I can comprehend the opinions of some, that a new Smith or Ruger might be more reliable than a new Taurus, even if I may not necessarily agree.
What I can't get my arms around is the suggestion that a USED Smith or Ruger will be more reliable than a NEW Taurus, if we are not the one who USED it.
Yes, new guns fail out of the box, and mfgs stand behind their products in varying degrees, but to suggest that the stranger at a gun show who hands you a "used" gun of unknown "use" in exchange for your money is less of a risk, just because it has "Ruger" stamped on it is insane to me. I would highly recommend against anybody who is not very knowledgeable about guns buying a used one unless it's from somebody they know and trust. At least if you have problems with your new Taurus, you have somewhere to go.