Taurus Revolver Stigma

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Guillermo said:
Are you aware of Taurus competing for one?
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No, not aware if Taurus would even bother with a large agency. After all the criteria is quite extensive, to protect the public, and the officer.

Maybe some small town in the sticks such as Mayberry?

Of course then there is that ugly billboard Taurus puts on the side of their autos.

To me, spending at least $300, then having to send your new tool back to the factory several times, would just suck. I would much prefer to spend more $ on something that is pleasing to the eye, and is functional.
 
About 5 or 6 years ago i bought a taurus millennium pro in .40 to be used as a carry weapon but after consistent jams with the thing i realized i couldn't trust my life to it. I ended up trading it in for an xd40 and couldn't be happier.

Now last year i picked up a taurus judge just for the novelty of it and i love the thing. I mainly keep it on me for the occasional snake i come across while mowing the lawn or doing yard work. After running a few hundred rounds thru it; 45lc and 410 mixed, and not a single malfunction, it found it's home in my center console.

I still carry the xd but the judge is just easier to get to while sitting and buckled.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
 
No, not aware if Taurus would even bother with a large agency
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to my knowledge Taurus does not compete in the US market for LEO contracts.

If this is the case, using that as a criteria for judging quality is not pertinent.


(They do in other nations as Bud's or one of those companies has police trade in Tauri revolvers for sale)

As to the billboard, I loathe it too.

The worst offender, in my opinion, is Ruger. The SP101 has a certain appeal, but the warning label is pathetic
 
We have people spouting off about how Taurus has "so many more" repairs than other companies. How do you know that? Is there some actual, factual, numbers that can be used? Or is this more Internet Myth?

True story, about two weeks ago, I went to our LGS. While there, I asked the gunsmith about a trigger-job on my old Colt Series 80. He told me that he had enough work trying to find S&W revolvers that weren't out of time. He had ordered six, and three of them he couldn't, ethically, sell. They were going back. He said that the other three, weren't quite as bad, but were nowhere near what he had come too expect from the company.

I love to think about someone going from shop to shop and inspecting Taurus revolvers one after another for "late timing". If they are all identical, perhaps it's not the guns with the problem? Like the guy on another bashing thread, who feels that two failures out of a thousand rounds in a new gun is a reason to be rid of it, I'm thinking that this is more Fantasy than fact.
 
^^^
I think he was referring to the current flood of Taurus Model 82 4" revolvers with the lanyard ring from South American LE agencies. They look pretty worn, BTW.

Personally, I have not seen or heard of any large LE agencies in the US issue T's to their Officers. I do know of some LEOs who have T's as their carry weapon, but they're with PD's that let 'em buy their own equipment through a stipend.
 
The worst offender, in my opinion, is Ruger. The SP101 has a certain appeal, but the warning label is pathetic
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Never knew it was there till you just mentioned it. Ya, that does kinda suck.
I wonder....:rolleyes:.... what the penalty is for removing it. We all know what happens when you cut the tag off a mattress.:scrutiny:

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I think he was referring to the current flood of Taurus Model 82 4" revolvers with the lanyard ring from South American LE agencies.
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Yes

I have not looked into them so cannot answer as to nations they are from.

South America is, I think, where they are from.
 
A friend owns a 6" Taurus .22 revolver that's a clone of the S&W M17 and it's every bit as good as the hand fitted M17 and possible better so not all Taurus revolver are dogs.
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My one and only Taurus , the 96 , I took a chance since the price was low enough. Turned out to be money well spent. Great shooting revolver although the SA trigger is not nearly as crisp as a Smith.

Although for a carry revolver I went with a Smith 642 recently.
 
Since Rossi (which is currently owned by Taurus) has been dragged into the fray, I guess I better step up.

My old Rossi M88 has the best cylinder lockup of ANY da revolver I've ever owned, and I currently have 7 Smith and Wessons from their classic post-war era (Late 1940's to early 1980's.) Very accurate for a snubbie, and totally reliable.

Do I like it better than my S&W's? No.

Do I like it as much as my old S&W's? Certainly do.

It's functional quality is equal to just about all of them. Keep in mind, mine is from before Taurus owned them, but the point is that although guns are made of identical metal parts on an assembly line, they each should be judged by their own individual merit. That doesn't make it easy for the customer, as it's usually difficult to try them out first.

It's hard to find an old S&W that doesn't work, which is why they're legendary, but there are other good guns out there.
 
JR47 said:
I love to think about someone going from shop to shop and inspecting Taurus revolvers one after another for "late timing".
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Not sure if your referring to me or someone else, but I didn't go to every local store looking at Taurus revolvers, however 100% of the Taurus revolvers I've handled have had bad timing, loose tolerances and inconstant sloppy lock-up. If you want a number, I can guess at least 30-40 different models from the little snubs, Raging Bull, Judges and many others. Sorry, in my experience it's not just a model or two, but the entire line-up. When I find one built to any sort of acceptable quality, I'll let you know.

ETA: To be perfectly honest, I think the only reason Taurus stays in business is because people want to save money thinking they're getting something that's "good enough". Then you have the people that actually think toy like gold plating looks good on their pimp guns. Finally, it's the gimmicky guns that people think are unique and cool because they're different. If they focused more on making quality handguns/revolvers over gold plating their parts, they might be respected more.

I'd take a Hi-Point over any Taurus. Sure, they're ugly, top heavy,feel like a cordless drill,have a slide made out of Matchbox car material but at least they work like they're suppose to.
 
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pretty gun there LTR, like my own, other than I still run the original wood on mine
extreme accurate, excellent DA trigger
so... I guess that makes three of us (in just one thread), but... sorry.. you and Archangel are not allowed to count me, because you know, that would be -

Here we are again, "reportedly", "had a friend", "heard about".

and you surely don't want to be contributing to the mythology, you know, aka the VAST INTERNET CONSPIRACY to mislead gun buyers about Taurus products
(or do that gate only swing one way ???)

those T-82 beaters from SA just might be pretty decent shooters, I dunno, likely older vintage stuff from back when Taurus was more focused on emulating the highly regarded S&W k-frames
I do hear from on High Authority that Peruvians are wild for 'em, so sez Quicks draw ... or mebbe it was weregunner, I sometimes do confuse 'em with one another
so, maybe the Peruvians have made the switch to autoloaders only
(if anybody here really cares what Peruvian LEOs carry)

PS
alas, my own experience too closely mirrors that of co-conspirator Nakanokalronin, on most of Taurus current revolver lineup
(not all, but most)
carrying forward the mythology mission is a dirty, rotten, thankless task, but somebody's got to do it
better us than taurusarmed.net, I reckon
 
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Nakanokalronin said:
Not sure if your referring to me or someone else, but I didn't go to every local store looking at Taurus revolvers, however 100% of the Taurus revolvers I've handled have had bad timing, loose tolerances and inconstant sloppy lock-up....
ETA: To be perfectly honest, I think the only reason Taurus stays in business is because people want to save money thinking they're getting something that's "good enough". Then you have the people that actually think toy like gold plating looks good on their pimp guns. Finally, it's the gimmicky guns that people think are unique and cool because they're different.
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If ALL their guns were this poor and your reasons stated alone keeps Taurus in business, how do they remain profitable?

I'm a businessman. This is 101 stuff... your evaluation wouldn't keep them in business, much less profitable.

I don't deny they aren't as quality firearms as some others, but "100%" would fold their tents in short order.
 
Never knew it was there till you just mentioned it. Ya, that does kinda suck.
I wonder........ what the penalty is for removing it. We all know what happens when you cut the tag off a mattress.
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Hell, that's a short billboard. You oughta see the ones on my 4 5/8" and 6.5" Blackhawks. Like reading a damned book! I had my .45 stainless 4 5/8" engraved, but I didn't bother with the barrel cause that billboard just messes the whole idea up. :rolleyes: It turned out nice, though. :D
 
TarDevil said:
If ALL their guns were this poor and your reasons stated alone keeps Taurus in business, how do they remain profitable?

I'm a businessman. This is 101 stuff... your evaluation wouldn't keep them in business, much less profitable.

I don't deny they aren't as quality firearms as some others, but "100%" would fold their tents in short order.
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Because they sell them cheap enough to keep them moving for those that just want a gun that's "good enough". There are other firearm manufactures making cheap guns that always get bad reviews, yet people keep on buying them just because they look different then anything else and sell at prices lower then it's quality competitor.

I've seen more first time purchasers, or people that have done no research really consider Taurus products. Search, visit forums and look at archives from years past and I'll bet Taurus is the #1 firearm manufacture with the most complaints about quality, fit,finish, reliability and customer service. If your a business man, tell me how a company with years and years of complaints stays in business if its not about their gimmicky products, gaudy chrome/gold guns and cheap prices? There are tons of new or first time purchasers that do not go on gun forums. Even people that own firearms may never read reviews or look online for feedback about certain products. If your looking for a gun and know nothing about them, you would think a $300 Taurus would be good enough over the $500 S&W right next to it. There are also plenty of people (even "gun nuts") that buy guns, shoot 100-200 rounds through a gun and have them sit in a safe,car,pocket or drawer for the rest of its life. I really can't put those people in the category of purchasing a good Taurus product.

How could they stay profitable? How does Hi-Point stay profitable selling their guns for $200 or less? Think these companies might be cutting corners somewhere in the production line? Think people complain for no reason when 1911 companies start putting plastic components on their models, yet charge no less for them, stating its for "weight savings" and is "just as good" as the metal counterpart? Taurus is not the only company with complaints or poor products but they seem to be the most consistent in producing them.

Taurus is good at selling in volume for many reasons, but it has nothing to do with quality.

ETA: There is another thread about Taurus products going on right now here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=647595&page=2

Post #47 really nails why Taurus is what it is and why people either buy their products or avoid them.
 
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MMCSRET said:
This thread has really turned out to be fun!! reminds me of a nonsense poem from childhood years, can't remember it all but: "Back to back they faced each other; drew their swords and shot each other"!
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Indeed! I'm not necessarily a Taurus fan, but no company can survive much less profit if they build nothing but junk... or sold to no one who ever fires their guns.

(Here we go again, but can't be helped) I do have family and friends with Taurus revolvers - experienced gun owners/shooters - with no issues. Sister loves her model 85 and my CCW instructor spoke highly of his 617. I'll let you know about the 905 when the time comes!
 
Put a S&W and the copied Taurus version in front of someone who knows revolvers (not a snob) at the same price point and I would be shocked if someone picked the Taurus.
 
Why don't all the people who have Taurus revolvers or know someone who has Taurus revolvers and claim they are built as well as any other brand post how many rounds through the guns mention with no problems, state the timing and fit of the cylinder and if they had to send the gun in for any warranty work. If it's under 1,000 rounds, it's not even starting to wear in yet.

I'll start with my GP100 bought used. First gun, over 4,000 rounds and still locks up as tight as the day I bought it. No issues.

Ruger Redhawk in 45LC bought used. I've shot about 3,500rds through it including some brutal CorBon 335gr. +P ammo. Still locks up like a vault.

Ruger LCR .38spl bought new. I just picked this one up so I've only shot about 450rds through it. I know at least 100 of those rounds where +P. Locks up nice and solid. No issues

S&W Model 10 bought used. 3,500 rounds since I bought it and who knows how many before that. Still locks up like a vault. No issues.

Current production 638 bought new. 1,500 rounds with zero issues. Not a perfect lock-up but it is perfectly even and much better then any NIB Taurus. No issues

Nagant revolver made in 1915 rearsenaled. Combloc revolver made by the millions. Still tighter lock-up then a NIB Taurus. Who knows how many rounds it had through it over its 97 year lifespan but I've put about 500rds through it since I've owned it. No issues.


_________________________________________________________________

I've owned a few other revolvers that I sold off to fund something else, but none of them, weather new or used, where as loose as any Taurus revolver that I have personally handled

If you guys like them, fine. I'm going off personal experience, not from stories I've heard or a gun someone I know has with no info on round count or use.

It's not like I'm the only one that knows about Taurus and they're shady quality. Sorry if you own one and I offended you, if your happy with your Taurus then more power to you. ;)
 
Taurus revolvers I've had problems with...

85, regular misfires/problem with transfer bar
905, cylinder would lock up sporadically and disable the gun. It was not related to heat, or barrel cylinder gap. Taurus was unable to fix it
650, cylinder/barrel gap too tight, would bind when gun was hot
94, numerous misfires with all types of ammo

I also owned a PT111, the trigger mechanism broke on the 65th shot of the first range session.

I did have a second 650 and a 605 without any issues.

I no longer buy Taurus guns, and yes, you can call me a slow loaner (but not a hater or a basher. These are just the facts. Obviously I had nothing against Taurus prior to these problems.

I have had some cosmetic issues with S&W and Ruger, but no functional issues, and I've not had to return any of them.
 
Why don't all the people who have Taurus revolvers or know someone who has Taurus revolvers and claim they are built as well as any other brand post how many rounds through the guns mention with no problems, state the timing and fit of the cylinder and if they had to send the gun in for any warranty work. If it's under 1,000 rounds, it's not even starting to wear in yet.
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Here's a hater that has no clue right here. :rolleyes:

My two used 66s, the 3" was the most worn, 80s model I'm guessing because it has a hammer block action rather than the later transfer bar. It obviously had MANY rounds through it when I got it cause the molded in "checkering" on the back of the Pachmayr Gripper was worn flat. Quite a bit of holster wear and the cylinder has a slight bit of end shake, though not excessive. I've personally fired probably 2K reloads in it since I got it, carry it a lot. It's 1.5" at 25 yards accurate from the bench and timing is perfect. It wasn't when I got it. Some numb nut installed the wrong screw in the front of the side plate, the one that impinges on the crane to hold it in place. I picked it up at the gun show, had 200 bucks on it. I checked the timing and found the crane had WAY excessive play in it, talked the guy to 180 tax included knowing I could send it to Taurus if need by and TEST that supposed bad customer service since I never got that opportunity with my other two. I got it home, pulled the side plate to check things out and found the problem. I figure the guy that put it back together wrong probably blamed the gun and is on the boards today bashing Taurus. I hope he reads this, but probably still blame the gun for having one screw that's longer than the others. :rolleyes: The only trouble I've had with that gun is that screw would get loose after I got it in the right hole, but a smidge of blue loctite and she has run fine ever since. I shoot mostly .38 +P loads (5.0 grains Unique/158SWC, mildly +P) for practice, but I love shooting a 165 gas checked SWC over 14.5 grains 2400 in the gun, handles it better than my old SP101 did and MUCH better than my Security Six did. I didn't care much for that Security Six, had noticeable muzzle flip and wasn't very accurate with .38s. The 66 is sweet, easy on the hand, and as accurate with .38s as .357s.

One thing I LOVE about the Taurus over my K frames is the frame is stronger, roomier in the area of the forcing cone, so it has a ROUND forcing cone. I had the forcing cone on a K frame split once, had to have it rebarreled. The flat bottom forcing cone caused by the smaller, less beefy frame, is a week spot on K frames. Straight up, I prefer the 66 to any K frame for this reason alone. The trigger in the 3" isn't as smooth as my Ks, but smooth enough, and the one on my 4" is as smooth as my 60s M10. The trigger on my 85SSUL is SWEET, smoothest out of the box DA trigger I've ever owned and I LOVE that gun and love shootiing it DA cause it's so easy to shoot DA.

Here's the 3" 66 with a kill it made one day when I was walking out to my feeder.

1zzj2g3.jpg

I found my nickeled 4" at another gun show used. I was looking for a 4" medium frame .357 as I'd traded my Security Six for a 6.5 Blackhawk that's a much better shooter and sold a M19 I'd had for 10 years for a profit and traded my Rossi 971 for a 4 5/8" .45 Colt Blackhawk that I had the hots for. I LOVE that Blackhawk, but sorta miss the little Rossi as it was a good shooter and light for a medium frame gun. Anyway, I picked up that 4" and it was like new, perfectly timed, NO end shake at all, slick as hell trigger, just beautiful. It had one little hard to see blemish in the nickel finish on the cylinder either side, obviously from a holster. I walked out with it for $197. It shoots 1" at 25 yards off the bench with wadcutters or 140 grain Speer JHP over 17 grains 2400. I have the elevation screw marked for either load. This one is my outdoor carry for hiking and such. I have only put maybe 1000 rounds through it, usually shoot the 3" when I go to the range, or my little M85.

Now, my M85 is a stainless ultralite which I bought new in 1996 along with a Kel Tec P11 when I got my carry permit. This one is 3" at 25 yards accurate from the bench and I've already mentioned the wonderful trigger. Timing and end shake are perfect after, I GUESS as I haven't kept a round count on the gun, probably 7K plus rounds mostly wadcutters and it kicks pretty good with +P and wadcutters are fun to shoot. I load a hand cast Lee 148 plain base wadcutter over 2.7 grains of Bullseye, sort of a standard load. I shoot this thing regularly as it's a carry and it's so fun to shoot with that wonderful DA trigger. The 8" 25 yard plates don't have a chance if I ate my cherrios that morning.

Until I actually have a problem, not likely since I check out all my purchases before putting my money down regardless of manufacturer, these three guns are my Taurus experience and I'm very happy with 'em and even if you wanted one of 'em, they ain't for sale.

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BTW, the Nagant has to be the CRAPPIEST trigger on the planet.
 

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