Reliability of Taurus Lock?

G

gorlitsa

New member
I just got my first gun -- a Taurus 85UL. Does anyone know how strong and fool-proof the lock on these things are? Half my family is over-confident about guns (finger on trigger at all times, etc :rolleyes: ) and the other half is terrified of them.

I would like to be able to keep this gun loaded, and locked. Is that a good idea? I realize that nothing can keep someone from just picking up the key and unlocking it, but I would like to at least make sure it won't go off from sheer negligence.

Any reports of the lock failing? Can it be forced by simple pressure?

Thanks
 
The lock is strong enough to sidetrack just about anyone who shouldnt be handling the gun...without permission...etc.

They do have some interesting problems...my old mans Raging Bull locked itsself again...at a range last week. A buddy who had never shot one before was trying it and the hammer locked up on him......I personally dont want a gun with a lock. Wheres my drill?
Shoot well
 
I'm A hunters education instructor and we teach that A safety is a mechanical device and should Never replace safe gun handling. A Safety/Lock device can fail, As far as you familys habits with the fingers on triggers,locks and safetys cannot stop stupidity,if an Idiot want to misuse a firearm he will. Make sure you know where your family is pointing the muzzle...........be safe.
 
I have one on my Tracker. I haven't taken a good look at the lock itself, but it appears that the "key" is only there to provide some way to turn the locking mechanism. It may be able to be unlocked with a pair of needlenose. I don't uses the lock on mine though. It seems that when I was playing with some locktite one day some happened to get into the lock. Never bother with it since.
 
Coolray makes good point. With set in their ways family tis difficult.

Doesn't bother me to yell at strangers or friends to watch the muzzle and finger off the trigger.

Be doubly carefull Gorlista.

Sam
 
I recently had to go to a funeral in Texas. I ended up staying with the family overnight. There is an autistic (sp) person there that is extremely curious. To insure that he would NOT be able to discharge the gun *IF* he somehow managed to obtain it while I was asleep I engaged the Taurus lock.

I felt comfortable that there would be no accident. (I slept with the key.) Yes, I know, I didn't have use of the gun that evening but I found the odds better my way.

And yes, I DID remember to unlock it when I put it back into action the next morning. (But I COULD see how someone might forget.)

Everything in life is a gamble. Nothing is for sure. I just make sure I am "comfortable" with my odds. That's all.

I like the option of the lock. I have used it several times with no problem. WORST problem is see is failure to unlock gun when going into service. (But since I check EVERYTHING when I put it on, I should discover that it is locked when I notice that the slide won't come back).

Logistar
 
True or not, my gun dealer told me that every Taurus key is the same. So how long would it take before they start "floating" around?

The lock seems effective in preventing toddlers from being able to fire the gun, but it seems like a tempting challenge to a curious, clever, mechanically inclined boy.

The lock isn't any better than a door lock in that it won't prevent somebody who's serious about getting past it from doing so. It also has the drawback of making YOU overconfident about its effectiveness.

The keyhole is mighty tiny for finding in the dark, provided you can find the key.

There's no substitute for education, training, and familiarity for dispelling the urges of curiousity.
 
I think the lock is there as just a simple added layer of storage safety. Like in transport. Probably more trouble and false security than its worth.

I had a few instances of the lock actuating on my RB also. Working the lock for awhile and spray-cleaning the mechanism have cured it completely.
 
I just pulled my "key" for the Tracker out. Taking a look at it, it is basicly an allen wrench (3/32") with a hole in the middle. I wouldn't doubt that they are all "keyed" alike. This would keep costs down.

As for keeping the gun loaded and locked, I wouldn't trust this. Can you keep it unlocked and on you at all times? Would be the best solution if it is possible.
 
Don't know about any of you, but I'd never depend on any lock on a loaded firearm. Doesn't matter how it's designed.

RE: the Tauri [and hey, I like 'em]...

There seem to be entirely too many accounts of locks activating themselves. Are these regurgitated urban myths or real-life occasions?

Gorlitsa ... no, that is not a good idea.
 
I agree with Zander. The lock may well provide a false sense of security.

In the middle of the night, I dont see how you could get to the key, fumble around in the dark to unlock the gun, and get it into action before the intruder could beat you to death with a baseball bat.

I dont know about this auto-locking stuff people are describing. If this is true, then this is a major design problem. I would be very upset to discover my firearm was a poorly shaped club.
 
FWIW - all Taurus locks seem to use the same key. My key works on my 9mm and on a Taurus 650.

Nothing is foolproof. Perhaps someone could unlock the gun with needle-nose pliers or with a Taurus key.

First, they would have to figure out that the gun was locked. (They might think that it wasn't "ready" or was broken.) Next, they'd have to figure out where the lock was. Then they'd probably have to figure out how to unlock it without the key. Unless you are familiar with Taurus locks, I see that taking a while to figure out if they figure it out at all. At worst, it would give you time to discover what was happening.

I never leave my guns accessible to anyone else, but if I feel like a situation has developed where someone MIGHT be able to get to my gun, I will lock it. (That's a judgement call and says that the risk of someone using it outweighs my need for defense.)

Just my .02

Logistar

P.S. Every time I put my gun on I rack the slide to INSURE that I have a round in the chamber and the gun is ready. (Slide is inoperable if gun is locked.) (I just put the ejected round back into the magazine.)
 
Let me add that my Taurus would be the last step in finding a defensive tool.

It locked self-locked twice, but never has again.
 
Thanks for all the advice.

It looks like my best bet will be to just leave it unloaded. If someone is going to mess with it, there's not much I can do. I'm really more concerned with someone just not checking to see if it's loaded. I don't think my mother would even know how. :rolleyes:
 
Zander....its a real thing. Nothing urban about it. It seems to be more of a consistant problem on the "recoil intensive" type of wheels. Small and light 357's, 41 mags and the Raging Bull Casulls. I
ve had to unlock my dads gun after it locked itself at least 3 times in the past year.
We make a habit of working the lock mechanism before we shoot and make sure its "unlocked"...last time at the range, unlocked it and with in 25 rnds...IT decided IT was done, again. :D
Shoot well
 
Seems to me that a drop of lock-tite blue should fix that. We never use the lock on my wifes tracker, except if we're bringing the gun into a store for holster fitting or some such....
 
Eric,

Like I said, after working it awhile and lubricating it, I have not had the problem again. Did id twice on the initial few hudred rounds, has had close to 3000 since then.

Now, keeping the scope aligned, that's a whole different story :(
 
Well, my 650 hasn't self locked yet, but I only have 400rds thru it, mostly light 38WC. I think I'll introduce it to a little locktite unless someone has a better solution.
 
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