seeking feedback--Taurus Titanium .44 spl snub

[kmrcstintn]

I am seeking honest feedback. I am considering a purchase of a Taurus Titanium 445 (.44 spl snub, 5 shot cylinder, ported barrel, ribber grip) for use as a defensive revolver (nitestand, car, trail). Of course, the salespersons and the gunsmith at the Gander Mountain where this is at are all very down on Taurus products. This store is where I do the majority of my firearms buy/sell/trade and I'm a regular so they know me.

I have had my share of problems with Taurus products (spurless 605 x 1, 7 shot 66's x 2). I had great use out of the 2 model 455's (a 4" and a 2"---should kept the 2") I had before trading off to get a Glock. (yuck! and no Glock in me stable anymore) The Taurus will not be shot alot due to $$$ for .44 spl ammo. I have my GP-100 for heavy range sessions. My other piece for CCW is a S&W 642

The Taurus 445 is retailing, very lightly used, for $389 that was bought, shot little, stored, and sold back to the store by one of the part time salespersons I know pretty well. It's not beat up and virtually new.

The trade-in will be a somewhat rough, but great working condition, police trade-in & factory reconditioned spurless Ruger SP-101. I like the little Ruger, but she's a bear with even moderate 158 grain .357's

WHADDA Y'ALL TINK?!?

 

[mnrivrat]

I have no experience with the Model 445 but do have a couple Taurus revolvers and consider them quite good. The tracker .44 Magnum I have with a 4 inch barrel has a very nice trigger both DA and SA out of the box.

It's heavier than the snub but that would only be a factor if carried - not a problem for night stand etc. I shoot mostly 44 spl out of this K/L frame gun but like having the magnum capability.

Anyway, from my perspective I see no problem with 445 , I just prefer the Tracker 44's 4 inch barrel length and magnum versitility.

 

[unspellable]

44 titanium snubby

Be sure to check chamber to barrel alignment. I've seen two of these NIB that had a problem with chamber to barrel alignment. This is the sort of thing that's either right or wrong, if it's right to begin with, it will stay that way. It's a manufacturing oopise, not a design defect.

 

[Old Fuff]

I have a blued-steel model 445, and it hasn't given me any troubles. However I wasn't a bit interested in shooting .44 Special cartridges in a super-light Titanium snubby. If a SP-101 is giving you a problem with recoil using .357 Magnum cartridges I really don't think you want the 445 Ti.

 

[kmrcstintn]

This is a dead consideration.

I decided not to pursue this. I read postings elsewhere about forcing cone/cylinder face contact when the gun gets hot and having to send the gun back to Taurus where they resurface (aka: grinding down the face of the forcing cone) the to reset the tolerances. :banghead:

I decided to get a CZ 75BD for a house gun and use my 642 for CCW

Thank you for your replies

 

[rick_reno]

My neighbor has one - I've shot it a few times. I don't like the grips, when the gun fires it forces my middle finger into a painful place.

 

[Old Fuff]

Yes, I did something about the grips too...

No way would I consider the Titanium version, but I haven't has any problems with the all-steel gun. Stay away from bullets over 200 grains, and let someone else use the +PPPP stuff.

Remember, a BIG bullet doesn't have to expand...

 

[Biker]

I've had 0 problems with my Titanium 450. At 17 oz, it's a pleasure to carry and shoot, and I *like* the grips.
Biker

 

[biggun]

tit450

I have a 450tit no trouble . Love it.

 

[Old Fuff]

I've had 0 problems with my Titanium 450. At 17 oz, it's a pleasure to carry and shoot, and I *like* the grips. Biker

That's cuz it matches the ones on your handlebars...

 

[Biker]

Cold Fuff, downright frosty.
Biker

 

[kmrcstintn]

The specimen is once again being considered

:banghead: Now the freakin CZ is acting up...I put 200 rounds of Wolf 115 ball and 50 rounds of Winchester WWB 147 grain JHP to get it broken in and proofed with my favorite defense load in 9mm.

3 times the slide locked back with 2 rounds left in the magazine with the ball ammo; 2 times the slide failed to go completely into battery with the Winchester hollowpoint.

It's a damn shame since the gun shoots very tight and accurate groups even with junk like Wolf. I went to the CZ forum and I'm being told to get overspec springs for the mag and the recoil assembly and get the feed ramp and chamber throat polished...between the gunsmithing fees and the cost and shipping of parts, I'm approaching $75-100 on top of the cost of the gun. I am P.O.'ed...the CZ came very highly recommended for its reliability, accuracy, well built design, wide international distribution among military and police agencies...

The 16 round capacity is not worth it if I can't get the gun to work right...I guess it's better to have a capacity of 5, 6 or 7 in a wheelgun if the user can rely on it!!! Now I fracking wish I didn't trade off the SP101 spurless to get this POS!!! Even the Titanium Taurus is looking good... :banghead:

 

[Old Fuff]

I feel your pain....

Once upon a time, long, long ago, handguns came out of the box and actually worked. No more apparently.

Anyway, I wouldn't give up on the CZ too soon. It may be a case of not liking the particular brands of ammunition you fed it. Many automatics have problems with some hollow-points because of issues concerning cartridge overall length and bullet shape. Sometimes a minor adjustment to the magazine lips will fix things. In all fairness, back in the "good ol' days" we could chose between hardball and ... hardball. This made it much easier for a manufacturer to set up a pistol to feed... well ... hardball of course.

On the other hand, when it comes to dependability, regardless of ammunition used, (within limits of course) you can't beat a good revolver because it isn't ammunition dependent - but they don't come with hi-cap magazines either.

Somehow there isn't any free lunch available, and you need to decide which, or what you want.

The CZ75 series have an excellent reputation, and my feeling is that if you stick with it a bit you will find a combination that works. It may take some experimenting, but you'll find it if you try.

In the meantime the Old Fuff will go back and fondle his old, finish-worn S&W model 10 that was made almost 50 years ago. It cost $150.00 across the table at a Tucson gun show, and it hasn't failed yet...

 

[Stainz]

Firstly, that SP101 .357M could be loaded with Remington R38S12 158gr LHPSWC .38 Special +P's for a real PD that would be effective and controllable.

The CZ-75B is a fine pistol. I bought my wife one years ago - with a 10 & 15 rd mag. I bought two aftermarket 15rd mags, a holster, rug, etc for it - she loved it. She could send 200-300 rounds downrange while I was shooting my revolvers. Thankfully, 'Academy Sports' had the Blazer ball ammo for $3.96/$4.96 a box of fifty, so it was frugal. We put 5k+ through it - I rarely cleaned it (It was our last evil-bottom-feeder!) - and NEVER had a misfeed. The fellow who bought it loves it... still, no misfeeds (He did manage to break the takedown slide stop, however... and CZ-USA is mighty 'proud' of their parts!), thousands of rounds of all kinds of ammo later. I'd clean that gun carefully - including those mags - and try again. Admittedly, neither of us have used NATO/Euro 9mm ammo, however.

I got a chance to shoot each of pair of the Ti .44 Special Trackers that appeared at the public range where I work as a part-time RO. One was a long time one-owner, the other a 'guest' in a few of our member's safes. Neither would launch a box of Blazers (200gr GDJHP .44 Specials - designed for snubby .44 Specials - $12.86/50 at 'Academy'. By 30-40 rounds, both were dragging - thermal/clearance problems. The well-traveled variant, bought 'new' for $300, seemed to have crane axle/cylinder drag when hot. The other was deemed serviceable because of it's designed use - to be loaded all of the time and not to be shot as a range/fun gun.

My S&W 296 hammerless Al/Ti 2.5" .44 Special only eats the Blazers or Georgia Arms Starline case version - and has launched 100-150 in a day with no problems - other than my wrist! I paid $349 new closeout over three years ago. they run about that used - check the cast in place cylinder stop for wear on a used one.

Stainz

 

[kmrcstintn]

Took the CZ out again...
25 rounds Win WWB 147gr JHP: slide locked back with 2 rounds left in magazine (happened 2 times)

100 rounds Win WWB 115gr FMJ Value Pack: no problems (I thought light at the end of the tunnel)

75 rounds Win WWB 147gr JHP: no major problems, but copper rings from somewhere on the jackets start falling out when I clear and reload the gun...now this has me worried...what the hell is going on?!?

50 rounds Wolf 115gr FMJ: one round got stuck in the chamber when I smacked the slide to put gun into battery...oy vey...the tolerances on this gun are tighter than a virgin!

I give up...not sure whether to sell it or send the damn thing back to CZ (so they can do nothing, fire 5 rounds of S&B 115 gr FMJ, send the gun back and tell me everything is okay when nothing was done to fix it)

I give up!!! Later!!! Have a great life!!!