poor quality and repair experience here
I've had a stainless 6.5" for several months.
The good news -- It's fun as heck to shoot. It's not as accurate as other handguns I own, but it's accurate enough to enjoy shooting .45LC out of, and certainly accurate enough for SD purposes. Shooting clay pigeons with a revolver is an absolute blast. They have to be pretty close in, but it'll bring a smile to your face every time. I've also carried it while rifle hunting - loaded with either shotshells for rabbit or with .45's for a secondary weapon. I don't consider it unwieldly or heavy. It's a different shape because it's a different revolver, that's part of the deal.
The bad news -- as other have indicated, loading/unloading .410 shells can be a pain. In my case, the hard loading of .410 shells may have led to the cylinder retainer breaking. Imagine my surprise when the cylinder slid out and fell into the dirt when I tried to load it with Winchester AAs. Since the revolver locked up on the round fired just previous to that, it is possible that the retainer broke first, I'm not sure.
I sent it to Taurus with a detailed note. I asked them to fix the retainer, and give the firearm a QC check. I noted that the cylinder was locking prior to it falling out, and asked them to check that. I also noted that the fit and finish were poor (the barrel looks like it was finished by my 5 year-old), and wanted to be sure that the revolver met Taurus' specifications.
I received the revolver back in a few weeks, with a note outlining exactly everything that Taurus checked and did per my request. Here is the complete reply from Taurus:
"Missing parts replaced."
No mention of what parts exactly were missing, and no word on the remainder of my request. Also, the stainless revolver came back with small spots of surface rust. I live in AZ, the revolver was serviced in FL. Pretty sure I know where that came from.
Regardless, I was happy to have my gun back, and went for a shooting session not much later. The first time I tried to load it with .410 shells, the cylinder fell right out again (into my hand, not the dirt this time). No parts came out, so I backed the retaining screw out, and replaced the cylinder just to see if it would fix it. The cylinder still comes out, and has no stop now, it spins freely in the frame.
I need to call Taurus before sending it in again, bend their ear about their lack of effort, and see if they will cover shipping for a problem they supposedly fixed already (I am pretty sure they will refuse, but I have to ask). At 70 bucks a pop to ship it, this thing is getting expensive. For the price I paid, which wasn't bad, plus potentially 140 bucks in shipping, I'm now regretting the purchase. To answer the original poster's question -- Taurus' customer service alone may tread their product line into the "known problems" waters.
I did not intend it for SD or primary hunting weapon duties when I bought it, but we all know that "dance with who brung ya" situations arise. It is not the style or capabilities that will keep me from being comfortable with this handgun as an SD choice. It is the reliability and subsequent confidence in the particular specimen that lowers its worth to me.
I'm not a brand snob. My CCW piece is a Taurus 85, and it has never had an issue at all with fit, finish, or shooting. I love that little gun, and will carry it until it's replaced by something that has proven itself more reliable and carryable. I am, however, loyal/disloyal to how I am treated as a consumer. Depending on how Taurus treats me with their second (and last) chance, this may be the last one I buy.