Taurus and Charter Arms should be avoided, right?

[chutestrate]

I am very interested in the .44 special from Charter Arms, and there is a beautifully blued 3 in .357 f/ Taurus at my local fun store. I should resist my impulse to purchase either of these revolvers shouldn't I?

My searches show that they are ok, but when they break they really break.

 

[MMCSRET]

I have both Taurus and Charter Arms revolvers. My 44 Special is a Taurus Model 441 and is the best shooting, most accurate revolver I own with the exception of three Colt Officers Models. BUT!!!! I cast my own bullets and load my own ammunition and the ammunition is tailored to the gun. My CA is a 327 Magnum and is a fine revolver. My suggestion is to buy one and develop your own opinion after several thousand rounds of your own handloads. Keep in mind that opinions are like that other thing that everyone has; and it stinks, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Paladin7]

There is a lot of bad press on both manufacturers and lots of solid personal experience to draw from...

Why not go with a good used S&W or a new or used Ruger... especially if you have to bet your life on your firearm...

If the gun will just be used for range fun, and you don't mind dealing with headaches, it doesn't matter.

I prefer to buy quality guns from quality manufacturers.... YMMV

 

[Walkalong]

I have a Taurus .32 Mag that is a pretty nice gun. I have a Charter Arms Bulldog I have had for around 20 years. No complaints. Are they a Colt or Smith? No. Are they servicable? Yep.

If Taurus was as bad as some think, they would not be around anymore.

 

[NMGonzo]

As I am about to ride my bicycle for a 2 hour spin, I miss my 605 taurus "bicycle gun".

 

[snooperman]

Why would you avoid them?

I have 3 Charter Arms revolvers and find them to be quite adequate. My 44 special Bulldog that I have is more than 30 years old and is a fine defense gun. Just looking at those big 200 gr bullets give me great comfort. I also own the 38 special undercover as well. I have 2 Taurus revolvers that are as good as many others I own. I have shot thousands of reloads through all of my Taurus and Charter guns with no problems at all. I find them to be a very good value for the money. John Taffin, a great revolver officionado, and gun writer, carries Charter Arms revolvers and uses them for home defense as well.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Both makes are ok. I've have and had both makes of revolvers and still have a ton of Taurus revolvers. The older Charter Arms are better. There was a period when Charter Arms switched hands and QA went down the tubes.

Now if you're talking about Taurus semi-autos......what's that saying? Can't say anything good - just keep one's trap shut?

chutestrate
Taurus and Charter Arms should be avoided, right?
I am very interested in the .44 special from Charter Arms, and there is a beautifully blued 3 in .357 f/ Taurus at my local fun store. I should resist my impulse to purchase either of these revolvers shouldn't I?

My searches show that they are ok, but when they break they really break.

 

[Guillermo]

While I have no personal experience I have heard a lot of people extol the virtues of the Charter Arms Bulldog...including one person for which many of us have a great deal of respect

 

[HOWARD J]

I had a Taurus PT-99---identical to the US miltary M9-9mm except
The safety was a little different & it had adjustable sights & was SS
This weapon was made on Baretta machinery in Brazil.
It was a great shooter--My sister talked me out of it--bummer..................

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I have a Old Undercover that has many a mile on it and goes bang everytime I pull the trigger.

 

[FoMoGo]

My taurus 445 .44 special is in my pocket right now.


Jim

 

[MedWheeler]

I own a Taurus M66 and a CA-Undercover, both of which were purchased in 1987. Both have served me well, having been fired at least a thousand rounds each in that time. The Undercover had one fail-to-fire on a round that went off the second time the hammer was dropped on it. The Taurus has never failed to fire, and both put their rounds where I reasonably expect them to go. I'd trust either in a "grab-my-gun" situation (and I did trust the Undercover with my safety, carrying it as a BA/OD gun my first three years in LE.)
When I visited my father in 2004, after not having met him since I was a kid in 1977, I found he was also carrying a vintage Undercover, older than mine, and he really liked it as well.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Taurus and Charter Arms should be avoided, right?

Not necessarily, but you're more likely to get a quality revolver with a Smith & Wesson, Ruger or (when they made revolvers) Colt, although I've seen some poor examples of Smiths recently. A few years ago I got to examine (but not shoot) a Taurus 85, a conventional design, blue steel small frame revolver that they've made for over 25 years. It had good fit and finish and a smooth action.

 

[Old Fuff]

My searches show that they are ok, but when they break they really break.

These days that could be said about anybody in the business...

Over time I have owned a number of Taurus revolvers, and none have given me any any problems. That said, I have stuck to the all-steel models, with the exception of one aluminum/stainless snubby chambered in .38 Special. My model 445/.44 Special is a favorite, but I don't try to make it into a pocket-sized .44 Magnum.

I haven't ever had to return a gun to the factory, but it seems that many who have don't have much to good to say about the experience. Without question, S&W have the most fans when it comes to taking care of warrantee repairs, but unfortunately I don't believe they are making a small .44 Special, while everyone is making small .357 Magnums.

Frankly, if I was going to buy a small .357 Magnum (which is unlikely) and intended to shoot .357 cartridges in it, I would pick a Ruger SP-101 - which is stout enough so it's unlikely that it would have to be returned to the maker.

 

[Hammerson]

Back in the late '80's early '90's period, I trusted my life to a Charter Arms Undercover in .38 spl, every night while working graveyard shift in a 7-Eleven in a high crime neighborhood.
Thank God, I never had to use it...except for one night. No shots were fired, I never had to present my weapon, but it could not have come closer. I will never forget those eyes. Don't let anyone kid you, you know when someone is making up their mind about whether they are going to initiate violence. For my part, I had already made my decision. My hand was wrapped around the grip, waiting for him to make his. I was going home to my wife that night.

I guess he decided to hunt easier game. I never want to come that close again, ever.

I would carry a CA again, today, in a heartbeat. About the same time, I had a good friend who was a Sheriff's Deputy. He carried a PT-99 on duty. Had nothing but good things to say about the gun, He just didn't like 9 mm.

 

[oldfool]

hint.. it's vintage specific
and somewhat (though less so) model specific

might be worth paying attention to how long ago it was somebody bought their's new
10 or 20 years ago or one year ago, that sort of thing

I own three Taurus, and one Rossi, all good, all bought NIB many years ago
my standards of comparison are mostly S&Ws, all older models as well
which proves ??????

 

[Nasty]

I've over 1000 rounds of Speer 200gr Gold Dot through my current production Charter .44 Pug without any issues and the gun is still as tight as when new. Folks who do not have first hand experience should probably say "I have read on the net..."

Current Charters rock...

 

[CajunBass]

I don't know that I've ever even seen a Charter Arms revolver, but the three 38/357 Taurus revolvers I've had over the years have all worked fine.

 

[harmon rabb]

i think consensus is that taurus revolvers are fine. i wouldn't hesitate to own one.

 

[GRIZ22]

I have 3 Taurus revolvers 1 38 and 2 357s (mfg 1988 on) and have had no problems. I can't see why their 44 would be bad based on my experience.

I also have 44 Charter from about 1985. I have only use standard pressure loads in it and it still works fine several thousand later. I think what hurts the Charter 44 is many shoot rhino roller loads through it and the gun is just not up to it.

I would not hestitate to carry any of these guns. I've never seen a Taurus or Charter with as nice a trigger pull as a S&W but not something you can't work with.

 

[bdb benzino]

I have two Taurus revolvers a 9mm 905 and a 357mag 605, the 905 is as tight as my S&W's and the 605 is a little looser but they both work and shoot beautifully! They both have pretty good triggers as well, and I like where their lock is located as well. Now this is also admitting that S&W's are still my favorites, but nothing wrong with a Taurus if you know what to look for in a revolver.

 

[Dimis]

i own two taurus handguns one revolver one semiauto niether have done me wrong both are reliable accurate (my PT1911 is pretty much spot on and makes me happy)

i have no experience with charter but from what i have herd its an ugly gun that works great and IMHO working is more important than looks when it comes to guns

dont get me wrong i love smiths colts and rugers as well and for the most part they look better and have more time invested in the assembly prosses and finishing areas

but you cant count out taurus or charter because they are realiable guns as well

i also own two ruger revolvers and compairing them beside the taurus the only thing i see is that the ruger is built heavier (thicker top strap etc) and has better finishing (the taurus has machine marks in some places that the ruger doesnt) but they both function exactly as i expect

dont count them out just yet you could do alot worse with some pot metal junk

 

[jimmyraythomason]

buy one and develop your own opinion

You ain't gonna get no better advice than that!

 

[chutestrate]

Thanks for all of the advice. Last night I was at a new toy store, new to me, and found a new S&W Mod. 66 w/o the box for $450.00, 482.00 otd.

After comparing some online prices I think I did pretty well. It is bigger than I wanted, but it will serve the purpose.

 

[oldfool]

absent haved lived an especially sinful life, I predict you will be well pleased
(luck of the draw)

the Taurus model 66 is a S&W model 19 clone, and the only 6" 38/357 revolver I own that I consider the equal of my S&W 6" 66s

(though only do use it for range day 38 loads, but me not real inclined to run 1000's of hot 357s thru any of my k-frames, anyway)

not this year's or last year's model, of course, unless they started production on 'em lately whist I wasn't looking... same/similar vintage as my favorite S&Ws