Taurus handgun quality?
- Thread starter MADISON
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YosemiteSam357
New member
My, we've had a surge in this exact question in the last week. Has Taurus got a promotion going on?
I have an early '90s model 669 .357 which is accurate, has a very nice trigger, and is one of my favorite guns. I had a model 94 .22 that I sold after a few months because of inaccuracy and a heavy, gritty trigger that couldn't be cleaned up with a spring kit. I'm picking up a model 44SS4 .44 mag today. Only time will tell how it works out.
-- Sam
Edited to modify the model number of my new purchase. I had it wrong initially.
I have an early '90s model 669 .357 which is accurate, has a very nice trigger, and is one of my favorite guns. I had a model 94 .22 that I sold after a few months because of inaccuracy and a heavy, gritty trigger that couldn't be cleaned up with a spring kit. I'm picking up a model 44SS4 .44 mag today. Only time will tell how it works out.
-- Sam
Edited to modify the model number of my new purchase. I had it wrong initially.
Last edited:
Jack Malloy
New member
Ive had a .44 magnum for years and its been a good quality gun. In fact, I only shoot full power ammo through it, saving my .44 spls for other makes of .44 magnum, LOL...
My best buddy from high school has had a 92 for decades and it is still going strong despite what has to be well over 10,000 rounds through it. A buddy of mine from college bought a model 66 many years ago that was better than the model 66 service revolver a police officer friend of ours had made by S&W in the late 80s.
That should tell you something. Like S&W or Colt, they make mostly good products, even if from time to time a sub par example gets out of their factory.
My best buddy from high school has had a 92 for decades and it is still going strong despite what has to be well over 10,000 rounds through it. A buddy of mine from college bought a model 66 many years ago that was better than the model 66 service revolver a police officer friend of ours had made by S&W in the late 80s.
That should tell you something. Like S&W or Colt, they make mostly good products, even if from time to time a sub par example gets out of their factory.
I have purchased 4 taurus handguns this past year. They include a 627 Tracker .357, 4"Brl, an 85 Ultra-Lite .38Spl.+P, a Millenium Pro SS9, and my best gun a PT-92...They are all good quality, and I can shoot the eye out of a hawk at 500 feet with my PT92...Yeah, right!!! :barf: 
Taurus & Smith Wesson were sister companies back along, and Terrible Taurus had access to all of SW's design, manufacturing, etc; but Taurus chose to go more european at the time, and word is, they did not take design or manufacturing copies from their SW business relationship.
Then there's the story about Taurus buying out the Berretta factory in Brazil.
Then there is the horror stories told by some on TFL regarding the original Millenium series.
IMHO, Taurus makes good guns today, just remember, lemons happen!!!
Taurus & Smith Wesson were sister companies back along, and Terrible Taurus had access to all of SW's design, manufacturing, etc; but Taurus chose to go more european at the time, and word is, they did not take design or manufacturing copies from their SW business relationship.
Then there's the story about Taurus buying out the Berretta factory in Brazil.
Then there is the horror stories told by some on TFL regarding the original Millenium series.
IMHO, Taurus makes good guns today, just remember, lemons happen!!!
I think you have to look at the total picture,I think overall the Taurus lineup of guns are as good a value and quality as you can find today. I have purchased several in the last two years and i am happy with all of them.I'm sure you'll find a bad one now and then but thats true with anything you buy. I bought a Remington 572 in the same time frame and the metal looks like an old stove pipe even a lot of machine marks on it,I've called them but if they are going to do anything i haven't heard from them. Max W.
I have the following Taurus weapons:
PT-92AF 9mm
PT-945B .45
model 82 .38
617SS .357
651B .357
Millenium Pro PT-145 .45
I got the 92AF in 1996. The most recent is the 651B (last year).
All the semi's have over 1000 rounds through them. The reolvers (except the model 82) have about 500 through each of them. The model 82 was inherited when my Dad died in 2002. I very rarely shoot that one.
I have never had a single problem with any of them at any time. I make sure that they are cleaned and properly oiled after every outing at the range.
The MilPro is my primary CCW and the two .357's rotate next. I trust them all COMPLETELY.
I have heard bad and sad stories about Taurus handguns over the years. I guess I'm just REAL lucky!
Take care.
Jim
PT-92AF 9mm
PT-945B .45
model 82 .38
617SS .357
651B .357
Millenium Pro PT-145 .45
I got the 92AF in 1996. The most recent is the 651B (last year).
All the semi's have over 1000 rounds through them. The reolvers (except the model 82) have about 500 through each of them. The model 82 was inherited when my Dad died in 2002. I very rarely shoot that one.
I have never had a single problem with any of them at any time. I make sure that they are cleaned and properly oiled after every outing at the range.
The MilPro is my primary CCW and the two .357's rotate next. I trust them all COMPLETELY.
I have heard bad and sad stories about Taurus handguns over the years. I guess I'm just REAL lucky!
Take care.
Jim
100W_Warlock
New member
Taurus 608SS4 owner...couldn't be happier
My 608SS4 has been a peach.
It was near perfect when I got it new.
I had Mark at Pinnacle do an action job, bevel the cylinder, and machine it for moon clips. (~$200 altogether) What I have now I would not trade for anything.
A good trigger job and have it tightened every so often is not a bad followup for ANY handgun.
I am on my 3rd Taurus, not because of any problems, just that friends keep bugging the crap out of me to sell them MY guns. (all I do is put on Hogue grips and polish the trigger...geez, get a dremel and do it yourself)
Anyhow, don't feel ashamed to buy/own a Taurus.
My 608SS4 has been a peach.
It was near perfect when I got it new.
I had Mark at Pinnacle do an action job, bevel the cylinder, and machine it for moon clips. (~$200 altogether) What I have now I would not trade for anything.
A good trigger job and have it tightened every so often is not a bad followup for ANY handgun.
I am on my 3rd Taurus, not because of any problems, just that friends keep bugging the crap out of me to sell them MY guns. (all I do is put on Hogue grips and polish the trigger...geez, get a dremel and do it yourself)
Anyhow, don't feel ashamed to buy/own a Taurus.
I have owned 6 Taurus revolvers.
I bought my first in '85 or so, a 6 inch model 66. I was told then that they were substandard guns, nobody told the gun
I still have 3, that I have been offered more than I paid for them and chose not to sell.
I gave 1 to my son on his 21rst and one to my father
I have never had any complaint about any of them
I bought my first in '85 or so, a 6 inch model 66. I was told then that they were substandard guns, nobody told the gun
I still have 3, that I have been offered more than I paid for them and chose not to sell.
I gave 1 to my son on his 21rst and one to my father
I have never had any complaint about any of them
My only Taurus experience is with 3 revolvers. The 4 year old 44 spec – bought used last year has lite primer strikes.
A 45 acp revolver bought new 2 months ago mostly refused to fire D/A. The replacement 45 acp revolver works like a champ – but the throats are cut a bit small so not all ammo chambers.
3 guns – 3 problems.
A 45 acp revolver bought new 2 months ago mostly refused to fire D/A. The replacement 45 acp revolver works like a champ – but the throats are cut a bit small so not all ammo chambers.
3 guns – 3 problems.
I have owned four Taurus guns. The two revolvers I still own and use and are great. The two pistols are gone. One had a safety problem and the other came apart. Check my other posts on this site about this and then check Handgun Review and other sites. The PT-92 with the safety problem was fixed but I tired a year later of such a big gun chambered for 9MM being carried. If I'm going to carry a 9MM then it will be a Glock 19. The gun that came apart was a 45 Millenium series made in 2002. It was replaced by Taurus and then replaced right away for a Springfield Armory 45. The Millenium sat at the gun store for eight months before someone bought it. I hope the new owner is happy with it.
Taurus
I've had 3 Taurus revolvers. Still have one, a model 85 CH, 38 snubbie. I haven't shot it a lot, but it works well. The other two I traded off at one time or another when I saw something else I wanted more. One was a model 66, 7 shot 357. No problems with it. The other one was in the 80's, a 4", 38 special, fixed sight with a heavy barrel. About like a Smith & Wesson model 10. I really liked that gun. I never shot it with anything but wadcutters, but it was good shooting gun. Wish I had that one back.
I've had 3 Taurus revolvers. Still have one, a model 85 CH, 38 snubbie. I haven't shot it a lot, but it works well. The other two I traded off at one time or another when I saw something else I wanted more. One was a model 66, 7 shot 357. No problems with it. The other one was in the 80's, a 4", 38 special, fixed sight with a heavy barrel. About like a Smith & Wesson model 10. I really liked that gun. I never shot it with anything but wadcutters, but it was good shooting gun. Wish I had that one back.
I've had 3 Taurus revolvers (still have one of them) and recently bought a PT140 Millenium Pro that I'm more than happy with (one of my favorite guns- and that includes a CZ and a bunch of S&W revolvers).
My first gun was a used Taurus 82. I'd only be guessing the age since I didn't know about the serial number lookup on Taurus' webpage then, but I'm thinking probably late 80s through mid-90s are the likely "birthdates". It was previously owned by a security company for their guards. Anyway, it was accurate and reliable. Sometimes it could be a little boring though. I was stupid to sell it, but back then I thought I'd only have 2-3 (maybe 4) guns and when I bought my first .357mag I didn't see the point of keeping 2 medium framed revolvers.
I used to own a Taurus 605 (bought new). Great fit and finish, incredible trigger (better than S&W J-frames), decent accuracy, no hiccups of any kind. Unfortunately, I didn't like the .357mag recoil in it, and it is several oz heavier than the .38spl Taurus 85 so I didn't see the point of keeping the 605 if I'd only shoot .38spl/+P out of it so I sold it intending to replace it with a Taurus 85.
About 2 years ago I bought a 1991 vintage Taurus 85CH. I love it. Accurate (for a snub), decent fit and finish, great trigger (it is DAO), 100% reliable, very comfortable w/ the generic brand Speigel type boot grips.
Recently I bought my first Taurus auto, a PT140 Millenium Pro. Decent DAO trigger (though a little long), great fit and finish (though the bluing is a little on the thin side), very accurate, and in the 300 rounds I've fired so far not one bobble. Even my best friend was impressed with it (he is a Kahr and Kimber owner, his "cheap" gun is a CZ 85 Combat).
I will own many more Taurus guns in the future as I've been perfectly happy with my experience.
My first gun was a used Taurus 82. I'd only be guessing the age since I didn't know about the serial number lookup on Taurus' webpage then, but I'm thinking probably late 80s through mid-90s are the likely "birthdates". It was previously owned by a security company for their guards. Anyway, it was accurate and reliable. Sometimes it could be a little boring though. I was stupid to sell it, but back then I thought I'd only have 2-3 (maybe 4) guns and when I bought my first .357mag I didn't see the point of keeping 2 medium framed revolvers.
I used to own a Taurus 605 (bought new). Great fit and finish, incredible trigger (better than S&W J-frames), decent accuracy, no hiccups of any kind. Unfortunately, I didn't like the .357mag recoil in it, and it is several oz heavier than the .38spl Taurus 85 so I didn't see the point of keeping the 605 if I'd only shoot .38spl/+P out of it so I sold it intending to replace it with a Taurus 85.
About 2 years ago I bought a 1991 vintage Taurus 85CH. I love it. Accurate (for a snub), decent fit and finish, great trigger (it is DAO), 100% reliable, very comfortable w/ the generic brand Speigel type boot grips.
Recently I bought my first Taurus auto, a PT140 Millenium Pro. Decent DAO trigger (though a little long), great fit and finish (though the bluing is a little on the thin side), very accurate, and in the 300 rounds I've fired so far not one bobble. Even my best friend was impressed with it (he is a Kahr and Kimber owner, his "cheap" gun is a CZ 85 Combat).
I will own many more Taurus guns in the future as I've been perfectly happy with my experience.
Greenfurniture
New member
We sell the full line of Taurus, from handguns to rifles and they sell very well, and the people who buy them seems to really enjoy them.
Also, Taurus is great with customer service. I wouldn't hesistate to purchase one if I was in the market for a quality weapon.
Also, Taurus is great with customer service. I wouldn't hesistate to purchase one if I was in the market for a quality weapon.
I'm not sure I'd agree with the customer service part (though I not only wouldn't hesitate to buy one- I have bought several, including one just over a month ago, and I will buy more).
I've never had to use their customer service, but I have heard a lot about it. As the host of Taurus Talk (a small Taurus forum) and a frequent reader of this and other gun forums it seems to be that Taurus customer service is very hit or miss. You call the right person and they will have your answers and be quite courteous, however you are just as likely to get an ignoramous and/or very rude person there. Also, when sending your gun for service it seems some people get their gun back within a week or two, while Taurus keeps others for months, with no apparent rhyme or reason as to why (no apparent difference in the complexity of the problems). In their defense, that isn't very different from most major companies' customer service these days, but "everyone else does it" was never an acceptable excuse in my home when I was growing up and I don't think it is for poor service either.
Sturmgewehr-58
New member
That's about the experience I have. The only Taurus revolver I handled was one of their older model .38s. It was given to a friend of mine by his boss, and he had me look it over before firing it. When I was checking it out, I noticed that it was pretty difficult to open the cylinder. When I finally got the darn thing open, I discovered the problem. The forcing cone was split so wide that it looks like someone pushed a .45 through it. It made a neat wall-hanger.
