Taurus 44 mag tracker, better than my S&W 69

[someguy2800]

I am a fan of 5 shot 4” revolvers. My favorite being my 4.2” SP101 357 mag. So when Smith and Wesson announced the model 69 44 mag built on the L frame I knew instantly I needed to have one. You ever see a gun that you just know you are going to love the first time you see it? Well I knew I was going to love the 69. I was planning to save up my Cabelas points and get one that way and just around the time I had enough points, the summer of 2020 hit and there were none to be found for many months. I finally gave up on cabelas after about a year and a half and drove 3 hours to get one from Reeds and was very excited after literally years of waiting. And well, I was wrong. I didn’t like the 69 at all. Mine had a couple issues out of the box that needed to be fixed at the mothership. Even when it was sorted though I just never warmed up to it. The original grips were sadistic to shoot with full house magnums, and even my mid velocity loads were not pleasant. A set of oversize hogue grips solved that but then it was so large with those that I felt I might as well have a 629. I just didn’t enjoy shooting it and I felt I had a lot of money tied up in it. I wanted a beat around woods gun, but even if I did find the right grips for it I just wasn't into it and so I sold it and used the money to buy a 5” 629.

Fast forward to this morning and I drove down to a local place and spotted this Taurus Tracker 44 on the used rack with a $530 price tag. I inspected it and could tell it was still unfired. I still felt like I had a need for a 5 shot 44 mag so on impulse bought it. After shooting it a bit I have to say this is everything I wanted the smith to be but wasn’t. The grips are the perfect size and width and just soft enough that it’s pleasant too shoot but not too big as to feel like a club on my hip. I’m sure a big part of that is the ported barrel, but this is just so much nicer to shoot than the 69. Of course it’s a Taurus so the finish and fit is not Smith and Wesson and it has some cylinder rattle but it’s plenty nice enough for what I want and shoots great. Every bit as accurate as my 69 was and I don’t even think I’m going to mess with the trigger. Overall I’m very happy with it so far. I’m going to have to give Taurus’s other revolvers another look because I’ve always dismissed them out of hand but this is a nice little utilitarian piece for the money.

 

[adcoch1]

One of my friends bought an early 41 magnum Taurus tracker when they first came out, and his experience mimics yours. I shot it a lot too, and other than ammo cost it was great. Not exactly pretty, but very useful, and I wished back then they made them in 44 mag. Glad you are impressed with yours. What holster are you planning for it?

 

[lee n. field]

Well I knew I was going to love the 69. ... I didn’t like the 69 at all. ... The original grips were sadistic to shoot with full house magnums, and even my mid velocity loads were not pleasant.

..Fast forward to this morning and I drove down to a local place and spotted this Taurus Tracker 44 on the used rack with a $530 price tag. ...

I also have a .44 Tracker. I regard it as a platform for shooting .44 Special out of.

The original grips

I almost always end up swapping factory stock revolver grips for something else.

 

[someguy2800]

One of my friends bought an early 41 magnum Taurus tracker when they first came out, and his experience mimics yours. I shot it a lot too, and other than ammo cost it was great. Not exactly pretty, but very useful, and I wished back then they made them in 44 mag. Glad you are impressed with yours. What holster are you planning for it?

I didn’t know they made a 41 mag. I’ll have to put that on the list to find one.

I still have the holster I bought for the 69. I also use it for my Smith model 10 which rarely comes out of the safe. I might get a leather holster for it.

 

[someguy2800]

I also have a .44 Tracker. I regard it as a platform for shooting .44 Special out of.



I almost always end up swapping factory stock revolver grips for something else.

I do as well. The grips on this Taurus are probably the only revolver I’ll ever own that keeps the factory grips. Most of my 44 mag loads are somewhere in between 44 special and 44 mag. A 240 grain at like 1000-1100 fps is good for me and doesn't beat up the gun.

 

[Tallball]

Congratulations! One of the RSO's at my favorite range has one of those and shoots it often. It seems to be a very good shooter.

 

[Pat Riot]

Congratulations on finding a gun that works for you.

 

[trackskippy]

S&W really screwed the pooch with the grips they put on their 44mags. My 629 came with a set like that. The way they come together at the back, into a dull sort of knife edge seam, just concentrates the recoil into that point. That, and covering the back strap just makes things even worse, putting your trigger finger in the wrong place.

A set of Hogue's, that looks very much like the factory grips, but exposes the backstrap and helps spread the recoil, and places your trigger finger in the right place, makes a major difference in how the gun fits your hand and how it feels when you shoot them.

Like you, Ive always wanted one of the 69's since I first saw them, but one with a 2.75" barrel. Just never see them, and even the 4" are pretty rare, and I really dont see the point of them, especially when the 629 fits that bill just fine.

Just out of curiosity, what issues did you have with your 69? Youre the first Ive heard to have a problem with theirs.

Glad the Taurus is working out for you. Ive always shied away from them due to problems in the past, both the couple I had, and seeing the problems friends and relatives had with theirs.

 

[someguy2800]

S&W really screwed the pooch with the grips they put on their 44mags. My 629 came with a set like that. The way they come together at the back, into a dull sort of knife edge seam, just concentrates the recoil into that point. That, and covering the back strap just makes things even worse, putting your trigger finger in the wrong place.

A set of Hogue's, that looks very much like the factory grips, but exposes the backstrap and helps spread the recoil, and places your trigger finger in the right place, makes a major difference in how the gun fits your hand and how it feels when you shoot them.

Like you, Ive always wanted one of the 69's since I first saw them, but one with a 2.75" barrel. Just never see them, and even the 4" are pretty rare, and I really dont see the point of them, especially when the 629 fits that bill just fine.

Just out of curiosity, what issues did you have with your 69? Youre the first Ive heard to have a problem with theirs.

Glad the Taurus is working out for you. Ive always shied away from them due to problems in the past, both the couple I had, and seeing the problems friends and relatives had with theirs.

The hammer would push off when cocked in single action with just a few ounces of force. It also shot 16” high at 30 yards with the rear sight bottomed out. I sent it back with a note about both but they only fixed the trigger and didn’t do anything about the sights, so I had to order a taller front sight blade from Dawson to get it zero’d. By the time I pinned in the front sight and replaced the grips and put in a reasonable set of springs I had over $1000 in it. I can’t really explain why but even after fixing all my complaints about it, I just never got the warm and fuzzies when I picked it up.

 

[someguy2800]

Shooting some full steam magnum loads. 240 grain jacketed over 24 grains of H110. I’m really surprised how well the porting works. It feels the same as shooting my 5” 629 which is 10 ounces heavier. If you’ve ever seen how these Taurus revolvers are ported, they don’t actually drill through the rifling like a typical magnaport job, they actually counterbore the end of the barrel before drilling the porting. So the last inch or so of the barrel is like 1mm larger than the bore diameter. The reason I never bought one of these is because I always figured the gas would escape around the bullet in that counterbore space and the porting wouldn’t be that effective. I assumed the counterbore would just give up an inch of velocity for nothing except making it louder, but the porting really does seam effective to my surprise.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I shoot a afternoon with the Tracker with ports. LOVE that gun! Priced to carry and ding up in the woods & tough enough to handle

 

[MrShooter]

I am a fan of 5 shot 4” revolvers. My favorite being my 4.2” SP101 357 mag. So when Smith and Wesson announced the model 69 44 mag built on the L frame I knew instantly I needed to have one. You ever see a gun that you just know you are going to love the first time you see it? Well I knew I was going to love the 69. I was planning to save up my Cabelas points and get one that way and just around the time I had enough points, the summer of 2020 hit and there were none to be found for many months. I finally gave up on cabelas after about a year and a half and drove 3 hours to get one from Reeds and was very excited after literally years of waiting. And well, I was wrong. I didn’t like the 69 at all. Mine had a couple issues out of the box that needed to be fixed at the mothership. Even when it was sorted though I just never warmed up to it. The original grips were sadistic to shoot with full house magnums, and even my mid velocity loads were not pleasant. A set of oversize hogue grips solved that but then it was so large with those that I felt I might as well have a 629. I just didn’t enjoy shooting it and I felt I had a lot of money tied up in it. I wanted a beat around woods gun, but even if I did find the right grips for it I just wasn't into it and so I sold it and used the money to buy a 5” 629.

Fast forward to this morning and I drove down to a local place and spotted this Taurus Tracker 44 on the used rack with a $530 price tag. I inspected it and could tell it was still unfired. I still felt like I had a need for a 5 shot 44 mag so on impulse bought it. After shooting it a bit I have to say this is everything I wanted the smith to be but wasn’t. The grips are the perfect size and width and just soft enough that it’s pleasant too shoot but not too big as to feel like a club on my hip. I’m sure a big part of that is the ported barrel, but this is just so much nicer to shoot than the 69. Of course it’s a Taurus so the finish and fit is not Smith and Wesson and it has some cylinder rattle but it’s plenty nice enough for what I want and shoots great. Every bit as accurate as my 69 was and I don’t even think I’m going to mess with the trigger. Overall I’m very happy with it so far. I’m going to have to give Taurus’s other revolvers another look because I’ve always dismissed them out of hand but this is a nice little utilitarian piece for the money.

View attachment 1141998

I bet you'd like their 44 standard, mine is ported with a 6.5" barrel. The trigger is decent in single action but I really hated the double action pull. Then I watched a really good shooter stage the trigger in double action instead of trying to do one smooth motion. When I tried his method I did way better and kind of like the trigger now.

 

[nofendertom]

someguy2800 --- So what is the actual length of the barrel {the rifled portion length} ?

 

[Geldarr]

I have the gloss blue 'Rossi badged' version that is the same gun, but lacks the porting and adjustable sights. I picked it up a few years ago used at my favorite local place for a song. I believe that Taurus made a batch of them for Academy Sports around 2012 or so.
View media item 4101
It shoots extremely well with the stock grips. I have a pair of the VZ grips for Taurus Large Frame Revolvers on it now. They are great from a fit and feel perspective, but you do notice a bit more 'oomph' than with the OEM ribbers. I probably need to sand down the texture of the G10 a little bit more - I'd go with the smooth grips if I were to do it again. I mostly shoot magnum cases filled with Trailboss, and it feels like a warm .44 special. I haven't run any full-house magnums through it, but my mid-range loads can sting a little bit.

I'd also recommend the Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster for these. It holds the pistol tightly, but draws easily.
View media item 4100
If you have a 3D printer, I designed some .STL files that you can use to make some speedloader bedside blocks, too. The HKS CA-44 speedloaders work perfectly.

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/jaQJBILmDJz?sharecode=ydoVf6Bv7hF1Yv1RS3hLeN4QQM9gidQ7yEVJ9r8t37A

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I know Taurus guns don't have the best reputation but I've had seven of them in .38 or .357, mostly 80s to early 90s production, and all of them worked very well. That was the period of my life that I did the most shooting, high volume reloading and a bit of competition, so those guns had tens of thousands of rounds through 'em, mostly handloads. I don't know how the new ones are but I've heard good things about their warranty CS.

 

[Buckeye63]

I have owned a few Taurus Compact frame
( Tracker) revolvers 7 shot 357’s .. 5 shot 45 Colts
5 shot 44mags and one in 41 mag
I never had any problems with any of them , in fact Im waiting to find a non-ported 2.5 inch 44 Mag Tracker … one will roll around eventually…

 

[WisBorn]

I have owned a S&W 69 4.25" for six months now and a Taurus 415 41mag since 2011. Many people feel that the 69 is best suited for 44 special and light magnum loads, I'm not going to disagree.
I have shot a lot of HSM 230gr bear loads and 240gr Winchester Platinum out of the 41mag. The bear loads are lighter than Underwood and Buffalo Bore in the same bullet weight/design. The Winchester loads are stout.
I enjoy both revolvers though I have only about 100 rounds through the 69.
After owning both handguns I have to say that Smith&Wesson needs to make a 5 shot L frame in 41mag. The size & weight of the L frame revolver and power level of the 41mag cartridge would make a great wilderness carry.
I have never owned a Taurus 44mag but wouldn't be afraid of adding one after my positive experience with my 415, 605, & 66 revolvers.
If I do ever add another 44mag it will probably be a Ruger Super Redhawk for hunting and range fun.

 

[someguy2800]

I have owned a S&W 69 4.25" for six months now and a Taurus 415 41mag since 2011. Many people feel that the 69 is best suited for 44 special and light magnum loads, I'm not going to disagree.
I have shot a lot of HSM 230gr bear loads and 240gr Winchester Platinum out of the 41mag. The bear loads are lighter than Underwood and Buffalo Bore in the same bullet weight/design. The Winchester loads are stout.
I enjoy both revolvers though I have only about 100 rounds through the 69.
After owning both handguns I have to say that Smith&Wesson needs to make a 5 shot L frame in 41mag. The size & weight of the L frame revolver and power level of the 41mag cartridge would make a great wilderness carry.
I have never owned a Taurus 44mag but wouldn't be afraid of adding one after my positive experience with my 415, 605, & 66 revolvers.
If I do ever add another 44mag it will probably be a Ruger Super Redhawk for hunting and range fun.

I have never really been interested in the 41 magnum in an N frame size gun, but I really think an L frame would be the absolute perfect size gun for a 41 magnum. I didn't know the taurus 5 shot 41 ever existed until the other day. I'll have to get one eventually.

 

[.308 Norma]

I didn't know the taurus 5 shot 41 ever existed until the other day. I'll have to get one eventually.

In my experience, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I have a Tracker in .22 and .22 magnum. Love the gun, hated that nasty "ribber" grip. I fitted a pair of old S& W grips to it and am much happier.