. Gun shows, pawn shops, gun shops, wherever. Sometimes the hunt is fun. I'd rather have a 20 or 30 year old Smith than a new one, anyway. Pre-lock, pre-MIM, even pinned.

Bezoar said:

superiority of AVAILABILITY is paramount. IF i cant get the gun, its worthless to me. This whole year the ONLY smith and wesson revolvers the dealers could get were j frames and X frames. NOT what you want when you want a 4 or 6 inch 357.

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This is very true.^

Thanks Mcgunner for the info and follow up. Appreciated.

Anyone that wants to know the truth only has to go over to taurusarmed.net and read about it.

If you truly believe that taurus is just as good as other better brands spend your money on it. Then you can post over at taurusarmed all about your experiences.

It's almost comical at times, it's like people arguing that their yugo is every bit as good as a BMW.

taurusarmed .net has somewhere around something over a thousand signed on and like YOU, most have never posted there. It is a fledgling representation of the total sales Taurus makes in the US and many of those that go there, go there to bash the product. Either they bought one that had to go back and are venting or they're trolls/bashers and/or fanboys of other products that get banned eventually. Bashing ANY brand there is verboten via the site guidelines because people like YOU show up there just to do that. Some have been spoken sternly to for bashing other than Taurus products, too. The site is in no way representative of the overall products. The moderators there try to be lenient, but there's only so far they'll go with a basher/troll. Taurus sells thousands of firearms a year in America and most don't post to taurusarmed. They might if they get a product that has to go back just to vent, but if they're satisfied with the product, they're not likely to show up. FANS of the product, including me, post there regularly. I only own 4 Taurus revolvers out of 27 handguns I own, or did before the boating accident, but I like 'em. There are guys there that ONLY own Taurus and love 'em, some with a whole collection.

S&W is an American company, has a base of patriotic, flag waving, America can do no wrong supporters there that just refuse to bash when they get a bad product that has to go back. "Oh, it happens." Well, truth be told, it happens just as often as any other brand now days. Smith and Wesson will eventually make it right, IF you're the first owner, but I've heard they can be difficult do deal with.

When I ordered my new 605 Poly, they delayed the order because they couldn't find my LGS's FFL in their data base. I finally got it straightened out by e-mailing the FFL to them, but I had to call them and tell them to look for it. I was told to wait until around 8PM to call and I'd have little wait time, which turned out to be accurate. I finally got it settled, the gun came, the gun was perfect, and I am enjoying and carrying it today. This is the only time I've had to deal with their CS.

since we're (supposed to be) talking about Rossi guns, I'd like to post one of my favorites that they for some reason no longer offer.....M720 .44 special

I had a 4" s.s. .22lr years ago and kick myself for letting it go.

They should bring the 720 back.

Here's my Rossi 511 .22, fantastic, super accurate little kit gun for much less money than a Smith.