Hello. I have a stainless Taurus Model 431 with fixed sights and 3" bbl. The wide, serrated trigger is decent enough in double-action and fine in single. While the fixed sights are well-regulated from the factory for me, the front sight can be fairly difficult to see...at least for me, due to its abbreviated height.
Mine was purchased NIB in the '90's and came with checkered wooden grips. The contour on them was such that the rear of the left stock dug into the base of my right thumb. I replaced them with the Michael of Oregon's rubber stock that was available at that time, but has disappeared pretty in more recent times.
The gun's uses a coiled mainspring like the S&W J-frames and Rugers' SP101/GP100 and its frame-mounted firing pin has created no issues.
Though this gun's
not been shot thousands of time, it's given no problems. I estimate that it has around a thousand shots through it over the years, but I've not shot it too much. I'm not sure why as it is pleasant to shoot and POI matches POA pretty closely though I've not done much shooting with it beyond 15 to 25 yards.
Here is my Model 431 shown with Corbon .44 Special DPX +P ammunition and wearing Uncle Mike's rubber stocks. Its features resemble S&W's revolvers and the cylinder rotates the same direction, counterclockwise.
The "hottest" .44 Specials I've shot in this revolver has been the DPX. I normally prefer a 240-gr. CSWC handload at about 850-900 ft/sec or something a little more sedate like the CCI/Blazer 200-gr. GDHP.
From its 3" bbl, I obtained the following average velocities based on 10-shot averages when fired 10' from the chronograph screens:
PMC 180-gr. JHP: 827
Speer/Blazer 200-gr. GDHP: 829 ft/sec
Corbon 200-gr. DPX: 1013
Speer 200-gr. GDHP
8.5-gr. Unique
Win LP Primer
Starline Case: 933
Rainier 240-gr. Funnel Point Plated Bullet
7.7-gr. Unique
Win LP Primer
Starline Case: 864
The forcing cone on my Taurus Model 431 is pretty thin so I do not try to see what it would take to crack it. I am told that Taurus' after-the-sale service could be better, though I've never had to find out and since this model has been discontinued, I don't want to unneccesarily temp fate.
I have used the Taurus as a (lawfully) concealed carry handgun and feel it can serve well in the area of personal protection.
Here is the Taurus M431 muzzle and Corbon 200-gr. DPX next to a Ruger SP101 muzzle and the Corbon 125-gr. .357 Magnum DPX. The .44 Special's larger diameter is sort of comforting for many shooters.
In short, mine's done everything I've asked it to do w/o complaint. The double-action is not so nice as on many of other makes of revolvers but it isn't "bad". I think that the downsides are the smallish front sight,
possible lack of service from the company, and that this revolver is a discontinued model. I have experienced no mechanical issues with this revolver at all.
That said, if the gun you are looking at is in nice shape and seems to work alright, I'd probably cough up the money. Understand though, that .44 Special ammunition is not inexpensive but that's probably not an issue since you handload.
Best and good luck.