Been thinking about a Taurus???

[EDELWEISS]

I was in one of the few remaining gun shops, here in the "not so" Free State when I came across a couple of items that started me thinking.  The first was a 6 inch stainless 357 with full underlug, wood grips, and adjustable sights, I think it was a model 66().  It was listed as used but you couldnt tell that by me.  The consignment price was $325.  Next was a NEW 4 inch 38 spl.  Im not sure of the model (possibly 62???), it was blue (almost black), and had the full underlug barrel as well, but it had fixed sights and rubber grips.  The price was $315.

The same dealler has a USED 4inch S&W686 for $530, and thats been reduced from $575.  Both of the Taurus guns looked like they were the Taurus answer to the S&W 586/686.  Im always looking but I wasnt really thinking about buying anything.  Then I started thinking that for the price of the S&W, I could buy two other guns, or more importantly I could get either Taurus for about half the price of a USED S&W. I dont have specific need for any of them the S&W included, but the price started me thinking.  $300 almost avoids the dreaded "WIFE TAX", but $550 will never beat her radar. 

I was thinking they'd make good "knock about" guns for hiking and such.  Besides that I have a twinge of wanting to tinker with my toys and a $300 Taurus might be a good place to start.  I really like the 4inch model with the fixed sights, but I wish it was 357 and Id like to change the grips.  My thought was that these changes were possible and could be done as money became available.  Im assuming replacement grips are available from other makers and that a smith would be willing the open the cylinder for 357, if not Id have to contend myself with +P's.  Bears arent an issue where I hike.  The problem is mostly unleashed dogs and the occasional   urban pharmeticutical vendor/green leafy farmer.

I keep hearing good and bad about Taurus guns and Customer Service, so Im even more confused.  Would I be asking too much for either Taurus to shoot "minute of a pie plate" at say 50 feet?  Will S&W grips fit the Taurus or do I have to search for specific Taurus grips?  Is a 357 rechamber possible.  I had a Ruger Speed Six done for $50, so I was hoping the Taurus would be possible.

Any suggestions.......

[teddy12b]

I hope you have better luck with a Taurus than I did.  I had a model 608 4" and it had problems.  I traded it for a model 608 8" and it had problems.  Maybe it's just that model but I wouldn't pay full price for another one.  Maybe I'd buy another only if it was under $100 and I had the extra cash.  Taurus make a crumby gun at a cheap price, Ruger makes a good gun at a fair price, and Smith makes a good gun at an expensive price.  Just my 2cents, but if it's just for plinking and not trusting your life with it.... it's still up to you.

[EDELWEISS]

Thanks Teddy, Ive read more than a few posts and Im coming around to your thoughts about price vs. quality.  Ive currently got a few Colt DA revolvers and Im starting to give some pause about how much wear and tear I put on them.  I like S&W's but your right about the prices they are asking.  Unfortunately, I dont get much shooting time anymore, heck with all the kids activities that require chauffeuring I dont get much time in the woods either. 

Before I came back to the computer I was just staring to add up what I might put into the gun.  I really like the blue 4inch fixed sight model.   So thats $315 + 5% tax to the "Governor General", then $10 for the NCIC/local police check...........then the modifications $50+ for the 357 conversion (+shipping), and $50+++ for grips.

[Graybeard]

Been thinking about a Taurus???

Well STOP IT rat now.  

The guns you mention are more akin to the S&W K not the S&W L line of revolvers so it would be more appropriate to compare to the S&W 66 than the 686 or if blued to the Model 19 Smith.

Taurus quality has fallen so far I just refuse to buy them or recommend them to anyone and I highly recommend you avoid them. Customer service is at best a joke and at worst a crime. If you insist on buying them against our warnings then please don't come back here crying about how piss poor they turned out to be when you find out about them and just take them to a local gunsmith when repair is needed at least that way you might get them patched up enough to sell to some other unlucky soul. For sure Taurus won't fix them for you.

[EDELWEISS]

OK, "Wise One". You speak with wisdom.   The scheeming is over.  I wasnt really shopping anyway, I just got caught up in the low prices.

[Graybeard]

Understand and they are nice looking guns. It's a crying shame they won't back them and have let quality drop so. There is a blued 4" Tracker in .41 magnum at a good price that keeps looking at me as I pass it in the gun shop. I'd love to own it if I didn't already know what I do about Taurus guns. But since I do I just keep on walking when I see it as I know I'd only be disappointed if I took it home.

I wish someone would duplicate the Taurus Tracker Ti line of revovers with a quality product.

[EDELWEISS]

The older I get the more I want what I used to think was out of date.  When I had to carry a revolver I wanted an auto.  Then you couldnt get me away from hi-cap this or that.  For awhile I was into Detonics; but I carried two of them.  Then GLOCK came along and I chased after the "Porcelain Terrorist Weapon" with the 17+2 mags.  Now that Ive got enough time behind me Im starting to desire the simpler things  like revolvers and especially Blue steel ones.  Stainless is nice and surely more maintenance friendly; but Im being drawn to just about every blue steel revolver I see. 

Given the chance, Id happily return my issued Sig Pro and pay out of pocket for a 6inch Python, if I could carry it on the "Street".  The young pups think Im crazy, but Im only now realizing what I passed up so long ago.  So I was tempted by a cheap imitation of a good gun.  It wasnt even blue, but the black was kinda cool.......

OK Ive come to my senses no "Bull" for me.

[corbanzo]

Understand and they are nice looking guns. It's a crying shame they won't back them and have let quality drop so. There is a blued 4" Tracker in .41 magnum at a good price that keeps looking at me as I pass it in the gun shop. I'd love to own it if I didn't already know what I do about Taurus guns. But since I do I just keep on walking when I see it as I know I'd only be disappointed if I took it home.

I wish someone would duplicate the Taurus Tracker Ti line of revovers with a quality product.

Smith and Wesson does have such a line, all the way up to a full sized .44 mag. 

[Graybeard]

Not exactly close but no cigar. When you combine the Taurus grips with the compensated and ported barrels recoil level on them feels half that of the S&W line you're talking about. They are tempting I must admit but just aren't as innovative or useful as the Taurus would be if they had a quality product.

[The Old Redneck]

    The thing that really bothers me so much about Taurus is the fact that they can and have built some really great guns, I know because I own several of them. To have that ability and then put out junk, and give customers the runaround is insane. I wouldn't take anything for the ones I have, but after watching some of the things that has happened lately would be afraid to buy another one. That is coming from someone that has a dozen exceptional revolvers they have built. I have also personally checked out 1/2 dozen that were crap, and there is no way some of them were ever test fired. The cases would not clear enough for the cylinder to turn. Why they don't get their act together and built the guns they have the ability to build is beyond my understanding. They could have the lions share of the market in no time. I personally would like to have over a dozen more of their guns, and would buy them, but not the way they are now. I'm spending my money on the custom guns, and quality factory stuff from people that will stand behind their product. I work too hard for my money to throw it away.

[His lordship.]

I wonder if Taurus's management is in denial.  I have had situations dealing with several Minnesota business management organizations where the head honcho is in some kind of denial.  Drugs, stupidity, ignorance or living in a fantasy land.  I try to explain to them on business basics, such as hire good people, keep informed, etc. and it is like I am talking to a mannequin.

It is too bad on the Taurus quality issue, as I still see them at gunshows, and the price is less than the Smith and Wessons, I would have bought more of them if they were any good.  I have been giving my money the last few years to Ruger, their handguns always have worked for me, and the price does not break the bank.  I have never felt a need to contact Ruger for warranty repairs, heard that they are good about dealing with problems should the customer send a gun back for work.  If I need to buy another handgun, then I will look at Ruger first, and never a Taurus.

[jsoukup]

I went shopping at a couple of different places today. I asked one salesman about 38 snubbies, he had Taurus and S&W. He had a couple of the centennial hammerless for around $425 and a nickle M60 in 357 for $499. I told him I wasn't going to pay $499 for a light snubbie. He then proceeded to show me the Taurus snubbies. He had 3 M85's, one blue, one stainless, one titanium version, from $285, $315 to $325.

I told him I had heard a lot of bad things about the quality of Taurus right now. He said Taurus was having problem with the plastic frames on the Millenium autos, but the revolvers were solid. *RUN AWAY* *RUN AWAY*

So the autos don't seem to fair much better.

I went to a chain sporting goods shop and found an S&W 38 airweight stainless for $399. Not too bad, but I still want to look at the Ruger SP101.

[corbanzo]

When I got my 605, I looked through about six taurus .357's before I found one that cycled good, good trigger pull, and locked up tight.  I think that the lock up and cylinder line up was the thing that I noticed most on them.  We talked about this on another thread.  (As little mechanical problems do seem to come up with taurus kind of often...)

If you are looking for a small .357 mag, the 605 a really good choice though, every owner i have talked to has been very happy with theirs. 

[hobbit]

My tracker in .45acp, and my 94 .22lr have been flawless, I like the tracker much better than my S&W mountain gun in .45 colt. Luck of the draw?

[DC]

I have an old knock off of the Smith Model 19.  The fit, finish, function etc. is every bit as good as a S&W and it REALLY shoots.  Having said that, I have or should say had a new Taurus  that was gritty, tough to open, spit and was a piece of crap.  I would stay away from them.
Dana

[warrior1]

i have a tracker model 627 4" 7 shot the only reason i want to part with it is i iwant to trade for the same model in a 6".i also have a model 460 45 colt which is pretty accurate,and a model 441 44 special which is a riot to shoot.
i must be lucky,because i am yet to experience a real problem.

[KansasPaul]

I thought that I read somewhere that S&W owned Taurus???