Taurus: a question, not a bash.

P

Pond James Pond

New member
I know nothing about Taurus, bar a handful of model names. However, as revolvers go, they are one of the brands stocked where I live. They are also quite abundant in terms of second hand stock. A sign many were sold, or a sign that many weren't satisfied? I don't know. Either way revolvers are not so popular here, so that also may be why.

Anyway, I cannot say that the Taurus conundrum often discussed here has escaped me. For better or for worse, I might be a little wary of buying a new Taurus snubbie, but several times I have seen it said that older snubbies from that brand are fine.

Can someone tell me what type of model/production period I should consider in the future, if I wanted to get a Taurus whose quality/reliability was less the subject of debate?

Also is there any database that is easily accessible where I might be able to compare serial numbers with production years?

I don't want to start a bash/net war.
This subject is already well-aired on here, I feel, so just the specifics of those two questions would be great!
Thanks
 
They are hit and miss with regards to quality. Being overseas it could be problematic trying to use the lifetime warranty repair policy because of shipping costs. With taking your location into consideration I would go for a S&W, Ruger
 
I have two different Taurus guns and there is another one in my family. A good friend also had a .44 Mag Taurus revolver. These have ALL been quite good, solid guns for the money. My most recent acquisition was picked up from a friend who bought it lightly used from a gun show, and he just found that he didn't care much for a full lug, 6-inch revolver, so I bought it from him for a reasonable price.

But I bought it AFTER I had borrowed it to wring it out on the range. I wanted to know what I'd be getting.

As difficult as it is to do that, it's about the only way I can actually recommend a Taurus these days. FACT: I know that they make some decent guns because I have two of them and I use them. But all the experiences that folks post are real, also. And when I got my first Taurus (PT-99AF, 1994), I actually had picked it out and decided to buy, paid for it, filled out the paperwork and then... and only then, did I try the trigger on it. (I was young, didn't know better)

This was a NEW handgun fresh from the box and the trigger was so horrific that it nearly took two fingers in the trigger guard to pull it through D/A. I asked for an exchange and I took a different, new, PT-99AF. That pistol has been rock solid for me, but it was the second (new!) one I looked at that day.

That is Taurus to me, hit or miss. It sounds like there are more "misses" these days than there were in the '90s. I would not be afraid to own a decent Taurus, but I would be afraid to buy a Taurus.
 
As far as what the best production years are best I don't know. I have a Taurus 617 snubby in .357 it is a 7shot and I could not be happier. Only problems I have had were ammo related. With that said here is a link to Taurus International it has a model search to tell what year a specific gun was made just type in the info on the barrel. But I don't know if it just covers arms sold in the USA or all around the world. www.taurususa.com
 
That is Taurus to me, hit or miss. It sounds like there are more "misses" these days than there were in the '90s. I would not be afraid to own a decent Taurus, but I would be afraid to buy a Taurus.
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I'll second that. My newly purchased PT1911 9 mm is back at Taurus for repairs after roughly 400 rounds. I was getting hit in the face with what felt like needles when shooting it. I'll report back when its fixed and what Taurus stated is wrong if anything with the pistol.
 
For better or for worse, I might be a little wary of buying a new Taurus snubbie, but several times I have seen it said that older snubbies from that brand are fine.
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There have been changes in the design over the years, but (unlike for Charter Arms) I have never heard it said that certain periods were bad or good.

Also is there any database that is easily accessible where I might be able to compare serial numbers with production years?
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Taurus USA's website has a serial number lookup that sometimes works.

Taurus Armed forum might have something.

Who would you (not being here in the United State) deal with for warranty support?
 
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Thanks for the info, folks.

Just to clarify, it is not so much that I'm expecting good and bad years like a Napa Valley red, but rather when is it that Taurus QC seemed to loose ground.

To give an example. Honda bikes are supposed to be well made and reliable, but bikes made before about 2002-5, especially in the 80s and 90s were better made, with a better finish and seemed to be tougher. I am trying to work out when the same period may have been for Taurus.

The reason I ask is that I am half window shopping, but also half seriously looking out for a good deal if it turns up... There is a SW Model 60 in a hard to get to corner of the country or there are several Rossis and Taurae for significantly less, on my doorstep. If the older Taurae are decent, or the Rossis for that matter, I could easily consider those, if the mood took me...

In answer to Lee's question, as far as I know there is one Taurus stockist taht should be able to deal with issues, but I would not expect it to happen overnight!!

Thanks for the links BTW!
 
Study several things in your search for Taurus information...

1. The history of Taurus, including their purchase of Beretta's São Paulo manufacturing plant, including tooling, technical info., and more.
2. The warranty, and others experience with the warranty-currently offered by Taurus with their new handguns, etc.
3. Evaluate equivalent priced handguns for quality, craftsmanship, and warranty offered in both the new, and used marketplace (if there are very close competitors price-wise).

Have fun on your quest!
 
Given your location, I wouldn't buy one, shipping/repair would kill you if you needed to fix it.

Get a S&W for carry, if you want a fun range gun 22lr/38/357/44 not HD(just a range/safe queen) get Taurus.
 
WT!!!!!!! I just posted, and it went blank, updating!

What is the price difference? $400~$450 for LCR 38/357 models
Taurus $260~$340 mod 85 in 38sp

I remember at one point you said Glocks ran $1200?
 
To give an example. Honda bikes are supposed to be well made and reliable, but bikes made before about 2002-5, especially in the 80s and 90s were better made, with a better finish and seemed to be tougher. I am trying to work out when the same period may have been for Taurus.
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Again, I've never heard that there is such a period.

In answer to Lee's question, as far as I know there is one Taurus stockist taht should be able to deal with issues, but I would not expect it to happen overnight!!
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It doesn't happen overnight, here.

Over here, in the US, Taurus has a lifetime warranty, through Taurus USA.
 
As a former Taurus M85 owner, I can tell you that I would never buy another one. While I'm sure they can build some guns that work very well, they can build some that hardly work at all. With their legendary customer service (:eek:) getting a bad one can mean that you'll be stuck with a bad one.

I don't believe that there are good years or bad years. It really comes down to there are good guns and bad guns and you never know what you'll get.

Stick to S&W or Ruger.
 
From what I have heard taurus quality varies more on which model than which year. The guns they design themselves seem to have unbelievable problems, but when they buy out another companies machinery and produce the same gun it seems to go better(although still seems to be planty of problem).

I have seriously considered them for some range guns, like a 1911 or PT92, etc. RIA seems better for the 1911 though.
 
Well, revolver brands available include Taurus, Ruger and SW. A new Taurus would be about €450 to 500. SW snubbies, no idea. The Ruger LCR is €700 (more than a new Glock, and more than my favourably priced new Redhawk)!!

The second hand options I've seen are Taurus or Rossi 5 shot .38s (Models unknown) for about €225 and where I live. Or the Model 60 (.38 only, so who knows how old) a loooong way from home (so add about another €40 in F
fuel) at about €285, with what look online to be aftermarket wooden grips....

What a splendid selection....:rolleyes:
Perhaps I should just stick to the two guns I have....:o
 
I've owned both Rossi and Taurus and both guns brands worked fine for me.
If I was in the market for a 38 spl with you're prices I would try the used market to get one till you could save up for the S&W. I buy mostly used S&W 38 spl just because the market is full of them over here.

The used gun market is where it's at on saving big money over the price of new. If a revolver locks up tight and don't have a lot of end shake they're mostly good to go. I haven't bought new for sometime now, I have all my needs covered and I just look for my wants guns. If I don't need it I don't need to pay full price for it.
 
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Well, I did a round of the local gun shops that appear to have snubbies in stock. They were all Taurus, and seemingly all 85s, in plain and simple .38 Spl. There are also two Rossis online, but I've not seen them in the flesh. Then the S&W in the back end of beyond. They are all priced about the same: €230 ish, except the S&W (€285). Only one of the Taurae inspired me: a stainless steel (or is it nickel?) 85 DAO with a flush hammer.

It was nice, aesthetically speaking.

It looked like this only in stainless steel:
12-Taurus1.jpg


There were signs of use. There was some play in the cylinder: once locked in the frame, I could wiggle the cylinder a little bit, but not too much. The recoil plate (the flat surface that the firing pin comes out of and the cylinder face back into) showed a ring around the pin hole, so it has been used, but at least the ring was uniform so the casings were firing straight back. The trigger was quite smooth, but not as much as my Ruger's: just lighter...

Ultimately, I don't really know what to look for in detail, so a lot of my impression was by feel.

Truth is I don't even know if I will ever carry concealed on a regular basis, and that would be the best reason to buy one.

Am I considering buying it because I need it, or want it?
Probably the latter which is another reason I am reluctant to spend a day out driving to see the S&W, and I certainly won't buy a €700 LCR, nice as they may be!! Perhaps i a few days, I'll have less PF: purchasing fever!

Huh! Addictions are hard work!!!:o
 
a stainless steel (or is it nickel?)
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Probably stainless. The model number would tell the tale. It's stamped on the frame, inside the crane.

That one there is an older model. The cylinder is latched in the front at the end of the ejection rod, not by a detent on top of the crane. The cylinder latch is an older style, looks like S&W's. Neither of these are bad things.

Also, current production does not use this style of wood grip. They use a fat, soft rubber "boot" (short, 2 finger) grip.

I can't see the place where it would be, but this one probably won't have Taurus' internal lock. Not an issue, either way, as Taurus' lock is unlikely to ever self-actuate.

I don't know if Taurus ever made any with a factory bobbed hammer.

Has anyone pointed you to Jim March's revolver checkout procedure? Read that over, if you haven't. The signs of use you mention sound normal.

If I were looking for a snub, and one like this was presented to me as an option, I would seriously consider it.
 
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Yep, read the revolver check out list. The big thing I do is to cock the hammer and pull the trigger while keeping the trigger pulled back and drop the hammer. See if the cylinder stays put when turning side to side, lock-up, it could have a little movement. The try moving the cylinder forward and back, end-shake, should have no movement, if any very very little.

The next thing is just a visual inspection to see if it's been cared for or abused. Normal wear is expected mostly looking for rust or pitting. Check the turn line on the cylinder if it's a light turn line thats good, not shot that much.
 
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