Anyone own a Taurus 66?

[Axis II]

I found one new for $400 and have been debating on picking up a 357mag 6'' barrel for the occasional deer hunt and just range fun. I am a huge S&W proponent but I just cant justify the cost of one. I have no experience with Taurus other than the first offerings and hearing how junky they are. I will mostly shoot 38spl and 357mag when it comes to sight in for deer. Also, any clue if a small rail for a red dot can be outfitted on it?

I know most will say get something better but I just cant afford or justify $600+ for a gun that will sit in the safe most the time. Now a SD gun gets $ spent on it.

Also any other recommendations on a revolver 5-6'' barrel in 357 mag that would accept a scope mount for a red dot would be great. It just dawned on me that the Taurus may not have a mount and need drilled and tapped. Depending on cost, I would be better off getting something a little more $.

 

[Punkinhead]

I bought one as an impulse buy last week. I was buying ammo and on a lark asked to look at it. It had a good fit and finish and the trigger has a nice crisp break. My son and I have put about 250 rounds through it and are very happy with it. It's my first and only Taurus. So far, so good.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I have a near-mint 80's-era Model 66. Lovely weapon.

 

[skeeterfogger]

I have 3 and they have performed flawlessly.

 

[ThomasT]

Most "experts" consider the 357 to be a 50 yard deer round. Unless you have Mr. Magoo eyesight you should be able to keep your shots in a deers kill zone at 50 yards without a scope or red dot. I can do that with a 2" snub at 50 yards shooting single action.

I have owned several Taurus revolvers and had one that spit lead but every other one of them had been excellent guns. And that includes 3 model 66 guns. I think your $400 is a good price on one now. But back when I bought mine they were in the $200 range.

And there is nothing wrong with a 6" revolver for a HD gun. Or a good truck gun too.

 

[Cokeman]

I spent $600 on a Smith and Wesson 686 and it’s the gun I shoot the most. If you bought one, I will bet that it would not spend most of its time in the safe.

 

[CajunBass]

I had a blue,seven shot Taurus 66, 4" barrel, made in the early 90's I guess. That gun was as nice as any Smith and Wesson I've owned over the years. Beautiful blue finish, great trigger. That is one gun I wish I still had. That one and a Model 65 (fixed sight version of the same gun) that was just as nice.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I spent $600 on a Smith and Wesson 686 and it’s the gun I shoot the most. If you bought one, I will bet that it would not spend most of its time in the safe.

I spent more than that on a 686-6 and the Taurus sees a lot more range time. It is more accurate, has a better trigger. And doesn't have to be shot a certain way in order to go bang every time like the Smith does

The Taurus is a late 90s gun, the Smith is a 2017. If you get a Smith revolver, get an old one. Taurus has some lemons and some gems every year.

 

[gotboostvr]

...And doesn't have to be shot a certain way in order to go bang every time like the Smith does

I would get on the horn with their CS dept. If it doesn't go bang, they should be taking a look at it.

 

[philbo]

Purchased a nickle 6" Taurus model 66 circa 1985 for a total of $145 NIB from Oshman's Sporting Goods. That pistol trained a lot of shooters over the years and even managed a couple of hogs. Never had an issue with it. Great pistol (just wish my nephew would return it ).

Was it as nice a S&W in 1985? Nope, not even close.But, compared to what is shipping these days? I'd take it in a heartbeat. Owned quite a few Taurus revolvers over the years and only had issues with one which were quickly addressed by CS. If the price is right, I have no issues with Taurus.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I have one and have had no problems with it, I purchased it used about 10+ yrs ago and it has seen both 38 and 357 rnds, 50yrds and less it will be a good hunting revolver, I can hit paper plates at 50yrds but it takes practice

 

[Tallball]

I still own a mid-1980s Old Model stainless 6" that has a fantastic trigger and is absurdly accurate.

I used to have a very nice blued 4" Model 66 made in 1988 with very few rounds through it that I bought from the original owner. It was a terrific revolver, but was stolen in a burglary around the year 2000.

I still own a Model 689 4" stainless made in 1990 IIRC. Its trigger is not quite as good as the other two, but is pretty good.

None of the three ever gave me any problems. Their triggers are/were not as good as my really good Smiths, but definitely good, and better than some of my Smiths.

Taurus Model 689

• Tallball
• Jan 7, 2018
• 1

 

[MedWheeler]

philbo writes:

Purchased a nickle 6" Taurus model 66 circa 1985 for a total of $145 NIB from Oshman's Sporting Goods.

Got my 4", blued one two years later, also from Oshman's, the day after I turned 21. Tag was about $178, if I remember right. Got sworn in on the job not long after that, and even carried the Taurus on duty for a little while.

Like Tallball writes just above, mine was also stolen in a burglary, but I got it back a few years later.

 

[GRIZ22]

I have a 1988 vintage 669 (66 with full underlug) I bought new for $85. Ive put thousands of magnums through it. The only problem I've had is the rear sight screw coming loose and losing the rear sight after 10 years which Taurus replaced with a 2 week turnaround. I've seen this happen to S&Ws too.

The DA trigger is not as good as a S&W. I have no reservations about carrying it for SD and have done so on numerous occasions.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I have a 1988 vintage 669 (66 with full underlug) I bought new for $85. Ive put thousands of magnums through it. The only problem I've had is the rear sight screw coming loose and losing the rear sight after 10 years which Taurus replaced with a 2 week turnaround. I've seen this happen to S&Ws too.

The DA trigger is not as good as a S&W. I have no reservations about carrying it for SD and have done so on numerous occasions.

That's funny. For the most part, I like the Taurus DA pull better than even my no-lock Smiths. But the SA trigger of my Smiths is, well, perfect. Taurus doesn't come close there.

As far as stuff coming off, make sure you tighten your crane screw (front one on the sideplate) those do fall out, are specialty items with a spring, and for some reason it takes Taurus a LONG time to get them. The newer ones are captive, so they can't come out. Smiths do this too, but not as bad for some reason.

 

[stonebuster]

You could probably find a used Ruger GP 100 357 for @$450 if you look around. If you had any issues with it Ruger CS is good about fixing even if not the original owner.

 

[JONWILL]

You could probably find a used Ruger GP 100 357 for @$450 if you look around. If you had any issues with it Ruger CS is good about fixing even if not the original owner.

This is probably the best option, unless you are set on the Taurus. I picked up a used GP100 for exactly $450 on Armslist.

 

[Cokeman]

I spent more than that on a 686-6 and the Taurus sees a lot more range time. It is more accurate, has a better trigger. And doesn't have to be shot a certain way in order to go bang every time like the Smith does

The Taurus is a late 90s gun, the Smith is a 2017. If you get a Smith revolver, get an old one. Taurus has some lemons and some gems every year.

Yours sounds like it’s broken. Mine works perfectly.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I would get on the horn with their CS dept. If it doesn't go bang, they should be taking a look at it.

Yours sounds like it’s broken. Mine works perfectly.

It has issues, if the trigger is worked smoothly, it will advance cylinders, but not engage the hammer. I have every confidence that Smith will fix it once I pay the $75 to ship it to them. I have contacted them and once I send it back they will look at it.

 

[Axis II]

This is probably the best option, unless you are set on the Taurus. I picked up a used GP100 for exactly $450 on Armslist.

Not opposed but don't know enough about revolvers to know if a used one is in good shape.

 

[MedWheeler]

GRIZ22 writes:

I have a 1988 vintage 669 (66 with full underlug) I bought new for $85.

Who sold you a new 669 for 85 dollars? At that time, $185 would have been a good "on-sale" price.

 

[Eddietruett]

Posted this in another thread a week or so ago. I’ve owned several a Taurus Snubs and they were good guns for the money. Nothing special but my latest a Taurus toy is a hoot to play with. 7 Shot Mod 66. It’s a shooter. Target is a 7 shot group at 15 yards off a rest of course with .38 wadcutters. Had so much fun playing with light target loads that I haven’t tried any of my Magnum hunting loads yet.

 

[Axis II]

View attachment 840986 View attachment 840987 Posted this in another thread a week or so ago. I’ve owned several a Taurus Snubs and they were good guns for the money. Nothing special but my latest a Taurus toy is a hoot to play with. 7 Shot Mod 66. It’s a shooter. Target is a 7 shot group at 15 yards off a rest of course with .38 wadcutters. Had so much fun playing with light target loads that I haven’t tried any of my Magnum hunting loads yet.

With a barrel that long your actually only shooting 7yards. Haha.

 

[GRIZ22]

GRIZ22 writes:

Who sold you a new 669 for 85 dollars? At that time, $185 would have been a good "on-sale" price.

Bought it at the gun club at Ft Huachuca, AZ.

 

[ThomasT]

It has issues, if the trigger is worked smoothly, it will advance cylinders, but not engage the hammer. I have every confidence that Smith will fix it once I pay the $75 to ship it to them. I have contacted them and once I send it back they will look at it.

Have you checked with S&W? I thought they would ship it back at their expense? But if not they aren't hard to work on. I would have already had it apart, repaired and back together.

This thread made me go on GB and look at Taurus model 66 revolvers. Its funny that the older used guns with the wood grips have a higher asking price than the new in the box guns. And the older guns with the wood grip are the ones I prefer.