I'm looking at the Taurus Raging Bull in .44 mag. I've shot the Smith M29, Ruger Redhawk, and even a Colt Anaconda. I've seen little in writing about the Taurus, but most of it seems to be positive with the 'but' that the M29 or a Redhawk is a better gun. Anyone with experience with the Taurus? Reliable, durable, fit and finish? Any help will be appreciated.
Raging Bull .44 mag
- Thread starter gmarr
- Start date
I make jokes about Taurus guns. (I do about HK too.) But joking aside I think it's a pretty safe bet that way more Taurus guns are 'good' than deserving of a trip back to the factory to fix something.
That said, Taurus seems to take guns back and work on them if there's something wrong with them so I would not say their customer service is bad, but maybe not as good as say Ruger.
I'm an unabashed Ruger fan.
If you bought a Raging Bull, especially if you were able to check it out using the information in the sticky right here on this page you'd probably be okay. If there was something wrong Taurus would probably fix it.
Now with all that out of the way.
The S&W has the 'Dirty Harry' coolness factor and will never lose it.
The Ruger Redhawk is just a plain old nice STRONG gun and I'd buy it if I was in the market for a .44 magnum. If I wanted one for hunting I guess I'd look at the Super Redhawk.
The Taurus is the one I'd buy if I stopped at the gun store on a whim and the sales person said 'Look what we got on sale today!' (And yeah that's really happened and I don't have any regrets worth mentioning about those occasions.)
While the Colt Anaconda doesn't have the DH cool factor it does have the 'Colt' cool factor and you could forever walk around saying 'Yeah I coulda got a Python but check THIS out.' It would be neat to be able to do that.
That said, Taurus seems to take guns back and work on them if there's something wrong with them so I would not say their customer service is bad, but maybe not as good as say Ruger.
I'm an unabashed Ruger fan.
If you bought a Raging Bull, especially if you were able to check it out using the information in the sticky right here on this page you'd probably be okay. If there was something wrong Taurus would probably fix it.
Now with all that out of the way.
The S&W has the 'Dirty Harry' coolness factor and will never lose it.
The Ruger Redhawk is just a plain old nice STRONG gun and I'd buy it if I was in the market for a .44 magnum. If I wanted one for hunting I guess I'd look at the Super Redhawk.
The Taurus is the one I'd buy if I stopped at the gun store on a whim and the sales person said 'Look what we got on sale today!' (And yeah that's really happened and I don't have any regrets worth mentioning about those occasions.)
While the Colt Anaconda doesn't have the DH cool factor it does have the 'Colt' cool factor and you could forever walk around saying 'Yeah I coulda got a Python but check THIS out.' It would be neat to be able to do that.
gbclarkson
New member
I have had 3 Taurus revolvers and all 3 have fired every trigger pull. I still own 2: a 44 special Ultralite and a .22. I sold a snub nose .357 with a ported barrel because it was a snub nose .357 with a ported barrel... ouch.
I`m not really a Turus fan, just don`t seem to be made near as well as S&W or Ruger. That said I did own a Rageing Bull in 454 and a 357 for consoled carry and had no trouble with rather, but have had friends that had trouble with theirs and found their service to be really crapy. It will have very low recoil compared to the other 44 mags. you have fired though.
Overkill777
New member
My brother had a taurus semi auto 45, I'm not sure what model it was. The magazine release wore out so whenever you fired the gun it would drop the magazine. He sent it in to taurus for a repair but they no longer produce or have parts for that model so they gave him $500 off msrp of any taurus handgun of his choice.
He got the raging bull 44 magnum. He is still waiting for it to ship. I will let you know what it's like when I get to shoot it. Bottom line, he had a quality issue with their product but taurus took pretty good care of it.
He got the raging bull 44 magnum. He is still waiting for it to ship. I will let you know what it's like when I get to shoot it. Bottom line, he had a quality issue with their product but taurus took pretty good care of it.
lee n. field
New member
Use the search. There's a good "Taurus two minute hate" thread every month or so.
Prof Young
New member
Have enjoyed my Raging Bull . . . .
I've owned a Raging Bull in 44 mag for about ten years. Put a scope on it to deer hunt and have knocked down a couple of whitetail with it. The return spring on the extractor rod broke and a call to Taurus got me a new one free. Not too hard to replace. The screw that holds the cylinder assembly in has a tendency to work loose, but a touch of lock-tite solved that. I paid $450 for mine new and it was money well spent. One of the best parts is when it comes out of the bag at the range and the comments I get. Best one so far was "What kind of devil gun is that?" See pic below.
Live well, be safe
Prof Young
I've owned a Raging Bull in 44 mag for about ten years. Put a scope on it to deer hunt and have knocked down a couple of whitetail with it. The return spring on the extractor rod broke and a call to Taurus got me a new one free. Not too hard to replace. The screw that holds the cylinder assembly in has a tendency to work loose, but a touch of lock-tite solved that. I paid $450 for mine new and it was money well spent. One of the best parts is when it comes out of the bag at the range and the comments I get. Best one so far was "What kind of devil gun is that?" See pic below.
Live well, be safe
Prof Young
Attachments
I've had one for several years.
The bad,It was returned for service on my dime and the problem was not solved. I ended up repairing it my self.Don,t have anything good to say about their customer service,but that was years ago. It may have improved.
The good,It is one of my most accurate revolvers. It has a pretty good trigger. Due to the weight,the ported barrel , and the big spongy grip it is the softest shooting 44 mag i have ever shot
As to which one to get,try to check them all out.The RB is worth considering.
The bad,It was returned for service on my dime and the problem was not solved. I ended up repairing it my self.Don,t have anything good to say about their customer service,but that was years ago. It may have improved.
The good,It is one of my most accurate revolvers. It has a pretty good trigger. Due to the weight,the ported barrel , and the big spongy grip it is the softest shooting 44 mag i have ever shot
As to which one to get,try to check them all out.The RB is worth considering.
I'll put my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter up against any Taurus......There's simply no comparison.....not by any stretch of the imagination.
Taurus makes some decent revolvers....Just not the one I owned......Pertaining to this thread my Raging Bull was returned to the place of purchase because the cylinder wouldn't advance after a few boxes of shells.....luckily a friend of mine worked at the shop so it was no problem returning it.
coolbreezy
New member
I had a older polished 454 raging bull, and it was a good gun. At the time I couldn't justify the price of 454 casull ammo, so I sold it. Now I've been thinking about another raging bull or SRH alaskan.
Beagle45ACP
New member
Hey Prof. Young, your pic is upside down. While this was easily remedied because I'm on my cellphone, I think some of our members using desktops might have problems.
Prof Young
New member
Beagle . . . hmmm . . . .
Beagle
Hmmm . . . when I click it it shows up right side up. Not sure what's up with that.
Live well, be safe
Prof Young
Beagle
Hmmm . . . when I click it it shows up right side up. Not sure what's up with that.
Live well, be safe
Prof Young
A freind gave me a 357 Tauras that is a accurate shooter. It's old and the stainless finish is horrid. Looks like it was buried in his backyard for a while, but still shoots great.
I just bought a Tauras Tracker in 44 mag for $500. Hope it's as good as the 357.
I've had a Tauras 40 pistol for years and had no issues.
I just bought a Tauras Tracker in 44 mag for $500. Hope it's as good as the 357.
I've had a Tauras 40 pistol for years and had no issues.
You had to expect a little blowback for a statement like this, right? You may be smitten with your Taurus, and I agree that they make exceedingly well built guns for the price, but I doubt anyone here would agree that Ruger is making junk revolvers. As far as Colt is concerned... I honestly have never held a colt revolver that was younger than 10 years, so I couldn't offer any opinion there.
I haven't seen any Buffalo Bore ammo disclaimers mention Taurus.
Capt Rick Hiott
New member
I have the Bull in .454,,, Love the gun! Never had a problem with it in the five years Ive hunted with it. Killed plenty of hogs and deer with it.
Had a S&W .460 and it was not as accurate as the Bull. Sold it.
Here is a 12" target I shot at while setting the scope at 100 yards. The last two shots are almost in the same hole......My gun likes the Magtech ammo.
Had a S&W .460 and it was not as accurate as the Bull. Sold it.
Here is a 12" target I shot at while setting the scope at 100 yards. The last two shots are almost in the same hole......My gun likes the Magtech ammo.
While I no way agree with the statement about Ruger or Colt being junk.
Axis M, this from Buffalo Bore web site
NEW HEAVY 44 MAGNUM +P+
This new load is designed ONLY for certain firearms. They are as follows; Ruger Red Hawk, Ruger Super Red Hawk, Ruger Super Blackhawk or Vaquero, Freedom Arms Model 83, Taurus Raging Bull, Colt Anaconda, Magnum Research BFR and Dan Wesson Revolvers. Suitable rifles include T/C Encore, "modified" Marlin 1894 (see next paragraph), Winchester 1894, any rifle with a falling block action and the Handi Rifle. We get hundreds of emails asking if this load can be fired in S&W revolvers or some firearm other than what is in the above list. The answer is NO. The above list is all inclusive.
Axis M, this from Buffalo Bore web site
NEW HEAVY 44 MAGNUM +P+
This new load is designed ONLY for certain firearms. They are as follows; Ruger Red Hawk, Ruger Super Red Hawk, Ruger Super Blackhawk or Vaquero, Freedom Arms Model 83, Taurus Raging Bull, Colt Anaconda, Magnum Research BFR and Dan Wesson Revolvers. Suitable rifles include T/C Encore, "modified" Marlin 1894 (see next paragraph), Winchester 1894, any rifle with a falling block action and the Handi Rifle. We get hundreds of emails asking if this load can be fired in S&W revolvers or some firearm other than what is in the above list. The answer is NO. The above list is all inclusive.
PointOneSeven
New member
Not the Raging Bull, but I had the M44. Nothing flashy, but it was well built and finish was sturdy. A lot of fun for what they are, and absolutely fit the role of a good woods, range, or home defense gun. They just lack some of the character the more expensive brands bring.