New to handguns. Is Taurus really that bad?

Taurus can make a good firm arm, but they can also make a very bad one. Getting a bad one working right can be a chore and Taurus has a well deserved reputation for terrible customer service.

That said, if you have one you like and it shoots well, don't worry about the good vs bad Taurus debate.
 
I have two Taurus revolvers. I bought a Raging Bull in .41 Magnum and that hasn't given me any problems. The second is a M605, snub nose .357. The first time I shot it, it jammed. I didn't even know revolvers cold jam. I got it apart and the case was stuck it it as well. I sent it back to Taurus, they replaced the extractor, I fired it again and it jammed again. So I will not be buying any more guns from them.
 
I had an older 686 clone, model 66 If I remember correctly. It was a decent revolver for the price. It wasn't near the quality of a S&W, but not exactly junk either. I wouldn't mind having another one like it. I probably sold it too cheap.
 
In reality, I guess the only way for you to figure this out is to give Taurus a try. For me, my experience with Taurus was bad enough that I no longer buy them. BUT, I haven't bought one in about a decade or so now, so maybe my experience really isn't all that helpful to others trying to decide.
 
I'm just tossing in at the end what I've gleamed from holding them (NOT shooting) and from other objective reviews. The "problems" usually are more fit and finish. I saw a video of a Taurus and a near clone Smith and Wesson and you could tell the SW had a better polish to it.

With regard to revolvers people who should know often say that a Smith and a Taurus will be about the same mechanically but one will have a little more time spent on it. I think it's like Mountain Dew and Mountain Lion. Both really taste the same but the label on one is better.

--edit--

Actually, thinking about it I'd like to find a Taurus that is rough and get it finished, assuming I got it cheap. If all they need is TLC then give it to them. That said once you give a retail Taurus the TLC you may be at Smith money or above.
 
Let me suggest that you run no less than 200 rounds through your revolver, and THEN assess your level of satisfaction. I don't think all the articulating parts within a double action revolver can "wear in" and lose any burrs or rough spots on them in just 50 rounds. I suspect you'll be able to tell SOME difference after 200 rounds, and a bigger difference after 500. It needn't be all magnum-level loads, either. You might want to play around with different factory loads to see which seems to shoot best through the revolver. The loose transfer bar kinda concerns me, but if it doesn't cause a malfunction after 500 rounds, I'd bet that it never will.

I think it's also entirely likely that a great many parts made for a S&W revolver of similar frame size can also be used in the Taurus revolvers, probably with minimal fitting and polishing. If Taurus still offers a lifetime warranty, then it speaks volumes about their intention to obtain and keep new customers.

I've shot 3 different Beretta M92s, and 5 or 6 of the Taurus clones. All but one of the Taurus clones shot noticeably tighter and more reliably than the 3 Berettas, and the one that didn't shoot better shot groups so close to the size of the Beretta groups that the difference wasn't worth mentioning.
 
My experience with Taurus is only as a friend to someone that owns one.

At the range we discovered a barrel with tool marks inside that were at least 1 inch long. My friend sent it back to Taurus and they replaced the barrel.

Next trip, the cylinder was not locking up. Sent back again and Taurus replaced the cylinder, timed the gun. replaced the hand.

Got it back in two weeks. Good turnaround

During the interim my friend bought a Ruger. He's very happy with the fit and finish. It shoots much better but he is still shooting the Taurus. :mad:
 
I feel Taurus are overpriced for what they are or are underbuilt for their price. I say this having worked on several and being very underwhelmed with the machine work, build quality etc. Put another way if interal workings of the tarus could redially be seen by the buyer I think few would buy.

Most new / newer gun owners would be better served by a used gun from smith or ruger at the same price as a new tarus but "new" and warranty win out in many people's mind.

Sad as Tarus has some neat model varations not seen elsewhere but not, to me, worth the trouble and work.
 
My 24/7 g2 has been a good firearm, 0 feed issues, reliable as any gun can be.
Honestly tho, im not fully satisfied with it.
I bought it cause my wife felt it was the most comfortable in her hand.
Now she wants a ruger gp100 with a 4" barrel after she shot my friends so im getting one of those.
Then im gonna trade the taurus for either a beretta px4 full size or a cz p07 or p09 because i prefer da/sa with the exposed hammer, and i want a 40 s&w.
The taurus is my car gun, tucked in a cubby in my door for quick access as i am left handed.
I do like that it holds 17 rounds tho, plenty of firepower.
 
currently have 3 Tauruses,
1911 45ACP
Raging Bull 41 Mag
Tracker titanium 41 Mag
all have been problem free and dependable :)

However, I did give up on a 45 Millinium Pro. Pistol would not reliably feed even factory ball ammo. I went thru 6 of the factory double stack magazines and would still get FTFs, usually halfway thru the mag. :mad:
 
I own a Taurus 85, a 605, PT111 G2 and a 357/38 lever-action M92. They are all been perfectly reliable, my 605 poly does have rough chambers, but doesn't cause me issues besides slightly harder extraction. I will buy many more Tauri in the future, they just make too many interesting guns at pretty amazing prices. If I get a bad one, I have saved so much over the years, I won't be mad if one out of five has an issue.


edit* I didn't realize this thread was so long ago, at least my comment five months ago still reflects my opinions today. I am nothing if not consistent, at least when it comes to throwing money away on
"sub-par" guns
 
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